To create a great video game, you must start with a solid game design: A well-designed game is easier to build, more entertaining, and has a better chance of succeeding in the marketplace. Here to teach you the essential skills of player-centric game design is one of the industry’s leading authorities, Ernest Adams, who offers a first-hand look into the process, from initial concept to the final tuning. Now in its second edition, this updated classic reference offers a complete and practical approach to game design, and includes material on concept development, gameplay design, core mechanics, user interfaces, storytelling, and balancing. You’ll learn the specific design challenges unique to all the major game genres and how to apply the principles of game design to each one.