Theory of Fun for Game Design, 2nd Edition

Now in full color, the 10th anniversary edition of this classic book takes you deep into the influences that underlie modern video games, and examines the elements they share with traditional games such as checkers. At the heart of his exploration, veteran game designer Raph Koster takes a close look at the concept of fun and why it’s the most vital element in any game.

Why do some games become boring quickly, while others remain fun for years? How do games serve as fundamental and powerful learning tools? Whether you’re a game developer, dedicated gamer, or curious observer, this illustrated, fully updated edition helps you understand what drives this major cultural force, and inspires you to take it further.

You’ll discover that:

• Games play into our innate ability to seek patterns and solve puzzles
• Most successful games are built upon the same elements
• Slightly more females than males now play games
• Many games still teach primitive survival skills
• Fictional dressing for modern games is more developed than the conceptual elements
• Truly creative designers seldom use other games for inspiration
• Games are beginning to evolve beyond their prehistoric origins

Table of Contents

Chapter 1. Why Write This Book?
Chapter 2. How the Brain Works
Chapter 3. What Games Are
Chapter 4. What Games Teach Us
Chapter 5. What Games Aren’t
Chapter 6. Different Fun for Different Folks
Chapter 7. The Problem with Learning
Chapter 8. The Problem with People
Chapter 9. Games in Context
Chapter 10. The Ethics of Entertainment
Chapter 11. Where Games Should Go
Chapter 12. Taking Their Rightful Place

Appendix A. Epilogue: Fun Matters, Grandpa
Appendix B. Afterword: Ten Years Later