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☻ℕeil ℂrowley☻
Ireland
Crom!
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Could someone please recommend a few books on board game design?
Thanks.
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Nick Hayes
United States
Los Angeles
California
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Here's a geeklist on game books. Good Game Books Not all of them are game design books, but there are still some good books in this list.
These are the books I own:
Rules of Play
The Game Design Reader
The Game Inventor’s Guidebook
Dice Games Properly Explained
The New Games Book
The Game Inventor’s Handbook
Paid to Play
Super Sharp Pencil & Paper Games
The Book of Games: Strategy, Tactics, and History
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Joseph Courtight
United States
Pennsylvania
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Wow I never even knew books like this existed.
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Dan Squires
United States
Arlington
MA
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The Art of Game Design
There are some video game specific chapters, but otherwise it's pretty interesting and applicable.
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Cássio F. Lemos
Brazil
Santa Maria
Rio Grande do Sul
Leviathan Tanin'iver Taninsam
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Challenges for game designers
From the same author, this one is not a book, but is very helpful.
Game Design Concepts
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Philip Migas
United States
Akron
Ohio
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My list of books is at http://www.bogadap.com/links-2/books .
If you are looking for a book about “design”, I would recommend The Art of Game Design: A book of lenses by Jesse Schell.
I would also recommend reading this blog: http://gamedesignconcepts.wordpress.com/ .
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Sebastian Sohn
United States
culver city
CA
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vekkna wrote: Could someone please recommend a few books on board game design?
Thanks.
Video game deisgn and board game design are more alike than different. You can use check this book review about video game design books.
http://teachingdesign.blogspot.com/2007/06/textbook-reviews....
Recommend these two
Challenges for game designers -- a book on learning by doing. You make lots of board and card games.
The Art of Game Design: A book of lenses -- don't own this but from what I read sounds interesting. A practical book that helps you refine your game.
Dice Games Properly Explained is back in print, btw.
What do you plan to do with this book, teach, learn, or what. Each book has a different purpose.
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Ben Prevas
United States
Lutherville-Timonium
Maryland
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Black Canyon wrote: Here's a geeklist on game books. Good Game Books Not all of them are game design books, but there are still some good books in this list. These are the books I own: Rules of Play The Game Design Reader The Game Inventor’s Guidebook Dice Games Properly Explained The New Games Book The Game Inventor’s Handbook Paid to Play Super Sharp Pencil & Paper Games The Book of Games: Strategy, Tactics, and History
Nick, of those listed do you have any particular preferences?
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Peter Sarrett
United States
Redmond
Washington
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+1 on Jesse Schell's The Art of Game Design. Easily the best book on game design I've read. It's well-written and organized, has great content, is fun to read, and is useful to return to.
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Nick Hayes
United States
Los Angeles
California
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bprevas wrote: Nick, of those listed do you have any particular preferences?
I really liked Rules of Play. I kept a notebook handy because so many game ideas would spring to mind while I was reading it. Then I'd flip through my notes and see if I could combine and develop any of them into a solid game. I ended up with about six new game designs from those notes alone.
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Ben Prevas
United States
Lutherville-Timonium
Maryland
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Black Canyon wrote: bprevas wrote: Nick, of those listed do you have any particular preferences? I really liked Rules of Play. I kept a notebook handy because so many game ideas would spring to mind while I was reading it. Then I'd flip through my notes and see if I could combine and develop any of them into a solid game. I ended up with about six new game designs from those notes alone.
Great. I'd been looking at that one for a while, actually. So thanks for the recommendation.
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Philip Migas
United States
Akron
Ohio
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bprevas wrote: Black Canyon wrote: bprevas wrote: Nick, of those listed do you have any particular preferences? I really liked Rules of Play. I kept a notebook handy because so many game ideas would spring to mind while I was reading it. Then I'd flip through my notes and see if I could combine and develop any of them into a solid game. I ended up with about six new game designs from those notes alone. Great. I'd been looking at that one for a while, actually. So thanks for the recommendation.
Warning: Rules of Play is a text book. It reads like a text book.
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Sebastian Sohn
United States
culver city
CA
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pmigas wrote: bprevas wrote: Black Canyon wrote: bprevas wrote: Nick, of those listed do you have any particular preferences? I really liked Rules of Play. I kept a notebook handy because so many game ideas would spring to mind while I was reading it. Then I'd flip through my notes and see if I could combine and develop any of them into a solid game. I ended up with about six new game designs from those notes alone. Great. I'd been looking at that one for a while, actually. So thanks for the recommendation. Warning: Rules of Play is a text book. It reads like a text book.
Rules of Play some fascinating insight like how there are only two types of games: a fight or a race. However I would classify it as more inspirational and theoretical. On the positive side, Knizia has an article in the book about how he designed Lord of Rings.
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Sebastian Sohn
United States
culver city
CA
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bprevas wrote: Black Canyon wrote: bprevas wrote: Nick, of those listed do you have any particular preferences? I really liked Rules of Play. I kept a notebook handy because so many game ideas would spring to mind while I was reading it. Then I'd flip through my notes and see if I could combine and develop any of them into a solid game. I ended up with about six new game designs from those notes alone. Great. I'd been looking at that one for a while, actually. So thanks for the recommendation.
Again, what is the purpose of your reading?
Are you planning teach, read for inspiration, read to find design exercises, and so forth.
There is no one book to rule them all.
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Ben Prevas
United States
Lutherville-Timonium
Maryland
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Sebastian, that is certainly the case. I've flipped through Rules of Play, so it is roughly something I was interested. My question had just been looking for the impression of someone who had read it more thoroughly as to its quality given its format. Less so looking for an opinion on it as "the" game design book.
Sorry if that wasn't clear. And thanks for following up there too; Philip as well, thanks. 
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Edward Jamer
Canada
Fredericton
NB
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I don't think this is what you are looking for, but since people are mentioning books that are generally "good gaming resources" I'm going to chime in.
New Rules for Classic Games is an interesting book that focuses on game variants. It looks at how games can be changed, and more importantly WHY you might want to change them. Although the primary purpose of this book is to provide rules for these variants and explain how they change the game, it does encourage people to start tinkering with or changing other rules.
So maybe not what you are looking for, but worth a peek if your local library has a copy!
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Philip Migas
United States
Akron
Ohio
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bprevas wrote: My question had just been looking for the impression of someone who had read it more thoroughly as to its quality given its format.
I have read Rules of Play more thoroughly. It has a lot of good information, but it is as hard to read as most text books. Several of the sections I had no clue what the author was really trying to discuss. In the confusing sections it seemed like the author was trying to establishing a framework for a teacher to discuss the topics with their students. I would not recommend Rules of Play as a first design book for a casual game designer.
Challenges for Game Designers by Brenda Brathwaite and Ian Schreiber would be a better starting point. It is shorter and easier to read. It does not have as much content as Rules of Play but it does establish a good framework for game design. IMO this would also be a better design classroom book for beginner designers.
If you are still hungry for game design books than The Art of Game Design: A book of lenses by Jesse Schell is the best one. It has as much content as Rules of Play but reads more like a book. I read this one in half the time as Rules of Play. It was fun to read.
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Nick Hayes
United States
Los Angeles
California
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pmigas wrote: bprevas wrote: My question had just been looking for the impression of someone who had read it more thoroughly as to its quality given its format. I have read Rules of Play more thoroughly. It has a lot of good information, but it is as hard to read as most text books. Several of the sections I had no clue what the author was really trying to discuss. In the confusing sections it seemed like the author was trying to establishing a framework for a teacher to discuss the topics with their students. I would not recommend Rules of Play as a first design book for a casual game designer.
I disagree with a lot of this, but of course, each person receives each book differently. Yes, Rules of Play is a text book, but it's a text book on game play. The authors are trying to develop a vocabulary and method for discussing games, but they also discuss games. I think that if you can appreciate the level of thought in Rules of Play, which borders on the academic, it can provide great sparks for your own designs. It is true though, the book is not for everyone. I hope that whoever buys the book enjoys it, but I know not all people have. I enjoyed it.
By the way, Philip, thanks for your recommendation on Challenges for Game Designers. I just ordered the book. I know it's gotten good reviews here on BGG, but yours is the one to throw me over the top and actually buy the book.
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Brian Gasbarini
Canada
St Catharines
Ontario
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Wow, great thread guys, and perfect timing as I'm just putting a big book order together and was hoping to include one or two books on game design. I had already decided on Rules of Play, but now I'm intrigued about these other suggestions. The only problem is that Jesse Schell's The Art of Game Design is listed at $68.95 at the Chapters website. Is this price in line with other prices you've seen? Is it really worth this much?
Also, the other recommendation, Challenges for Game Designers, seems specific to video games, can you give some more feedback about that?
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Philip Migas
United States
Akron
Ohio
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downstream wrote: Also, the other recommendation, Challenges for Game Designers, seems specific to video games, can you give some more feedback about that?
All game design books are about video game design. Most of the information can be applied to non-digital table top game design too. Both authors Challenges for Game Designer teach video game design using non-digital game design methods. The co-author of the book, Ian Schreiber, taught the online game design class at http://gamedesignconcepts.wordpress.com/ if you want a free example of his work. The book is done in the same vein.
Edit: I am only interested in Board game design. I could care less about video games.
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Bernard Hopkins
England
Durham/Darlington
Unspecified
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pmigas wrote: Edit: I am only interested in Board game design. I could care less about video games.
I hope you Americans realise how stupid you look when you write “I could care less”. Think about that saying and what you really mean. I think the phrase you’re looking for is “I couldn’t care less”.
On another note - I've never seen that book mentioned before, it looks interesting.
I've just ordered it.
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Sebastian Sohn
United States
culver city
CA
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Arctic Jack wrote: pmigas wrote: Edit: I am only interested in Board game design. I could care less about video games.
I hope you Americans realise how stupid you look ...
Hey now...stay classy!
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the track tiles formerly known as
United States
Berkeley
California
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Arctic Jack wrote: I hope you Americans realise how stupid you look when you write “I could care less”. Think about that saying and what you really mean. I think the phrase you’re looking for is “I couldn’t care less”.
Hooboy.
Is the whole continent of North America to sit for a lecture on grammar, delivered by the rejected, lower class migrants and mutts of continental europe?
I hope you Brits- well, you know- remember your place.
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Sebastian Sohn
United States
culver city
CA
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downstream wrote: Wow, great thread guys, and perfect timing as I'm just putting a big book order together and was hoping to include one or two books on game design. I had already decided on Rules of Play, but now I'm intrigued about these other suggestions. The only problem is that Jesse Schell's The Art of Game Design is listed at $68.95 at the Chapters website. Is this price in line with other prices you've seen? Is it really worth this much?
Also, the other recommendation, Challenges for Game Designers, seems specific to video games, can you give some more feedback about that?
The tag line on the cover of Challenges for Game Designers
"non-digital exercises for video game designers." Ian's book is closest to board game design book out right now.
Ian wrote that book out of frustration books out there that claim to be a book on game design but really is a book on game programming or game art. His book is on game design and most of things he talks about are applicable to board game design.
BTW Ian plays eurogames, and has written some reviews of eurogames.
The books that are mentioned are textbooks and people get away selling textbooks at $60-$80. Ian book being under $15 is the exception not the rule.
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Philip Migas
United States
Akron
Ohio
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chaosbreaker wrote: Arctic Jack wrote: pmigas wrote: Edit: I am only interested in Board game design. I could care less about video games.
I hope you Americans realise how stupid you look ... Hey now...stay classy!
You aren’t the first person to say I did something stupid. You won’t be the last. I couldn’t care less.
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