Swords & Circuitry: A Designer's Guide to Computer Role Playing Games

Description

Never in the history of gaming have role-playing titles been more popular. PC DATA reports that leading role-playing titles, like "Diablo," have sold over one million units, and many others, like "Baldur's Gate," have sold over 500,000. Research by Peter D. Hart Research Associates, on behalf of the Interactive Digital Software Association, states that 145 million Americans regularly play video games. This book will allow this audience to decipher the arcane mysteries behind game development tools like plot trees, world bibles, design documents, and game scripts. Readers will also receive sage advice from game gurus like John Cutter (Betrayal at Kondor), Jon Van Caneghem (Might & Magic), Chris Taylor (Dungeon Siege), Sarah Stocker (Pools of Radiance), Carly Staehlin (Ultima Online), and more.

CONTENTS:

Part 1: Shadow of the Past
1 King for a Day - The Role Playing Appeal
2 The Oft Expected Party - A Brief History of the Genre
3 Defining the Perfect Beast - The Fundamentals of the RPG

Part 2: The Designers Domain
4 We Few, We Happy Few - Designers and the Team
5 The Lifecycle of the Role Playing Title

Part 3: Workshop of the Gods
6 It's Alive!!! Alive!!! - Electrifying your Game Play
7 Socket Wrenches of the Gods - Building Live Worlds
8 The Architecture of Fantasy - Putting the Elements Together

Part 4: The Games
9 John Cutter: Betrayal at Krondor
10 Chris Taylor: Dungeon Siege
11 Trent Oster: Neverwinter Heights
12 Sarah Stocker: Pool of Radiance II: Ruins of Myth Drannor
13 John Van Canegham: Might and Magic I-IX
14 Carly Strehlin: Ultima Online

Appendixes
A Glossary
B Proposal - Betrayal at Krondor
C The Design Document - Excerpt from Nox
D The World Layout - Excerpts from Fallout
E The Game Script - Excerpts from Betrayal at Krondor