Table of Contents

Part I: Setup
Looking At The Big Picture
Chapter 1 History: Where Did Massively Multiplayer Online Games Come From?
Chapter 2 Constraints: Understand The Issues Before Starting A Design
Chapter 3 Organization: Dont Start Working Without First Making A Plan
Part II: Development
Transforming A Game Into A Lifestyle
Chapter 4 Content: General Design Philosophies And Goals
Chapter 5 Vision: Crafting A Personality And Avoiding The Clichés
Chapter 6 Spin: Designing With Community, Marketing, And Business
Part III: Launch
It Isnt A Game Anymore. Now Its A Business
Chapter 7 Live!: So Your Game Has Launched. Now What?
Chapter 8 Communities: Navigating The Feedback Of Thousands
Chapter 9 Endgame: Where Is It All Going And When Will It End?

About the Author

Jeannie Novak is the lead author and series editor of the widely acclaimed GAME DEVELOPMENT ESSENTIALS series (with over 15 published titles), co-author of PLAY THE GAME: THE PARENT'S GUIDE TO VIDEO GAMES, and co-author of three pioneering books on the interactive entertainment industry--including CREATING INTERNET ENTERTAINMENT. She is also co-founder of Novy Unlimited and CEO of Kaleidospace, LLC (dbaIndiespace), providing curriculum development and consulting services for corporations, educators, and creative professionals in games, music, film, education, and technology.Novak served as director of the Game Art & Design and Media Arts & Animation programs at the Art Institute Online and has taught game courses at UCLA, Art Center College of Design, DeVry University, Westwood College, ITT Technical Institute, and the Academy of Entertainment & Technology at Santa Monica College. She holds a B.A. in mass communication/business administration from UCLA and an M.A. in communication management from the Annenberg School at USC. She also serves on the Online Gameplay Committee for the Academy of Interactive Arts &Sciences and has served on the executive boards of the International Game Developers Association (Los Angeles) and Women in Games International. An accomplished composer and performer, Novak was chosen as one of the 100 most influential people in technology by MicroTimesmagazine and has been profiled by CNN, Billboard Magazine, the Sundance Channel, Daily Variety, and the Los Angeles Times. Rick Hall is a 15-year veteran of the gaming industry with experience as a producer, studio head, programmer, and game designer. During his time in games, he has worked on RPGs, adventure games, RTS games, flight sims, fighting games, sports sims, and even a fishing simulation. He has worked on PC, PlayStation, N64, PS2, Sony PSP, Nintendo DS, and online platforms. He started his career at Paragon Software, a studio that eventually became the core development group for Take 2's initial 1994 start-up. After leaving Take 2, he joined EA's Origin studio in Austin, Texas where for 5 years he served as a live producer on Ultima Online, and later as executive producer on Ultima X Odyssey. In 2004, Rick joined EA's Tiburon studio in Orlando, Florida, where he has been a Senior Producer on the Madden Football handheld products. For the past eighteen months, Rick has been teaching in a Master's Degree for Computer Game Development at the University of Central Florida's FIEA Program.

Reviews

PART I: SETUP Looking at the Big Picture Chapter 1 History: Where Did Massively Multiplayer Online Games Come From? Chapter 2 Constraints: Understand the Issues Before Starting a Design Chapter 3 Organization: Don't Start Working Without First Making a Plan PART II: DEVELOPMENT Transforming a Game into a Lifestyle Chapter 4 Content: General Design Philosophies and Goals Chapter 5 Vision: Crafting a Personality and Avoiding the Cliches Chapter 6 Spin: Designing with Community, Marketing, and Business PART III: LAUNCH It Isn't A Game Anymore. Now it's a Business Chapter 7 Live!: So Your Game Has Launched. Now What? Chapter 8 Communities: Navigating the Feedback of Thousands Chapter 9 Endgame: Where is it All Going and When Will it End?