Finally, a book that covers what many of us in the game industry have been searching for -- a way to make games that offer players rich emotional experiences. The author, Mr. Freeman, has been working for most of the game industry heavyweights -- Sony, Atari, Activision, Electronic Arts, Ubisoft, Microsoft -- and so the book is rooted in solid game design and game writing experience.
The state of emotion in games has been, up until this book, simply dire. Most gamers can count on one hand the number of games that triggered in them anything but the standard limited stable of emotions associated with battle (joy of victory, fear of being discovered or killed, etc.).
Into this vacuum comes Mr. Freeman's book. Like a torrent of rain after a long drought, he offers so many practical and immediately applicable techniques (over 300 of them) that it's almost overwhelming.
There are several things he does that make these techniques highly digestible. The first is that Mr. Freeman has categorized these techniques according to a very useful and almost intuitive system.
Best of all, he gives demonstrations of exactly how to apply just about every single technique in a game's design. Thus this is literally a handbook that anyone can pick up and immediately start using.
And let me not to forget to mention his humor. This is one funny guy! Most game designers have a good sense of humor, and Mr. Freeman is no exception.
At the game development studio where I work, almost every game designer, and more than a few of the artists and programmers as well, have a copy of this book on their desks. (I've heard that the book is being used as a textbook in the game departments at Carnegie Melon and USC, which makes sense.)
Mr. Freeman calls his collection of techniques "Emotioneering," and some of the categories of Emotioneering include ways to make a player identify with the character he/she is playing -- techniques to use symbols to both convey emotion and help in gameplay -- ways to make NPCs (non-player characters) lifelike -- techniques to bond a player to the NPCs if so desired -- and ways to take the player through a wide range of emotions while playing the game.
My guess is that many of the techniques in this book would have value for anyone who writes. I know that Mr. Freeman teaches one of the most popular screenwriting classes in Los Angeles (and other cities around the world) and that many Hollywood professionals have been his students. I imagine that some of what he teaches them has been retooled for this book.
I'm glad Mr. Freeman decided not to keep all these techniques to himself, but instead share them anyone who wishes to design emotionally engaging games. I'm sure his Emotioneering techniques will have a huge impact on games for years to come. I've already seen the impact they're having at my company -- and in my own work.
Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet or computer – no Kindle device required.
Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.
Using your mobile phone camera, scan the code below and download the Kindle app.
About the author
Top reviews from Canada
There was a problem filtering reviews. Please reload the page.
- Reviewed in Canada on February 18, 2004Format: Paperback
- Reviewed in Canada on June 5, 2004Format: Paperback
Top reviews from other countries
-
B. SpangReviewed in Germany on April 13, 2007
Wichtig für alle Autoren von Computerspiel-Storys
Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase - Roy H. WilliamsReviewed in the United States on September 3, 2005
You'll Love it or Hate it.
Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase - AndieReviewed in the United States on November 24, 2003
Deep and Interesting
Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase - J to the CReviewed in the United States on September 14, 2017
Five Stars
Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase - LeeReviewed in the United Kingdom on February 20, 2011
Worth a look
Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
