THE GAME DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY GUIDE

Platz offers a primer on the craft and business of modern video games.

Trying to understand video game creation can feel like an adventure set on hard mode. Whether you’re a veteran creator, a newcomer to the process, or simply curious, this manual explores what motivates players, how studios operate, and why some titles, like Baldur’s Gate 3, thrive while others, like Atari’s infamous E.T., end up with their own landfills. Drawing on the experiences of 15 industry professionals who have worked for Sony, Disney, The Pokémon Co., Mojang, and others, the chapters feature interview excerpts, case studies, and detailed definitions of the many kinds of developers and what they do. Beyond design and storytelling, the volume addresses the logistics of the business, from monetization challenges to ethical concerns, while examining how poor planning, overambitious timetables, and last-minute additions can derail a project. Dense and comprehensive, the guide defines the jargon of studios and design roles, describes genres like shooters and role-playing games, and even includes some gaming slang. Each chapter ends with a “Prepare for the Boss Battle,” a review of practical references or tools. The text includes thorough citations throughout and an extensive index for further reference. The book’s central conceit is both clever and fitting for the industry it covers, bringing back the strategy-guide style (featuring sidebars in the margins and vibrant illustrations) that has largely been lost to internet wikis and FAQs. This is especially helpful in enlivening the technical explanations of game development, using familiar and engaging layouts to help the lessons stick, and the emphasis on the audience as collaborator is refreshing. Platz treats the history of gaming with reverence, mentioning deep cuts such as MadMaze alongside indie darlings like Unpacking; this makes the guide feel truly all-encompassing—as expansive as an open-world RPG—in a way that will resonate with industry insiders, newbie developers, and curious players alike.

A wide-ranging introduction to how games are made, balancing insider rigor with accessibility.