Rating: 
Summary: Required Reading
Review: As a level designer for a California based startup, one of the few things that stands out in my mind as being an important step towards realising the scope of game development was reading this book.This book doesn't give tutorials for map design, code snips, or instructions for texture creation, as well it shouldn't - that information quickly becomes dated with emerging technological trends. What this book DOES do (and masterfully), is to explain the methodology and theory behind the design of the game itself, from original concepts to final marketing and publishing. This is 10 times as valuable as the tutorials, snips, and instructions mentioned above could ever be. One underlying theory runs through the entire book - namely, the game has to be fun. Using many useful examples through gaming history, the author provides crystal clear explanation, caveats, and suggestions. Upon reading this you step away with two things: the ideas behind implementing your own brand of fun in a game you may be creating, and respect for the amount of work that designs must go through for even the most 'simple' (at least, to the casual player's view) steps during the creation, development, and publishing of their game. Ultimately, I would definently recommend this book as required reading to anyone in the industry, and would suggest buying a copy if you are a die-hard fan who is curious as to how games are created. 5 stars for an excellent guide, which, while is contains information that should be obvious, apparently isn't THAT obvious, judging by a few of the games that have been released recently. Definently one of the ultimate desk reference guides to game design and business - it's great to have all this information in one place at easy reach.
Rating:
Summary: A user-friendly book!!
Review: Bob Bates has covered all the bases. The book illustrates many facets of the game design business... from descriptions of the different genres, to illustrations of what to do (and NOT do), to an explanation of what the various roles and responsibilities are of the people involved in game production. If you are at all interested in getting into the business of game development at any level, this book is a good read. It is light and understandable for people of all skills and disciplines. Well done, Bob.
Rating: 
Summary: Good explanation of how to think when entering into the biz.
Review: Bob Bates has covered all the bases. The book illustrates many facets of the game design business... from descriptions of the different genres, to illustrations of what to do (and NOT do), to an explanation of what the various roles and responsibilities are of the people involved in game production. If you are at all interested in getting into the business of game development at any level, this book is a good read. It is light and understandable for people of all skills and disciplines. Well done, Bob.
Rating: 
Summary: Prima's Official Strategy Guide to Game Development
Review: Don't take this book seriously. It has nothing to do with game design. It is primarily about the business of game development. This book is only worth its price if you're in game development for the money. If you are in it for the money you have been mislead to believe that you can make money with games. And this book will certainly help you build on your delusions. It even has a picture of the editor on the back cover wearing sunglasses and some sort of cyber athlete armor for those people that still buy into VR . Please, avoid this book if you consider games more than just a way to get cars and women. Those people really interested in game design should try Game Design: Theory and Practice by Richard Rouse. The interviews alone make the book worth its price. If you're feeling really adventuresome try Understanding Interactivity by Chris Crawford. His book is self-published so you can't buy it on Amazon. You have to buy the book directly from his web page at www.erasmatazz.com/book.html. If you do buy it you'll get the giddy thrills of reading a manifesto from a sick angry man living in the woods. Have the book shipped to your mother-in-law just to be safe.
Rating:
Summary: Everything You Want To Know About Game Design...
Review: Everything You Want to Know About Game Design... but didn't know who to ask. Quite simply, there is no better primer on the subject of the interactive games business than Bob Bates' newest book, 'Game Design'. Especially useful for those who are considering entering the gaming industry, this book walks you through all aspects of the game making process - from initial conceptualizing through to publishing and media relations. The book is also useful for industry veterans who would like to know more about the overall process they play a pivotal role in. Not a heavily-worded account, Bates keeps true to his 'less is more' philosophy, by keeping 'Game Design' short on pages, but definitely not short on quality. This book should be REQUIRED reading at academic institutions where digital media are taught.
Rating:
Summary: A user-friendly book!!
Review: Game Design: The Art & Business of Creating Games is a wonderful text. I managed to read the entire book in only two days. Bob Bates manages to explain the hectic world of computer game design in a concise and friendly manner. Highly detailed yet written in lay man terms, Game Design offers just the right information to spark new ideas and more importantly, offer hope to aspiring new game designers. Even if you only wish to create games for yourself and your friends, Bob Bates tells you how you could possibly break into the business. He even offers helpful contacts in the form of websites for review. All in all, Game Design is a great book to begin research into this business field.
Rating:
Summary: A user-friendly book!!
Review: Game Design: The Art & Business of Creating Games is a wonderful text. I managed to read the entire book in only two days. Bob Bates manages to explain the hectic world of computer game design in a concise and friendly manner. Highly detailed yet written in lay man terms, Game Design offers just the right information to spark new ideas and more importantly, offer hope to aspiring new game designers. Even if you only wish to create games for yourself and your friends, Bob Bates tells you how you could possibly break into the business. He even offers helpful contacts in the form of websites for review. All in all, Game Design is a great book to begin research into this business field.
Rating:
Summary: Not ground breaking but very informative and a good read
Review: I am trying to convert my hobby of game development into a paying job and I found this book very informative and fun to read. A lot of the things in this book weren't new to me but it's nice to have all the steps of game development and a lot of the aspects combined in 1 book. Definetely something I won't just read once but keep looking into from time to time as a helper.
Rating:
Summary: Up-to-date book covers all the bases
Review: If you actually do game design for a living or are a serious hobbist, you'll probably know most of what's in this book. As such, this is more for those of us who like to "read around the subject" or for the total newbie game designer. I found it broad and deep and most of all, up-to-date but there isn't anything particularly insightful here, unless game design is totally new to you. I've also read "Game Design: Theory and Practice" by Richard Rouse which suffers mainly from being dated, although you could call it "classic". I'd place Bate's book over Rouse's for this reason alone but both are probably worth reading.
Rating:
Summary: Good fodder for making games
Review: Ok, if you have ever designed a game for longer than 6 months, most of the book will be obvious. If you have NEVER done anything with games, the book will let you know of pitfalls to expect and things to do correctly. Overall though, it is STILL a great book for everybody to read. It's well-written, has lots of graphics, pics, and other user-friendly tidbits of knowledge. It does lean heavily on looking at design and management of a few key games and fails to mention ANYTHING about web-based games (i.e. games played strictly through a browser).
A good book nonetheless. Enjoy it and give it to your colleagues to read and learn :>!
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