In life, uncertainty surrounds us. Things that we thought were good for us turn out to be bad for us (and vice versa); people we thought we knew well behave in mysterious ways; the stock market takes a nosedive. Thanks to an inexplicable optimism, most of the time we are fairly cheerful about it all. But we do devote much effort to managing and ameliorating uncertainty. Is it any wonder, then, asks Greg Costikyan, that we have taken this aspect of our lives and transformed it culturally, making a series of elaborate constructs that subject us to uncertainty but in a fictive and nonthreatening way? That is: we create games.In this concise and entertaining book, Costikyan, an award-winning game designer, argues that games require uncertainty to hold our interest, and that the struggle to master uncertainty is central to their appeal. Game designers, he suggests, can harness the idea of uncertainty to guide their work.Costikyan explores the many sources of uncertainty in many sorts of games -- from Super Mario Bros. to Rock/Paper/Scissors, from Monopoly to CityVille, from FPS Deathmatch play to Chess. He describes types of uncertainty, including performative uncertainty, analytic complexity, and narrative anticipation. And he suggest ways that game designers who want to craft novel game experiences can use an understanding of game uncertainty in its many forms to improve their designs.

Uncertainty in Games (Playful Thinking)

Computers & Technology

Costikyan, Greg

Games & Strategy Guides

Mit Pr

In life, uncertainty surrounds us. Things that we thought were good for us turn out to be bad for us (and vice versa); people we thought we knew well behave in mysterious ways; the stock market takes a nosedive. Thanks to an inexplicable optimism, most of the time we are fairly cheerful about it all. But we do devote much effort to managing and ameliorating uncertainty. Is it any wonder, then, asks Greg Costikyan, that we have taken this aspect of our lives and transformed it culturally, making a series of elaborate constructs that subject us to uncertainty but in a fictive and nonthreatening way? That is: we create games. In this concise and entertaining book, Costikyan, an award-winning game designer, argues that games require uncertainty to hold our interest, and that the struggle to master uncertainty is central to their appeal. Game designers, he suggests, can harness the idea of uncertainty to guide their work. Costikyan explores the many sources of uncertainty in many sorts of games -- from Super Mario Bros. to Rock/Paper/Scissors, from Monopoly to CityVille, from FPS Deathmatch play to Chess. He describes types of uncertainty, including performative uncertainty, analytic complexity, and narrative anticipation. And he suggest ways that game designers who want to craft novel game experiences can use an understanding of game uncertainty in its many forms to improve their designs.

Uncertainty in Games (Playful Thinking series)

The MIT Press

How uncertainty in games―from Super Mario Bros. to Rock/Paper/Scissors―engages players and shapes play experiences. 
In life, uncertainty surrounds us. Things that we thought were good for us turn out to be bad for us (and vice versa); people we thought we knew well behave in mysterious ways; the stock market takes a nosedive. Thanks to an inexplicable optimism, most of the time we are fairly cheerful about it all. But we do devote much effort to managing and ameliorating uncertainty. Is it any wonder, then, asks Greg Costikyan, that we have taken this aspect of our lives and transformed it culturally, making a series of elaborate constructs that subject us to uncertainty but in a fictive and nonthreatening way? That is: we create games.
In this concise and entertaining book, Costikyan, an award-winning game designer, argues that games require uncertainty to hold our interest, and that the struggle to master uncertainty is central to their appeal. Game designers, he suggests, can harness the idea of uncertainty to guide their work.
Costikyan explores the many sources of uncertainty in many sorts of games―from Super Mario Bros. to Rock/Paper/Scissors, from Monopoly to CityVille, from FPS Deathmatch play to Chess. He describes types of uncertainty, including performative uncertainty, analytic complexity, and narrative anticipation. And he suggest ways that game designers who want to craft novel game experiences can use an understanding of game uncertainty in its many forms to improve their designs.

Nijon, a young barbarian and son of the god Mongoose, performs heroic deeds--such as killing a lioness barehanded, outsmarting a dragon, rescuing a princess, and outwitting a king

By the Sword (Magic of the Plains, Vol. 1)

Literature & Fiction

United States

Tor Books

First Contract

Johnson Mukerjii is a happy man; hes the CEO of a successful high-tech company about to unveil a newer and better technology. His beautiful wife greets him poolside every night with a drink and a sexy smile. Hes got it made. The alien landing changes everything. Suddenly, the company is worthless, and the lovely wife has become the lovely ex-wife, taking every single penny of liquid assets with her. His only hope to reclaim his life is to rebuild his connections with a strange science fiction writer whom the aliens seem to like and to find a product the aliens will buy.

In The Willow Game, you play one (or more) of the characters from the movie. Your characters are either Good or Evil. If you are Good, you must try to keep the baby, Elora Danan, out of the evil Bavmorda's clutches and take the child to safety. If you are Evil, you must try to find the baby, capture her, and take her to Nockmaar Castle. One of the Good characters starts with Elora Danan, but the Evil players do not know who. Thus the Evil players move around the board, searching for the Good characters and fighting them in an attempt to capture the baby.

The Willow Game

Another Day, Another Dungeon (Ups and Sorcery, Book 1)

Science Fiction & Fantasy

Fantasy

Tom Doherty Assoc Llc

By the Sword (Magic of the Plains, Vol 1)

On the road with the statue of King Stantius in tow, the motley adventurers of Another Day, Another Dungeon--including Timaeus the wizard, pickpocket Nick, and Kraki the barbarian--confront the thieving Broderick of Biddleburg. Original.

One Quest, Hold the Dragons (Cups and Sorcery)

Tor Books/ Tom Doherty Associates

The market is up. The product is selling. The company (and the CEO) are about to make even more money. Unttil the aliens land.

Science Fiction

Tor Science Fiction

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Costikyan, Greg. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Books by Costikyan, Greg

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Costikyan, Greg. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Uncertainty in Games (Playful Thinking)

Uncertainty in Games (Playful Thinking series)

Uncertainty in Games (Playful Thinking)

By the Sword (Magic of the Plains, Vol. 1)

First Contract

The Willow Game

Another Day, Another Dungeon (Ups and Sorcery, Book 1)

By the Sword (Magic of the Plains, Vol 1)

One Quest, Hold the Dragons (Cups and Sorcery)

First Contract