Summary and Review of “Designing Modern Strategy Games” by George Phillies and Tom Vasel
Price: [price_with_discount]
(as of [price_update_date] – Details)
Overview of the Book
Title: Designing Modern Strategy Games (Studies in Game Design Book 1)
Authors: George Phillies & Tom Vasel
Publication Date: June 24, 2017 (2nd edition)
Format: Kindle Edition
Pages: 576
Genre: Humor & Entertainment, Board Games, Game Design
What the Book is About
- The book serves as a comprehensive guide and textbook on the design of modern strategy games.
- It includes more than 100 game design projects, making it practical for instructors and students.
- The content opens with an essay by Greg Costikyan, a respected figure in game design.
- It provides a detailed synoptic analysis of game design elements.
- The book features recommendations from great game designers.
- It contains detailed analyses of the rules of over a hundred strategy games.
- An appendix is included with course plans for a university course on the design of tabletop board wargames taught by Phillies.
- The book is aimed at both game design students and enthusiasts interested in understanding modern strategy games in depth.
Key Features
- In-depth theoretical and practical approach to strategy game design.
- Breakdown of various design elements like theme, mechanics, and rules.
- Extensive examples from real games to illustrate design principles.
- Course plans for educators teaching game design.
- Insights from interviews with prominent game designers.
Customer Reviews and Feedback
Overall Rating: 3.7 out of 5 stars (Based on 28 ratings)
Positive Aspects
- Useful Resource: Many readers found it a valuable tool for building knowledge about game design. It is helpful for those attempting to design games.
- Comprehensive Survey: The book offers a good overview of fast-playing strategy games and encourages readers to think about creating their own.
- Inspiring Advice: Contains inspiring advice and recommendations from experienced game designers.
- Educational Use: Suitable as a textbook with structured course plans for teaching game design.
- Detailed Game Rule Summaries: Includes summaries of many popular games’ rules, useful for reference.
Criticisms and Limitations
- Too General for Some: Some readers expected more detailed, practical guidance on designing specific game mechanics such as balancing stats or designing maps but found the book lacking in this area.
- Classroom Focused: A few reviewers noted the book is written more for academic or classroom use rather than casual reading or direct application by hobbyists.
- Repetitive Content: Some felt parts of the book were similar to free online content (e.g., interviews available elsewhere).
- Not a How-To Manual: It is not a step-by-step manual for new designers looking for concrete instructions on rule creation or game balancing.
Summary Table of Reviews
| Aspect | Positive Feedback | Negative Feedback |
|---|---|---|
| Content Coverage | Extensive analysis of strategy games and rules | Lacks deep practical guidance on mechanics |
| Usability | Good as a textbook or reference | Less useful for casual or beginner designers |
| Inspiration & Advice | Offers motivating insights from top designers | Some content overlaps with freely available resources |
| Educational Value | Structured course plans included | May feel too academic or dense for casual readers |
Conclusion
“Designing Modern Strategy Games” by George Phillies and Tom Vasel is a detailed, well-researched resource primarily aimed at students, educators, and serious hobbyists interested in the theory and analysis of modern strategy board games. While it excels as a textbook and reference guide with broad coverage and expert insights, it may fall short for those seeking hands-on, practical tutorials on game mechanics design or simple step-by-step instructions. Readers looking for inspiration, historical context, and comprehensive rule analysis will find much value here.
If you want a book that blends theory with extensive examples and supports academic study, this is recommended. However, if you are looking for quick how-to advice on creating balanced games or designing components, you might want to complement this with other more focused design manuals.
[ad_2]
