Book Summary - Game Design Workshop - 05 Survive in the Industry

After finishing a game, it doesn't guarantee you can success, or even earn a living. There are many  rules and knowledge you need to know in the game industry so that you can survive in this environment.

There are total 5 chapters:

1. Team Structures
2. Stages of Development
3. The Design Document
4. Understanding the Game Industry
5. Selling Yourself and Your Ideas to the Game Industry

While what I actually have read is Chapter 14: The Design Document. For other topics, I only have a glance. If you really wish to get into the game industry, you can go to read this book for details. It includes many well-known companies, such as Nintendo, EA Sports, Microsoft, etc. as examples to explain the game industry, the operation in the game development team, and the future trend of the game industry.

For the previous chapters, it is fine to read older version of this book since the theories and methods of designing a game has not changed so much. However, it is recommended to read the latest edition in this chapter since they will include more updated data. For 2nd edition, Chapter 15 still call "Understanding the Game Industry". But for 3rd edition, it changes to "Understanding the New Game Industry". So, you can assume there are much more information with reference value. It contains many charts and data about the types of games and market shares. It helps you to consider the types of game you want to make if you concern more about the business and market values.

For independents, it introduces some ways for finding business opportunities:

1. Building Your own Web site
2. Released the game on User generated game sites
3. Find Indie game aggregators
4. Find Casual game publishers and portals
5. Connect to Downloadable console games

It also has some recommendation and technique about selling your ideas.

If you aim to work in a formal game company, you may learn the stages of Development. team structure and the design document. Since these knowledge is essential for you to work with other colleagues and staffs in different positions.

That's all for the book summary. Thanks for reading until the last chapters. If you are curious about game design, you may read this book or find out other game design books that suits your favor more.

That's all, meow🐢.