Game Design Theory: A Guided Tour [Ad Free, Early Access] (Patreon)

Hey folks.Here's the early version of the video explaining what game design theory actually is, what it's for, and how it develops. This could've been a VERY dry topic so I appreciate everyone's patience while I took time to work out an interesting way to show/tell about this.

I'm attaching the full resource/reference list below the line. Some of these will be links to myself, others to books or talks. Those of you who are viewing this as a free member will be able to get all of those links on the YouTube version when this video goes out next week, and I'll probably include them all in the May newsletter too.

Full list of resources/talks below, as well as credits for background games and music. 🗺️ The full LUDORUM DESIGNATIO map is <here> for you to look at in more detail here [LINK PENDING SOME TWEAKS]:

✊🏻 Use BookShop.org to support small booksellers, not Bezos: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/indiegameclinic

📚 Core Game Design Textbooks

- Jesse Schell "The Art of Game Design" https://schellgames.com/art-of-game-design

- Tynan Sylvester "Designing Games" https://tynansylvester.com/book/

- Tracy Fullerton "Game Design Workshop" https://www.gamedesignworkshop.com/

🧠Player Studies & Psychology:

- Bartle Types (multiplayer/MMO games) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bartle_taxonomy_of_player_types

- Quantic Foundry's Player Types https://quanticfoundry.com/gamer-types/

- Geoffrey Engelstein "Achievement Relocked" https://mitpress.mit.edu/9780262043533/achievement-relocked/

- Geoffrey Engelstein GDC Talk on Loss Aversion: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F_1YcCcBVfY

- Dan Cook GC Talk on Friendship Games: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=voz6S7ryWC0&t=585s

- Self Determination Theory: https://selfdeterminationtheory.org/theory/

- Flow Theory explainer: https://medium.com/@icodewithben/mihaly-csikszentmihalyis-flow-theory-game-design-ideas-9a06306b0fb8

- Anthropology and the study of Games and Play: Callois' Man Play and Games: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ManPlayand_Games

- IGC on defining "Fun": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=56ENqlUST9U&t=1347s

♟️Ludology:

- Raph Koster "A Theory of Fun..." https://www.theoryoffun.com/

- Raph Koster et al on Ludemes: https://www.parlettgames.uk/gamester/whatsaludeme.html

- Steve Swink discusses Game Feel at IndieCade: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QkFeKnk_2TY

- Salen & Zimmerman "Rules of Play" https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/rules-of-play-game-design-fundamentals-katie-salen-tekinbas/121463?ean=9780262240451&next=t

- "Say It Like You Play it" on Ludemes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tHzyQ27Dp8M

- IGC on Rules, Mechanics and Systems: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nkLmjJK3vOw&t=782s

⚒️ Craft Methodologies:

- GMTK on Prototyping: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8tHJgtbj6rs&t=1s

- IGC on Playtesting: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zXNRJuc48Ek&t=235s

- Derek Yu on Finishing Games: https://www.tumblr.com/makegames/1136623767/finishing-a-game

- Kim Nordstrom "Up Down Up: Why Some Game Companies Succeed, While Others Fail" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c9E01EdVzwE&t=562s

🎭 LudoNarratology

- Clara Fernández-Vara's "Taxonomy of Game Choices": https://clarafv.itch.io/taxonomy-of-narrative-choices

- Clara Fernández-Vara's "Indexical Storytelling": https://gdcvault.com/play/1016566/Environmental-Storytelling-Indices-and-the

- Heussner et al "The Game Narrative Toolbox": https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/25710839-the-game-narrative-toolbox

- Cryil Focht explains the LudoNarratology debate https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=14vJCImDMrw

- Henry Jenkins on Game Design as Narrative Architecture: chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://paas.org.pl/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/09.-Henry-Jenkins-Game-Design-As-Narrative-Architecture.pdf

🔭 Games as Visual Media:

- IGC on Visual Communication in Games: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SV1BBtD3hY4

- IGC in Graphic Design for UI: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HdSSRTWmcw8&t=6410s

- Tom Nicholas explains Semiotics: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0JtJu9HdQVM&t=10s

- "An Introduction to Neuroaesthetics" by Jon Lauring https://www.waterstones.com/book/an-introduction-to-neuroaesthetics/jon-o-lauring/9788763541404

💡 Ideation & General Design

- Don Norman "The Design of Everyday Things" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-gQUzHb1mJY

- Double Diamond Design https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w0_-1RqBK_0

- Extra Credits on Design Affordances: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QCSXEKHL6fc&t=55s

- Nasim Taleb "Antifragile Ideas": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C40zwpdc_yo

🎧 Book Reviews & Summaries:

IGC on Koster's "A Theory of Fun": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=28DZLHEH8AI&t=3s

IGC on Schell's "The Art of Game Design": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDVepE43Umc&list=PL3n3ExgUASw7Nqz5EiYScGtp61jUuak_J&index=3

IGC on Sylvester's "Designing Games": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RFSxLRBht14&list=PL3n3ExgUASw7Nqz5EiYScGtp61jUuak_J&index=7

GSSB on Callois' "Man, Play & Games": https://rangedtouch.com/2018/10/18/5-caillois-man-play-and-games/

- GSSB on Jorgenson's "Gameworld Interfaces": https://rangedtouch.com/2025/04/30/81-jorgensen-gameworld-interfaces/

- GSBB on Isbisters' "How Games Move Us": https://rangedtouch.com/2023/02/28/55-isbister-how-games-move-us/

- GSSB on Laurel's "Computers as Theatre" https://rangedtouch.com/2021/03/31/33-laurel-computers-as-theatre/

🎞️ Games & Animation Used in This Video:

- Inkarnate Map Maker: https://inkarnate.com/

- GoldenEye Low Poly Joe rigged/textured/danced by KrabWerks (developer of Hermit, also shown in video as a background)

- Farming Incremental But With Guns: https://pamintandrei.itch.io/farming-incremental-but-with-guns

- Cracks Where the Light Gets In: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2286000/Cracks_Where_the_Light_Gets_In/

- Hermit: https://store.steampowered.com/app/3787470/Hermit/

- I Won't Let You Level Up in My Goblin Town: https://store.steampowered.com/app/3019490/I_Wont_Let_You_Level_Up_In_My_Goblin_Town/

- Zenomatrix: https://store.steampowered.com/app/3080910/ZENOMATRIX/

- the Indies Under the Knife game clip is from "Solace of Flowers": https://store.steampowered.com/app/3577070/The_Solace_of_Flowers/

🎶 Music:

All music and sound effects licenses from Epidemic Sound.

- "in the Catacombs" by More than Family

- "The Battle of Mount Valor" by Jon Bjork

- "Layers of Truth" by August Wilhemsson

- "Slowly, Like an Aching" by Jay Taylor

- The Amazon Review Rap instrumental was: "LA LA LA" by Adelyn Paik

- The r/GameDesign Song instrumental was: "Moved On" by Dylan Sitts

📜 Video Chapters:

00:00 intro

01:04 what game design books are NOT for

05:28 what game design books ARE for

07:40 what most designers need to think about

08:24 understanding players

12:58 craft methodologies

17:15 ludology

18:27 games as drama / stories

21:13 design learning is life-long and interdisciplinary

24:13 anti-intellectualism is for bellends