Directing Video Games: 101 Tips for Creative Leaders

by Maneger Vayas

Overview

What does a video game director actually do? What guiding principles do they follow while leading a team of game creators? Longtime Ratchet & Clank director, Brian Allgeier, boils down his decades of experience into 101 fully illustrated tips.

Directing Video Games: 101 Tips for Creative Leaders covers common practices used by game directors from using comedy improv techniques for brainstorming ideas to key methods for story and game development..

Tips cover the 5 essential qualities of a creative director:

1. Hold the Vision

2. Provide Structure

3. Keep a Creative Toolbox

4. Lead Effectively

5. Know Production

For those who are curious about what it takes to be a video game director or want learn more about the art of creative collaboration, this book covers the basic principles for leading and inspiring a team to make great games.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780998637525
Publisher:	Illusion Road
Publication date:	05/06/2017
Pages:	238
Sales rank:	229,469
Product dimensions:	5.00(w) x 8.00(h) x 0.62(d)

About the Author

Brian Allgeier is the longtime director of the Ratchet & Clank series and has developed video games for over 25 years. He led the design and creative direction on a wide range of games from the light-hearted Ratchet & Clank series to the virtual reality horror adventure Edge of Nowhere, for the Oculus Rift.

He enjoys drawing, sculpting models in VR, and coming up with crazy Halloween costumes every year. He lives in Los Angeles with his wife and dog.

Table of Contents

Contents

Note from the Author

Section I: The Director's Role

Tips 1–5

Section II: Crafting the Vision

Tips 6–19

Section III: Structural Elements

Tips 20–35

Section IV: Creative Toolbox

Tips 36–62

Section V: Leadership

Tips 63–87

Section VI: Production

Tips 88–101

Suggested Reading & Bonus Tip

Editorial Reviews

"This book is one of a kind, and is essential reading for anyone who wants to lead the creation of a video game. It's full of great visuals and excellent advice, and belongs on every game director's bookshelf."

—Richard Lemarchand, Associate Professor in the Interactive Media Division, USC

"Brian has managed an incredible thing—to present a broadly complex, multi-faceted role in bite-sized, easy to digest nuggets of sage advice."

—Marcus Smith, Creative Director of Resistance 3 and Sunset Overdrive

"Directing Video Games is a literal loot drop of knowledge, decades of experience concisely and expertly crafted into 101 densely packed tips. Even a page — with no exaggeration — can be transformative to a project’s success."

—Brenda Romero, Award winning game designer

"Born of expansive experience, this is a comprehensive book that both beginners and seasoned developers should keep at their side."

—Michael John, Program Director of Games and Playable Media, UCSC

From the Publisher