| Acknowledgments |
|
xi | |
| Introduction |
|
xiii | |
| Part I Forethought and Planning |
|
1 | (68) |
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3 | (20) |
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History of Multiplayer Online Games |
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4 | (9) |
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13 | (7) |
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20 | (3) |
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Anthropology and Playology |
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23 | (12) |
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The Human-Game Relationship |
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24 | (2) |
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26 | (3) |
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29 | (1) |
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30 | (1) |
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31 | (1) |
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32 | (2) |
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34 | (1) |
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Perspective and Understanding |
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35 | (10) |
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Understanding Online Games and Online Game Design |
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35 | (3) |
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Specialties of Multiplayer Online Games |
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38 | (5) |
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43 | (2) |
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Analysis and Categorization |
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45 | (12) |
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According to Online Integration |
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46 | (3) |
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49 | (2) |
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51 | (2) |
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According to Purpose of Play |
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53 | (1) |
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According to Business Model/Distribution Channel |
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53 | (3) |
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56 | (1) |
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Conceptualizing Interactivity |
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57 | (12) |
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The Importance of Interactivity |
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57 | (2) |
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The Interactivity Concept |
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59 | (2) |
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61 | (6) |
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67 | (2) |
| Part II Implementation |
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69 | (218) |
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Player-to-Computer Interactivity |
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71 | (28) |
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Introducing Player-to-Computer Interactivity |
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71 | (2) |
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Synchronicity and Quality |
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73 | (3) |
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Controls and Interface Devices |
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76 | (3) |
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79 | (2) |
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Network and Network Transparency |
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81 | (5) |
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86 | (3) |
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89 | (3) |
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92 | (2) |
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System Knowledge and Learning Curve |
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94 | (4) |
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98 | (1) |
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Player-to-Player Interactivity |
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99 | (40) |
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Introducing Player-to-Player Interactivity |
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99 | (2) |
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Range of Potential Partners |
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101 | (10) |
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Freedom to Define the Range of Potential Partners |
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111 | (3) |
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114 | (3) |
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Knowledge of the Game Environment |
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117 | (5) |
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Variety of Interaction Channels |
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122 | (6) |
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Case Study: GameSpy Arcade |
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128 | (8) |
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136 | (3) |
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Player-to-Game Interactivity |
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139 | (32) |
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Introducing Player-to-Game Interactivity |
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139 | (1) |
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140 | (3) |
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143 | (10) |
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153 | (3) |
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156 | (4) |
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160 | (10) |
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170 | (1) |
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Designing the Game Character |
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171 | (22) |
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What Are Game Characters? |
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171 | (2) |
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Interactivity through the Game Character |
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173 | (11) |
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Interactivity with the Game Character |
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184 | (8) |
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192 | (1) |
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193 | (36) |
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Defining Online Game Communities |
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193 | (1) |
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Characteristics of Online Game Communities |
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194 | (10) |
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Community Building Techniques |
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204 | (11) |
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215 | (12) |
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227 | (2) |
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229 | (34) |
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Conflict in Multiplayer Spaces |
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230 | (3) |
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233 | (15) |
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248 | (13) |
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261 | (2) |
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Designing with Technical Limitations |
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263 | (24) |
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264 | (1) |
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265 | (1) |
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266 | (14) |
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280 | (1) |
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281 | (4) |
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285 | (2) |
| Part III Additional Tools and Techniques |
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287 | (66) |
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289 | (18) |
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Understanding Prototyping and Its Meaning |
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289 | (5) |
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Introduction to Prototyping Techniques |
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294 | (4) |
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298 | (8) |
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306 | (1) |
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Playtesting and Beta Versions |
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307 | (16) |
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Alphas, Betas, and Release Candidates |
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308 | (2) |
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310 | (11) |
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321 | (2) |
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Massively Multiplayer Games and Middleware |
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323 | (30) |
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Overview of Game Middleware |
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324 | (5) |
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Interview with Remi Arnaud and Kenneth Trueman |
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329 | (19) |
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Case Study: Artifact Entertainment's Horizons |
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348 | (3) |
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351 | (2) |
| Part IV Interviews and Opinions |
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353 | (54) |
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Shop Talk: Meeting of the Minds |
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355 | (52) |
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Interview Method and Procedure |
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355 | (1) |
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356 | (4) |
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Interactivity and Computer Games |
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360 | (5) |
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Meaning of ``Multiplayer'' for Gamers and Games |
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365 | (9) |
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Meaning of ``Multiplayer'' for Game Designers |
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374 | (12) |
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The Future of Multiplayer Online Games |
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386 | (9) |
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Understanding of (Multiplayer Online) Computer Games |
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395 | (10) |
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405 | (1) |
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406 | (1) |
| Appendices |
|
407 | (14) |
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A Bibliography and Additional Resources |
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407 | (8) |
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415 | (6) |
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415 | (1) |
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416 | (1) |
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416 | (5) |
| Index |
|
421 | |
