Never before has a guide so succinctly put together the essence of what it means to design for the elusive but highly important element of fun. And the pursuit of fun in interactive media like games is never ending. It's not so easy to articulate what fun is (try it sometime and you'll see) but leading interactive designer, Raph Koster, has developed a theory of fun that he cleverly presents in his ground-breaking book: A Theory of Fun for Game Design. Not only game designers, but all designers will treasure this insightful and challenging exploration of how to step out of the box and create designs that really entertain.

A Theory of Fun for Game Design is not your typical how-to book. It features a novel way of teaching interactive designers how to create and improve their designs to incorporate the highest degree of fun. As the book shows, designing for fun is all about making interactive products like games highly entertaining, engaging, and addictive. The book's unique approach of providing a highly visual storyboard approach combined with a narrative on the art and practice of designing for fun is sure to be a hit with game and interactive designers, At first glance A Theory of Fun for Game Design is a book that will truly inspire and challenge game designers to think in new was; however, its universal message will influence designers from all walks of life. This book captures the real essence of what drives us to seek out products and experiences that are truly fun and entertaining. The author masterfully presents his engaging theory by showing readers how many designs are lacking because they are predictable and not engaging enough. He then explains how great designers use different types of elements in new ways to make designs more fun and compelling. Anyone who is interested in design will enjoy how the book works on two levels--as a quick inspiration guide to game design, or as an informative discussion that details the insightful thinking from a great mind in the game industry.