Ebook: Developing Online Games: An Insider's Guide

This book focuses on the elements necessary to develop a successful launch of an online game. In order to have the successful launch, the book looks at what needs to be considers in creating the game from the development team's point of view. The assumption is that you know how to code, you know what kind of game you want to create and you have the resources to create one. But this is the toolbox for the pre-launch, launch and the post-launch. It is an interesting look at the theories behind creating your game for longevity. The post launch is probably the most interesting phase from this point of view.

"It isn't your game, it's the player's game."

This has been written more for Persistent World Games as they need a community for them to thrive. There are chapters that look at how to build these communities and nurture them so they continue playing your (or is it their?) game. One chapter looks at the different players you will encounter that can help, hinder or downright sabotage the success of a game (the 3 broad groups are aptly called Barbarians, Tribesmen and Citizens).

This book is also worth a look for the Online Timeline starting in 1986 and the anecdotes from games that worked and games that didn't. You might chuckle a bit in remembrance of some of the events mentioned, like the first testing of Quake in 1995. If you are looking to develop a game that has a following, there are definitely some tips here worth knowing about.

Ghada
www.ZoDAL.net
New Zealand