A new book – Adventures in Games Analysis: Volume I

October 18th, 2023

It’s been a long time coming, but Adventures in Games Analysis: Volume I is finally out in the wild! You can purchase a copy at the following link ($5.99).

From the book’s blurb:

Adventures in Games Analysis is a compilation of articles diving deep into the complex and interconnected art form that is video games. By spotlighting specific examples of game design, author Daniel Johnson deconstructs the creative challenges behind some of gaming’s most popular franchises.

This first volume explores topics such as designing a 3D action game with NES style controls in Metroid: Other M, sequencing and layering gameplay challenges in Uncharted 2’s famous ‘train level,’ and balancing slow-motion FPS Steel Diver: Sub Wars around Nintendo’s limited online infrastructure. The insightful analysis enables readers to better appreciate the individual titles as well as the artistic qualities that video games have to offer.

Although it took me quite some time to release it, I’m proud of the integrity of articles as well as the variety in format and topics. Overall, the book clocks in just shy of 120 pages, a good fit for this kind of endeavour. To give you an idea of the scope of the project, I’ve included a list of articles below:

Unintended Consequences: How Miiverse’s Closure broke Steel Diver: Sub Wars

300 Word Review – Bit.Trip.Runner

New Hardware meets Smart Design, a Reinvention of Mario & Luigi’s Dynamic Combat Gameplay (Mario & Luigi: Dream Team Bros.)

Let’s Play – The Graveyard

Conveying Story through Gameplay Variation (Uncharted 2: Among Thieves)

“Keep Experimenting until You Succeed” (Legend of the River King)

300 Word Reviews – Trauma Centre 2: Under the Knife

Unpicking the Gordian Knot Tying Mechanics to Gameplay (DK: King of Swing)

Trial and Error (LocoRoco)

How to Make a Video Game in Twine

Exploring Authority and Independence (Metroid: Other M)

The Implications of creating an NES Game with the Latest Technology (Metroid: Other M)

Transcending Pen and Paper (Nintendo Presents Crossword Collection)

Adventures was originally written around 2013. I subsequently rewrote the entire book in 2015 and after working with an editor, the manuscript was complete in 2019. After several false starts, I finally got round to sorting out publishing earlier this year. It’s fair to say that my life is not what it was 10 years ago. It’s not that I don’t have time to write (although I certainly have much less time than before), but rather there are different things commanding my attention at present. If things keep going, the next book I write may not even be games-related at all. Who knows? What I can say is that my heart is set on writing another book in the Game Design Companion series. This book already has about 6 months of research behind it and will have a strong logical through line. I hope that I’ll be able to get it off the ground.

Daniel

Posted in Site Updates | Comments (0)