The Psychology of Game Vision

This book addresses one of the most common causes of project failure in game development- an unclear vision. It challenges the assumption that game vision is more of an art than a science by asking two questions: what do the mental models of game creators look like, and once we see how they are thinking, are these models good enough for capturing and communicating game vision?The results show that current models are incomplete and inaccurate, leading directly to problems such as miscommunication, vision drift, unclear player experiences, and ultimately, project failure. The book presents these mental models, examines the issues they create, and introduces a more accurate mental model – Vision4D, which enables teams to define and sustain a coherent vision from concept through to launch. Providing a practical framework that helps teams define and align on the player experience of their game, this book will appeal to both professional game designers and those aspiring to become one.