As a gamer we are mostly aware now of the mental gymnastics taking place within the corporate side of the gaming industry due to informative journalistic leaks regarding questionable moneymaking efforts. We are aware of the mental manipulation that takes place, and the UX (user experience) tactics that experts utilize to create lucrative business endeavors. As we are aware so too are the game developers, and publishers. Developers, and publisher who hire UX experts like Celia Hodent (Epic Games/Fortnite, Ubisoft ...) to be a panel adviser. While this particular book, "The Gamer's Brain", isn't directed at us as gamers in that regard I feel it can still serve a dual purpose for both gamers, and game creators alike if they care to learn a little more about the industry they partake of. The book is very telling in it's detailed breakdown of how the gamer brain works on a neurological/psychological level, and how to best work that knowledge into game design for profit sake, and business sustainability. Using college level explanations, and various graphic references to backup information such as data pertaining to neuroscience, and UX understanding Celia Hodent unveils the inner workings of the user experience through her own personal industry experience. Broken up into two parts that each span seven chapters Celia eases the reader into things like perception, attention, cognitive bias, and eventually methodology as well as application in the processes of the creation of successful video games. It's more or less a comprehensive guide for a better business perspective.
This book, or at least the copy I received, is a somewhat thin, but high quality print featuring a glossy paperback cover along with a mixture of magazine style pages, and high quality print paper. Also included are spaced out colored images/screenshots, and graphs containing crucial information on the subject at hand. The bulk of the reading material including the foreword by Brenda Romero, and the two part breakdown by Celia is 232 pages long with book references that are referenced at the end in a convenient listing on several additional pages for those looking to do deeper research. It's akin to the type of book you'd pick up for a college course, but is available outside of college via the official website, or Amazon where it's marked at $53. The initial foreword by Brenda Romero gives her brief thoughts on the publication as a whole, and mentions her thoughts on it's usefulness within the industry confines setting up the stage for the intellectual feast that lies ahead. This, of course, is followed up by a full course two part breakdown of Celia Hodent's guide to understanding UX, the scientific methods she uses, and the psychology behind it all. The first part spanning chapters two through nine, and the second part spanning chapters ten through seventeen. Each part with their own underlying theme, and focus pertaining to gamer neuroscience, psychology, and business approach.
The first part of Celia's neuro-analysis of the gamer brain is broken up into several themed chapters with one word titles surrounding the gamer's perceptions, takeaways from a user experience, and the hooks therein. Also detailed in this neurologically, and psychologically themed assessment is the guide to understanding a developers' own neurological engagement when it comes to idea application, and bias. Moreover how to recognize cognitive bias, and understand how it plays a role in the produced user experience, or success of the final product. Things like the dangers of "neurobollocks", or rather the industry outlets hyping up the intellectual side of business, and game design without proper application, display, or understanding.
Part two of this two part breakdown goes neck deep into business application, methodology, and examples of what to do as well as what not to do if you want to be successful in creating a lucrative user experience, and an equally lucrative business. You'll find graphs showcasing the importance of game focus. Topics surrounding game features like the metagame, building, crafting, and other such staples of sought after in-game elements. You'll also find reference material related to the maturity scales, or ESRB ratings, and their individual effects in attracting the different audience demographics as well as how to best use elements of design such as the UI (user interface), and trendy gimmicks to hook the player into both paying, and playing for an extended period of time.
In regards to the author, Celia Hodent you'll find that she has worked with several different big name studios including branches of Ubisoft as well as Epic Games on both Fortnite, and Paragon earning her the prestigious industry positions she has gained over the years. She is a UX expert with a PhD in psychology from a university in Paris Descartes-Sorbonne, France. She specialized in cognitive development there. Using scientific method, and cognitive science knowledge in the field of game development starting at Vtech, and moving into work with studios like Ubisoft, and Epic Games Celia was able through this book to give the reader, and industry proper insight, and know how. Details that are included in the introductory paragraph of, "The Gamer's Brain". Fairly much verbatim.
The Verdict ...
The Gamer's Brain, is a very deeply involved college level read meant mainly for the business crowd. Particularly those in the field of game design, or those assisting in the various jobs within game design, and publishing or marketing. That having been said I think there's also a gamer takeaway to be had from the read. It can enlighten journalists who cover said topics on the inner workings of the industry. It can even help the basic gamer understand how they are being manipulated, and in turn which games to support, or not support. As a gamer I personally found a lot of the reading material enlightening myself. It's an eye opener, and the way it is organized allows for easier comprehension of the material in hand. I think it's a well done college level read, and that it is worth a buy. Both for a proper business, and journalistic gaming perspective.
You'll find the book to be a bit pricey at $53+ dollars, but from a business perspective it will be worth it. Maybe a little less so for the average gamer.
OFFICIAL WEBSITE: https://celiahodent.com/the-gamers-brain/
This book, or at least the copy I received, is a somewhat thin, but high quality print featuring a glossy paperback cover along with a mixture of magazine style pages, and high quality print paper. Also included are spaced out colored images/screenshots, and graphs containing crucial information on the subject at hand. The bulk of the reading material including the foreword by Brenda Romero, and the two part breakdown by Celia is 232 pages long with book references that are referenced at the end in a convenient listing on several additional pages for those looking to do deeper research. It's akin to the type of book you'd pick up for a college course, but is available outside of college via the official website, or Amazon where it's marked at $53. The initial foreword by Brenda Romero gives her brief thoughts on the publication as a whole, and mentions her thoughts on it's usefulness within the industry confines setting up the stage for the intellectual feast that lies ahead. This, of course, is followed up by a full course two part breakdown of Celia Hodent's guide to understanding UX, the scientific methods she uses, and the psychology behind it all. The first part spanning chapters two through nine, and the second part spanning chapters ten through seventeen. Each part with their own underlying theme, and focus pertaining to gamer neuroscience, psychology, and business approach.
The first part of Celia's neuro-analysis of the gamer brain is broken up into several themed chapters with one word titles surrounding the gamer's perceptions, takeaways from a user experience, and the hooks therein. Also detailed in this neurologically, and psychologically themed assessment is the guide to understanding a developers' own neurological engagement when it comes to idea application, and bias. Moreover how to recognize cognitive bias, and understand how it plays a role in the produced user experience, or success of the final product. Things like the dangers of "neurobollocks", or rather the industry outlets hyping up the intellectual side of business, and game design without proper application, display, or understanding.
Part two of this two part breakdown goes neck deep into business application, methodology, and examples of what to do as well as what not to do if you want to be successful in creating a lucrative user experience, and an equally lucrative business. You'll find graphs showcasing the importance of game focus. Topics surrounding game features like the metagame, building, crafting, and other such staples of sought after in-game elements. You'll also find reference material related to the maturity scales, or ESRB ratings, and their individual effects in attracting the different audience demographics as well as how to best use elements of design such as the UI (user interface), and trendy gimmicks to hook the player into both paying, and playing for an extended period of time.
In regards to the author, Celia Hodent you'll find that she has worked with several different big name studios including branches of Ubisoft as well as Epic Games on both Fortnite, and Paragon earning her the prestigious industry positions she has gained over the years. She is a UX expert with a PhD in psychology from a university in Paris Descartes-Sorbonne, France. She specialized in cognitive development there. Using scientific method, and cognitive science knowledge in the field of game development starting at Vtech, and moving into work with studios like Ubisoft, and Epic Games Celia was able through this book to give the reader, and industry proper insight, and know how. Details that are included in the introductory paragraph of, "The Gamer's Brain". Fairly much verbatim.
The Verdict ...
The Gamer's Brain, is a very deeply involved college level read meant mainly for the business crowd. Particularly those in the field of game design, or those assisting in the various jobs within game design, and publishing or marketing. That having been said I think there's also a gamer takeaway to be had from the read. It can enlighten journalists who cover said topics on the inner workings of the industry. It can even help the basic gamer understand how they are being manipulated, and in turn which games to support, or not support. As a gamer I personally found a lot of the reading material enlightening myself. It's an eye opener, and the way it is organized allows for easier comprehension of the material in hand. I think it's a well done college level read, and that it is worth a buy. Both for a proper business, and journalistic gaming perspective.
You'll find the book to be a bit pricey at $53+ dollars, but from a business perspective it will be worth it. Maybe a little less so for the average gamer.
OFFICIAL WEBSITE: https://celiahodent.com/the-gamers-brain/
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