Overview

Games and exercises to help designers understand how people think, how systems work, and how a design process can unfold. Exercises in Play, Systems, and Design is a collection of hands-on, real-world exercises for designers of all kinds. Games and play can help designers understand how people think, how systems work, and how a design process can unfold. The exercises are sometimes played on a tabletop, and sometimes are physical and social games, but they are all thought-provoking and (of course!) very fun to play. The book is divided into three sections, games that can be played in 30 minutes, 2 hours, and a day or more. They are valuable for anyone who wants to know more about how people think, how systems work, how to create meaningful experiences, and how to redesign the world for the better. Short, inspirational essays begin each section, where readers learn about productive collaboration, creative problem solving, how to communicate ideas, and analyzing how systems work.

Full Product Details

9781648960673

Table of Contents

Reviews

It is marvelous seeing serious thought given to the magic of games rather than just the mechanics. Games can't really be understood without understanding play; and the philosophy of play, and the relationship between play and rules is fascinating. Ultimately, to understand games one has to actually engage with and experiment with them in a playful and introspective way, and that is really what The Rules We Break is all about. - Richard Garfield, mathematician, inventor, and creator of the card game, Magic: The Gathering

This marvelous book - years in the making - is a treasure trove of design thinking, inspiring reflections, and practical exercises. The Rules We Break belongs on the shelf of every designer and educator. - Richard LeMarchand, game designer and associate professor, USC Games program The Rules We Break is a handbook for the 21st century, where play just happens to be a serious way to learn about-and change-the systems that impact our lives. - Colleen Macklin, game designer and associate professor of media design at Parsons The New School for Design It is marvelous seeing serious thought given to the magic of games rather than just the mechanics. Games can't really be understood without understanding play; and the philosophy of play, and the relationship between play and rules is fascinating. Ultimately, to understand games one has to actually engage with and experiment with them in a playful and introspective way, and that is really what The Rules We Break is all about. - Richard Garfield, mathematician, inventor, and creator of the card game, Magic: The Gathering

The Rules We Break is a handbook for the 21st century, where play just happens to be a serious way to learn about--and change--the systems that impact our lives. - Colleen Macklin, game designer and associate professor of media design at Parsons The New School for Design It is marvelous seeing serious thought given to the magic of games rather than just the mechanics. Games can't really be understood without understanding play; and the philosophy of play, and the relationship between play and rules is fascinating. Ultimately, to understand games one has to actually engage with and experiment with them in a playful and introspective way, and that is really what The Rules We Break is all about. - Richard Garfield, mathematician, inventor, and creator of the card game, Magic: The Gathering This marvelous book - years in the making - is a treasure trove of design thinking, inspiring reflections, and practical exercises. The Rules We Break belongs on the shelf of every designer and educator. - Richard LeMarchand, game designer and associate professor, USC Games program The Rules We Break is a handbook for the 21st century, where play just happens to be a serious way to learn about--and change--the systems that impact our lives. - Colleen Macklin, game designer and associate professor of media design at Parsons The New School for Design This marvelous book - years in the making - is a treasure trove of design thinking, inspiring reflections, and practical exercises. The Rules We Break belongs on the shelf of every designer and educator. - Richard LeMarchand, game designer and associate professor, USC Games program It is marvelous seeing serious thought given to the magic of games rather than just the mechanics. Games can't really be understood without understanding play; and the philosophy of play, and the relationship between play and rules is fascinating. Ultimately, to understand games one has to actually engage with and experiment with them in a playful and introspective way, and that is really what The Rules We Break is all about. - Richard Garfield, mathematician, inventor, and creator of the card game, Magic: The Gathering

The Rules We Break is a handbook for the 21st century, where play just happens to be a serious way to learn about-and change-the systems that impact our lives. - Colleen Macklin, game designer and associate professor of media design at Parsons The New School for Design It is marvelous seeing serious thought given to the magic of games rather than just the mechanics. Games can't really be understood without understanding play; and the philosophy of play, and the relationship between play and rules is fascinating. Ultimately, to understand games one has to actually engage with and experiment with them in a playful and introspective way, and that is really what The Rules We Break is all about. - Richard Garfield, mathematician, inventor, and creator of the card game, Magic: The Gathering

Author Information

Eric Zimmerman is a game designer and Professor of Game Design at the NYU Game Center, a program he helped design at NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts.

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