In addition, you’ll find and valuable advice for those of nefarious intent who must deal with such meddling do-gooders, including the Xanathar’s personal thoughts on how to dispatch anyone foolish enough to interfere with his business dealings. Alongside observations on “heroes” themselves, the beholder fills the pages of this tome with his personal thoughts on tricks, traps, and even treasures and how they can be put to villainous use.Complete rules for more than twenty new subclasses for fifth edition Dungeons & Dragons, including the cavalier, the inquisitive, the horizon walker, and many more. Dozens of new feats and spells, and a system to give your character a unique, randomized backstory. A variety of systems and tools that provide Dungeon Masters new ways to personalize their home games, while also expanding the ways players can engage in organized play and shared world campaigns.Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but evil is in its heart!The Xanathar…Waterdeep’s most infamous crime lord, and a beholder to boot…You’d be shocked to discover just how much he knows about you…Yes, you… adventurers.

    Witness the making of a champion!This book features: * Nearly 50 pages of sketches and official illustrations from Takumi Wada * 296 Pages of design artwork and commentary about the making of the game from creators * 55 Page historical section that divulges an in-depth history of the Hyrule of Breath of the Wild. * Interviews with key members of the development team including Hidemaro Fujibayashi, Satoru Takizawa, Takumi Wada, and Eiji AonumaMake sure to check out the other installments in this unparalleled collection of historical information on The Legend of Zelda franchise with the New York Times best selling The Legend of Zelda: Hyrule Historia, The Legend of Zelda: Art & Artifacts, and The Legend of Zelda: Encyclopedia which detail the first 30 years of this historic video game franchise!

    This book includes rare promotional pieces, game box art, instruction booklet illustrations, official character illustrations, sprite art, interviews with the artists, and much, much more! The Legend of Zelda(TM) Art and Artifacts collects many of your favorite masterpieces from the storied franchise, as well as rare and never before seen content, presented in one handsome hardcover.Select artwork from the entirety of the franchise!A nostalgic look at the past!An exciting look at the future!Interviews with some of the artists behind The Legend of Zelda(TM) series!

    But now, you can explore these realms in a tome from the pen of Game Master Matt Mercer himself! Will you find one of the revered Vestiges of Divergence or perhaps discover part of the Chroma Conclave's legacy? Can you help the Ashari in their sacred charge to prevent the elemental vortices from overwhelming the world, or will you find yourself embroiled in the machinations of the Clasp? This setting book takes an in-depth look at the history, people, and places of Tal'Dorei, and includes new backgrounds, magic

    His mom warned him not to play in the forest, but he didn't listen. That's how he found himself in the Nether, a bizarre world inhabited by scary creatures. In the company of a ghast, almost cheerful witch, Eeebs develops supernatural powers.Will this be enough to fight against Endernova's army, the Enderman, who want to rule over the Overworld? In order to save his friends, Eeebs must become the champion of the Nether, as the prophecy of The Chosen One tells . . .

    In Blood, Sweat, and Pixels, Jason Schreier takes readers on a fascinating odyssey behind the scenes of video game development, where the creator may be a team of 600 overworked underdogs or a solitary geek genius. Exploring the artistic challenges, technical impossibilities, marketplace demands, and Donkey Kong-sized monkey wrenches thrown into the works by corporate, Blood, Sweat, and Pixels reveals how bringing any game to completion is more than Sisyphean—it's nothing short of miraculous.Taking some of the most popular, bestselling recent games, Schreier immerses readers in the hellfire of the development process, whether it's RPG studio Bioware's challenge to beat an impossible schedule and overcome countless technical nightmares to build Dragon Age: Inquisition; indie developer Eric Barone's single-handed efforts to grow country-life RPG Stardew Valley from one man's vision into a multi-million-dollar franchise; or Bungie spinning out from their corporate overlords at Microsoft to create Destiny, a brand new universe that they hoped would become as iconic as Star Wars and Lord of the Rings—even as it nearly ripped their studio apart. Documenting the round-the-clock crunches, buggy-eyed burnout, and last-minute saves, Blood, Sweat, and Pixels is a journey through development hell—and ultimately a tribute to the dedicated diehards and unsung heroes who scale mountains of obstacles in their quests to create the best games imaginable.

    But danger lurks around every corner and survival can prove difficult for even the bravest adventurer.The official Minecraft: Guide to Exploration will help you to survive. L earn how to find resources, craft equipment and protect yourself from hostile mobs.With insider info and tips from the experts at Mojang, this is the definitive guide to exploration for new Minecrafters.

    How was Wolfenstein 3D made and what were the secrets of its speed? How did id Software manage to turn a machine designed to display static images for word processing and spreadsheet applications into the best gaming platform in the world, capable of running games at seventy frames per seconds? If you have ever asked yourself these questions, Game Engine Black Book is for you.

    COLLECTOR’S EDITION BONUS: Premium hardcover,extra-large map poster and dedicated 16-page art sectionAT-A-GLANCE WALKTHROUGHS: Annotated maps and screenshots show you the way through every quest and dungeon.TOTALLY COMPREHENSIVE: All side quests, all  Shrines of Trials and all information about collectable items – each mapped out and ready for you to discover and complete! Also includes optional challenges, mini-games, unlockables, Easter eggs, and more.PUZZLE MASTER: Every single puzzle and riddle unraveled with clear, visual solutions.EXPERT COMBAT STRATEGY: Practical, reproducible tactics to crush your enemies, even the toughest bosses.COMPREHENSIVE REFERENCE: Exhaustive appraisals of all items and monsters – including key parameters that are hidden in the game.EXTRA LARGE MAP POSTER: covering the entire game world.QUALITY CONTROL: carefully designed to avoid unnecessary story spoilers.

    Victims grow thinner and weaker each day, slowly but steadily sliding toward the death they once denied.When they finally succumb, they can’t be raised—and neither can anyone else, regardless of whether they’ve ever received that miracle in the past. Temples and scholars of divine magic are at a loss to explain a curse that has affected the entire region, and possibly the entire world.The cause is a necromantic artifact called the Soulmonger, which is located somewhere in Chult, a mysterious peninsula far to the south, ringed with mountains and choked with rainforests.Adventure design by Christopher Perkins, Will Doyle, and Steve Winter, with additional design by Adam Lee. Story consulting by the award-winning creator of Adventure Time, Pendleton Ward.

    The world of Minecraft is so varied and limitless that incredible creations can often be daunting to think about, never mind build.The official Minecraft: Guide to Creative will teach you all you need to know to create builds more impressive than you could've dreamed of.With insider info and tips from the experts at Mojang, this is the definitive guide to creation in Minecraft.

    To solve the riddles, you need to think out of the box.You can write, draw, search, fold pages, combine different methods and try to get those riddles right. Journal 29 is a 148 pages book providing over 63 riddles you can solve.The Story: A top secret excavation did not bring any result for 28 weeks. It was on the 29th week that something unexpected happened. The team disappeared and the only thing that was left behind was their Journal. You must solve the riddles in order to solve the mystery.How to Play: Journal 29 is a book game of riddles and puzzles.To play, you will need: A copy of Journal 29 A pencil An internet connected device ( preferably a smartphone)Every two pages of Journal 29 have two elements: The riddle page and the key page.Step1 You solve the riddle on the riddle page.Step2 Visit the URL from the key page (you can type the URL on your browser or scan the unique QR code available on the page).Step3 Submit the answer of the riddle. Answer correctly, and get a key that is usually a word or a number.Step4 Write down the key. These keys are needed for solving the next riddles.To solve the riddles you will need to think out of the box. Write, draw, search, tear paper, fold pages, combine and more. You don't need any special app to play the game. Just a browser will do (preferably on your smartphone).

    The facility was complete in 1969, located deep below the pastoral countryside of Mälaröarna. The local population called this marvel of technology The Loop.Acclaimed scifi artist Simon Stålenhag’s paintings of Swedish 1980s suburbia, populated by fantastic machines and strange beasts, have spread like wildfire on the Internet. Stålenhag’s portrayal of a childhood against a backdrop of old Volvo cars and coveralls, combined with strange and mystical machines, creates a unique atmosphere that is both instantly recognizable and utterly alien.Now, for the first time, YOU will get the chance to step into the amazing world of the Loop. With your help, we will be able to create a beautiful printed RPG book about the Tales from the Loop.This game is our third international RPG, after the critically acclaimed Mutant: Year Zero and Coriolis - The Third Horizon. The lead writer is the seasoned Swedish game writer Nils Hintze, backed up by the entire Free League team who handle project management, editing, and graphic design.Additional writing in the game will be done by the award-winning and best-selling game writer and author Matt Forbeck, with twenty-seven novels and countless games published to date. Matt will be writing the alternative US campaign setting (read more below).All art in the game is of course done by Simon Stålenhag himself. Most of the art will be drawn from the pages of the Tales from the Loop artbook - many scenarios in the game are based directly on illustrations in the artbook - but the RPG will contain some new original art as well, including the cover image.

    Some of the yarns overheard by Durnan, the barkeep of the Yawning Portal, are inspired by places and events in far-flung lands from across the D&D multiverse, and these tales have been collected into a single volume.Within this tome are seven of the most compelling dungeons from the 40+ year history of Dungeons & Dragons. Some are classics that have hosted an untold number of adventurers, while others are some of the most popular adventures ever printed.The seeds of these stories now rest in your hands. D&D’s most storied dungeons are now part of your modern repertoire of adventures. Enjoy, and remember to keep a few spare character sheets handy.For use with the fifth edition Player’s Handbook, Monster Manual, and Dungeon Master’s Guide, this book provides fans with adventures, magic items and deadly monsters, all of which have been updated to the fifth edition rules. Explore seven deadly dungeons in this adventure supplement for the world’s greatest roleplaying game.Tales from the Yawning Portal includes the following adventures:*Against the Giants*Dead in Thay*Forge of Fury*Hidden Shrine of Tamoachan*Sunless Citadel*Tomb of Horrors*White Plume Mountain

    Those who manage to survive the first day of the new world must survive in the wake of a new reality, life lived as a turn-based tactical role playing game. Feel the horror, and revel in the humor, as battles take place one turn at a time. Can one man survive a world gone tactical? Will he ever understand the need for background music and strange announcer voices? It's your turn... to find out!

    100% Complete Strategy to master The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the WildAT-A-GLANCE WALKTHROUGHS: Annotated maps and screenshots show you the way through every quest and all Shrines of Trials.TOTALLY COMPREHENSIVE: All side quests, all  Shrines of Trials and all information about collectable items – each mapped out and ready for you to discover and complete! Also includes optional challenges, mini-games, unlockables, Easter eggs, and more.PUZZLE MASTER: Every single puzzle and riddle unraveled with clear, visual solutions.EXPERT COMBAT STRATEGY: Practical, reproducible tactics to crush your enemies, even the toughest bosses.COMPREHENSIVE REFERENCE: Exhaustive appraisals of all items and monsters – including key parameters that are hidden in the game.FREE MAP POSTER: covering the entire game world.QUALITY CONTROL: carefully designed to avoid unnecessary story spoilers.

    Will you delve for lost artifacts in the ruins of alien temples? Strap on rune-enhanced armor and a laser rifle to battle undead empires in fleets of bone ships, or defend colonists from a swarm of ravenous monsters? Maybe you'll hack into the mainframe of a god-run corporation, or search the stars for clues to the secret history of the universe or brand new planets to explore. Whether you're making first contact with new cultures on uncharted worlds or fighting to survive in the neon-lit back alleys of Absalom Station, you and your team will need all your wits, combat skill, and magic to make it through. But most of all, you'll need each other.This massive 528-page hardcover rulebook is the essential centerpiece of the Starfinder Roleplaying Game, with rules for character creation, magic, gear, and more—everything you need to play Starfinder as either a player or Game Master! The next great adventure in science-fantasy roleplaying takes off here, and the Starfinder Core Rulebook is your ticket to a lifetime of adventure amid the stars!Inside this book, you'll find:- All of the rules you need to play or run a game of Starfinder.- Seven character classes, from the elite soldier and stealthy operative to the physics-hacking technomancer and mind-bending mystic.- Character races both new and classic, from androids, insectile shirrens, ratlike ysoki, and reptilian vesk to the dwarves and elves of the distant future.- An in-depth exploration of the Starfinder setting, including its planets, gods, factions, and threats.- Hundreds of weapons, spells, technological gadgets, magic items, and other options to outfit any character.- Complete rules for starships, including customization and starship combat.- Rules and tips on using Pathfinder RPG content with Starfinder.Cover art by Remko Troost

    The terrain is rugged, the machines are deadly and your tools are primitive. This book will provide everything you need to overcome the odds, get a deeper understanding of this unique world and see all that the adventure has to offer.Get an Overview of How Things WorkOur breakdown of the game's systems is as in-depth as it gets. You'll have the benefit of countless hours' play at your fingertips, with analysis of the skills, crafting and rewards that makes knowing what to do next as clear as possible.Plan Your Route Through the GameWe provide everything you need to plot out your own route through the game, based on your way of playing. Tackle the main quests, side quests and activities in the order you want, or follow our recommendations for an easy, optimal experience.Hone Your Combat SkillsAloy has a staggering repertoire of hunting tools and abilities to learn and master. We'll provide all the information you need to choose the ones that suit you best. The Hunting Guide chapter lays bare all the workings of the game's enemies, weapons, tools and combat.Dig Beneath the SurfaceOur focus on dissecting Horizon Zero Dawn extends deeply into the game's story and its mysteries. This book is steeped in the game's lore and features design insights and artwork alongside interviews with the team at Guerrilla Games.A Beautiful BonusTo really know everything about the world of Horizon Zero Dawn you'll need to explore its outer reaches and collect every artifact and trinket you can. With that in mind, we've included a gorgeous world map poster to make sure you won't have trouble finding whatever you desire.

    At first, because of the newness of the game to most participants, they could be easily be beaten by players with only a moderate knowledge of sophisticated strategy. But today, this is no longer the case. Even though no-limit hold em is not, from a Game Theory perspective, a solved game, many ideas and concepts which come from this branch of mathematics now play an important role in a strong, winning no-limit hold em strategy. But it s also important for the expert player to know when to leave what is known about optimal play and switch to exploitative strategies to maximize his profit. And this brings us to No-Limit Hold em for Advanced Players, Emphasis on Tough Games by Matthew Janda. In this text, Janda spends much time discussing sophisticated strategies that should be employed against tough opposition, some of which has never been published before. He then supports his ideas with the modern advanced software programs of PokerSnowie and PioSOLVER. Topics covered include, but not limited to, Linear, Condensed, and Polarized Ranges, Raising First In As the Button, Understanding High Variance Plays, Turn Play and Overbets, Understanding Counter Strategies, Opening Frequencies Based on Stack Depth, Playing Short in Button vs Big Blind Situations, and Denying Your Opponents Equity While Realizing Ours.

     AT-A-GLANCE WALKTHROUGHS: Annotated maps and screenshots show you the way through every quest and dungeon. TOTALLY COMPREHENSIVE: All side quests, all Shrines of Trials and all information about collectable items – each mapped out and ready for you to discover and complete! Also includes optional challenges, mini-games, unlockables, Easter eggs, and more. PUZZLE MASTER: Every single puzzle and riddle unraveled with clear, visual solutions. EXPERT COMBAT STRATEGY: Practical, reproducible tactics to crush your enemies, even the toughest bosses COMPREHENSIVE REFERENCE: Exhaustive appraisals of all items and monsters – including key parameters that are hidden in the game. EXTRA LARGE MAP POSTER: Covering the entire game world. QUALITY CONTROL: Carefully designed to avoid unnecessary story spoilers.

    Even games that are well-received at launch may fail to engage players in the long term due to issues with the user experience (UX) that they are delivering. That's why makers of successful video games like Fortnite and Assassin's Creed invest both time and money perfecting their UX strategy. These top video game creators know that a bad user experience can ruin the prospects for any game, regardless of its budget, scope, or ambition.The game UX accounts for the whole experience players have with a video game, from first hearing about it to navigating menus and progressing in the game. UX as a discipline offers guidelines to assist developers in creating the optimal experience they want to deliver, including shipping higher quality games (whether indie, triple-A or "serious" games) and meeting business goals -- all while staying true to design vision and artistic intent.At its core, UX is about understanding the gamer's brain: understanding human capabilities and limitations to anticipate how a game will be perceived, the emotions it will elicit, how players will interact with it, and how engaging the experience will be. This book is designed to equip readers of all levels, from student to professional, with cognitive science knowledge and user experience guidelines and methodologies. These insights will help readers identify the ingredients for successful and engaging video games, empowering them to develop their own unique game recipe more efficiently, while providing a better experience for their audience."The Gamer's Brain: How Neuroscience and UX Can Impact Video Game Design"Is written by Celia Hodent -- a UX expert with a PhD in psychology who has been working in the entertainment industry for over 10 years, including at prominent companies such as Epic Games (Fortnite), Ubisoft, and LucasArts.Major themes explored in this book: Provides an overview of how the brain learns and processes information by distilling research findings from cognitive science and psychology research in a very accessible way. Topics covered include: "neuromyths", perception, memory, attention, motivation, emotion, and learning. Includes numerous examples from released games of how scientific knowledge translates into game design, and how to use a UX framework in game development. Describes how UX can guide developers to improve the usability and the level of engagement a game provides to its target audience by using cognitive psychology knowledge, implementing human-computer interaction principles, and applying the scientific method (user research). Provides a practical definition of UX specifically applied to games, with a unique framework. Defines the most relevant pillars for good usability (ease of use) and good "engage-ability" (the ability of the game to be fun and engaging), translated into a practical checklist. Covers design thinking, game user research, game analytics, and UX strategy at both a project and studio level. This book is a practical tool that any professional game developer or student can use right away and includes the most complete overview of UX in games existing today.

    Premium Hard Cover: Exclusive hard cover guide with premium finishes.Bonus Content: Exclusive Content found only in the Collector's Edition!Comprehensive Walkthrough: Visit every location, beat every boss, and solve every puzzle with both solo and co-op strategies.Detailed Maps: Explore the expansive world with detailed maps of each and every kingdom!Secrets, Power Moons, and Mini-Game Coverage: Discover everything the game has to offer as you journey to save Princess Peach.In-depth Adversary Coverage: Meet old foes and new challenges with strategies to handle everything from the smallest Goomba to the largest T-Rex!Free Mobile-Friendly eGuide: Includes a code to access the eGuide, a web- access version of the complete guide, optimized for a second-screen experience.

    Double-sided National Pokedex poster with bonus art!Exclusive interviews with game creators!Data for all known Pokemon species in the National Pokedex, including their different forms!Key info on each Pokemon's Evolutions and how to obtain them--plus Abilities, moves, stats, and more!Lists of TMs and items that give details on finding them in Pokemon Ultra Sun and Pokemon Ultra Moon!Reverse Lookup tables for moves and Abilities--perfect for the competitive battler!Checklist and a guide to completing the National Pokedex!

    Set Off for More Adventures in the Alola Region!Whether you're heading back to the islands or it's your first time in the tropical Alola region, there are many fun surprises waiting for you to discover!Here's what you'll find inside:- A detailed walkthrough of your whole adventure!- A Pokemon List to help you fill the Alola Pokedex!- The scoop on where to find items, how to use advanced battle strategies, and more!- An updated bonus pullout map showing every island in the region!

    They get your brain sparking and the competitive spirit flowing. Solving them is one of life's simple pleasures.The puzzle masters of Japan create the world's most satisfying puzzles, so Alex Bellos travelled to Tokyo to meet them. These enigmatologists include the god-father of Sudoku, the winner of the WorldPuzzle Championships, an inspiring teacher who uses games to enliven his students' maths lessons, and the puzzle poet whose name has become a Sudoku-solving technique. They use noms de guerre - Edamame, Lenin, Teatime, Sesame Egg - and each has a distinctive style. What unites them are their megawatt brainsand the beauty of their hand-crafted puzzles, which will challenge and sharpen your mind.Bellos has collected over 200 of their most ingenious puzzles, rated easy to excruciating , and introduces over 20 new types of addictive problems including Shakashaka and Marupeke.Arm yourself with pencil, eraser and laser-like focus.Let's get puzzling . . .

    . . The math is easy . . .The puzzles get harder and harder! Once you match wits with area mazes, you’ll be hooked! Your quest is to navigate a network of rectangles to find a missing value.Just Remember: Area = length × width Use spatial reasoning to find helpful relationships Whole numbers are all you need. You can always get the answer without using fractions! Originally invented for gifted students, area mazes (menseki meiro), have taken all of Japan by storm. Are you a sudoku fanatic? Do you play brain games to stay sharp? Did you love geometry . . . or would you like to finally show it who’s boss? Feed your brain some area mazes—they could be just what you’re craving!

    To celebrate the birth of this incredibly avant-gardist machine, Matt Manent has written the most comprehensive and remarkable book about this legendary console. 348 pages long, this book inventories and chronicles the entire game library (388 games sold in Japan, the US, Europe, and Australia), sifts through the canceled games, accessories, collector's editions, and, of course, every Nintendo 64 version and bundle. By interviewing the people involved at the time - Martin Hollis (Rare - GoldenEye) and Eric Caen (Titus - Superman; acknowledged as one of the machine's worst games)- Matt Manent has worked to make this book an encyclopedia honoring the Nintendo 64 we've all come to love.

    What's more, player rules for a host of creatures let players not just fight aliens, but be them!Inside Starfinder Alien Archive, you'll find the following:- Over 80 bizarre life-forms both classic and new, from the reptilian ikeshtis and energy-bodied hallajins to robotic anacites and supernatural entities from beyond the realms of mortals.- Over 20 races with full player rules, letting you play everything from a winged dragonkin to a hyperevolved floating brain.- New alien technology to help give your character an edge, including weapons, armor, magic items, and more.- A robust NPC-creation system to let Game Masters build any aliens or creatures they can imagine.- New rules for magical monster summoning, quick templates to modify creatures on the fly, and more!Cover art by Remko Troost

    A talented thief, Vaea takes on an easy job . . . but when she chooses to change the terms of the deal midheist, she is entangled in a dangerous mission that is surely above her pay grade.* An essential addition to the Dragon Age canon!* Covers by Sachin Teng!

    But out of more than 2,000 total recipes for every kind of dish, which ones are the very best of the best? In the ultimate gift for every griller, from beginner to veteran, Weber rated, debated, and curated its entire recipe collection, with help from its most enthusiastic fans. Here in one gorgeous package are the ultimate go-to recipes for every occasion. The book includes all-new photography, fun stories from Weber’s rich and often hilarious history, and special features such as the Top Ten Grilling Dos and Don’ts. Whether building a better burger or smoking competition-worthy ribs, Weber fans will delight in these classic standards and contemporary inspirations.

     However, few players understand exactly how to exploit these games. Competent players who generally play larger stakes will, of course, beat them. But they won’t beat them for nearly as much as they ought to. Why? Because they don’t understand how to adjust correctly. Playing a solid, competent, decently aggressive style is a strategy that will be profitable. That said, you should not be content with just beating these games - you should be absolutely crushing them. The trick to doing this is to disregard a lot of “correct” poker and get way out of line at the right times. The methods required are far from obvious or intuitive but in Mastering Small Stakes No-Limit Hold’em Jonathan Little explains them in great detail. Jonathan constructs a basic strategy to crush small stakes games and also identifies the adjustments that need to be made when facing more competent opposition. You need this book if… * You frequently play small stakes no-limit hold’em * You usually play larger stakes but (especially live) often have to make do with smaller stakes games * You play tournaments (such as WSOP events) that feature numerous recreational players

    Immersion in new worlds, video games seem to offer the perfect opportunity to explore the alterity that queer culture longs for, but often sexism and discrimination in gamer culture steal the spotlight. Queer Game Studies provides a welcome corrective, revealing the capacious albeit underappreciated communities that are making, playing, and studying queer games.These in-depth, diverse, and accessible essays use queerness to challenge the ideas that have dominated gaming discussions. Demonstrating the centrality of LGBTQ issues to the gamer world, they establish an alternative lens for examining this increasingly important culture. Queer Game Studies covers important subjects such as the representation of queer bodies, the casual misogyny prevalent in video games, the need for greater diversity in gamer culture, and reading popular games like Bayonetta, Mass Effect, and Metal Gear Solid from a queer perspective. Perfect for both everyday readers and instructors looking to add diversity to their courses, Queer Game Studies is the ideal introduction to the vast and vibrant realm of queer gaming. Contributors: Leigh Alexander; Gregory L. Bagnall, U of Rhode Island; Hanna Brady; Mattie Brice; Derek Burrill, U of California, Riverside; Edmond Y. Chang, U of Oregon; Naomi M. Clark; Katherine Cross, CUNY; Kim d’Amazing, Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology; Aubrey Gabel, U of California, Berkeley; Christopher Goetz, U of Iowa; Jack Halberstam, U of Southern California; Todd Harper, U of Baltimore; Larissa Hjorth, Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology; Chelsea Howe; Jesper Juul, Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts; merritt kopas; Colleen Macklin, Parsons School of Design; Amanda Phillips, Georgetown U; Gabriela T. Richard, Pennsylvania State U; Toni Rocca; Sarah Schoemann, Georgia Institute of Technology; Kathryn Bond Stockton, U of Utah; Zoya Street, U of Lancaster; Peter Wonica; Robert Yang, Parsons School of Design; Jordan Youngblood, Eastern Connecticut State U.

    Journey alongside Morgan Yu to explore the depths of Prey, a new science-fiction action game from the makers of Dishonored.Arkane Studios and Dark Horse Books are proud to present The Art of Prey. This exquisite and comprehensive collection features hundreds of pieces of gorgeous art from the development of this hotly anticipated game, showcasing Arkane's signature world-building and attention to detail with a unique take on futuristic design.The comprehensive art guide to the mysterious Prey universe!Exclusive never before seen concept art from the development of the highly anticipated Prey!One of PCAdvisor and GamesRadar's most anticipated games of 2017!

    The Loremaster’s Guide presents inspiration, guidance and additional new rules to help you create and run encounters, adventures and campaigns in the world of The Hobbit™ and The Lord of the Rings™, using the 5th Edition OGL ruleset. Packed with information, this volume is an invaluable resource for your games. Adventures in Middle-earth Loremaster’s Guide contains:• Extensive setting information for Wilderland• A comprehensive guide to Lake-town• Advice on theme and building your character group before the game begins• Notes on the Adventuring phase, inspiration, rests and more!• Expanded journey rules, including guidance on narrating Middle-earth journeys• Information to help you create your own journey tables• A guide to creating and playing NPCs, and a gallery of NPCs for your games• A Wilderland bestiary of adversaries• New rules for customising monsters and using scenery in battle• Notes on treasure in Middle-earth, magic items and weapons• A guide to offering expanded magic options• Advice on running the Fellowship phase, patrons, sanctuaries and undertakingsThe Loremaster's Guide is best used with the Adventures in Middle-earth Player’s Guide, and the latest edition of the world’s favouriteroleplaying game.

    Comprehensive Walkthrough: Visit every location, beat every boss, and solve every puzzle with both solo and co-op strategies.Detailed Maps: Explore the expansive world with detailed maps of each and every kingdom!Free Mobile-Friendly eGuide: Includes a code to access the eGuide, a web-access version of the complete guide, optimized for a second-screen experience.

    From the unseen concepts built early in Hearthstone's development to the hundreds of beautiful fantasy illustrations that have captured players' imaginations, this volume will show readers the art of the game in breathtaking detail. The book also tells the story of how Hearthstone came to be, growing from a small-team project to the worldwide success that it is today with more than 50 million players.

    Delving into the station’s seedy Spike neighborhoods, the heroes confront the gangs and discover that both were paid to start the riot and that the true conflict is between two rival mining companies battling over a new arrival in orbit around the station: a mysteriously deserted ship and the strange asteroid it recovered from the Drift. To head off further violence, the heroes are asked to investigate the ship and discover what happened to its crew, as well as the nature of the asteroid it tows. But what the players find there will set in motion events that could threaten the entirety of the Pact Worlds and change the face of the galaxy forever...This volume of Starfinder Adventure Path launches the Dead Suns Adventure Path and includes:- "Incident at Absalom Station," a Starfinder adventure for 1st-level characters, by Robert G. McCreary.- A gazetteer of Absalom Station, by James L. Sutter.- Magical relics inspired by the lost planet Golarion, by Owen K.C. Stephens.- An archive of new alien creatures, by Jason Keeley and Robert G. McCreary.- Statistics and deck plans for a new starship designed just for the player characters, plus details on a new planet in the Codex of Worlds, by Robert G. McCreary.Cover art by David Alvarez

     It features interviews with more than 25 prominent members of the video game industry, including Vlambeer’s Rami Ismail, Capybara Games’ Nathan Vella, Romero Games’ Brenda Romero, video game attorney Ryan Morrison, Klei Entertainment’s Jamie Cheng, Supergiant Games’ Amir Rao, Harebrained Schemes’ Jordan Weisman, Ninja Theory’s Nina Kristensen and many, many more. The Handbook features expert guidance and in-the-trenches anecdotes on budgeting and finance (complete with links to downloadable worksheets), incorporation, contracts and employment, intellectual property, press and public relations. If you’re considering crowdfunding, early access, or pursuing a licensed property, The GameDev Business Handbook can help steer you toward success. The book features triumphant stories and cautionary tales, with advice from those who have been where you want to go. Built with love, The GameDev Business Handbook is crafted with guidance from game industry veterans: those who produce games, attend every show, help other developers every day, and aspire to support a better environment for game production. These are the experts who make the games industry a better place for the next generation.

    during 1985.

    Seen by some as a lighter, more fantasy-based setting in the modern-day, and by others as the darkest game White Wolfhad yet created, players had to face the question of what happens once creativity and magic fades from their world.This 20th Anniversary Edition of Changeling: the Dreaming returns to that deceptively bright yet terrifying world and both compiles and completes the concepts of the previous two editions. Led by veteran White Wolf and Onyx Path developer "Blackhat" Matt McFarland, our writing team consists of longtime Changeling creators like Ian Lemke, Jackie Cassada, Nicky Rea, and Peter Woodworth, as well as familiar names such as Holden Shearer, John Snead, Maggie Carrol, Matthew Dawkins, and Krister Michl. One and all are dedicated to making Changeling: the Dreaming Twentieth Anniversary Edition the most playable edition yet - while not losing the wonder, awe, and majesty that Changeling is known for.-A revised and up to date look at the World of Darkness through the eyes of the Kithain - what has happened to the Dreaming in the last 20 years, and what is the state of Glamour and dreams?-Rules for all of the kiths including in 2nd ed, plus fan favorites from other books: selkies, piskies, clurichaun, and both Arcadian and Concordian sidhe.-Rules for the Gallain: The inanimae, the hsien, the Nunnehi, and others!-An overhauled and reimagined system for fae magic, including new Arts and the powerful but dangerous practice of Unleashing!-New full-color beautiful artwork as well as classic Changeling illustrations including remastered full page pieces of the kiths by Tony Diterlizzi.

    The strangest thing about pinball is that it persists, and not just as nostalgia. Pinball didn’t just stick around—it grew and continues to evolve with the times. Somehow, in today’s iPhone world, a three-hundred-pound monstrosity of wood and cables has survived to enjoy yet another renaissance. Pinball is more to humor writer Adam Ruben than a fascinating book topic—it’s a lifelong obsession. Ruben played competitive pinball for years, rising as high as the 80th-ranked player in the world. Then he had children. Now, mired in 9,938th place—darn kids—Ruben tries to stage a comeback, visiting pinball museums, gaming conventions, pinball machine designers, and even pinball factories in his attempt to discover what makes the world’s best players, the real wizards, so good. Along the way, Ruben examines the bigger story of pinball's invention, ascent, near defeat, resurgence, near defeat again, and struggle to find its niche in modern society.

    Also includes the best gaming secrets, stats, tips, and tricks to help unlock achievements and trophies on games like Pokémon Sun & Moon, LEGO Worlds, Zelda: Breath of the Wild, and so much more! All games featured in Game On! 2018 are rated T for Teen or younger keeping it appropriate for young gamers.

    From 1980s hits like BeastEnders to modern classics like 90s Goth Soccer and BinCrab Destiny, this beautiful retrospective takes the reader on a lavish tour of the most memorable and groundbreaking games never made.Brought to hilarious life by a team of genuine videogame industry concept artists and written by a professional over-imaginer, this book doesn't just throw out silly ideas - it expands on them in relentless, excruciating detail.

    If getting all the Pok�mon from the Alola region is your goal, or if you simply want the latest info on all these amazing Pok�mon, then Pok�mon Sun & Pok�mon Moon: The Official Alola Region Pok�dex & Postgame Adventure Guide will be your go-to for the info you need!And if you think you've done everything there is to do in the Alola region, then think again! Many adventures are waiting for you after you've completed the main story in Pok�mon Sun and Pok�mon Moon, and this guide will take you through them--including encountering, battling, and catching the mysterious Ultra Beasts!Here's what you'll find inside: -Includes high-quality lithograph set.-Includes a double-sided Pok�dex poster on premium paper!-Postgame guide for the adventures--and the Ultra Beasts--awaiting you in Alola!-Bonus interview with the games' director and producer!-Exclusive concept artwork of Rowlet, Litten, Popplio, Mimikyu, Alolan Exeggutor, Solgaleo, Lunala, and more!-Data for all 301 Pok�mon discovered in the Alola region and their different forms!-Key info on each Pok�mon's moves, Abilities, stats, Evolutions, and how to obtain them!-Lists of TMs, items, and Berries--includingwhere to find them!-Reverse Lookup tables for the moves and Abilities found in the Alola region--perfect for the competitive battler!

    ? Weapons and Items: Learn the tools of the trade for defense and exploration.Free Mobile-Friendly eGuide: Includes a code to access the eGuide, a web-access version of the complete guide optimized for a second-screen experience.

    Sellers offers a deep unifying framework in which practical game design best practices and proven systems thinking theory reinforce each other, helping game designers understand what they are trying to accomplish and the best ways to achieve it. Drawing on 20+ years of experience designing games, launching game studios, and teaching game design, Sellers explains: What games are, and how systems thinking can help you think about them more clearly How to systematically promote engagement, interactivity, and fun What you can learn from MDA and other game design frameworks How to create gameplay and core loops How to design the entire player experience, and how to build game mechanics that work together to create that experience How to capture your game's "big idea" and Unique Selling Proposition How to establish high-level and background design and translate it into detailed design How to build, playtest, and iterate early prototypes How to build your game design career in a field that keeps changing at breakneck speed

    The heroes face the sinister conspiracies of an ancient race of monsters hell-bent on taking back a world that was once theirs. Working for Caduceus, a medical aid organization, the heroes will loot a lost temple in the forests of Bolivia, go head-to-head with the Mafia in New York City, face a deadly epidemic in the jungles of North Borneo, uncover the workings of a strange cult in dust-bowl-era Oklahoma, infiltrate enemy territory inside an awakening volcano in Iceland, face the horrors of hideous medical experiments in the Congo, race to control an ancient and powerful artifact on the streets of Calcutta, and ultimately travel to a lost continent for a desperate battle to save humanity from enslavement or annihilation!Packed with nine adrenalin-fuelled adventures, Keeper advice, gorgeous full-color maps and player handouts

    Take a jaunt through the Nevernever, stand up to the Black Court, and sit down for a pint at Mac’s. This book contains all you need to make it happen.In this book, Ivy—a.k.a. the Archive—will walk you through everything you need to know to get your game running, including:· An introduction to the major super­natural players in the Dresdenverse and the places you might meet them.· A new mantle system that speeds up character creation and gets you into the game fast.· Faction-based campaign creation that creates immediate drama and action for your group.· A scale system to support interacting with and playing at various power levels.· Easy-to-learn Fate Accelerated style gameplay, with a few clever Dresdenverse tweaks.Dresden Files Accelerated. Fun. Fast. FUEGO!

    The Army of the Light is on the verge of defeat. Alleria and Turalyon are on opposite sides of the cosmos, desperately searching for the key to ending Sargeras’s crusade.https://worldofwarcraft.com/en-gb/new...ebook: https://bnetcmsus-a.akamaihd.net/cms/...

    African Americans flee the oppressive South for greener pastures, creating a new culture in Harlem. The music of Fats Waller and Duke Ellington pours out of the city’s windows and doorways, and the sidewalks are crowded with women in stylish skirts with silk stockings, and men in white gloves and Chesterfield coats. There’s a feeling of possibility in the air, like never before. But even in this land of promise, Harlem is a powder keg. While classes and cultures collide, Lovecraftian horrors lurk beneath the streets, creeping through dark alleys and hidden doorways into the Dreamlands. What Great Old One shattered our reality? Can you hold it together and keep the Mythos at bay for one more song?

    What to expect from your foes and how to take them down.The Missions- Your guide to the world of Destiny 2 - featuring a walkthrough of the Campaign, Strikes, and more.The Director Atlas- Detailed maps and information for the worlds within Destiny 2 - locate chests, enemy groups, bosses, and learn other valuable intel.Free eGuide- Use the enhanced eGuide to access interactive maps and expanded coverage of the side missions and additional activities available in Destiny 2.

     Williams pulls back the curtain on an astonishingly profitable industry that has put its stamp on pop culture and yet is little known to those outside its walls. In his reflective yet comically-observant voice, Williams walks you through his unlikely and at times inglorious rise within one of the world’s top gaming companies, exposing an industry abundant in brain power and out-sized egos, but struggling to stay innovative. Significant Zero also provides clear-eyed criticism of the industry’s addiction to violence and explains how the role of the narrative designer—the poor soul responsible for harmonizing gameplay with storylines—is crucial for expanding the scope of video games into more immersive and emotional experiences. Significant Zero offers a rare look inside this fascinating, billion-dollar industry and a path forward for its talented men and women—gamers and nongamers alike—that imagines how video games might inspire the best in all of us.

    While most game design books focus on games as formal systems, Situational Design concentrates squarely on player experience. It looks at how playfulness is not a property of a game considered in isolation, but rather the result of the intersection of a game with an appropriate player. Starting from simple concepts, the book advances step-by-step to build up a set of practical tools for designing player-centric playful situations. While these tools provide a fresh perspective on familiar design challenges as well as those overlooked by more transactional design paradigms.Key FeaturesIntroduces a new methodology of game design that concentrates on moment-to-moment player experienceProvides practical design heuristics for designing playful situations in all types of games Offers groundbreaking techniques for designing non-interactive play spaces Teaches designers how to create games that function as performances Provides a roadmap for the evolution of games as an art form.

    An elite, exclusive console that didn’t just emulate the arcade experience – as so many 8 and 16-bit consoles tried to do – it was the arcade experience, pixel for pixel on your TV at home. Born in the days before polygons, the NEOGEO was a staunchly 2D system that gave birth to some of gaming's most iconic franchises such as Fatal Fury, THE KING OF FIGHTERS, Samurai Shodown and of course Metal Slug. NEOGEO: a visual history is the first officially licensed NEOGEO art book of its kind released in the English language. A visual celebration of all things NEOGEO, it’s crammed full of beautiful visuals split into dedicated chapters, including Hardware, Box Art, Character and Concept Art and Pixel Art. The imagery has been collated and photographed the from all over the world, which has been handpicked to appear in this unique and exclusive volume. NEOGEO: a visual history also features official interviews with key staff integral to the NEOGEO’s history, including producer Yasuyuki Oda, artist Tatsuhiko Kanaoka (Falcoon) and composer Hideki Asanaka (sha-v). The book weighs in at a healthy 400 pages in length, A4 in size and available in hardback only. Metallic gold ink is used throughout and the binding employs thread rather than glue, so it will be much more durable and can open flat, minimising imagery lost in the binding. Produced using the very best in print techniques, it will happily grace any gamer's coffee table. NEOGEO: a visual history promises to be a real collector’s item for all fans of the NEOGEO system and of classic gaming in general. It provides a fascinating insight into the world of the mystical NEOGEO console – something that was so unobtainable for many of us back in the ’90s.

    Now the world of Aldea returns in a new edition using the Adventure Game Engine (AGE), the popular rules that power the Fantasy AGE and Dragon Age RPGs. This beautiful, full-color book contains everything needed to create and tell stories of heroic envoys of the Sovereign's Finest as they protect their homeland of Aldis from threats like the shadowy Kingdom of Kern and the fanatical Theocracy of Jarzon, as well as monsters and artifacts from the cruel reign of the Sorcerer Kings. Aided by the rhydan--their psychic animal allies--the champions of the Kingdom of the Blue Rose safeguard the light of the world against the power of Shadow. Will you answer the Sovereign's call?

    No Dungeon Masters. provides an adventurous peek into the world of one -un-elected bastard ambassador- for two cultures that rarely overlap. The full-color comic gorgeously reflects how radical leftist values and geek predilections can inform one another, the weird things it makes you do, and the struggle to feel comfortable in either community. Io and Rachel Dukes deliver a funny and thought-provoking comic sure to be a (critical) hit (get it?) with anarchists and Dungeons & Dragons fans alike.

    A vast island chain, covered in the ruins of ancient civilizations, the Archipelago appears every few centuries, far out in the southern ocean. At such times, pirates, adventurers, wizards, and legendary heroes all descend upon the islands in the hopes of finding lost treasures and powerful artefacts. A few, drawn by the blood of their ancestors, search for the fabled Crystal Pool, whose waters grant abilities far beyond those of normal men. It is only the bravest, however, who venture into the islands, for they are filled with numerous deadly threats. Cannibal tribes, sorcerous snake-men, and poisonous water-beasts all inhabit the island ruins, guarding their treasure hordes and setting traps for the unwary.In this new wargame, set in the world of Frostgrave, players take on the role of Heritors, mighty warriors whose ancestors drank from the Crystal Pool. These Heritors lead their small, handpicked teams of spellcasters, rogues, and treasure hunters into the ever-shifting labyrinth of the Ghost Archipelago. Using the same rules system as Frostgrave, this standalone wargame focuses on heroes who draw on the power in their blood to perform nigh-impossible feats of strength and agility. This game also includes 30 spells drawn from five schools of magic, a host of soldier types, challenging scenarios, treasure tables, and a full bestiary of the most common creatures that inhabit the Lost Isles.

    This includes Hunt for the Golem, a three-scenario campaign in which the warbands hunt down a rogue golem; Sellsword, which introduces rules for experience-gaining captains to help lead warbands; Dark Alchemy, which expands the rules for potions and potion brewing, and Arcane Locations which gives additional options for bases and base upgrades. The book also includes a completely new mini-supplement, The Ravages of Time.

    The use of procedural generation in game design can help with the intricate and multifarious aspects of game development; thus facilitating cost reduction. This form of development enables games to create their play areas, objects and stories based on a set of rules, rather than relying on the developer to handcraft each element individually. Readers will learn to create randomized maps, weave accidental plotlines, and manage complex systems that are prone to unpredictable behavior. Tanya Short’s and Tarn Adams’ Procedural Generation in Game Design offers a wide collection of chapters from various experts that cover the implementation and enactment of procedural generation in games. Designers from a variety of studios provide concrete examples from their games to illustrate the many facets of this emerging sub-discipline. Key Features: Introduces the differences between static/traditional game design and procedural game design Demonstrates how to solve or avoid common problems with procedural game design in a variety of concrete ways Includes industry leaders’ experiences and lessons from award-winning games World’s finest guide for how to begin thinking about procedural design

    This is not true. In fact, chess is accessible and can be played by anyone with a brain, a pair of eyes, and imagination. The ultimate guide for beginnersIf you've never played the game of chess or are still discovering it, this book is for you. It is a basic and comprehensive guide that will introduce you to the game and teach you everything you need to know, from the setup of a chess board to the delivery of checkmate. It is filled with advice for beginners, basic tactics, strategies, and diagrams to help you visualize every step of your progress. The start of a lifelong King's huntThe objective of this book is not to make you a chess master. That is an accomplishment that takes decades of research, regular practice, and an insane amount of talent. The goal here is for you to become a decent chess player. After reading this book, you will be able to play games with anyone, practice regularly, and sharpen your chess muscles until you reach a decent level of play. The more you'll play, the better you'll get. But it all starts with the basics which you will acquire in this book. So don't hesitate. If you've always wanted to learn to play chess, now is the time. Just scroll up and grab your copy now!

    Nintendo Switch Overview - Learn the details of every addition to the Nintendo Switch version of Skyrim.Detailed Overworld Maps - We pinpoint all Hold Capitals,Strongholds, and important locations.Maps for More Than 150 Locations - Our maps list related quests, enemies encountered, and items found for each location.Over 300 Collectibles Located - We gather and detail Skill Books, Unique Items, Unusual Gems, and more for each Hold.Free Mobile-Friendly eGuide - Includes a code to access the eGuide, a web-access version of the guide optimized for a second-screen experience.

    Capture games involve capturing cards from a field and creating yaku (special combinations of cards) to score points.Simplified Game for Beginners (Absolute Beginner, 2-4 players)Matching Flowers (Beginner, 2-3 players)Hana-Awase 1 (Beginner, 3-4 players)Hana-Awase 2 (Beginner, 3 players)Mushi (Beginner, 2 players)Six Hundred (Beginner, 2-3 players)Hachi-juu Hana (Beginner, 2-3 players)Min-Hwatu (Intermediate, 2-3 players)Koi-Koi (Intermediate, 2 players)Oni Koi-Koi (Intermediate, 2 players)Higo-Bana (Intermediate, 2-7 players)Tensho, simplified (Intermediate, 2 players)Go-Stop (Expert, 2-7 players)Hachi-Hachi (Expert, 2-7 players)Sudaoshi (Expert, 3 players)Hachi, simplified (Expert, 2 players)Hachi (Expert, 2 players)Tensho (Expert, 2 players)Sequence Games involve playing cards from your hand in sequential order with the objective to empty your hand. Sequence games are a great way to learn hanafuda month order.Poka (Beginner, 2 players)Hiyoko, simplified (Beginner, 2-4 players)Isuri, simplified (Beginner, 2-3 players)Kage (Beginner, 2 players)Hiyoko (Intermediate, 2-4 players)Isuri (Intermediate, 2-3 players)Luck Games are simple, fast-paced, gambling-oriented games. Many of the games in this section were traditionally played with Kabufuda decks.Sutda, simplified (Beginner, 2-10 players)Hiki-Kabu (Beginner, 2-10 players)Oicho-Kabu (Beginner, 2-10 players)Kyo-Kabu (Beginner, 2-10 players)Kingo (Beginner, 2-10 players)Sota (Intermediate, 2-6 players)Sutda (Intermediate, 2-10 players)Fusion Games are a collection of Western-inspired games that we reinterpreted and designed for gameplay with a hanafuda deck. These games provide a familiar platform for Western players to become more comfortable with the hanafuda deck.Seasons (Beginner, 1-4 players)Pyramid (Beginner, 1 players)Solitaire (Intermediate, 1 players)Eight Off (Intermediate, 1 players)Hana-Rumi (Intermediate, 2-4 players)Hana-Gin (Intermediate, 2-4 players)

    Vol.I covers topics such as GDD and Communications.The idea behind this book is to summarize the body of knowledge that already exists on multiplayer games but is not available in one single place. And quite a few of the issues discussed within this series, while known in the industry, have not been published at all (except for maybe in discussion forums). Programming and deploying an MOG is a daunting task, and having a frame of reference is usually quite helpful — "hey, those guys have already tried this, and it worked for them."

    189 days, 10 hours and 55 minutes rowing around the clock, fighting death and destruction every step of the way before finally arriving beneath the iconic span of the Golden Gate Bridge with his friend and rowing partner Chris Martin.Dawson details his epic adventures propelling his tiny boat one stroke at a time for thousands of miles across the most hostile route of the greatest ocean on earth, overcoming failure, personal tragedy and all of the challenges mother nature could throw at him.

     Written for both aspiring and experienced creative leaders, this book covers the expansive and multi-faceted role of the director, from developing the initial vision to key methods on tackling design, story development, and production challenges. Tips cover the 5 essential qualities of a creative director who must: 1. Hold the Vision 2. Provide Structure 3. Keep a Creative Toolbox 4. Lead Effectively 5. Know Production For those who are curious about what it takes to be a video game director or want learn more about the art of creative collaboration, this book covers the basic principles for leading and inspiring a team to make great games. "Directing Video Games is a literal loot drop of knowledge, decades of experience concisely and expertly crafted into 101 densely packed tips. Even a page — with no exaggeration — can be transformative to a project’s success." —Brenda Romero, Award winning game designer "This book is one of a kind, and is essential reading for anyone who wants to lead the creation of a video game. It's full of great visuals and excellent advice, and belongs on every game director's bookshelf." —Richard Lemarchand, Associate Professor in the Interactive Media Division, USC "Born of expansive experience, this is a comprehensive book that both beginners and seasoned developers should keep at their side." —Michael John, Program Director of Games and Playable Media, UCSC "Brian has managed an incredible thing—to present a broadly complex, multi-faceted role in bite-sized, easy to digest nuggets of sage advice." —Marcus Smith, Creative Director of Resistance 3 and Sunset Overdrive

    Clarke award). Amid the glass-strewn streets of the lethal and anarchic Manchester England of the near future, players ingest slender Vurt feathers to travel to parallel worlds as vivid, unique, and unpredictable as our wildest dreams. But they're no mere fantasies. These worlds- and all the wonders and horrors they contain - are as real, and every bit as dangerous, as the one you were born in.Vurt the RPG is a Cypher System game, corebook contains the complete Cypher System rules, modified to bring the grittiness of cyberpunk streets and the vibrant freedom of dreams to your game sessions. That means that, other than pencil, paper and a couple of dice, the Vurt corebook is all you need to play the game. The Cypher System is the hugely popular rule set that powers Numenera and The Strange by Monte Cook Games.The Vurt corebook has over 100 all new cyphers, loads of full adventures, a bestiary for both the real world and the vurt world, pregenerated characters and an enormous, 75-page setting chapter which delves with great detail into the boroughs and districts of Greater Manchester, the worlds largest megacity.

    The GameCube Anthology is a unique and original book celebrating the machine's memory, and was written by the same author who brought you the Nintendo 64 Anthology.

    It's about getting what you want. Unknown Armies presents magick as it might exist in a world informed by crime fiction and secret histories, as twisting wrinkles in reality created by greater and greater risk, sacrifice, and obsession. As a player, you are confronted by the consequences of your character's actions, and challenged by the implicit threat of a world shaped by the will of those who want something more than you do. It's about being relentlessly, hopelessly human. Book One: Play is the book for players. It details:Obsession and identity.All of the rules for resolving actions.The central shock gauge mechanic.How to avoid fights, and how to deal with them when you're dragged into them anyway.The magick of adepts and avatars.Gorgeous full-color art and layout.Created by Greg Stolze and John Tynes, Unknown Armies presents an entirely original yet disturbingly familiar approach to mystery, horror, and action in roleplaying games.

    It's powered by the GUMSHOE One-2-One game system which retunes, rebuilds and re-imagines the acclaimed GUMSHOE investigative rules set, as seen in such hit roleplaying games as Trail of Cthulhu and Night's Black Agents, for one player and one GM. Together, you create a story that evokes the classic solo protagonist mystery format.Cthulhu Confidential drops your hero into the noir nightscape of hardboiled-era Los Angeles, New York or Washington, DC. Meet power brokers and politicians, rub shoulders with Hollywood studio bosses and fiery evangelists. Face narrow-eyed G-Men, bent cops and dangerous crime lords. But beneath it all, under the scrim of all this human endeavor, lives corruption so old and inhuman you'll need all your courage and resourcefulness to face it.Choose one of three heroes with their own settings and adventures: Langston Wright is an African-American war veteran and scholar in WW2-era DC with a keen intellect. Dex Raymond is a hard-boiled private detective in 1930s Los Angeles with a nose for trouble. And Vivian Sinclair is The New York Herald's most determined scoop-hound. Each is a lone investigator, equipped with smarts, fists, and just maybe a code of honor, uncovering their town's secret truths. But what happens when you scratch the veneer of human malfeasance to reveal an eternal evil-the malign, cosmic indifference of HP Lovecraft's Cthulhu Mythos?

    Black wants to start an early attack on his opponent’s king, relying on the dynamic potential of his position. The KID has been a favourite of legendary attacking players such as Mikhail Tal, Bobby Fischer and Garry Kasparov, and remains highly popular at club level.Victor Bologan presents a complete King’s Indian repertoire for Black that is much more than just a lucidly explained and very playable set of responses. In many lines he presents two options to handle the Black position. Bologan’s explanations are accessible for a wide range of players and he provides the reader with a thorough grounding in the strategic and tactical motifs. White players can benefit from this book as well, since the author looks at all the lines from both sides.During his research, Bologan has found many new ideas and resources. He has also included several offbeat sidelines that will enable you to surprise your opponent. With this book under your belt you can go to your next tournament with confidence. You will win many exciting games with Bologan’s King’s Indian!

     GPU Zen includes coverage of the areas of geometry manipulation, lighting, general rendering, screen-space techniques, Virtual Reality and general compute tasks. Table of Contents Geometry Manipulation (Christopher Oat) 1. Attributed Vertex Clouds by Willy Scheibel, Stefan Buschmann, Matthias Trapp, and Jürgen Döllner 2. Rendering Convex Occluders with Inner Conservative Rasterization by Marcus Svensson and Emil Persson Lighting (Carsten Dachsbacher) 1. Stable Indirect Illumination by Louis Bavoil and Holger Gruen 2. Participating Media Using Extruded Light Volumes by Nathan Hoobler, Andrei Tatarinov and Alex Dunn Rendering (Mark Chatfield) 1. Deferred+ by Hawar Doghramachi and Jean-Normand Bucci 2. Programmable Per-pixel Sample Placement with Conservative Rasterizer by Rahul P. Sathe 3. Mobile Toon Shading by Felipe Lira, Flávio Villalva, Jesus Sosa, Kléverson Paixão and Teófilo Dutra 4. High-Quality GPU-efficient Image Detail Manipulation by Kin-Ming Wong and Tien-Tsin Wong 5. Real-Time Linear-Light Shading with Linearly Transformed Cosines by Eric Heitz and Stephen Hill 6. Profiling and Optimizing WebGL Application Using Google Chrome by Gareth Morgan Screen-Space (Wessam Bahnassi) 1. Scalable Adaptive SSAO by Filip Strugar 2. Robust Screen Space Ambient Occlusion by Wojciech Sterna 3. Practical Gather-based Bokeh Depth of Field by Wojciech Sterna Virtual Reality (Eric Haines) 1. Efficient Stereo and VR Rendering by Iñigo Quilez 2. Understanding, Measuring, and Analyzing VR Graphics Performance by James Hughes, Reza Nourai, and Ed Hutchins Compute (Wolfgang Engel) 1. Optimizing the Graphics Pipeline with Compute by Graham Wihlidal 2. Real Time Markov Decision Processes for Crowd Simulation by Sergio Ruiz and Benjamín Hernández Please note: this e-book was created with Amazon Kindle TextbookCreator. All the articles are linked with the table of content and there are links in the articles. Unfortunately, links are only supported at the time of this writing on the Amazon Fire HDX and the Amazon Fire 8.9.

    This fundamental question has fueled debates for years, and the conversation continues today. While the medium's cultural value is undeniable, this topic nevertheless evokes strong opinions.Among the games at the center of this debate, one trilogy in particular stands out, created by Japanese designer Fumito Ueda. His creative approach, offering something that didn't yet exist in other games, set the road map for each of his works: ICO, Shadow of the Colossus, and The Last Guardian.These three works share the same aesthetic, the same video game design philosophy, and even the same universe. Above all, these three works give us a look at the man behind them and his obsession: to offer a different perspective on video games"

    The World Baseball League’s viewership has declined to some of the most alarming levels in the game’s history. To survive, baseball needs to expand to a new market, and the only place to go is out to the stars. There’s one hitch in the plan: playing baseball is impossible without Earth’s gravity. Can Hideki navigate new technologies, angry owners, and the drive-by media before time runs out for both baseball and his own career? Explore baseball’s future in the heart-warming novella by multi-award nominated science fiction author Jon Del Arroz!

    With questions covering a wide range of general knowledge topics, let Russell Davies guide you through this challenging and entertaining set of 50 quizzes. Includes a fascinating history of the programme and the characters and stories that have made it so successful.In the appendix Russell offers a compelling account of the life of the programme’s German-born inventor and first question-setter John P. Wynn.

     Award-winning fantasy author and freelance game writer Marie Brennan is unabashedly in the latter camp. In these essays she looks at tabletop and live-action RPGs from a narrative perspective, exploring the ways the framework of a game can generate and support (or undermine) your tale. Whether you are a player or a game master, DICE TALES offers insights on every facet of RPG storytelling, including: * generating characters with rich narrative potential * scaling plot as PCs become more powerful * managing the interaction between rules and roleplay * campaign planning at different stages * the social dynamics of collaborative creation * and more!

    Tasked with finding trouble and shooting it, you will be hunting mutants, terrorists, traitors, [CLASSIFIED], secret societies, renegade bots, and DAIVs, which are [REDACTED]. You’ll save Alpha Complex from its greatest threat, unless you accidentally become Alpha Complex’s greatest threat.Completely rebuilt from the ground up, Paranoia is the classic RPG of a darkly humorous future, rebooted for a humorously dark present. All-new mechanics include a simple yet brilliant character-generation system, a bluffing-based card-driven combat system that encourages creativity, clever moves and lying, a special Computer Dice which means even the simplest interaction can become hilariously fatal, in-game XP point rewards, and more advice to GMs than you can shake a stick at. Three single-session adventures introduce you painlessly to the new mechanics and background, and are designed to be played straight out of the box.Everything is the same but everything is different.You look worried, citizen. Relax! It’s still Paranoia. The year is still 214. You still have six clones and a laser pistol. The Computer is still your friend.

    

    Explore one such gigantic ruin—the Jade Colossus—in detail. Or create your own, using the Numenera Ruin Mapping Engine to create ancient sites large or small, with all the wonder and weirdness you expect in the Ninth World setting.Run an entire campaign around the Jade Colossus, use the site for one or a handful of adventures in your existing campaign, or use this book to create dozens of other prior-world sites, building an amazing campaign filled with imagination and awe-inspiring adventure.

    This book examines the life of Maya Angelou in a simple, age-appropriate way that will help children develop word recognition and reading skills. Includes a timeline and other informative backmatter.

    surprise, surprise... most of the players aren't very good. However, few players understand exactly how to exploit these games. Competent players who generally play larger stakes will, of course, beat them. But they won't beat them for nearly as much as they ought to. Why? Because they don't understand how to adjust correctly. Playing a solid, competent, decently aggressive style is a strategy that will be profitable. That said, you should not be content with just beating these games - you should be absolutely crushing them. The trick to doing this is to disregard a lot of "correct" poker and get way out of line at the right times. The methods required are far from obvious or intuitive but in Mastering Small Stakes No-Limit Hold'em Jonathan Little explains them in great detail. Jonathan constructs a basic strategy to crush small stakes games and also identifies the adjustments that need to be made when facing more competent opposition. You need this book if... * You frequently play small stakes no-limit hold'em * You usually play larger stakes but (especially live) often have to make do with smaller stakes games * You play tournaments (such as WSOP events) that feature numerous recreational players

    So great was his hubris and defiance that even when smote with the power of storm and fire, the wizard laughed. He feared not retribution from man nor God, for he drew his knowledge from something greater. Something darker. Something outside. The legend of this wizard grew, first whispered by men in fear, and later in awe. But then there was no more news. No more talk. Something had finally brought the wizard low, for though the sky still blazed down on him and his abode, he no longer blazed back. And now youre going to walk right through this wizards front door. An adventure for beginning characters, players, and Referees, for use with Lamentations of the Flame Princess Weird Fantasy Role-Playing and other traditional role-playing games.

    But beyond it, the truly astonishing awaits. Enter a dimension where you exist in three different places simultaneously. A pocket universe that transforms you into living sound. An existence where time carves living beings into separate time streams. Or a world where merely thinking changes reality. How can you even begin to cope with such radically different worlds? Explore them and find out!What will you find when you step into the outside?•Ten transdimensional locations. Visit the Banded Bluff, the Endless Abode, the Whispering World, Celerillion, or mysterious Reeval—the source of the Nibovian threat.•Multiple modes of dimensional travel. Explore the Sideslip Fields. Pilot the Crystal Ship. Take a ride on the Silent Nyek. Or enter the Grinder of Infinities.•New creatures, including the arravelon, the stealthy pariall, the carnivorous color, the time wraith, and the deadly lycidaris, a dimensional locust.•Twelve alternate realities, from the Ascension of Kex-Lianish—a world consumed by living crystal—to the Bloom, a vast creature composed of maws that can provide transport you to other dimensions.

    It's about what's behind every corner and buried in every closet. Unknown Armies presents magick as it might exist in a world informed by crime fiction and secret histories, as twisting wrinkles in reality created by greater and greater risk, sacrifice, and obsession. It plays out in a world just like our own, filled with uncanny mysteries, unrepentant horrors, and unnatural pleasures. What you do with these revelations is up to you. It's about revealing the horrible truth we don't want to see. Book Three: Reveal is the book of the weird for everyone. It contains:Gamemaster characters, locations, creatures, and events.Heresy and hearsay, alphabetized like a devil's dictionary.Ideas, hooks, tidbits, scraps, lies, truths, and horrors.Lists, stats, and ephemera.Even more weirdness.Even more magick.Created by Greg Stolze and John Tynes, Unknown Armies presents an entirely original yet disturbingly familiar approach to mystery, horror, and action in roleplaying games.

    They wear blessed silver battle-plate and wield potent weapons of purgation, each a master-wrought relic whose worth can be measured in worlds. Every battle-brother of this Chapter is a powerful psyker, his will an adamant fortress and his mental powers a honed blade. As the galaxy becomes ever darker, the selflessly heroic Grey Knights fight unbowed.Codex: Grey Knights contains a wealth of background and rules – the definitive book for Grey Knights collectors. Within this 102-page hardback, you’ll find:Background- The Emperor’s Gift: a glimpse into the mysteries of the Grey Knights, their secretive history, the fortress on Titan where they are created and laid to rest and the rituals and canticles that define their struggle against daemonkind; - The unique organisation of the Grey Knights – defined by their struggle against the Dark Gods, this Chapter is split into 8 Brotherhoods, each detailed here;- Heraldry of Titan: details of the unique heraldry and armour etchings borne by this Chapter;- A timeline of the Grey Knights, from their origins beneath a veil of secrecy, major battles and struggles leading up to the current dire state of the galaxy – and the Grey Knights’ potential, drastic strategic response to this;- Background and details on each character and unit available to a Grey Knights army;- A showcase of beautifully painted Citadel miniatures, depicting the colour schemes of the Grey Knights expertly painted by the ‘Eavy Metal team.RulesEverything you need to get a Grey Knights army primed for heroic combat against the daemonic threat in games of Warhammer 40,000 is here:- 32 datasheets containing rules for every Grey Knights unit;- Army abilities reflecting the Grey Knights’ methods of war;- The Armoury of Titan: wargear both ranged and close-combat used by the Grey Knights;- Points values for all miniatures, weapons and wargear for use in Matched Play games;- The Hammer of Daemons: rules for Battle-forged armies:- 6 unique Warlord Traits,- 16 unique Stratagems (with a focus on the psychic might of this army),- the Relics of Titan (6 rare artefacts unique to the Grey Knights),- the unique Sanctis psychic discipline, available to all Grey Knights psykers;- 6 unique Tactical Objectives.

    What exactly do we mean by audience “immersion”? How might immersion in a Punchdrunk production be described, theorised, situated or politicised? What is valued in immersive experience - and are these values explicit or implied?Immersive Theatre and Audience Experience draws on rehearsals, performances and archival access to Punchdrunk, providing new critical perspectives from cognitive studies, philosophical aesthetics, narrative theory and computer games. Its discussion of immersion is structured around three themes: interactivity and game; story and narrative; environment and space. Providing a rigorous theoretical toolkit to think further about the form’s capabilities, and offering a unique set of approaches, this book will be of significance to scholars, students, artists and spectators.

    It was filled with entertainment centers, apartments, and offices for all the people moving about the ship during the long voyage. The city was designed to be maintained by its own artificial intelligence (A.I.) and a special series of robots able to maintain areas of the city when breakdowns happened.Epsilon City wasn’t even half full when the interstellar radiation cloud destroyed the people of the ship and turned 99% of them into piles of white ash. The city was wiped out. Now, three hundred years later, things are vastly different in the city. The A.I. is insane and has an aggressive personality. The special robots have had to change or be destroyed, and have mutated much like the rest of the life on the ship. Wolfoid packs now inhabit many sections of the city and consider this metropolis their lair. And many more dangers lurk, hidden and waiting to be explored…2016 marks the 40th anniversary of Metamorphosis Alpha! In honor of this milestone, creator James M. Ward has authorized Goodman Games to publish Metamorphosis Alpha: Epsilon City. This huge expansion for the starship Warden is the biggest expansion for the original 1976 edition ever published!This box contains: The 272-page spiral-bound hardcover Epsilon City setting book, three 11”x17” maps, a 20-page cyborg supplement, and a 56-page adventure supplement.

    Packed with probes and provocations that explore game making through fresh lenses for uncertain times, it challenges gaming monoculture by constructing a trading space for ideas and learning from across domains and cultures. Punk Playthings has zero respect for boundaries between mediums, industries, sectors, specialisms or disciplines. Instead, it challenges you to expand your cultural capital, think laterally and make new connections. Punk Playthings advocates a truly independent mindset and DIY approach for creating playful experiences with cultural resonance. It proclaims creative entrepreneurship as the true legacy of punk.Punk Playthings is not for everyone. But it might be for you.

    Because studying well-annotated master games is the best way to learn the skills that really matter, acclaimed chess author Steve Giddins has revisited the New In Chess vault and assembled the clearest and most didactic examples.Giddins’ selection includes masterclasses by no fewer than eight World Champions: Kasparov, Tal, Smyslov, Karpov, Kramnik, Topalov, Anand and Carlsen. But also chess legends such as Larsen, Kortchnoi, Timman, Ivanchuk, Short, Aronian and Shirov have contributed.The New In Chess Book of Chess Improvement is a treasure trove of study material and has chapters on attack and defence, sacrifices, material imbalances, pawn structures, endgames and various positional themes. It provides the high standard of instructional material that today’s club player, much stronger than his equivalent 25 or more years ago, needs.

    In addition to covering all the titles released in the past, it is a complete preservation version that collects various goods and valuable materials to be released for the first time! Contents (From "BOOK" database) A permanent preservation version visual book that collects Kirby for 25 years. Includes over 1,800 artwork including unpublished setting materials!

    Though apparently offering a limited canvas--each set has 32 pieces, each board 64 squares--sets have nevertheless been designed in countless ways, using almost every imaginable material, from precious metals, to ivory and rock crystal. They have taken many forms, from figural to abstract, and used many diverse themes, from the historical and political to the beauty and variety of the animal kingdom.This book brings together some of the most beautiful and unusual chess sets ever made. Spanning hundreds of years and five continents, they are culled from private collections and museums, and include 200 year-old sets made by nameless Indian craftsmen, sets by Peter Carl Faberg�, sets from Soviet gulag prisoners, and sets by leading artists of the 20th century, such as Max Ernst.Each set has been specially photographed for this book, with detailed insights provided by an exceptional group of experts: Dr. George Dean, Jon Crumiller, Larry List and Will Wiles (Dezeen), with an introduction by the book's editor, Dylan Loeb McClain, former New York Times chess columnist.

    The creatures of Numenera are no different—and the Ninth World Bestiary 2 gives you over 160 new ones to populate your campaign. Creatures undreamt of by even the most experienced pursuer of the numenera: the huge, burrowing mimus; the six-mouthed jreet; the mirror-faced cyclic raider; and many, many more.This book includes:•Over 160 new creatures to populate your campaign.•An extensive index of all creatures from products across the Numenera game line.•Random encounter tables for creatures from this book, the Ninth World Bestiary, and the Numenera corebook.•Random tables to generate new creatures on the fly.•Useful insights on the behaviors, beliefs, and relationships of Ninth World creatures.

    After this move, the majority of games steer for the Ruy Lopez. A perfectly fine choice for White, but one that requires you to study the countless different setups and follow the continuously evolving theory in that opening.Karsten Müller and Georgios Souleidis present an alternative that is ideal for the average club player: a complete repertoire for White in the Italian Opening. This modern version of the age-old ‘Giuoco Piano', with the innocent-looking pawn moves c3 and d3, is not only popular at the club level, but is also regularly adopted by many strong Grandmasters including the very best, such as Magnus Carlsen and Anish Giri.The set-up is easy to learn and understand, and theoretical novelties are much less important than the sound principles it is based on, such as the pawn push d3-d4 or bringing the b1 knight over to the kingside and into the attack.The Slow Italian may look innocent but is actually full of venom because White has a lot of options to create aggressive play by making natural looking moves with his pieces. Müller and Souleidis have created a solid weapon that every amateur chess player will delight in playing. With a foreword by Anish Giri.

    While most adventurers who brave the dangers seek wealth and lost magic, some journey into Frostgrave for more personal reasons... This expansion for Frostgrave consists of 40 Ulterior Motive cards, which add variety, depth, and new tactical challenges to wargames in the Frozen City. Will your wizard seek to slay a great demon? Rescue a desperate captive? Bring retribution to an enemy? All wizards seek power, but what are their ulterior motives?

    65 pages filled with beautiful illustrations of the recipes and ingredients you'll find all over the massive open world. Clear explanations of the in-game cooking process, along with a stats and effects table for every recipe

    Yet most of the games in these new genres featured fantasylands or humorous science fiction landscapes with low stakes and little to suggest the potential of the PC as a serious space for art and play. Jane Jensen's work and landmark Gabriel Knight series brought a new darkness and personality to PC gaming, offering a first powerful glimpse of what games could be as they came of age. As an author and designer, Jensen brought her approach as a designer-writer hybrid to the forefront of game design, with an approach to developing environments through detailed research to make game settings come to life, an attention to mature dilemmas and complex character development, and an audience-driven vision for genres reaching beyond the typical market approaches of the gaming industry. With a brand new interview with Jensen herself, Anastasia Salter provides the first ever look Jensen's impact and role in advancing interactive narrative and writing in the game design process.

    Keep your brain engaged while you unwind with Brain Games Relax and Solve: Word Search.Contains more than 80 word search puzzles that deal with a range of themes like pop culture, food, and places.Includes your standard word search puzzles as well as some more obscure formats like Shrouded Summary, which contains answers that pertain to a famous novel.Some puzzles have hidden messages that can be discovered with the left over letters of the word search grid. Spiral binding and complete answer key make this book easy to carry, solve, and check your answers.

    The new Assembled Edition revises and expands the original game, putting all options you want under one cover. Icons features quick character creation, a flexible game system that's easy to learn, and flavorful rules to give your games that comic book feel. Icons is your all-in-one package for superhero roleplaying adventure: quick, easy, descriptive, and fun!

    *** From the Archives ***Stories by Mike McPhail and Danielle Ackley-McPhail based on the 1986-96 military science fiction role-playing game The Alliance Archives.By the late 21st century, humanity has final reached for the stars and established an off-world colony in the system of Tau Ceti, only to discover that man's greatest enemy is still man.On the colony world of Demeter, ADF power-armored troopers and their Parr scouts fight a desperate, covert war against invading corporate mercenaries.Even in the vastness of space, there is no room for lasting peace.

    In the Scotch Gambit, White immediately strikes in the center and attacks the f7-pawn, provoking concessions from Black. An imbalance typically results, where White has attacking chances on the kingside. The Scotch Gambit will help you develop a finer feeling for the initiative and improve your combinational vision. You will also better understand strategic concepts, such as weak squares of one color and pawn structure nuances. Fishbein, an experienced player and author, takes you into a modern grandmaster’s research lab. Here, all ideas are scrutinized and prepared for use against an opponent who is similarly armed with the latest theory and technology. The most critical responses for Black receive special emphasis. Alex Fishbein is an American grandmaster. His peak world ranking was #150. He was competitive in each of his four U.S. Championship appearances, including in 2004 when he won the Bent Larsen prize for the most uncompromising chess. A lifelong 1.e4 player, Fishbein is known for interesting and creative play.

    Like actors in front of a camera, gamers' proprioception, or body awareness, can extend to onscreen characters, thus placing them "physically" within the virtual world. Players may even identify with characters' ideological motivations. The author explores concepts central to the design and enjoyment of videogames--affect, immersion, liveness, presence, agency, narrative, ideology and the player's virtual surrogate: the avatar. Gamer and avatar are analyzed as a cybernetic coupling that suggests fulfillment of Atonin Artaud's vision of the "body without organs."