Author Mike Selinker (Betrayal at House on the Hill) has invited some of the world's most talented and experienced game designers to share their secrets on game conception, design, development, and presentation. In these pages, you'll learn about storyboarding, balancing, prototyping, and playtesting from the best in the business.

    Connecting games to math, science, and psychology, GameTek has grown to be one of the most popular parts of the show.This volume commemorates the anniversary with a collection of over seventy of the best segments, many with annotations and illustrations.With chapters on everything from Rock, Paper, Scissors to the Prisoner’s Dilemma to Player Engagement to Quasicrystals to Buddha’s Forbidden Games, GameTek is sure to delight not just game designers and players, but anyone who wants to learn about the world from a new perspective.Sections:• Game Theory• Math• Psychology• Science• Game Mechanics• Psychology Games• HistoryFrom the first time I heard it, the GameTek segment in The Dice Tower podcast became my favorite part of the show. Listening to Geoff is like going to your favorite lesson with your favorite teacher. He teaches about games (yay!) and does it in a very interesting way with lots of examples. He does amazing stuff. He knows about the construction of games, he knows the theory, he knows all that stuff behind the scenes that we gamers do not see when just playing a game and having fun.Ignacy Trzewiczek, Portal GamesThere are many hobby game 'experts' out there, dying to give you their opinion on how the industry works, how games work, what types of games are best, and so on. Geoff Engelstein is the expert that requires your attention. He is a scholar of games, and his research on games and other principles that apply to gaming is matched by none.Stephen Buonocore, Stronghold GamesOver the years, I’ve listened to a lot of people talk about board games, yet the short snippets that Geoff puts out are the ones that I find myself thinking about in the quiet of the night. His are the segments that you laugh at and say, “I have NO idea what you are talking about” — but later on use to show people just how intellectual you are.Tom Vasel, The Dice Tower

    She was so, so wrong. Raven Danvers is a typical student… until a demon attacks her on the night of her birthday. Luckily, she’s saved by Noah—a mysterious, sexy wolf shifter who appears and disappears before she can ask him any questions. Then Raven's mom is abducted by the same demon who came after her. And who turns up at the scene of the crime again? Noah. He’s hunting the demons who are taking humans, and he’s ultimately heading where Raven needs to go to save her mom—the mystical island of Avalon. Now Raven’s joining Noah’s demon hunting mission whether he wants her there or not. Which he doesn't. But nothing stops Raven, so she and Noah will have to learn to work together—if they don’t kill each other first. More importantly, she has to survive his crazy demon hunt. Because surviving is the only way to get to Avalon and save her mom’s life. 20,000+ copies sold. Over fifteen MILLION pages read. 2,500+ five-star reviews for the series. Now, for a limited time, save over 50% compared to buying the individual books by reading the entire Angel Trials series in this special bundle deal! This bundle contains all seven books in The Angel Trials series: 1) The Angel Trials 2) The Angel Hunt 3) The Angel Trap 4) The Angel Gift 5) The Angel Island 6) The Angel Secret 7) The Angel Test PRAISE FOR THE ANGEL TRIALS: “The Angel Trials is a must read! It has it all—action, adventure, romance, and a story that will keep you on the edge of your seat.” -Fizza Younis, Amazon Reviewer ★★★★★ “The Angel Trials is a roller coaster of shocking twists and turns, thrilling action, supernatural characters, drama, excitement, and romance!” -Kayla Williams, Amazon Reviewer ★★★★★ “Michelle Madow never disappoints! Her books are always well written and well thought out. The plot was mesmerizing from the very first book!” -Stella C., Amazon reviewer ★★★★★ “I haven't read a series this good since Laurel K Hamilton's books!” -Kindle Customer, Amazon Reviewer ★★★★★ “It’s extremely hard to find such an interesting and exciting author who not only writes intelligently but also provides top rated plots, characters, and excitement. I’m reading all of Michelle Madow’s books in this series and it’s hard to stop and take a break!” -JMN4555, Amazon Reviewer ★★★★★ “I am blown away! This is a series that will stick with you long after reading it. It’s beautifully written and I couldn’t stop reading it!” -KB, Amazon Reviewer ★★★★★ “If you haven't started The Angel Trials series, you need to jump on the band wagon! I'm sad it's over, but happy how it concluded! Madow is truly gifted and I highly recommend her novels!” -Katlyn H, Amazon Reviewer ★★★★★ “I didn't want The An

    What started as a game of Pong, with little blips dancing across a computer screen, has evolved into a multi-billion-dollar industry that is changing the future, making inroads into virtually all aspects of our culture.Who are the minds behind this revolution? How did it happen? Where is it headed? In Smartbomb, journalists Heather Chaplin and Aaron Ruby take the reader behind the scenes at gaming conventions, into powerhouse think tanks where new games are created, into the thick of the competition at cyberathlete tournaments, and into the homes of gamers for whom playing a role in a virtual world has assumed more relevance and reality than life in the real world.

    This is a full deck of 78 cards, each a superb work of art, with a text by prominent authors.

    Eurogames have simple rules and short playing times and emphasize strategy over luck and conflict. This book examines the form of eurogames, the hobbyist culture that surrounds them, and the way that hobbyists experience the play of such games. It chronicles the evolution of tabletop hobby gaming and explores why hobbyists play them, how players balance competitive play with the demands of an intimate social gathering, and to what extent the social context of the game encounter shapes the playing experience. Combining history, cultural studies, leisure studies, ludology, and play theory, this innovative work highlights a popular alternative trend in the gaming community.

    Movies defined the 20th century but games are now pushing them aside as the medium that captures our time, fascination and money. Generation Xbox digs into the love-hate relationship between games and cinema that has led us to this point. It's a story of disaster, triumph and Angelia Jolie in hot pants. Learn how Steven Spielberg's game-making dreams fell apart and why Silicon Valley pioneers wooed Stanley Kubrick. Discover the story behind the failed Halo movie, how videogame tech paved the way for Avatar, and what companies like Ubisoft and Valve are doing to take gaming to the next level. Based on more than 100 interviews with leading figures from videogames and Hollywood, Generation Xbox is the definitive history of an epic power struggle that has reshaped the entertainment landscape. Are you ready to play?

    The battle lines of society - and the police force - are being redrawn on a daily basis.With the certainties of his life already sorely tested, a brutal murder will shake his beliefs to their very core once more. The manner of the death and its staged circumstances pose many questions to which there are no obvious answers.To track the murderer, Hobbes must cross boundaries into a subculture hidden beneath the everyday world he thought he knew. His investigation takes him into a twisted reality, which is both seductive and devastating, and asks him the one question he has been dreading: How far will he go in pursuit of the truth?

    It is the first truly balanced research-based analysis on the games and gamers, addressing both the positive and negative aspects of habitual playing by drawing on significant recent studies and established motivational theory.Filled with examples from popular games and the real experiences of gamers themselves, Glued to Games gets to the heart of gaming's powerful psychological and emotional allure--the benefits as well as the dangers. It gives everyone from researchers to parents to gamers themselves a clearer understanding the psychology of gaming, while offering prescriptions for healthier, more enjoyable games and gaming experiences.

    Included inside the back cover is a beautifully illustrated 18 × 24–inch wall chart of the Major Arcana tarot cards to inspire and guide you each day. Tarot cards and readings have been used since the eighteenth century as a divination tool in seeking answers to past, present, and future events, in addition to guidance and support. Their popularity continues to this day. But how do you start? With In Focus Tarot, author and professional reader Steven Bright breaks down the essentials so you can start reading tarot cards right away. Bright first thoroughly explains each of the Major and Minor Arcanas, outlining for each card:The general meaning of the cardThe card interpreted as a situationThe card interpreted as a personQuestions to help you relate a card's message on a personal levelKeywords that give quick and handy meanings for the cardMeanings of the card if reversedThen learn how to put your knowledge to work using both traditional and newer tarot card placements (called tarot spreads). You'll also find professional tips and tricks to becoming a successful tarot reader. The In Focus series applies a modern approach to teaching the classic body, mind, and spirit subjects. Authored by experts in their respective fields, these beginner's guides feature smartly designed visual material that clearly illustrates key topics within each subject. As a bonus, each book holds reference cards or a poster, held in an envelope inside the back cover, to give you a quick, go-to guide containing the most important information on the subject.

    You'll master the Unity toolset from the ground up, adding the skills you need to go from application coder to game developer. Based on Unity version 5.About the BookThis book helps readers build successful games with the Unity game development platform. You will use the powerful C# language, Unity's intuitive workflow tools, and a state-of-the-art rendering engine to build and deploy mobile, desktop, and console games. Unity's single codebase approach minimizes inefficient switching among development tools and concentrates your attention on making great interactive experiences.Unity in Action teaches you how to write and deploy games. You'll master the Unity toolset from the ground up, adding the skills you need to go from application coder to game developer. Each sample project illuminates specific Unity features and game development strategies. As you read and practice, you'll build up a well-rounded skill set for creating graphically driven 2D and 3D game applications.You'll need to know how to program, in C# or a similar OO language. No previous Unity experience or game development knowledge is assumed.

    In this deck of 48 oracle cards created by Steven D. Farmer, you’ll find descriptions and images of several of these Earth elements along with clear and concise messages from the spirits of each. Through the use of these cards, you’ll uncover sensible advice that will provide guidance for questions you may have about any aspect of your life. The enclosed guidebook includes easy-to-follow instructions as well as expanded descriptions and messages for each card, allowing you to give yourself and others accurate, meaningful readings.

    D. Ouspensky (1878-1947) was one of the most important and influential figures in the occult movement of the twentieth century.His book on the Tarot has remained practically unknown since its initial publication in Russia in 1913. Yet, it is an important work presenting a general introduction and Ouspensky’s insights on the 22 cards of the Greater Arcana. The cards are presented in pairs, each completing the sense of another. 22 cards from the Waite set, described by Ouspensky, have been produced in full color on the covers.Unabridged, corrected republication of the original (1913) edition.

    The cards have the power to offer hope, reassurance, and support to readers as they meander through the ups and downs of life. In fact, the Tarot have even been known to trigger previously unknown solutions to major dilemmas – whether you consider the message to have come from your own intuition, or more mystical sources. Contrary to the popular myth, you don’t need psychic powers to read Tarot. All you need is a willingness to learn, time to practice, and the ability to hone and trust your natural intuition. Reading the Tarot is a combination of skills born from following instructions, listening to intuition, and making educated leaps of thought. As complicated as it may seem at first, it’s actually a relatively simple process. Seasoned Tarot readers would say that it’s a natural habit – something that comes like second nature to them. You too can reach that level of experience and comfort with the Tarot, through practice and patience. Tarot for Beginners Tarot for Beginners was created to teach regular people how to work with the mystical Tarot cards and change their life for the better – not to mention starting a fascinating new hobby, and having fun while doing it! This guide will provide you with everything a beginner needs to know about Tarot, including the most popular card meanings to get you started. Whether you’re using a “traditional” deck like Waite-Smith or the Tarot of Marseille, or a more specialist deck, the definitions included in this guide are relevant, and a solid starting point for a skill that you can carry with you for a lifetime. Remember, though: nothing is set in stone with Tarot. Reading Tarot involves listening to your intuition; as you become a skilled reader, the card meanings might evolve into something more personal to you. That is the beauty of Tarot, as different readers interpret things in their own unique style. If you're just starting out, though, this book is the perfect first step on your journey! We will also dive deeper into the Tarot: you will learn about the history of Tarot, the Major and Minor Arcana, and the positions and meanings of the cards in some of the world’s most popular Tarot spreads. In other words, Tarot for Beginners will teach you everything you need to start reading Tarot, today!

    This striking set is an essential tool of empowerment, personal growth, and inner transformation for women everywhere. Includes custom, full-color spread sheet.