Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

Discusses online game design, covering such topics as the history of online games, the differences between single-player games and online games, and how to integrate interactivity into online game design.

Table of contents provided by Syndetics

• Acknowledgments (p. xi)
• Introduction (p. xiii)
• Part I Forethought and Planning (p. 1)
• 1 Learning and Inspiration (p. 3)
• History of Multiplayer Online Games (p. 4)
• The Market Today (p. 13)
• Summary (p. 20)
• 2 Anthropology and Playology (p. 23)
• The Human-Game Relationship (p. 24)
• Learning (p. 26)
• Mastery (p. 29)
• Escape (p. 30)
• Social Event (p. 31)
• Secluded Activity (p. 32)
• Summary (p. 34)
• 3 Perspective and Understanding (p. 35)
• Understanding Online Games and Online Game Design (p. 35)
• Specialties of Multiplayer Online Games (p. 38)
• Summary (p. 43)
• 4 Analysis and Categorization (p. 45)
• According to Online Integration (p. 46)
• According to Technology (p. 49)
• According to Genre (p. 51)
• According to Purpose of Play (p. 53)
• According to Business Model/Distribution Channel (p. 53)
• Summary (p. 56)
• 5 Conceptualizing Interactivity (p. 57)
• The Importance of Interactivity (p. 57)
• The Interactivity Concept (p. 59)
• Benefits and Profits (p. 61)
• Summary (p. 67)
• Part II Implementation (p. 69)
• 6 Player-to-Computer Interactivity (p. 71)
• Introducing Player-to-Computer Interactivity (p. 71)
• Synchronicity and Quality (p. 73)
• Controls and Interface Devices (p. 76)
• Command Set (p. 79)
• Network and Network Transparency (p. 81)
• Interactivity Focus (p. 86)
• Artificial Intelligence (p. 89)
• Real-Life Simulation (p. 92)
• System Knowledge and Learning Curve (p. 94)
• Summary (p. 98)
• 7 Player-to-Player Interactivity (p. 99)
• Introducing Player-to-Player Interactivity (p. 99)
• Range of Potential Partners (p. 101)
• Freedom to Define the Range of Potential Partners (p. 111)
• Knowledge of Partners (p. 114)
• Knowledge of the Game Environment (p. 117)
• Variety of Interaction Channels (p. 122)
• Case Study: GameSpy Arcade (p. 128)
• Summary (p. 136)
• 8 Player-to-Game Interactivity (p. 139)
• Introducing Player-to-Game Interactivity (p. 139)
• Spatial Representation (p. 140)
• Mapping (p. 143)
• Media Personalization (p. 153)
• Atmosphere (p. 156)
• Content Creation (p. 160)
• Summary (p. 170)
• 9 Designing the Game Character (p. 171)
• What Are Game Characters? (p. 171)
• Interactivity through the Game Character (p. 173)
• Interactivity with the Game Character (p. 184)
• Summary (p. 192)
• 10 Community Design (p. 193)
• Defining Online Game Communities (p. 193)
• Characteristics of Online Game Communities (p. 194)
• Community Building Techniques (p. 204)
• Community Management (p. 215)
• Summary (p. 227)
• 11 Conflict and Competition (p. 229)
• Conflict in Multiplayer Spaces (p. 230)
• Conflict Scenarios (p. 233)
• Conflict and Cooperation (p. 248)
• Summary (p. 261)
• 12 Designing with Technical Limitations (p. 263)
• Design Perspectives (p. 264)
• First Thoughts (p. 265)
• Network Performance (p. 266)
• Network Protocols (p. 280)
• Security (p. 281)
• Summary (p. 285)
• Part III Additional Tools and Techniques (p. 287)
• 13 Prototyping (p. 289)
• Understanding Prototyping and Its Meaning (p. 289)
• Introduction to Prototyping Techniques (p. 294)
• Authoring Systems (p. 298)
• Summary (p. 306)
• 14 Playtesting and Beta Versions (p. 307)
• Alphas, Betas, and Release Candidates (p. 308)
• The Testing Process (p. 310)
• Summary (p. 321)
• 15 Massively Multiplayer Games and Middleware (p. 323)
• Overview of Game Middleware (p. 324)
• Interview with Remi Arnaud and Kenneth Trueman (p. 329)
• Case Study: Artifact Entertainment's Horizons (p. 348)
• Summary (p. 351)
• Part IV Interviews and Opinions (p. 353)
• 16 Shop Talk: Meeting of the Minds (p. 355)
• Interview Method and Procedure (p. 355)
• The Attendees (p. 356)
• Interactivity and Computer Games (p. 360)
• Meaning of "Multiplayer" for Gamers and Games (p. 365)
• Meaning of "Multiplayer" for Game Designers (p. 374)
• The Future of Multiplayer Online Games (p. 386)
• Understanding of (Multiplayer Online) Computer Games (p. 395)
• Summary (p. 405)
• End Note (p. 406)
• Appendices (p. 407)
• A Bibliography and Additional Resources (p. 407)
• B About the CD-ROM (p. 415)
• CD-ROM Folders (p. 415)
• System Requirements (p. 416)
• Installation (p. 416)
• Index (p. 421)