I recently finished "Play Between Worlds: Exploring Online Game Culture" by T.L. Taylor. It is a fascinating look at the vast online community within Everquest with many important observations for serious game designers. Among the most salient points:
- "linking design with the social life of a game cannot be overemphasized" (p. 38)
- Dynamic Goal Setting (p. 75)
- Embodiment Online (p. 117)
This is a must read for any (serious) game designer!
I'm serious,
Anne