The art of computer game design. (book reviews)

Another thoughtful book that will have you reaching for your thinking cap is The Art of Computer Games Design by the one and only Chris Crawford, the premier game designer for Atari and until March of this year Atari's manager of research.

In this book, Crawford emphasizes the artistic dimension of computer games. In this way he reveals computer games design as a creative process rather than merely a technical one. He states that the central theme of the book is "that computer games constitute a new and poorly developed art form that holds great promise for both the game designer and the game player."

This book is must reading for anyone interested in game design or even those who just like to play computer games. Written well, it reads more like a novel than non-fiction. Osborne/McGraw-Hill, $14.95.

Review Grade: A