The Stuff Games Are Made Of

by Pippin Barr

A deep dive into practical game design through playful philosophy and philosophical play.

What are video games made of? And what can that tell us about what they mean? In The Stuff Games Are Made Of , experimental game maker Pippin Barr explores the materials of video game design. Taking the reader on a deep dive into eight case studies of his own games, Barr illuminates the complex nature of video games and video game design, and the possibilities both offer for exploring ideas big and small.

Through a variety of engaging and approachable examples, Barr shows how every single aspect of a game—whether it is code, graphics, interface, or even time itself—can be designed with and related to the player experience. Barr’s experimental approach, with its emphasis on highly specific elements of games, will leave readers armed with intriguing design philosophy, conceptual rigor, and diverse insights into the inner life of video games. Upon finishing this book, readers will be ready to think deeply about the nature of games, to dive into expressive and experimental game design themselves, or simply to play with a new and expanded mindset.

Genres: Game Design, Gaming, Nonfiction, Games

180 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 1, 2023

Reviews

[Stella · Rating 3 out of 5]

the chapter on violence was a bit on the nose personally. but a great book that inspires you to think about games critically!

[Gianluca Cameron · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's honestly kind of incredible how much this book won me over by its end. I have not been a gamer for a while as I have been alienated by the larger-than-usual monetary expense in relation to games tending to lack an emotional core (I am reminded of seeing a preview for an independent game about spousal abuse that to my mind seemed more interested in establishing itself as a mature game that dared tackled such an adult and serious topic and so on and so on). At first, I thought "Okay, this Pippin guy is inquisitive, an all-around pretty decent writer and is outlining a fantastic way to investigate the formal aspects of art in general but I don't necessarily have his faith in videogames" and even found his disagreement with Ebert amusing (this does make me look bad, I know). I, at the time, considered Ebert's dismissal of videogames one of his few unambiguous triumphs (not an Ebert fan). But I have to say, his enthusiasm, intelligent inquiry into the many fundamental formal aspects of videogames and the way he subverted so many of the tendencies that annoyed me about videogames in general absolutely won me over. I recommend this book to anyone, even if they're not a gamer. You may not make a game but you will come out of it with some inspiring ideas on how to play with your medium. And that's pretty invaluable.

[Julian · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book is a great jump into what makes videogames interesting as medium by looking into its parts and the different elements that make up the whole. The whole book is interesting and the reading lists or paths to explore the author shares are something more non-fiction books should do. My only gripe would be that the money chapter was a miss, it focused a lot on assets as a representation of the different costs of stuff used during game development but I think there is a bigger way money is stuff of games specially when we talk about microtransactions, free-to-play, gacha games and the way spending money is becoming a sort of mechanic.

I would recommend this book if you're interested in games as a creative medium.

[Mut · Rating 5 out of 5]

sempre gostoso ler um livro de game design (ou arte ou qualquer processo) de uma pessoa que pensou muito em seus processos, inspiracoes e resultados. um livro com muitas ideias e abrangendo uma grande variedade de caminhos a se experimentar com videogames. cada capitulo é baseado em um projeto do pippin barr, no qual ele explica suas ideias, o que mudou da ideia durante a criação de cada jogo, até ideias finais.

adoro que no fim de cada capitulo tem indicaçoes de estudo, leitura, jogos, e no fim do livro uma proposta de atividades para aplicar as novas ideas. gosto quando termino de ler um livro e coloquei mais 10 coisas novas na minha lista de leituras/midias

[Óscar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful analysis on experimentation not just from a "game design" perspective, but from the actual materials and components, well, games are made of.

It's wonderfully explained and best of all has proved games showing what Mr. Barr discusses on the book, so it's a nice way for aspiring (experimental) game designers to create simple games based on each chapter.

Really recommend it as an introduction to see games as something beyond commercial AAA(ad infinitum) and more as one of the defining mediums of artistic expression of your time.

[Jason Li · Rating 5 out of 5]

How refreshing it is to read a book that can describe videogames in more terms than the “rules” and “gameplay”! Barr’s book gives 8 angles, from code to cost, for how to integrate the digital material into our understanding of what the videogame object can
and could be.

[Adam Gilbert · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really interesting perspectives on different aspects of making games. Think it gets a little too abstract and self-indulgently high minded in the later chapters.

[Steave Evaets · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is quite an interesting book. I would like to read the author's opinion on gambling as well since it's a very relevant topic nowadays.

[Zachary Dillon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Barr explores aspects of video games and our interaction with them as creators and players with the curious fascination of a child making a web side-by-side with a spider.

Enthralling and playful.