This book preaches about how to make a clone of an action game without really explaining the principles behind why a good game is good or the art of computer game design.

I found that it often contradicted Game Design Theory & Practice by Richard Rouse which is a much better book as it explains the principles of design with support from many experts rather than just saying that all games should be done a certain way.

Bates' book is quick and easy to read but not inspiring or thought provoking. Most of it was just common sense.

If you actually do game design for a living or are a serious hobbist, you'll probably know most of what's in this book. As such, this is more for those of us who like to "read around the subject" or for the total newbie game designer.

I found it broad and deep and most of all, up-to-date but there isn't anything particularly insightful here, unless game design is totally new to you.

I've also read "Game Design: Theory and Practice" by Richard Rouse which suffers mainly from being dated, although you could call it "classic". I'd place Bate's book over Rouse's for this reason alone but both are probably worth reading.

Everything You Want to Know About Game Design... but didn't know who to ask. Quite simply, there is no better primer on the subject of the interactive games business than Bob Bates' newest book, 'Game Design'. Especially useful for those who are considering entering the gaming industry, this book walks you through all aspects of the game making process - from initial conceptualizing through to publishing and media relations. The book is also useful for industry veterans who would like to know more about the overall process they play a pivotal role in. Not a heavily-worded account, Bates keeps true to his 'less is more' philosophy, by keeping 'Game Design' short on pages, but definitely not short on quality. This book should be REQUIRED reading at academic institutions where digital media are taught.

The purpose of my purchasing this book was to learn about the market place and the available technologies for optical switching; it did not serve my purpose. BTW, I am not an optical networking engineer. [...]. The writing and the organization of the book at times is almost incoherent.

A topic that is comming of age. It is difficult to find much written material on the subject. If you have been looking for this type material, you have found a mother load! I am working in the telecommunication arena and am always trying to find material that discusses trends that are in their infancy.

Mr. Bates has gathered a lot of information and has presented it in an interesting, readable manner. I have read a lot of technical material that has babbled on and on but not told you anything of interest. This book is succinct and easily readable. If you are a person working in the communications networking field or just interested in it, this book is a MUST read.

Optical Switching is a major development in technology that you need to be familiar with to see where the industry is headed. I enjoyed the book and would recommend it to anyone with an interest in this area.

After reading several other books on this technology, I finally found this one to be the most jargon free, to the point, book on Optical Switching. This is a great reference book that every non-engineer should have in their Library.

Mark Carney, a lonely high schooler, promised his mother he would stop calling teen chat lines, especially after their high phone bill. But Mark's completely addicted and starts up again, mainly as a way to meet girls.

Unfortunately, someone else also has the same idea as Mark, except the mystery caller kidnaps the girls he meets. With the help of his new girlfriend (Janine, who he met on the party line), Mark sets out to trap the kidnapper by using Janine as bait. Although risky, the plan works as expected--but maybe a little too well, because now Janine's the next possible victim.

The beginning of "Party Line" is pretty slow and boring with Mark struggling to meet girls and, once successful, trying to balance two relationships at the same time--one with Janine and another with a classmate, Marcy. However, by the end, the pace definitely picks up and makes the earlier monotony somewhat forgivable. Another plus: the identity of the kidnapper is well-hidden until the last chapter. You probably won't be able to guess him beforehand; I certainly couldn't.

Although written years before Internet chat rooms became popular, "Party Line" pretty much captures the same games and danger associated with anonymous dating. Worth reading if you like teen thrillers.

This book was the bet book I've read in a while . I don't like to read but I got hooked on this one. It was great!! You could almost see Nicky & Janine.totally insiring.

My sister bought about a million of these types of books and she gave me this one to read. That was a while ago, but I ordered it online again when I found out I could because I loved Party Line. Mark's charachter is not unlike mine when I was younger. Party Line instilled me with a confidence in myself I wouldn't have had otherwise. It showed me, when nothing else could, that even the very shy and lonely can still find happiness. Even if you have to battle a crazy kiddnapper to find it! :) My favorite part "I'll just say the page numbers as I don't want to spoil any of it" are pages 97 and 98. READ THIS BOOK, if you get the chance.

A nice, reassuring read for parents in the throes of the "No!"s. It's heartening to learn that your kid isn't the only one who's suddenly become stubborn and negative. But some of the advice seems to be based on conjecture rather than solid, large-scale studies of kids. The authors, for instance, never make a cogent case for limiting toddlers' choices. And their contention that bright toddlers often dim as they get older is dated at best; more recent research supports continuity in cognitive development. A MUCH better book: Becoming the Parent You Want to Be.

During his years as director of the child development institute at Yale University, Arnold Gesell pioneered techniques for observation of infants, children, and adolescents. He emphasized the kinds of norms or behaviors found to be associated with certain ages. Gesell is the father of developmental norms. This book, as well as the others, are developmentally based. Many books out there are not. This book is terrific for 1st time parents and others who simply don't know what is normal behavior.

Yes, this series of books can be a bit out of date in places. But if the reader recognizes and accommodates that, these are still -- by far -- the best books of their kind on the market. Like the others in this series, this book addresses the timeless issues of appropriate developmental milestones, including cognitive abilities, interaction with others, attention span, language recognition, interpersonal relationships, etc.

The text is reasonably neutral and instructive on hot topics such as discipline, sleep habits, and diet.

We have found this series of books to be an outstanding resource. If you look in the back of the popular Doris Herman book about preschool, you will find that she does, too.

In the spirit of Kindred of the East, this book is an add on for existing World of Darkness games. You need another core book (preferabley Vampire, Mage or Wraith for cross over use, but any of the games work), but fear not, because this has allowed the writers to add a whole bunch of juicer information into the pages.
Essentially, this game allows you to take on the role of a Mummy, just as the previous World of Darkness games put you in the role of other monsters. But these aren't the bandaged wrapped monsters of the cinema. Rather, they are more an amalgam of Boris Karlof's immortal mystic from the original Mummy and Egyptian mythological beings. These Mummies are immortal heros, blessed by Osiris and given the task of restoring balance to the world. As such, this is a much more hopeful tone when compared to, say, Vampire or Wraith, but that only makes the game that much more challenging. Mummies are made of a combination of a flawed mortal and an ancient Egyptian soul, so they are both modern and ancient at the same time. And they are also considerably less powerful than their ancient age would make you think. Therefore, these Mummies are not as unbalancing in cross overs as they might seem. Indeed, even the immortality thing isn't as big an advantage, because it does take considerable time to come back, plus Mummies do not have supernatural endurance on par with some of the other denizens of the World of Darkness.
The book is pretty straight forward. Mummies and their role in the World of Darkness (along with some great tips and ideas for better running Mummy games) are all described in great detail, including Osiris, Anubis, Ma'at, the Judges and various Cults of Life such as the followers of Isis and Osiris. There is a lot of usage of Egyptian and even Arabic words, but these only serve to add to the flavor and shouldn't confuse the reader overly much. Theres even a glossary of the major terms used, and some brief descriptions of Egyptian Gods and Goddesses. Plus theres the recommended reading, viewing and listening which give you some more points of reference for incorporating mummies, ancient Egypt and Middle Eastern culture into your games. And many of these sources can be found on Amazon.com, conveniently enough.
Like other denizens of the World of Darkness, the Mummies are divided into different splats, in this case based off aspects of the Egyptian soul (plus another one for "unaffiliated" mummies). Each of these splats are given full page write ups, which helps players get a handle on what motivates their characters. Each splat also specializes in a specific Hekau, ancient magics of Egypt such as alchemy or making ushabtis. These are given ratings from one to five, and work kind of like Vampire Disciplines or Mage Spheres, so players should grasp these pretty quickly. Furthermore, although Mummies only get a few new abilities, differing from those presented in the core book, Mummies also have a wealth of new backgrounds to help flesh them out, such as Ba, Ka and Companion, and even a handful of new merits and flaws.
As the first book in the "Year of the Scarab" series, Mummy also details the core setting for the game, Egypt and the lands of the Middle East, Africa and the Mediterranean. The histories of Egypt and Saudi Arabia are given, along with an extensive write up of Egypt's geography, from Luxor to Sinai. There are also some description Persia (Iran), Iraq, Kuwait, Kuwait, Israel and the Palestinean Territories, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Greece. Also, the Lands of the Dead (and beyond) are described, mainly from an Egyptian point of view, but fans of Wraith should be pleased.
The back of the book is also loaded with lots of juicy stuff for STs. Not only are there detailed notes for adding Mummies into a game, but there are also some other nasties, both for Mummy only games and for cross-overs. Corrupt "bane mummies", cannibalistic Egyptian cults, undead monsters and other servants of Aphosis and corruption are unique foes specifically for Mummies. Other supernaturals, such as the local Vampires (Assamites and Followers of Set), the walking dead, Wizards such as the Arabian Ahl-i-Batin and Persian Taftani, ghosts and other spirits, Djinn, shapeshifters (not only werewolves, but also werecrocodiles, werecats and even wereserpents) and monster hunters are all given, either as allies or antagonists, along with stats for various mortal animals native to the mid-east, like scorpions and camels. And then there are also other Mummies as well. Ancient Mummies who lived since the dyas of Egypt, non-Egyptian Mummies (created from Greek translations of the Egyptian ritual), Incan Mummies from the mountains of South America and immortal Taoist sages from China are all presented, with just enough for you to play them or incorporate them into your games.
All in all, this is an extremely useful book for STs and Players alike, whether you intend to run an all Mummy game or run a cross over game. Or even if you just want to add a Mummy or two into your game as NPCs. Even without Mummies, there is a wealth of information about Middle Eastern culture and settings provided in this book, with a specific emphasis on Egypt. If you run a Vampire game with lots of Assamites, or a Mage game focusing on Hermetic lore from ancient Egypt, you might find this game extremely useful, even without Mummies.

Mummy: The Resurrection, like Kindred of the East, is an add-on sourcebook for the World of Darkness, and also like Kindred of the East, it's hands-down some of the finest work ever done by White Wolf.

The showpiece of the book, of course, is the new breed of mummy which has appeared in the World of Darkness. In the wake of the Year of the Reckoning, Osiris has stirred from his long slumber, and for the first time in millennia, he has sanctioned the creation of new mummies. They are known as Amenti, and are born from the fusion of an ancient soul and a modern one. The Amenti are far more dynamic and interesting than the older mummies you might remember from WoD: Mummy Second Edition. (And no, they don't want around wrapped in toilet paper, either.)

The tone of Mummy is also much more positive than that of most other White Wolf games: Mummies are mortals who have been reborn as something more than human and given a second chance. They are beacons of light and hope in the World of Darkness, inspiring others through their example. While one can certainly play an all-Amenti chronicle, Mummy: The Resurrection really shines when used to run a crossover game. The Amenti can interact in the realms of vampires, werewolves, and other creatures in all sorts of interesting and flavorful ways: Adding a mummy to a coterie, pack, or coven will open up some great roleplaying opportunities. In addition, the balance issue present in WoD: Mummy Second Edition have been resolved, and the Amenti are now an excellent complement to other supernaturals. Their powers tend to be very subtle; they are not combat monsters or world-breakers, but they have many useful abilities such as healing, alchemy, and powers of the spirit world.

The book also includes tons of information on the Middle East, both in the present day and in the history of the World of Darkness, details on how the Amenti interact with vampires, werewolves, mages, and other supernaturals, as well as a whole chapter on other types of immortals from all around the world. Highly recommended.

I know mummies are far too powerful tu be simply added into a game... but get a good storyteller with a few good players and even the lousy i can do nothing 14th generation vampire can make a fun sidekik for a hundred years old mummy.
If you are into the white wolf storyteller system crossover is the whole idea behind it, so, yeah, it IS worth your money.

This dictionary perfoms well for the beginner in geology or the intermediate student. Granted, most technical jargon is defined, though sometimes the definitions are a bit questionable. There is, however, some advanced and basic terminology that is absent. I sold my old geology dictionary (sorry, I didn't write anything about it down) and bought this one, and I regret doing so.

This is a good basic dictionary. It's not meant to be comprehensive, but covers the basics quite well. It was a required text in my undergraduate studies, and it serves nicely at that level.

After spending five years at the university studying geology, I would estimate that I can readily define less than half of terms in this dictionary. I just don't use them in my work. However, that is still pretty good considering that this comprehensive volume covers terminology from astrogeology, cartography, crystallography, mineralogy, economic geology, geochemistry, geomorpholgy, geophysics, glacial geology, hydrology, oceanograhy, palontology, petrology, stratigraphy, structural geology, and volcanology. The American Geological Institute used some of the top men in each field for this latest revised edition.

I've come to the conclusion over the years that the various branches of geology have evolved more specialised terms than any of the other sciences. That's why it is so easy for a specialist in another field, or a rock hound with a dictionary, to trip you up. That's also why you need your own copy of this book....

Oh yes, I could also see where this volume could be of help in preparing for the Advanced Test in Geology for the Graduate Record Exam- you never know what they are going to throw at you, either.

I must admit that I am very disappointed with this book.

Being somebody who worked in some of the areas, I find most of the definitions and discussions in the book far from being precise, and incomplete. The author tries to cover too much, but in my opinion fails to do so. It just touches some technologies.

My biggest surprise was to see a book of such advanced topics with no references, or bibliograpghy, apart from some ITU Specs or IETF docs inserted into the text. The author probably has a lot of knowledge in a lot of areas, but the book should be able to point towards the real source of the information or provide pointers for more interested readers.

I must admit that I consider the money I spent on this book wasted.

I personally would have liked to see a preface, and read about the aim, intended audience of this book.

This is a comment, and not a review. The last "review" by Del is not a "review" of the book at all. Rather, it is a "review" of Del's experience with a used book transaction. You should delete this "review."

Also, you should add a 0 star rating level.

Completely satisfied with this order. Book in excellent condition, and fast delivery. I was very very pleased doing business with this seller.

I read this book while couch-bound, nursing my newborn and watching my 2 1/2 year old destruct the house, so perhaps I was not Ms. Alden's most patient reader. My biggest problem was that I was never actually convinced that the author really wanted a child. She spent so much of the book rehashing her strong, independent woman, no-time-for-children existence in a self-congratulatory manner that I just couldn't believe that her desire to have a child was anything more than a manifestation of her perfectionist drive to "do it all." I really tired of her constant wavering, "Maybe I do, maybe I don't," which in the end just struck me as extremely self-indulgent. I did find the last part of the book on actual infertility treatments and what woman go through psychologically very interesting (that the treatments themselves can become a kind of addiction was fascinating and heartbreaking), but I felt she took much too long to get there. I am glad that Ms. Alden came to peace with herself over this difficult choice, but as woman who writes and who has made the opposite choice earlier in her life, CROSSING THE MOON struck me as a lot of rationalizing.

What I liked about this book is that the author didn't try to provide an answer, just discussed very openly and honestly her own experiences with infertility and deciding whether to pursue/continue fertility treatment. I liked the fact that she was honest about her ambiguity about having children in the first place. I think it is common for women these days to question whether they need to have a child to be fulfilled and whether it is worth the invasiveness and disruption to a normal life that extensive fertility treatment requires. It was therapeutic for me to read about her experiences and her arrival at a decision. It didn't help me make a decision, but it did help me think through some of the issues. If you have not wrested with any of these issues, the book may not be as meaningful to you. Unfortunately, I think infertility is something you have to experience to truly understand.

I picked up this book in the bookstore even though I have no problems with infertility. I'd read her collection of stories (which is really great) so it caught my eye. By the end of page one, I could not put it down! This is just a plain old GOOD READ. Alden discusses issues relevant to most people -- infertile or not, considering parenthood or not. In some ways, I am sorry that the book has the subtitle that it does, because (though it centers on Alden's struggles with infertility) it really reads like a great memoir. Alden is clearly a gifted writer. She has this way of drawing you in and not letting you go until the last word.

This method works but it needs a lot of commitment. If you are able to throw away your lenses and keep to a program which requires an hour out of every day then go for it. However, if you need to wear your specs every day just to function - for driving, computer work etc - then you needn't waste your cash. This won't work for you. I once had a period in my life during which I didn't need to have my glasses on and I was able to practise every day. I gained such an improvement in my prescription that - when I returned to the eye-doctor - I was for the first time qualified to drive without glasses, and, though my eyesight is still not perfect, I have never worn spectacles since.

Expect immediate effects, which might seem quite dramatic. After that progress is slower. The four stars I gave this book is because it is the original. There are, however, better expositions of the method on the market.

I've used this method to pass a police eye exam before and it works. If your doctor said you had to wear a crutch forever because of a strain due to excessive and improper use of a muscle , you'd call him a quack. But most of us pay big bucks to get good vision and it's nothing more(in most cases) than a case of eye strain caused by poor vision habits. Your eye doctor won't tell you to use this book, because he gets paid twice over to get you to wear glasses(or something even more expensive). My biggest problem with nearsightedness came from always looking at near objects such as the ground and never allowing the muscles in my eyes to stretch and see things like the horizon or clouds overhead. And when I finally did chose to stretch these muscles it was like trying to get into a crossed leg yoga position. The lenses in your eye are controlled by muscles and they need to be stretched and tightened.Buy this book for everyone you know and love and tell your eye doctor either to get another sucker or find a new job.

I read this book in 1973. At the time I was 29 yrs. old and was quite near sighted. I even had to wear glasses to drive. After doing the simple exercizes in the book, my sight improved dramatically!! I no longer wear glasses for any reason. People who I told this method to wouldn't try it because they didn't believe it could be that easy, how stupid. Try it, you have nothing to lose but your glasses or contacts!

I have not read this book cover-to-cover, but I think I get the idea from reading large sections throughout the book. I don't like it. First of all, much of the contents is OK, but seems like very basic common sense, so I didn't find it that useful. Things that bugged me, though, were:

Talking about how this age is good for using a harness and leash. (not that I haven't considered this!! :-) )

They gave an example of a child's dexterity by talking about how she picked up a toy simultaneously with a cigarette that had fallen out of her father's cigarette pack. I think the authors are European, so smoking is rampant in Europe. But to me, this is an odd example in a book that's supposed to be teaching good practices for parents.

Lastly, they talk about how children at a certain age aren't very social and how they consider people to be like inanimate objects. They gave the example of how toddlers in a stroller don't engage at all with the person pushing the stroller, and that there may as well be a machine pushing the stroller. Therefore, they don't like engaging much with people. Well . . . can you imagine sitting in a stroller facing out and trying to engage with the person pushing you from behind? My child loves to engage with me and others, but in a stroller it's practically impossible!

These examples, and the fact that they totally miss the mark in describing my child - saying they aren't interested in books at all at this age (she loves books! And spends long periods flipping through pages, babbling away, and letting me read to her), among other strange generalizations, make me glad i bought this book used instead of new. It may be helpful to someone out there, but didn't help me.

This book is very outdated. ... says it has been revised, but mine was 15 years old, with no revisions. I returned it.

I must disagree with the above reviewer who complained that the book is 15 years old and is therefore outdated. That criticism would be more vaild if it concerned a book about teenagers or pre-teens, since our culture has changed so much in just 15 years. However, one-year-old children have behaved in similar fashion since the beginning of time. They learn to stand, to totter, they grab ahold of everything in sight. This book is short, easy to read, and packed with a lot of insight. I especially like the suggested toys section--old magazines, blocks, plastic play hammer, old purse, etc. One-year-olds are fascinated by everything, so concentrate on simple, unbreakable items instead of spending hundreds on smashable toys. Good read!