What's new in the FAQs this week (since the Jan. 13, 2004 posting):


1. Added yet more examples to FAQ 34.
2. Added a suggestion to FAQ 12.


---

Archive-name: GDFAQ.txt
Newsgroups: comp.games.development.design
Posting-frequency: weekly
Last-modified: Dec. 28, 2003
Version: 1.10


<><><><><>

I. THE FAQ FILES ON THE INTERNET. WHERE THEY ARE AND WHAT'S IN THEM

The Game Design FAQs (Frequently Asked Question articles) are at
http://www.sloperama.com/advice.html

The FAQs are:

FAQ #1. "I have a Great Idea for a game. How do I sell it?"
FAQ #2. Basic outline for a game design document.
FAQ #3. Preparing for a career in game design.
FAQ #4. Applying for a job in game design.
FAQ #5. Testers -- The Unsung Heroes of Games.
FAQ #6. Trade Shows and Conferences -- Are They Worthwhile
FAQ #7. Various Jobs In The Game Biz -- Which Are You Suited For?
FAQ #8. Recommended Reading For Aspiring Designers
FAQ #9. Professionalism and Attitude
FAQ #10. All About The Process (How Videogames Are Made) (Dec. 2001)
FAQ #11. "FAQ 1 Redux" - MORE About What To Do With Your Game Idea
(January 2002)
FAQ #12. Things You Can Do At Home (February 2002)
FAQ #13. More Game Design Tips (March 2002)
FAQ #14. Details about the Job of Game Designer (April 2002)
FAQ #15. Game Programming by Marc Vaughan (May 2002)
FAQ #16. Doing It Yourself (Making an Indy Game) by Noah Decter-
Jackson (June 2002)
FAQ #17. More About Testing (The View From Inside Q.A.) by Matthew S.
Burns (July 2002)
FAQ #18. Case History in Game Design: The GAME TIME Watch (August 2002)
FAQ #19. Game Calculator (another blast from the past) (September 2002)
FAQ #20. Board Game Design (October 2002)
FAQ #21. The Submission Process (November 2002)
FAQ #22. Classic Games Q&A (December 2002)
CATCH-23. Quandaries, Contradictions, and Oxymora of the Game Biz.
(January 2003)
FAQ #24. Ten Stupid Wannabe Tricks (February 2003)
FAQ #25. How to Choose a College (or make any important decision)
(March 2003)
FAQ #26. It Don't Come Easy (April 2003)
FAQ #27. Breaking the Barriers (May 2003)
FAQ #28. GLOSSARY OF GAME BIZ TERMS (June 2003)
FAQ #29. Starting Your Own Game Company (July 2003)
FAQ #30. If You Have To Ask... (August 2003)
FAQ #31. What If I Have The Ultimate Idea? (September 2003)
FAQ #32. Writing For Games (October 2003)
FAQ #33. The Korean Game Developers Conference (November 2003)
FAQ #34. A Question of Degree (December 2003)
FAQ #35. More About Submission Pitching (January 2004)


INDEX FOR THIS FAQ*

I. THE FAQ FILES ON THE INTERNET. WHERE THEY ARE AND WHAT'S IN THEM
II. WELCOME AND INTRODUCTION TO THE GAME DESIGN NEWSGROUPS
III. GENERAL GUIDELINES FOR THE NEWSGROUP

*("FAQ" is short for "Frequently Asked Questions.")

Note: This FAQ is (and will remain) in text format. References to
internet URLs are not clickable. Scroll down to read this FAQ; if
viewed on the internet, use your browser's "Back" button to go back
to the page that referred you here.


<><><><><>

II. WELCOME AND INTRODUCTION TO THE COMP.GAME DESIGN NEWSGROUP

Welcome to the comp.games.development.design Frequently Asked
Questions (FAQs). There is another game design newsgroup -
rec.games.design - but that one has a "mini-FAQ" and I don't want to
step on anybody's toes. The purpose of this article is to assist
readers in finding answers to their Game Design questions and to
introduce new readers to newsgroup and bulletin board etiquette.
Questions and comments about this FAQ should be emailed to Tom
Sloper (tomster@sloperama.com). This article is posted weekly at the
newsgroup. The FAQs are on the web at:

http://www.sloperama.com/advice.html

The newsgroup FAQs are on the Web (instead of being posted regularly
on the newsgroup) because

1. The FAQs are sizeable, and we wanted to be nice to the newsgroup
servers around the world.

2. Some of the FAQs contain pictures. These newsgroups do not support
"binaries."

3. "Newsfeed" is a funny, mysterious, unpredictable thing -- not
everybody's ISP provides timely access to the current postings at the
newsgroups, so sometimes a user will look at the newsgroup and not see
recent postings which other users can see there. It often happens that
someone will ask a question that's answered by the FAQs -- we advise
the asker to read the FAQs -- but the asker can't see them even though
they had just been posted a few days previously. Thus the web version
of the FAQs. The web version will not expire like newsgroup postings
do.

4. Newsgroups are becoming a lesser-known part of the internet as the
Web grows in usage, and there's a clear need to include graphics in
the FAQs.


<><><><><>

III. GENERAL GUIDELINES FOR THESE NEWSGROUPS

New readers are well advised to familiarize themselves with the normal
practices on the group before posting. Certain types of postings
frequently pop up -- and some of them sometimes can cause flaring
tempers and flame-o-grams.

o The best type of posting is a question about the DESIGN of games,
especially from the point of view of an industry participant, involved
in designing games. End user viewpoints are not off-topic, however.

o Please don't post off-topic messages. We at this newsgroup are
interested in discussing GAME DESIGN only. There are other newsgroups
for the discussion of other topics. Like programming or graphics.
This is not a programming or graphics newsgroup.

o People occasionally find a reason to post a picture to illustrate a
question. This is a BIG no-no! Do NOT post any pictures here. You
could always Email a picture to someone who can look at it and answer
your question.

o One of the entertaining pastimes of newsgroups is "flaming", where
posters publicly insult each other in terms that they might not use if
meeting face to face. If you have been flamed, please don't take it
personally, and PLEASE don't start a real flame war over it. Just
remember that people at keyboards are sometimes more feisty than they
might be face to face. Can't we all just get along?

o What you should do before you post a question:

- If you haven't read the articles that are regularly posted to
the newsgroup news.announce.newusers, please do so. You will
learn about some general rules and principles that apply to
virtually all newsgroups, like a ban on posting most binary
files and MIME attachments, and sending email instead of
posting if your message is intended only for one person.

- Read the newsgroup for at least a week (reading for some time
before posting is proper etiquette for ANY Usenet newsgroup.
If you didn't realize that, all the more reason for you to go
back and read news.announce.newusers).

- Be aware that posting in newsgroups can cause you to start
receiving unwanted junk Email. But if you put a "nospam" filter
in your Email address, others have to be smart in order to Email
you in response. You have to decide what to do.

- Read the other FAQs. See section I...


In closing, I would just like to mention that if someone else wants to
write a better FAQ than this one, go for it. - Tom


<><><><><>

UPDATE LOG

Feb. 13, 2003 - FAQ was created for 2 newsgroups: comp.games
..development.design and rec.games.design.
Feb. 14, 2003 - due to toe-stepping concerns, the FAQ is now intended
solely for comp.games.development.design. Deleted an irrelevant
passage. Tightened line lengths.
Feb. 24, 2003 - added FAQ #25.
April 14, 2003 - added FAQ #26.
May 22, 2003 - added FAQ #27.
May 29, 2003 - added FAQ #28.
July 28, 2003 - added FAQ #29. Minor wording changes in the intro.
August 31, 2003 - added FAQ #30.
September, 2003 - added FAQ #31.
Nov. 3, 2003 - added FAQ #32.
Dec. 2, 2003 - added FAQ #33.
Dec. 28, 2003 - added FAQs #34 and #35.


<><><><><>

(C) 2003, 2004 Tom Sloper. All rights reserved.

Tom Sloper - Game Designer, Producer, Consultant, Author, Speaker.

20+ web pages of helpful free information and bulletin boards for game
industry aspirants; a new article every month.
http://www.sloperama.com/advice.html

Sloperama Productions. Services for game developers and publishers;
"Making Games Fun, And Getting Them Done."
http://www.sloperama.com/business.html

The Mah-Jongg FAQs. Over 100 web pages of free information and bulletin
boards about the games of mah-jongg and hanafuda.
http://www.sloperama.com/mjfaq.html



1. Added a couple new definitions to the Game Biz Glossary (FAQ 28).
2. Added FAQ 34.
3. Added FAQ 35.


---

Archive-name: GDFAQ.txt
Newsgroups: comp.games.development.design
Posting-frequency: weekly
Last-modified: Dec. 28, 2003
Version: 1.10


<><><><><>

I. THE FAQ FILES ON THE INTERNET. WHERE THEY ARE AND WHAT'S IN THEM

The Game Design FAQs (Frequently Asked Question articles) are at
http://www.sloperama.com/advice.html

The FAQs are:

FAQ #1. "I have a Great Idea for a game. How do I sell it?"
FAQ #2. Basic outline for a game design document.
FAQ #3. Preparing for a career in game design.
FAQ #4. Applying for a job in game design.
FAQ #5. Testers -- The Unsung Heroes of Games.
FAQ #6. Trade Shows and Conferences -- Are They Worthwhile
FAQ #7. Various Jobs In The Game Biz -- Which Are You Suited For?
FAQ #8. Recommended Reading For Aspiring Designers
FAQ #9. Professionalism and Attitude
FAQ #10. All About The Process (How Videogames Are Made) (Dec. 2001)
FAQ #11. "FAQ 1 Redux" - MORE About What To Do With Your Game Idea
(January 2002)
FAQ #12. Things You Can Do At Home (February 2002)
FAQ #13. More Game Design Tips (March 2002)
FAQ #14. Details about the Job of Game Designer (April 2002)
FAQ #15. Game Programming by Marc Vaughan (May 2002)
FAQ #16. Doing It Yourself (Making an Indy Game) by Noah Decter-
Jackson (June 2002)
FAQ #17. More About Testing (The View From Inside Q.A.) by Matthew S.
Burns (July 2002)
FAQ #18. Case History in Game Design: The GAME TIME Watch (August 2002)
FAQ #19. Game Calculator (another blast from the past) (September 2002)
FAQ #20. Board Game Design (October 2002)
FAQ #21. The Submission Process (November 2002)
FAQ #22. Classic Games Q&A (December 2002)
CATCH-23. Quandaries, Contradictions, and Oxymora of the Game Biz.
(January 2003)
FAQ #24. Ten Stupid Wannabe Tricks (February 2003)
FAQ #25. How to Choose a College (or make any important decision)
(March 2003)
FAQ #26. It Don't Come Easy (April 2003)
FAQ #27. Breaking the Barriers (May 2003)
FAQ #28. GLOSSARY OF GAME BIZ TERMS (June 2003)
FAQ #29. Starting Your Own Game Company (July 2003)
FAQ #30. If You Have To Ask... (August 2003)
FAQ #31. What If I Have The Ultimate Idea? (September 2003)
FAQ #32. Writing For Games (October 2003)
FAQ #33. The Korean Game Developers Conference (November 2003)
FAQ #34. A Question of Degree (December 2003)
FAQ #35. More About Submission Pitching (January 2004)


INDEX FOR THIS FAQ*

I. THE FAQ FILES ON THE INTERNET. WHERE THEY ARE AND WHAT'S IN THEM
II. WELCOME AND INTRODUCTION TO THE GAME DESIGN NEWSGROUPS
III. GENERAL GUIDELINES FOR THE NEWSGROUP

*("FAQ" is short for "Frequently Asked Questions.")

Note: This FAQ is (and will remain) in text format. References to
internet URLs are not clickable. Scroll down to read this FAQ; if
viewed on the internet, use your browser's "Back" button to go back
to the page that referred you here.


<><><><><>

II. WELCOME AND INTRODUCTION TO THE COMP.GAME DESIGN NEWSGROUP

Welcome to the comp.games.development.design Frequently Asked
Questions (FAQs). There is another game design newsgroup -
rec.games.design - but that one has a "mini-FAQ" and I don't want to
step on anybody's toes. The purpose of this article is to assist
readers in finding answers to their Game Design questions and to
introduce new readers to newsgroup and bulletin board etiquette.
Questions and comments about this FAQ should be emailed to Tom
Sloper (tomster@sloperama.com). This article is posted weekly at the
newsgroup. The FAQs are on the web at:

http://www.sloperama.com/advice.html

The newsgroup FAQs are on the Web (instead of being posted regularly
on the newsgroup) because

1. The FAQs are sizeable, and we wanted to be nice to the newsgroup
servers around the world.

2. Some of the FAQs contain pictures. These newsgroups do not support
"binaries."

3. "Newsfeed" is a funny, mysterious, unpredictable thing -- not
everybody's ISP provides timely access to the current postings at the
newsgroups, so sometimes a user will look at the newsgroup and not see
recent postings which other users can see there. It often happens that
someone will ask a question that's answered by the FAQs -- we advise
the asker to read the FAQs -- but the asker can't see them even though
they had just been posted a few days previously. Thus the web version
of the FAQs. The web version will not expire like newsgroup postings
do.

4. Newsgroups are becoming a lesser-known part of the internet as the
Web grows in usage, and there's a clear need to include graphics in
the FAQs.


<><><><><>

III. GENERAL GUIDELINES FOR THESE NEWSGROUPS

New readers are well advised to familiarize themselves with the normal
practices on the group before posting. Certain types of postings
frequently pop up -- and some of them sometimes can cause flaring
tempers and flame-o-grams.

o The best type of posting is a question about the DESIGN of games,
especially from the point of view of an industry participant, involved
in designing games. End user viewpoints are not off-topic, however.

o Please don't post off-topic messages. We at this newsgroup are
interested in discussing GAME DESIGN only. There are other newsgroups
for the discussion of other topics. Like programming or graphics.
This is not a programming or graphics newsgroup.

o People occasionally find a reason to post a picture to illustrate a
question. This is a BIG no-no! Do NOT post any pictures here. You
could always Email a picture to someone who can look at it and answer
your question.

o One of the entertaining pastimes of newsgroups is "flaming", where
posters publicly insult each other in terms that they might not use if
meeting face to face. If you have been flamed, please don't take it
personally, and PLEASE don't start a real flame war over it. Just
remember that people at keyboards are sometimes more feisty than they
might be face to face. Can't we all just get along?

o What you should do before you post a question:

- If you haven't read the articles that are regularly posted to
the newsgroup news.announce.newusers, please do so. You will
learn about some general rules and principles that apply to
virtually all newsgroups, like a ban on posting most binary
files and MIME attachments, and sending email instead of
posting if your message is intended only for one person.

- Read the newsgroup for at least a week (reading for some time
before posting is proper etiquette for ANY Usenet newsgroup.
If you didn't realize that, all the more reason for you to go
back and read news.announce.newusers).

- Be aware that posting in newsgroups can cause you to start
receiving unwanted junk Email. But if you put a "nospam" filter
in your Email address, others have to be smart in order to Email
you in response. You have to decide what to do.

- Read the other FAQs. See section I...


In closing, I would just like to mention that if someone else wants to
write a better FAQ than this one, go for it. - Tom


<><><><><>

UPDATE LOG

Feb. 13, 2003 - FAQ was created for 2 newsgroups: comp.games
..development.design and rec.games.design.
Feb. 14, 2003 - due to toe-stepping concerns, the FAQ is now intended
solely for comp.games.development.design. Deleted an irrelevant
passage. Tightened line lengths.
Feb. 24, 2003 - added FAQ #25.
April 14, 2003 - added FAQ #26.
May 22, 2003 - added FAQ #27.
May 29, 2003 - added FAQ #28.
July 28, 2003 - added FAQ #29. Minor wording changes in the intro.
August 31, 2003 - added FAQ #30.
September, 2003 - added FAQ #31.
Nov. 3, 2003 - added FAQ #32.
Dec. 2, 2003 - added FAQ #33.
Dec. 28, 2003 - added FAQs #34 and #35.


<><><><><>

(C) 2003, 2004 Tom Sloper. All rights reserved.

Tom Sloper - Game Designer, Producer, Consultant, Author, Speaker.

20+ web pages of helpful free information and bulletin boards for game
industry aspirants; a new article every month.
http://www.sloperama.com/advice.html

Sloperama Productions. Services for game developers and publishers;
"Making Games Fun, And Getting Them Done."
http://www.sloperama.com/business.html

The Mah-Jongg FAQs. Over 100 web pages of free information and bulletin
boards about the games of mah-jongg and hanafuda.
http://www.sloperama.com/mjfaq.html