Raph's Website » O’Reilly picks up, reprints A Theory of Fun

O’Reilly picks up, reprints A Theory of Fun

January 14th, 2009 (Visited 4752 times) Tags:

I now have official word that A Theory of Fun for Game Design will be published by O’Reilly. They are going back to press on it pretty much immediately to meet the giant pile of backorders (like, well over a thousand), so hopefully everyone waiting for a copy will be able to get one for less than $200 in the next few months.

I am thrilled about this — it’s new life for the book, and the possibility of even some fresh momentum. I get asked about getting a hold of copies every single week, sometimes multiple times.

The question has also come up regarding updates. I’d have to re-read it closely, but although there have been lots of studies that have come out since publication that seem to reinforce the points the book makes, I haven’t seen anything to substantially alter the thrust of the argument. You?

Also, if there were any sort of update, the commonest thing I have heard requests for is to actually have endnote numbers, since it is used a lot in academia. Anything else? (No, not color cartoons…)

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Koster’s “A Theory of Fun” Re-Emerges « Third Helix wrote on January 14th, 2009 at 11:53 am:

[...] today brings great news! Raph Koster himself writes that the book is going back into print, and should become generally available again sometime soon: I now have official word that A Theory [...]

What is a design and what is an idea? « Dancing Elephants wrote on January 16th, 2009 at 5:11 am:

[...] I don’t have a copy. It is out of print and virtually impossible to source. Luckily, he says that a new printing will be available this summer. I’ll certainly order it when the time comes. Being unfortunately for the time being ignorant [...]

Ferum said on January 14th, 2009 at 12:04 pm:

Heh, I was just getting used to the idea that my copy is a collector’s item.

Derek Licciardi said on January 14th, 2009 at 12:31 pm:

I was just getting used to the fact that I donated cash to Amazon a few months back. It will be interesting to see if Amazon can figure out how to deal with a book that’s on backorder for so long and changes publisher.

Marduk said on January 14th, 2009 at 12:37 pm:

“Games, Diversions & Perl Culture: Best of the Perl Journal” already got the Dragon on the cover – what’s your O’Reilly animal going to be?

Raph said on January 14th, 2009 at 1:13 pm:

I don’t think the look is changing just yet.

Todd said on January 14th, 2009 at 2:15 pm:

It’d have to be a dhole.

Yehuda Berlinger said on January 14th, 2009 at 2:18 pm:

Congrats. Any changes for the new edition?

Raph said on January 14th, 2009 at 2:23 pm:

Given the backlog of orders, they are going to go back to press immediately to meet those. After that, we’ll see.

David Fisher said on January 15th, 2009 at 10:23 am:

I’m about to order a large number of books from O’Reilly. Any idea when this might be shipping? I didn’t see it in their “upcoming” books list.

Bill Fahle said on January 15th, 2009 at 12:41 pm:

Please keep us posted as to the status of publishing this book, and availability. I’m trying to use it as a textbook in a course I’m offering this semester, so obviously time is of the essence. Thanks for handling this.

Orkum said on January 17th, 2009 at 5:32 am:

Kindle Edition?

KevinMc said on January 17th, 2009 at 6:17 am:

Congrats on getting the reprint! *I*, of course, have had a copy for years now. It’s a little weathered, but still very readable.

Raph, ever considered doing a book on MMO design? You’re a well-known name in the field, probably one of the best known. I think it’s an idea you could probably sell to a publisher. I know *I’d* buy a copy.

Michael Chui said on January 17th, 2009 at 12:28 pm:

I don’t think it would be Right to read AToF on a Kindle…

Andrew Hanson said on January 21st, 2009 at 11:45 am:

I’m seconding KevinMc’s request for a book out of Raph on MMO design. I would be first in line to buy it… digitally that is.