Are your game design decisions based on gut feelings or solid player evidence? this book is your definitive guide to systematically understanding your players, enabling you to craft experiences they genuinely find engaging, intuitive, and fair. Move beyond assumptions and unlock the power of a comprehensive toolkit of player-centered research techniques.

This book teaches you to gather crucial behavioral and attitudinal data, choose the right methods for your questions, and apply insights ethically and effectively. Ground your design decisions-from core gameplay to monetization-in what players actually do, say, and think.

Inside, you'll discover how to:

• UNDERSTAND player behavior through methods like telemetry and playtesting.
• CAPTURE player thoughts and feelings using surveys, interviews, and focus groups.
• APPLY expert review methods for quick usability and accessibility audits.
• CHOOSE the right data collection tools for your specific research questions.

Whether solo dev, indie studio, or seasoned designer, this book helps you leverage player data to build more intuitive, engaging, and ultimately successful games.