"Few things can enhance the gaming experience more than compelling, visually engaging worlds to explore. In Game Design: Next Level, some of the best concept artists in game development showcase the wide variety of game environments they have pulled from their imaginations, and discuss the theory and process behind their creations. From apocalyptic ruins to breathtaking natural vistas, their artwork offers a glimpse into the earliest stages of game's design, serving as inspiration for game artists and a fascinating behind-the-scenes tour for game enthusiasts."--back cover.
Today a multinational video game developer, Sega was the first to break Nintendo's grip on the gaming industry, expanding from primarily an arcade game company to become the dominant game console manufacturer in North America. A major part of that success came from the hard work and innovation of its subsidiary, Sega of America, who in a little more than a decade wrested the majority market share from Nintendo and revolutionized how games were made. Drawing on interviews with nearly 100 Sega alumni, this book traces the development of the company, revealing previously undocumented areas of game-making history, including Sega's relationship with Tonka, the creation of its internal studios, and major breakthroughs like the Sega Channel and HEAT Network. More than 40 of the company's most influential games are explored in detail.
Explore the Future of Gaming Step into a world where artificial intelligence revolutionizes the gaming industry, creating more immersive and personalized experiences for every player. Next-Level Gaming: AI Innovations unveils the groundbreaking journey of AI in video games, right from its humble beginnings to its sophisticated modern applications. Discover how this transformative technology is reshaping the landscape of entertainment and captivating gamers worldwide. This comprehensive guide is a treasure trove for developers, enthusiasts, and anyone fascinated by the intersection of AI and gaming. Dive into the rich history of AI's role in gaming, from early milestones to the masterminds driving innovation. Equip yourself with fundamental concepts, essential programming languages, and the algorithms that form the backbone of today's advanced gaming experiences. Marvel at how AI generates adaptive difficulty levels, creating personalized journeys that keep players on the edge of their seats. Imagine AI-driven NPCs that adapt and evolve based on your actions, or procedurally generated worlds that offer infinite exploration possibilities. Learn from compelling case studies of AI's triumph in popular games and understand how machine learning and neural networks are integral to modern game development. Peek into the future of real-time strategy and simulation games, where AI balances competitive play and enables unparalleled immersion in virtual realities. Uncover the ethical dilemmas inherent in AI gaming, such as privacy concerns, bias, and the pursuit of fairness. Finally, grasp how AI influences the business of gaming–monetization, marketing, and distribution–equipping you with insights to stay ahead in this dynamic field. With hands-on tutorials and recommended tools, you'll be ready to start your journey into AI game development. Next-Level Gaming: AI Innovations promises an enlightening adventure, merging cutting-edge technology with the artistry of game design. Don't miss your chance to explore the next frontier of gaming.
Next Level Education Game Changer seeks to engage our readers on how the theme "Quality Secondary, Technical & Vocational Education; A Catalyst for National Development" for the 91st Speech & Prize Giving Ceremony at Achimota Secondary School in Ghana on November 3rd 2018, inspired research work and findings that could contribute to a change in the educational landscape in Ghana. The book provides insights from students at Achimota Secondary School in 2018. Singapore's educational system, considered the best in the world, was adopted as a benchmark, against which some educational proposals have been made.
"Look out, Junie B. Jones! Ellie the engineer is thinking, making, creating, and showing enthusiasm and brilliance with her creations!" -School Library Connection A charming, hilarious illustrated middle grade about a girl who is an engineer--no, not the kind on a train, the kind that builds things! Perfect creative, STEM-powered fun for girls who have interests in how things work. Ellie is an engineer. With a tool belt strapped over her favorite skirt (who says you can't wear a dress and have two kinds of screwdrivers handy, just in case?), she invents and builds amazing creations in her backyard workshop. Together with her best friend Kit, Ellie can make anything. As Kit's birthday nears, Ellie doesn't know what gift to make until the girls overhear Kit's mom talking about her present--the dog Kit always wanted! Ellie plans to make an amazing doghouse, but her plans grow so elaborate that she has to enlist help from the neighbor boys and crafty girls, even though the two groups don't get along. Will Ellie be able to pull off her biggest project yet, all while keeping a secret from Kit? Illustrated with Ellie's sketches and plans, and including backmatter with a fun how-to guide to tools, this is a STEM- and friendship-powered story full of fun!
Next-level teachers are anything but average. They're willing to use any and every strategy to reach students, increase motivation, and improve student outcomes. A next-level teacher never settles for the status quo. Instead, they ignite students' passion for learning, and that enthusiasm spreads through the whole school. What's more, next-level teachers can create school environments so exciting and electric that not only the students but even other teachers and administrators are inspired to greatness. Whether he's creating unique content-retention strategies, collaborating with streetwear brands, or bringing out-of-the-box guest speakers into the classroom, award-winning teacher Jonathan Alsheimer never says no to an opportunity to incorporate innovative tools in his teaching. With unstoppable enthusiasm, in Next-Level Teaching Alsheimer demonstrates how educators can: generate productive excitement in students using nonacademic strategies; transform student enthusiasm into engagement; create powerful relationships with students and colleagues; seek out every chance to be a positive, motivating influence; and become valued assets not only in the classroom but throughout the school. With dedication, creativity, and a vision of what's possible, any educator can be that teacher for their students. Are you ready to level up?
Computer and video games are leaving the PC and conquering the arena of everyday life in the form of mobile applications—the result is new types of cities and architecture. How do these games alter our perception of real and virtual space? What can the designers of physical and digital worlds learn from one another?
A comprehensive, physiology-based guide to peak performance for active women approaching or experiencing menopause—from the author of Roar, renowned exercise and nutrition scientist Dr. Stacy Sims For active women, menopause hits hard. Overnight, your body doesn’t feel like the one you know and love anymore—you’re battling new symptoms, might be gaining weight, losing endurance and strength, and taking longer to bounce back from workouts that used to be easy. The things that have always kept you fit and healthy just seem to stop working the way they used to. But menopause doesn’t have to be the end of you kicking ass at the gym, on the trail, in the saddle, or wherever you work out. Once you understand your physiology, you can work with it—not against it—to optimize your performance. That’s where Stacy Sims, PhD comes in. In Next Level, you’ll learn the underlying causes of menopause: the hormonal changes that are causing all the symptoms you’re feeling, and their impact on your wellness and performance. Then, what you really came for—what to do about it. Inside you’ll find science-backed advice about training, nutrition, sleep and recovery and supplements, as well as sample exercise routines, meal plans, macronutrient planning charts, and case studies from real women Stacy has coached through the transition. It’s the ultimate guide to navigating the Next Level.
In the tradition of Carl Wilson’s Let’s Talk About Love, an unforgettable account of fame, fandom, and the problem of making art in the twenty-first century In his multi-hyphenate ambitions, the musician who calls himself Juiceboxxx couldn’t be more modern—you might call him a punk rock-rapper-DJ-record executive-energy drink-magnate. Journalist Leon Neyfakh has been something more than a fan of Juiceboxxx’s since he was a teenager, when he booked a show for the artist in a church basement in his hometown of Oak Park, Illinois. Juiceboxxx went on to the tireless, lonely, possibly hopeless pursuit of success on his own terms—no club was too dank, no futon too grubby, if it helped him get to the next, next level. And, for years, Neyfakh remained haunted from afar: was art really worth all the sacrifices? If it was, how did you know you’d made it? And what was the difference, anyway, between a person like Juiceboxxx—who devoted his life to being an artist—and a person like Neyfakh, who elected instead to pursue a stable career and a comfortable, middle-class existence? Much more than a brilliant portrait of a charismatic musician always on the verge of something big, The Next Next Level is a wholly contemporary story of art, obsession, fame, ambition, and friendship—as well as viral videos, rap-rock, and the particulars of life on the margins of culture.
Long before it took the home video game console market by storm, Sega was already an arcade powerhouse. Parlaying its dominance in coin-operated machines into the home video game boom of the 1980s, the Japan-based company soon expanded with branches in Europe and the U.S., and continues to lead the gaming industry in design and quality. Drawing on interviews with former developers and hundreds of documents, this history follows the rise of Sega, from its electromechanical machines of the mid-1960s to the acquisition of Gremlin Industries to its 2003 merger with Sammy Corporation. Sixty-two of Sega's most popular and groundbreaking games are explored.
