ABSTRACT
This chapter begins at the first stage of a game’s design, ideation, and presents 13 tools that can be used for more structured, hopefully more efficient, and more positive ideation. Each tool is illustrated with a full-page illustration and has lists, checklists, or other aids written to inform the reader on why and how to use each tool. This format remains the same for all the tools in the book. The tools in this specific chapter concern how to ask questions, how to get everyone’s ideas without drowning them out by the loudest voices, how to come up with mechanics or themes, how to keep the conversation going in a mutually constructive manner, what kind of avatar the player will be portraying, and more. The focus is on coming up with and discussing game design ideas, so that they can be brought into the next stage (and the next chapter).
