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Learn from the designer behind role-playing best-sellers like Betrayal at Krondor, Planet's Edge, and Might & Magic III: Isles of Terra Computer role-playing games (RPGs) allow players to assume the role of a hero on an epic quest. During the course of the game, the player's character "learns" new spells and skills that, in turn, allow him or her to explore even more of the game world and to solve the challenge presented by the game designers. Never in the history of gaming have role-playing titles been more popular.

Neal Hallford has been a professional game designer for more than ten years and has led several best-selling computer role-playing titles. He co-authored the story behind the New York Times best-selling novel "Krondor: the Betrayal," and has created stories and designs for well-known computer role-playing games (RPGs) including Betrayal at Krondor, Planet's Edge, and Dungeon Siege.

Jana ("Jayna") Ondrechen Hallford started out as an art critic, then moved on to public relations and marketing. She spent over five years promoting books and authors for an international publishing company. Jana has also supplied background material for two Sci Fi Channel specials, and has spoken at science fiction and fantasy conventions in the U.S. and the U.K.

Swords & Circuitry: A Designer's Guide to Computer Role-Playing Games takes the reader on a journey into the arcane world of game development, deciphering the mysteries of the role-playing audience, the history of RPGs, the technical definition of the genre, the roles of a game designer, the fundamentals of building good gameplay and interfaces, and last, but certainly not least, the art of professional worldbuilding. Featuring actual design document excerpts from the hit games Deus Ex, Fallout, Nox, and Stonekeep, it also presents in-depth interviews with top role-playing designers like John Cutter (Betrayal at Krondor), Chris Taylor (Dungeon Siege), Trent Oster (Neverwinter Nights), Sarah Stocker (Pools of Radiance II: The Ruins of Myth Drannor), Jon Van Caneghem (Might & Magic series), and Carly Staehlin (Ultima Online). Game industry artists Shawn Sharp, Jon Gwyn, Jim Wible, and Jeff Perryman also provide exciting and topical illustrations that evoke not only the look, but the feel, of the worlds that every role-playing designer strives to create. Co-written by a veteran marketeer and the designer behind role-playing bestsellers Betrayal at Krondor, Planet's Edge, and Dungeon Siege, Swords & Circuitry provides everything that a role-playing title must have to succeed!