A Step-by-Step Master Class in Indie Game Development, from the Creator of the Emmy® Winning Neverwinter Nights™Honors for Don Daglow's From Dream to Delivery books: Winner, 2019 Independent Press Book Awards Winner, Kirkus Top 100 Indie Books of 2019 Finalist, 2020 Top Shelf Book Awards Finalist, Foreword INDIES Book of the Year Awards Finalist, National Indie Excellence Awards Finalist, Next Generation Indie Book Awards Finalist, Book Excellence Awards"Don Daglow has survived 40+ years creating games and always retained his positive attitude. Learn from the master." – Jeff Braun, co-founder of Maxis (Sim City, The Sims)
"I was impressed with the organizational wisdom. I wish that I had been able to read this book 30 years ago." -- Chris Crawford, pioneering game designer and Founder of the Game Developers Conference
"Indie Games: From Dream to Delivery should be on the desk of everyone who’s considering an indie game company. It builds a bridge between books on game development and 'How to Start Your Own Business' books. Daglow starts with holistic questions that cover not only nuts and bolts issues of your games and your business, but the kind of life you want for you and your team. I wish I could go back in time and hand this book to the leaders of several start-ups I’ve watched crash and burn; it might have made them successful. I’ll be recommending it to all of my students with indie dreams." -- Prof. Stephen Jacobs, School of Interactive Games and Media, Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT)
"5 OUT OF 5 STARS -- Indie Games: From Dream to Delivery is the best book to start with if you are considering developing your own game. Don L. Daglow brings you his years of experience in game design and development in a straightforward and comprehensive guide. He will show you a step by step method, proven techniques, and pitfalls to avoid… It makes no false promises... Daglow writes in a voice that is a cross between a patient sage under a Bodhi tree and a hardcore street philosopher strengthened by mixed realities… The insights and nuggets of truth you will acquire in Indie Games: From Dream to Delivery will temper your idealism with realism [and] stoke the fires of your passion." – Readers’ Favorite; August, 2019
The only indie games book that asks, "What do you want to do?" before it starts telling you, "Here's what you need to do."- Six sets of questions to review and refine your vision, skills and plans
- Over 500 pages of experience-based lessons from a 3-time Inc. 500™ CEO and award-winning game designer
- Based on Don Daglow’s top-rated sessions at major games conferences around the world
- Introduction by indie games pioneer Rami Ismail
The only person who can define the path to creating your indie game is you. Indie Games: From Dream to Delivery helps you do just that, by leading you through a guided conversation with yourself. Section by section, you’ll record your answers to carefully chosen questions. Then we’ll use your unique personal responses to build the customized roadmap you need to turn your indie game into reality. Techniques to use, traps to avoid, terminology to understand. And how to fit it all into your life without damaging your relationships or your future.
Never started a business? We’ve got it covered. Skip what you already know, dig deeper on things you want to learn.
It’s the one book you need to take your indie game from dream to delivery.
3-time Inc. 500™ CEO Don Daglow has served as a game designer, programmer, producer and executive in a games industry career that covers much of the lifespan of Silicon Valley. Teams under his leadership have shipped games with an aggregate of over $1 billion in retail sales.
His work has been honored with a Technical Emmy®, multiple Game of the Year awards, and the CGE Award in 2003 for “groundbreaking achievements that shaped the video game industry.” His credits include over 100 different games as a designer, programmer, producer, executive or advisor.
Don advises game companies and software startups, coaching both new and experienced CEO's, executives and groups facing the challenges of team-building, studio management, software development, industry growth and competition. His clients range from small startups to large international publishers, and he regularly presents keynotes and conference sessions at events around the world.
He also serves as Senior Director for Strategic Partnerships at The Strong National Museum of Play in Rochester, NY; as an advisor and mentor at the Founders Space accelerator in San Francisco; and as the volunteer President of the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences Foundation.
Originally trained as a playwright, Don began his career as a teacher and writer. Starting in 1971, he wrote mainframe computer games as a hobby before the introduction of Pong and home computers, and entered the games industry early in the first cycle of home video games.
Starting as one of the original five Intellivision engineers at Mattel Electronics in 1980, he became Director of Applications Software for what grew to be a billion-dollar business. In 1983 he joined a small Silicon Valley startup called Electronic Arts, which went public and became a large international corporation. After working as an executive for Broderbund, which was sold to The Learning Company for $416 million, he founded Stormfront Studios, which he led for 20 years.
In 2008 Don accepted a Technical and Engineering Emmy® Award from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences for his creation of Neverwinter Nights, the first graphical MMORPG, which paved the way for the multi-billion-dollar World of Warcraft.
He lives in Marin County, California with his wife Marta.
His professional website is www.daglowslaws.com.
