In a faraway land, there is a small town lost among open fi elds and meadows. Surrounded by wonderful, unspoiled nature, the town itself boasts beautiful houses. But looks can be deceiving. Despite its charming appearance, there is something very unusual about this town. Today, for instance, the town is host to the annual fair and the brass band is playing in the town square. And yet no music, singing or even a single sound can be heard...nor is there any joy on the faces of the townspeople... Alice doesn't fi t in well here. People say she's a troublemaker, but that's only because she knows...

In this guide, Elizabeth Sampat teaches designers to reach out to others by reaching through themselves. Drawing on influences as varied as history, politics, psychology and theater, EMPATHY ENGINES sketches a complex network of interaction and community, and shows that system design is at its beating heart.

With thorough breakdowns of a multitude of games (blockbuster and indie) and thought-provoking exercises at the end of each chapter, EMPATHY ENGINES will make any game designer think more closely about how to wield systems with intention.

Chapter List:

Introduction
Systems...