Spelunky Boss Fight Books #11 Paperback – 2 Jun. 2014

An exceptional book that greatly surprised me in its quality. Yu isn’t only a game creator but has been an editor and contributor to the TIGSource forums for years, which has evidently aided in his ability as a writer.Although the book is primarily about the creation of the game Spelunky, the insights offered transcend the scope of indie game making. His reasoning behind his creative choices and the many struggles he had are undoubtedly relevant to almost all creative endeavours, which make it more than just an entertaining book but a useful and inspiring one.I played Spelunky when it first came out on Xbox Live Arcade many years ago and enjoyed the game massively despite not being particularly good at it. I sensed that it was a game that held a great depth to it (pun intended) but also was fun to play for those without the ability to reach the credits. Despite my fondness for the game, I can safely say that even if you haver never played Spelunky or any game for that matter, the book is well worth your time if you find the act of creation interesting in any way.

The best of the Boss Fight Books that I've read. I don't necessarily always agree with some of what Yu discusses, or even particularly like Spelunky, but it provides some great insight into games design, ways of working, and the indie game lifecycle. It's a well written book, paced perfectly, and goes into great depth.

Really cool and rare insight into the world of video game design. This book is great for fans of one of the most perfectly balanced video games of all time..

What a great read. This book is about game development but it is told in a really accessible way. You only need a basic grasp of games to enjoy it. It's mostly about Derek Yu's personal journey making Spelunky, but along the way there are lots of learning points for the reader who is interested in making games. My favourite chapter is 'The Damsel' as it tackles the idea of gender/diversity not just in games, but in art as a whole.

I bought the book because I’m a big fan of the game. I thought it would just be fan service., but I underestimated the book greatly. It was very interesting, and would be a good read for anyone who wants to undertake a creative endeavour, as there are many words of wisdom within. I think all fans of the game would love this read. It would greatly enhance their feelings for the game.

A great easy read that gives you insight into Derek Yu’s inspirations, his history and his process. I just beat Olmec last week after playing for over a year and I can’t wait for Spelunky 2!

One of the best books related to videogames I have ever read.The writer/game designer opens its heart and some of his code ^_^I would like to see more often books like this one :)

A very in-depth look at the development and theory behind Spelunky. Engagingly written, it's part autobiography and part game design treatise. Hardcore fans of the game will get a lot out of this, as will people interested in game design.

Es la historia de Derek Yu, las anécdotas alrededor de cada uno de sus proyectos, las dificultades, los momentos de lucidez, los riesgos, el contexto histórico en el que vivía, todo contado de una manera muy divertida.Pero también es una disección sobre game design, como enfrentar desiciones difíciles de diseño, de tiempo, presupuesto, mecánicas. Habla de manera implícita sobre su teoría de que es y que no es divertido en un videojuego y las razones.Este libro fue el empujón final que necesitaba para tomar la decisión de dejar atrás por fin mi carrera de casi 20 años en el software empresarial e intentar entrar a la industria de los videojuegos que fue mi primera motivación cuando decidí estudiar ingeniería en sistemas.En resumen, el libro es la historia muy bien contada de Derek Yu, pero también es un libro con una gran cantidad de lecciones sobre como llevar proyectos de software

Legal pra quem é fã de Spelunky como meu, Derek Yu tem umas opiniões não muito comuns e é interessante ver como ele pensa, e como funcionou todo o fluxo do jogo, de um jogo indie feito nas horas vagas na universidade, até virar um parceiro da Microsoft com prazos e cobranças como jogos maiores.Leitura recomendada para qualquer desenvolvedor de jogos ou fã mais aficionado que quer ter uma visão do processo criativo dos jogos, sem muita linguagem técnica.

No sólo lo recomendaría a "fans" de la serie Spelunky en particular sino a todos aquellas personas que estén interesadas en el desarrollo de un videojuego.Derek Yu explica en esta su obra cómo fue diseñar el Spelunky original y su posterior adaptación a su versión HD. Nos descubre, paso a paso, cómo fue "construyendo" esta pequeña obra de arte indie, cuáles fueron sus influencias inmediatas y cómo resolvió los problemas que iban saliendo al paso.Sorprende el estilo sincero y al mismo tiempo conciso con el que está escrito.Por ponerle una pega, hubiera estado bien que el libro incluyera algún boceto del juego o algún gráfico o infografía para ayudar a la lectura.También hay que tener en cuenta que el libro está escrito en inglés, por lo que es recomendable tener un nivel medio-alto para su total disfrute (con un nivel de inglés B2 o superior).

As a fan of Spelunky, I've always loved the game's randomly generated levels and super charming music and art style while constantly being frustrated at its intense (but always fair) difficulty. Reading through this book gives an incredible insight into the triumph that this game has become in being able to balance all of those aspects while still showing the love and heart that Yu and the others involved put into the project.Having first learned about the game from seeing its biggest secret, the solo eggplant run mention in the final section, this book shows just how much the passions of a team really can translate to the community that grows from their work and helps to make that piece feel like it has a life of its own.I heartily recommend this book not only for fans of the game itself, but for an interesting look at a game design from the man who made one of the biggest indie darlings where you can rescue a dog with its tongue hanging out.

There's no substitute for learning from the best, and Spelunky is one of the most original and influential games of the indie era. In this book, Spelunky's creator Derek Yu shares his thoughts on creativity, game design, the importance of finishing projects, handling criticism, and more.You don't need to have played Spelunky to read the book, but it's better if you have, since the book contains major spoilers, and some discussion makes more sense with context.This is a valuable opportunity to peek inside the head of one of the greats. Highly recommended.