This is the definitive guide on how to design game development tools. The book begins with the foundations of user experience and how they apply to game development tools, then guides you through the User-Centered Design process - the gold standard in user experience design - which involves watching users work, understanding their goals, designing efficient and learnable user interfaces, and refining them through targeted evaluation techniques.

This completely revised and expanded second edition includes nine new inserts with deep dives into topics such as:

• How to design intuitive tools
• When to follow standards and when to innovate
• AI and game development tools
• What games can teach us about tools design
• Why watching users work is essential

It also features excerpts from interviews with game industry legends, offering their advice on tools development:

• John Romero, co-founder of id Software and designer of DOOM and Quake
• Tim Sweeney, CEO of Epic Games

Designing the User Experience of Game Development Tools is ideal for anyone who makes, uses, or benefits from game development tools. It explains complex concepts in a clear, accessible way and shares proven techniques backed by real-world examples and extensive references. Whether you're building a quick script or a full-scale level editor, this book offers the guidance and strategies you need to create tools that empower people to focus on making the best games possible.