Game Design

"Would-be designers often ask me, “How do you become a game designer?” And the answer is easy: “Design games. Start now! Don't wait! Don't even finish this conversation! Just start designing! Go! Now!” Jesse Schell, The Art of Game Design: a book of lenses, 1

Videos:

• TedTalk - Jane McGonigal: Gaming Can Make a Better World
• TedTalk - Seven Ways Games Reward the Brain
• TedTalk - Dan Pink: Science of Motivation
• TedTalk - Will Wright: Toys that Make Worlds
• Kotaku - Erik Wolpaw: Portal 2 Game Design Lecture
• Game Theory - Storytelling
• Global Game Jam 2009 - Game Design Tips from Kyle Gabler (World of Goo)
• Global Game Jam Youtube Channel

Articles:

• Flow: What's Worth Living For?
• Gamasutra: The Chemistry of Game Design
• Your Brain on Games
• Seduction Secrets of Video Game Designers
  

Paper Prototyping:

• Paper Prototyping Video Games
• Paper Prototypes at Major Studios
• Sample Design Documents
• Defense of Non-digital Game Design 
  
• Elements of Puzzle Design 
• The Pirate Queen's Adventure Checklist

Start Modest, Improve in Increments:

• Reasons for Modest First Projects and Incremental Learning
  

Relevant Links:

• Game Over - Questions user accessibility
• Bartle Test of Gamer Psychology
• Game Player Statistics - 2011 - (Note: Average age is not 25 years old... Its older!)
• Red Faction Guerilla Presents: The Ostrich Hammer (Or, why player testing should trump personal opinion) 

Recommended Books and Sources:

• Challenges for Game Designers
• Game Feel