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Next Level

Making Games That Make Themselves

Next Level cover

Next Level

Making Games That Make Themselves

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Pre-order. Available 07 May 2026
$25.19 RRP $31.49 Website price saving $6.30 (20%)

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Description

How generative systems are reshaping the way games are made, how we experience them, and what this reveals about creativity itself.

In video games creativity isn't just seen, it's played – from exploring endless landscapes to diving into character details and immersing ourselves in unpredictable narratives. Yet these elements are often the result of procedural generation – the creative use of algorithms to design game content. These generative systems lie behind some of the biggest hits in video game history, from genre-defying titles in the 1980's to the most famous blockbusters of today.
Next Level demystifies the techniques that are often as mysterious as their creations. Written by game designer and creative AI researcher Mike Cook, this book takes us on a tour of generative systems past and present, exploring how they work, the artistic uses they have in some of our favourite games, and how these algorithms didn't just revolutionise how we design games – they changed how we think about creativity itself.

Accessibility Information

Support for non-visual reading

  • No accessibility features offered by the reading system, device or reading software are disabled or otherwise unusable with the product
  • Has alternative text descriptions for images

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Appearance of the text and page layout can be modified (font, spacing, colors)

Navigation

  • Page list to go to pages from the print source version
  • Elements such as headings, tables, etc for structured navigation
  • All or substantially all textual matter is arranged in a single logical reading order
  • Content is enhanced with ARIA roles to optimize organization and facilitate navigation
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Rich content

Language tagging provided

Additional accessibility information

  • WCAG level AA
  • WCAG v2.2 compliant
  • Accessibility request contact

Product details

Published 07 May 2026
Format Ebook (Epub & Mobi)
Edition 1st
Pages 288
ISBN 9781399423434
Imprint Bloomsbury Sigma
Illustrations Black and white illustrations throughout
Publisher Bloomsbury Publishing

About the contributors

Author

Mike Cook

Mike Cook is an AI researcher, game designer and w…

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