My friend David Sirlin has released a free web version of his popular book. In it he discusses the virtues of “Playing to Win” in competitive games and the path of continual self improvement. I highly recommend it for anyone interested in competitive gaming or self improvement.
http://www.sirlin.net/ptw

In the following two part essay on N’Gai Croal’s Level Up, Midway Home Entertainment Chief Marketing Officer Steve Allison suggests What Developers Must Do to Make Games That Sell
PT 1: http://ncroal.talk.newsweek.com/default.asp?item=593154
PT 2: http://ncroal.talk.newsweek.com/default.asp?item=593219
He says that a successful game is a game that sells, period. He then goes on to say that the following—in order—are the [...]