Game data science, defined as the practice of deriving insights from game data, has created a revolution in the multibillion-dollar games industry - informing and enhancing production, design, and development processes. Almost all game companies and academics have now adopted some type of game data science, every tool utilized by game developers allows collecting data from games, yet there has been no definitive resource for academics and professionals in this rapidly developing sector until now. Games Data Science delivers an excellent introduction to this new domain and provides the definitive guide to methods and practices of computer science, analytics, and data science as applied to video games. It is the ideal resource for academic students and professional learners seeking to understand how data science is used within the game development and production cycle, as well as within the interdisciplinary field of games research. Organized into chapters that integrate laboratory and game data examples, this book provides a unique resource to train and educate both industry professionals and academics about the use of game data science, with practical exercises and examples on how such processes are implemented and used in academia and industry, interweaving theoretical learning with practical application throughout.

"Game Data Science describes practical techniques to analyze user data, which can be used to drive decision-making at multiple levels. Analyzing user game data can offer designers and publishers useful insights that inform decision-making processes from the very early stages of game design, through the marketing process, to potential patches and updates." - Christopher Bartel, Metascience

"The book is certainly invaluable. Game Data Science offers a practical guide to the currently available analytical tools. It will establish itself as foundational work in the field." - Christopher Bartel, Metascience

"The book is certainly invaluable. Game Data Science offers a practical guide to the currently available analytical tools. It will establish itself as a foundational work in the field." - Christopher Bartel, Metascience