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University of Texas University of Texas Libraries

Arts and Entertainment Technologies

Game Design

Game Design Resources

Library databases allow you to search for different types of resources (scholarly journals, magazines, newspapers) all at once. The resources on this page represent a starting point for your research. Many game and app development projects are interdisciplinary and will require you to look for resources in other subject areas. Use the guides list to see recommended resources in other subject areas. 

Research Tips

Searching for Books

 

As AET students, your research will likely require books on a range of subjects. The library catalog searches across collections at all of the different library locations.  The UT Libraries have print and electronic books for your use. You can search in the library catalog for both types of books. 

 

Ways to search: 

 

Subject – Searching by subject allows you to retrieve all of the items in the catalog that contain a certain subject heading or "tag" 

  • Video Games

  • Video games--Design

  • Computer games -- Design

  • Computer games -- Programming

  •  

 Author – Search by author's name (last name, first name) to see all of the works we have published by a specific individual 

 

Title – If you already know the name of a book, this is a quick way to check if the library has a copy. 

 

Keyword – If you have a topic or research interest in mind, you can search for the main terms or keywords to see the scope of what is in our collection.  


  • virtual reality

  • mobile application development

  • game design

 

Library Catalog Features

Find it in the Catalog – 

Pick It Up – Allows you to request items be sent to the library that is most convenient for you. 

 

Get a Scan – Allows you to request an electronic scan of a book chapter or article. 

 

Need more assistance on searching for books? Check out these guides: 

Are we missing a specific title you need? You can request items to use from other libraries through Interlibrary Loan.

Are you getting too many results?

Use the word AND (in all-caps) between your search terms.

  • Roblox AND "target audience"
  • "color theory" AND graphic

Search for a Specific Phrase

Put quotations around a group of words like "color theory" to retrieve results with that exact wording.

 

Do you need more results?

Use the word OR (in all-caps) between your search terms. 

  • 19th century OR nineteenth century
  • realise OR realize

Use an * at the end of a word to search for all forms of that word. 

  • educat* will return results for education, educator, educated, educating;etc.
  • environment* will also return results for environmentalism and environmentalist

An * can also be used to replace a character in a word.

  • wom*n will search for women and woman

 

Do you need more relevant results?

Use the word NOT (in all-caps) between your search terms.

  • UT NOT Tennessee
  • advertisement NOT magazine

Try grouping the above strategies in a single search: 

  • (children OR adolescents) AND disability AND (19th century OR nineteenth century)

Find a Journal

Search for print and electronic journals. Enter the title of the journal into either search box to see if the UT Libraries has a subscription. If you don't find the journal in print, try entering the title in the e-journal search box. 

Still not finding what you need? Request an article through Interlibrary Loan.

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