A method and apparatus for optimizing game design and development upon multiple gaming systems includes an authoring system in which a set of authoring tools and game components are provided to an authoring computer. The authoring computer operates under the control of a game designer to produce a set of game design files which define a game to be played upon a gaming device such as a slot machine. A collector transforms the game design files into ordered game data files which may then be transferred to a host gaming device. A game data player and interface are provided within the host gaming device. The game data player in response to the game data files provides a sequence of interpretive instruction commands which are communicated to and which interpretive sequence the game play of the host game play device. The use of the game data collector and game data player facilitate gaming authority approval and provide great flexibility allowing any game data player equipped host gaming device to play any game data collected game without adaptation or alteration.