Understanding Video Games : The Essential Introduction

by Egenfeldt-Nielsen; Simon

• ISBN13: 9780415977203
• ISBN10: 0415977207
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2008-02-15
• Publisher: Routledge

Summary

Today millions of people around the world are playing video games at any given time. From Pong to Playstation 2 and beyond, Understanding Video Games is the first general introduction to the burgeoning field of video game studies-it traces the history of the medium, introduces the major theories developed to analyze video games, examines the core elements of game design, and addresses the major debates surrounding the medium. Authored by members of the Center for Computer Games Research, described byThe New York Timesas the "hub" of game studies research, this book is essential reading for scholars, gaming enthusiasts, aspiring game designers, and anyone interested in understanding the ways video games are reshaping popular culture and entertainment.

Table of Contents

List of figures	p. vi
Acknowledgments	p. viii
Introduction	p. 1
Studying Video Games	p. 7
The Game Industry	p. 12
What is a Game?	p. 22
History	p. 45
Video Game Aesthetics	p. 97
Video Game Culture	p. 132
Player Culture	p. 148
Narrative	p. 169
Serious Games-When Entertainment is Not Enough	p. 205
Video Games and Risks	p. 223
Discussion questions	p. 244
Video game timeline	p. 248
Glossary	p. 250
Games cited	p. 253
Notes	p. 257
Bibliography	p. 271
Index	p. 285
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