Book - BookDetective

Name: Understanding Video Games

Author: Simon Egenfeldt-Nielsen
Year: 2007
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Genres/categories:
video games, Non Fiction

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ISBNs:
9781138849822
1138849820

From Pong to PlayStation 3 and beyond, Understanding Video Games is the first general introduction to the exciting new field of video game studies. This textbook traces the history of video games, introduces the major theories used to analyze games such as ludology and narratology, reviews the economics of the game industry, examines the aesthetics of game design, surveys the broad range of game genres, explores player culture, and addresses the major debates surrounding the medium, from educational benefits to the effects of violence.

Throughout the book, the authors ask readers to consider larger questions about the medium:

what defines a video game? who plays games? why do we play games? how do games affect the player?

Extensively illustrated, Understanding Video Games is an indispensable and comprehensive resource for those interested in the ways video games are reshaping entertainment and society.