Understanding Video Games: The Essential Introduction

This expanded and revised second edition of Understanding Video Games provides a comprehensive introduction to the growing field of game studies.

Understanding Video Games, 2^nd Edition is an essential read for newcomers to video game studies and experienced game scholars alike. This follow-up to the pioneering first edition takes video game studies into the next decade of the twenty-first century, highlighting changes in the game business, advances in video game scholarship, and recent trends in game design and development―including mobile, social, and casual gaming.

In Understanding Video Games, 2^nd Edition students will:

• Assess the major theories used to analyze games, such as ludology and narratology
• Gain familiarity with the commercial and organizational aspects of the game industry
• Trace the history of video games from Pong to Playstation 3 and beyond
• Explore the aesthetics of game design
• Evaluate the cultural position of video games
• Consider the potential effects of both violent and "serious" games.

Extensively illustrated, and featuring discussion questions, a glossary of key terms, and a detailed video game history timeline (including an interactive online version), Understanding Video Games, 2^nd Edition is an indispensable resource for anyone interested in examining the ways video games are reshaping entertainment and society.