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Thinking about Video Games

Interviews with the Experts

ebook
1 of 1 copy available
1 of 1 copy available

The growth in popularity and complexity of video games has spurred new interest in how games are developed and in the research and technology behind them. David Heineman brings together some of the most iconic, influential, and interesting voices from across the gaming industry and asks them to weigh in on the past, present, and future of video games. Among them are legendary game designers Nolan Bushnell (Pong) and Eugene Jarvis (Defender), who talk about their history of innovations from the earliest days of the video game industry through to the present; contemporary trailblazers Kellee Santiago (Journey) and Casey Hudson (Mass Effect), who discuss contemporary relationships between those who create games and those who play them; and scholars Ian Bogost (How to Do Things With Videogames) and Edward Castronova (Exodus to the Virtual World), who discuss how to research and write about games in ways that engage a range of audiences. These experts and others offer fascinating perspectives on video games, game studies, gaming culture, and the game industry more broadly.

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    • Library Journal

      June 15, 2015

      Heineman (coauthor, Rhetoric Online) offers a series of interviews with a wide variety of stakeholders in the video game industry such as Atari, Inc. founder Nolan Bushnell and game designer Eugene Jarvis. Each discussion covers a lot of ground, including the early history of gaming and the need for documenting it; the economics of gaming past, present, and future; and recent issues surrounding race, gender, and sexuality in gaming and the broader culture. By touching on an array of topics the author succeeds in painting a vivid picture without going too in-depth on any given subject. Before each conversation Heineman thoroughly introduces the topic and the interviewee, providing context for those unfamiliar with the industry, specifically its jargon and issues. Certain interviewees are less eloquent than others, and the exchanges can suffer as a result. Overall, the tone is academic in nature, with terms such as game studies being common. VERDICT This worthwhile read is for any gamer, or for anyone interested in this cultural phenomenon; it will make you think critically about video games.--Lewis Parsons, Sawyer Free Lib., Gloucester, MA

      Copyright 2015 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

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  • English

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