The Minds Behind PlayStation 2 Games
Title | The Minds Behind PlayStation 2 Games PDF eBook |
Author | Patrick Hickey, Jr. |
Publisher | McFarland |
Total Pages | 245 |
Release | 2023-02-09 |
Genre | Games & Activities |
ISBN | 1476648433 |
Featuring interviews with the creators of 37 popular video games--including SOCOM, Shadow of the Colossus, Tekken Tag Tournament and Sly Cooper--this book gives a behind-the-scenes look at the creation of some of the most influential and iconic (and sometimes forgotten) games of the original PlayStation 2 era. Recounting endless hours of painstaking development, the challenges of working with mega publishers and the uncertainties of public reception, the interviewees reveal the creative processes that produced some of gaming's classic titles.
The Minds Behind the Games
Title | The Minds Behind the Games PDF eBook |
Author | Patrick Hickey, Jr. |
Publisher | McFarland |
Total Pages | 217 |
Release | 2018-04-09 |
Genre | Games & Activities |
ISBN | 1476671109 |
Featuring interviews with the creators of 36 popular video games--including Deus Ex, Night Trap, Mortal Kombat, Wasteland and NBA Jam--this book gives a behind-the-scenes look at the creation of some of the most influential and iconic (and sometimes forgotten) games of all time. Recounting endless hours of painstaking development, the challenges of working with mega publishers and the uncertainties of public reception, the interviewees reveal the creative processes that produced some of gaming's classic titles.
Hey! Listen!
Title | Hey! Listen! PDF eBook |
Author | Andrew S. Latham |
Publisher | McFarland |
Total Pages | 200 |
Release | 2024-01-18 |
Genre | Games & Activities |
ISBN | 1476651795 |
How does analyzing video games as hypertexts expand the landscape of research for video game rhetoricians and games studies scholars? This is the first book to focus on how hypertext rhetoric impacts the five canons of rhetoric, and to apply that hypertext rhetoric to the study of video games. It also explores how ludonarrative agency is seized by players seeking to express themselves in ways that game makers did not necessarily intend when making the games that players around the world enjoy. This book takes inspiration from The Legend of Zelda, a series which players all over the world have spent decades deconstructing through online playthroughs, speedruns, and glitch hunts. Through these playthroughs, players demonstrate their ability to craft their own agency, independent of the objectives built by the makers of these games, creating new rhetorical situations worthy of analysis and consideration.
Beyond the Deck
Title | Beyond the Deck PDF eBook |
Author | Shelly Jones |
Publisher | McFarland |
Total Pages | 310 |
Release | 2023-08-11 |
Genre | Games & Activities |
ISBN | 1476683166 |
Since its debut in 1993, Magic the Gathering has grown to be an influential collectible card game, allowing its community of loyal fans to duel each other with mana cards and spells while enjoying its lore and compelling narratives. This collection of essays focuses on Magic from a variety of disciplinary approaches. Authors explore the innovative game design of Magic, the ludic differences between analog and digital play, how players interact with the MTG market and one another, professional play versus casual play and the many ways Magic has impacted gaming.
The Performance of Video Games
Title | The Performance of Video Games PDF eBook |
Author | Kelly I. Aliano |
Publisher | McFarland |
Total Pages | 231 |
Release | 2022-10-27 |
Genre | Games & Activities |
ISBN | 1476647909 |
When viewed through the context of an interactive play, a video game player fulfills the roles of both actor and spectator, watching and influencing a game's story in real time. This book presents video gaming as a virtual medium for performance, scrutinizing the ways in which a player's interaction with the narrative informs personal, historical, social and cultural understanding. Centering the author's own experiences as both video game player and performance scholar, the book thoroughly applies concepts from theatre and performance studies. Chapters argue that the posthuman player position now challenges what can be contextualized as a lived experience, and how video games can change players' relationships with historical events and contemporary concerns, ultimately impacting how they develop a sense of self. Using the author's own gaming experiences as a framework, the book focuses on the intersection between player and narrative, exploring what engagement with a storyline reveals about identity and society.
The World of Final Fantasy VII
Title | The World of Final Fantasy VII PDF eBook |
Author | Jason C. Cash |
Publisher | McFarland |
Total Pages | 238 |
Release | 2023-02-02 |
Genre | Games & Activities |
ISBN | 1476647259 |
Final Fantasy VII altered the course of video game history when it was released in 1997 on Sony's PlayStation system. It converted the Japanese role-playing game into an international gaming standard with enhanced gameplay, spectacular cutscenes and a vast narrative involving an iconic cast. In the decades after its release, the Final Fantasy VII franchise has grown to encompass a number of video game sequels, prequels, a feature-length film, a novel and a multi-volume remake series. This volume, the first edited collection of essays devoted only to the world of Final Fantasy VII, blends scholarly rigor with fan passion in order to identify the elements that keep Final Fantasy VII current and exciting for players. Some essays specifically address the game's perennially relevant themes and scenarios, ranging from environmental consciousness to economic inequity and posthumanism. Others examine the mechanisms used to immerse the player or to improve the narrative. Finally, there are several essays devoted specifically to the game's legacy, from its influence on later games to its characters' many crossovers and cameos.
The Tabletop Revolution
Title | The Tabletop Revolution PDF eBook |
Author | Marco Arnaudo |
Publisher | McFarland |
Total Pages | 256 |
Release | 2023-12-15 |
Genre | Games & Activities |
ISBN | 1476651930 |
This book is an overview of the ongoing revolution in tabletop gaming design and culture, which exploded to unprecedented levels of vitality in the 21st century, leading to new ways of creating, marketing, and experiencing a game. Designers have become superstars, publishers have improved quality control, and the community of players is expanding. Most importantly, new and old players have started engaging with the games in a more meaningful way. The book explores the reasons for these changes. It describes how games have begun to keep players engaged until the end. It analyzes the ways in which traditional mechanics have been reimagined to give them more variety and complexity, and reviews the unprecedented mechanics found and perfected. Very interesting is the exploration of how games have performed novel tasks such as reducing conflict, fostering cooperation, creating aesthetic experiences, and telling stories. The book is aimed at scholars, dedicated and aspiring fans, and game designers who want to expand their toolbox with the most up-to-date innovations in the profession.