UNDERSTANDING VIDEO GAMES: THE ESSENTIAL INTRODUCTION

Simon Egenfeldt-Nielsen, Jonas Heide Smith, Susana Pajares Tosca

From Pong to virtual reality, Understanding Video Games, 4th Edition, takes video game studies into the next decade of the twenty-first century, highlighting changes in the area, including mobile, social, and casual gaming.

In this new edition of the pioneering text, students learn to assess the major theories used to analyze games, such as ludology and narratology, and gain familiarity with the commercial and organizational aspects of the game industry. Drawing from historical and contemporary examples, the student-friendly text also explores the aesthetics of games, evaluates the cultural position of video games, and considers 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, this new edition is an indispensable resource for students, scholars, and teachers interested in examining the ways video games continue to reshape entertainment and society.

PUBLICATION DETAILS

LANGUAGE	BINDING	EDITION	ISBN	YEAR	PAGES
English	Paperback	First Edition	9780415977210	2008	304
English	Hardcover	Second Edition	9780415896962	2012	336
English	Paperback	Second Edition	9780415896979	2012	336
English	Hardcover	Third Edition	9781138849815	2015	286
English	Paperback	Third Edition	9781138849822	2015	286
English	Hardcover	Fourth Edition	9781138362994	2019	400
English	Paperback	Fourth Edition	9781138363052	2019	400
English	eBook	Fourth Edition	N/A	2019	400