Computer games design Books

Book SynopsisTable of ContentsAcknowledgments Introduction: Games in the Age of Empire Part I. Game Engine: Labor, Capital, Machine 1. Immaterial Labor: A Workers' History of Videogaming 2. Cognitive Capitalism: Electronic Arts 3. Machinic Subjects: The Xbox and Its Rivals Part II. Gameplay: Virtual/Actual 4. Banal War: Full Spectrum Warrior 5. Biopower Play: World of Warcraft 6. Imperial City: Grand Theft Auto Part III. New Game? 7. Games of Multitude 8. Exodus: The Metaverse and the Mines Notes Bibliography Index

Read more less

Book SynopsisStarting with the basics of game creation and a look at the artistic skills necessary to get started, this title offers key roles for creators - from concept artists to character animators to marketing artists and beyond. It also features interviews with video game art professionals who've worked for top gaming companies.

Read more less

Book SynopsisA guide to learning the basic drawing skills needed to successfully create video game art. It demonstrates how fine art principles like drawing skills, anatomy, values and lighting and colour all apply to the creation of artwork for video games. It features artwork from such hit video games as "Halo Reach", "Zelda", and "Super Mario Galaxy 2".Table of ContentsForeword by Tristan Donovan Preface Introduction Level 01/ Fundamentals Materials Basic Pencil Techniques Basic Perspective Basic Volumes Basic Lighting and Values Visual Measuring Tools Drawing Process Level 02/ Advanced Drawing Concepts Advanced Perspectives and Volumes Advanced Lighting and Values Atmospheric Perspective Landscape Drawing Level 03/ The Human Figure Gravity and Movement Proportions Skeletal Landmarks Level 04/ Anatomy Six Stages for Rendering Anatomy The Foot The Leg The Pelvis The Spine and Ribcage The Shoulder Girdle The Arm The Hand The Head and Neck Facial Expressions Level 05/ Elements of Design Frame Camera Angle Scale Grouping Lighting Line Shapes Subverting Conventions Level 06/ Character Design Good Studio Practice Brainstorming and Character Concept Visual Metaphors Mind-Map, Research, and Mood Board Thumbnail Development Final Character Drawing and Model Sheet Level 07/ Environment Design Character/Environment Shapes Building Construction Character-Centric Environment Design Top-Down Environment Design Gameplay Map Level 08/ Color and Digital Tools Color Adding Color with Digital Tools Professional Portfolio and Getting Work Bibliography Index

Read more less

Book SynopsisA collective story of the early British games industry. Composed of interviews with 35 people who shaped the modern videogame, including David Braben (Elite), Peter Molyneux (Populous), Rob Hubbard (Commando) and Jeff Minter (Attack of the Mutant Camels), it documents a vibrant period of invention in Britain's cultural history.Table of ContentsPart 1 First Contact 29; Part 2 Money Makers 75; Photo Scrapbook 113; Part 3 Going Pro 129 Part 4 Booming Business 169; Press Clippings 209; Part 5 Game Press 225; Part 6 The Coming of 16-Bit 261; Game Artworks 305; Part 7 Maturing Industry 321; Part 8 End of the Era

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis is a start-to-finish guide on how to build high-quality vegetation for video games. The book gives readers the fundamentals of the craft and the skills needed to confidently create natural environments.Chapters cover everything from planning and gathering references, creating natural-looking ground cover with lots of variety, and building trees procedurally, as well as how to set up a realistic wind shader before combining all assets into a scene in Unreal Engine 5.This book will be of interest to all beginner and aspiring environment, and vegetation artists looking to learn how to create high-quality vegetation, as well as more experienced artists looking to hone their craft.

Read more less

Book SynopsisOur modern world is dominated by giant media companies, and increasingly they donât so much sell story, characters or gameplay as they do their setting. Fictional worlds are big business and represent big value to companies and audiences alike, and they are increasingly expected and demanded by both. As yet, however, the art of building worlds has been only taught to writers of novels or films. The same worlds are frequently used across different modes of media, but successfully adapting them to games or building them for this purpose requires a specific approach.Unlike all other artforms, games mandate participation, with the audience stepping into the world of the game and taking on the roles that the rules and pieces demand of them. Likewise, whenever an audience engages with a fictional world they are inherently playing a game of make-believe and imagining themselves within a different context. This makes world building and gaming a perfect match, with each element giving

Read more less

Book SynopsisTeaching Games and Game Studies in the Literature Classroom offers practical suggestions for educators looking to incorporate ludic media, ranging from novels to video games and from poems to board games, into their curricula. Across the globe, video games and interactive media have already been granted their own departments at numerous larger institutions and will increasingly fall under the purview of language and literature departments at smaller schools. This volume considers fundamental ways in which literature can be construed as a game and the benefits of such an approach. The contributors outline pedagogical strategies for integrating the study of video games with the study of literature and consider the intersections of identity and ideology as they relate to literature and ludology. They also address the benefits (and liabilities) of making the process of learning itself a game, an approach that is quickly gaining currency and increasing interest. Every chapter is gTrade ReviewMy top one recommendation for scholars teaching at the intersection of literature and games. It strikes the perfect balance between theory and practice, and between well-known classics and new explorations. Whether veteran or apprentice, you will keep returning to this book for inspiration, guidelines or resources. I definitely will. * Michal Mochocki, Assistant Professor, Faculty of Literature, Kazimierz Wielki University in Bydgoszcz, Poland *Teaching Games thoughtfully frames how games and literature have always been in play, particularly for 21st century students. The collection offers meaningful ways to integrate games in humanities classes foregrounding course design, personal reflections, and engaging topics from close reading, ethics, and identity to translation, ludonarratology, even LARP. * Edmond Y. Chang, Assistant Professor of English, Ohio University, USA *If any teacher of literature in higher education has doubts about the value and importance of engaging their classes in the study of games, they should read this book. A stimulating exploration of the sometimes-forgotten centrality of ‘play’ in learning. * Andrew Green, Senior Lecturer in Education, Brunel University London, UK *Table of ContentsList of Figures Introduction: Ludology and Narratology in the Literature Classroom, Tison Pugh (University of Central Florida, USA) and Lynn Ramey (Vanderbilt University, USA) Part I: Theories of the Ludic and Literary Classroom 1. Developing and Teaching Games-Focused English Courses: A Technological and Curricular Walkthrough, Eric Detweiler (Middle Tennessee State University, USA) 2. Gaming Literature: Games as an Accessible Entry into the Study of Literature, Regina Mills (Texas A&M University, USA) 3. Levelling Up: Transferring the Analytical Gaze from Print Literature to Digital Literature and Digital Games in the Literature Classroom, Nolan Bazinet (University of Sherbrooke, Canada) 4. Reverse-Engineering Stories in the Literature Classroom: Linking Video Games and Traditional Narratives to Foster Critical Reading Skills, John Misak (New York Institute of Technology, USA) 5. Pwning Tolkien’s Trilogy: Game Studies in a Massively Open Online Course (MOOC), Jay Clayton (Vanderbilt University, USA) and Don Rodrigues (University of Memphis, USA) 6. How/Why We Read/Play: Conceptualizing Reader Goals in the Game of Literature, Mitchell Gunn (University of Toronto, Canada) Part II: Videogames and Interactive Media in the Literature Classroom 7. Ready Player Action: Teaching Close Reading and Critical Play in a Ludic Century, Craig Carey (University of Southern Mississippi, USA) 8. Teaching Japanese Video Games: Practical Strategies for Analysis and Assessment, Ben Whaley (University of Calgary, Canada) 9. Intervening in Game Cultures: Video Game Streams and/as Literature, Cody Mejeur (University at Buffalo, USA) 10. Ethical Simulation Games in the Liberal Arts Classroom: Civilization V, SimEarth, and Sweatshop, Harry Brown and Nicole Lobdell (De Pauw University, USA) 11. Thinking Outside the Book: Procedural Bibliography as Textual Pedagogy for Literary Video Games, Chloe Anna Milligan (Pennsylvania State University, USA) Part III: Gaming Identity and Ideology in the Literature Classroom 12. Teaching the Iñupiaq Video Game Never Alone and/as Literature, Natalie Neill (York University, Canada) 13. First Person in Translation: Gaming Perspectives on Indigenous Languages and Literature, Jillian Sayre (Rutgers University, USA) 14. Playing in the Dark: Teaching Representation, Appropriation, and Identification with Assassin’s Creed III, James K. Harris (Bronx Community College, USA) 15. Constructing Subjectivities and Teaching Otherness through the Silent Hill Series, Katsuya Izumi (University at Albany, USA) Part IV: Gamifying the Literature Classroom 16. Film and Literature Instruction through Live-Action Role-Play, Evan Torner (University of Cincinnati, USA) 17. How to Develop Gamified Pedagogical Strategies: A Case Study of Classical Japanese Poetry in the Undergraduate Classroom, Catherine Ryu (Michigan State University, USA) 18. Designing and Implementing a Roleplaying-Game-Based Course in Advanced Classical Literature: Challenges, Benefits, and Iterations, Roger Travis (University of Connecticut, USA) 19. Games We Play on Paper: Understanding the Process of Discovery through Detective Fiction and Behavioral Neuroscience, Michelle Robinson (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, USA) and Marsha Penner (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, USA) 20. Making Feminist Games in the Gender Studies and Literature Classroom, Gabi Kirilloff (Texas Christian University, USA) Afterword: Confessions of a Game Scholar in an English Department, Anastasia Salter (University of Central Florida, USA) Resources Notes on Contributors Selected Bibliography Index

Read more less

Book SynopsisVideogames aren't just for children anymore. In fact, their fictional worlds now inspire us to judgments of perceptual beauty, involve us in interpretation, and arouse our emotions. Reflecting the increasing technical and moral sophistication of the genre, The Art of Videogames presents a unique philosophical approach to the art of videogaming.Table of ContentsAcknowledgments. 1 The New Art of Videogames. 2 What Are Videogames Anyway? 3 Videogames and Fiction. 4 Stepping into Fictional Worlds. 5 Games through Fiction. 6 Videogames and Narrative. 7 Emotion in Videogaming. 8 The Morality of Videogames. 9 Videogames as Art. Glossary. References. Index.

Read more less

Book SynopsisVideogames aren't just for children anymore. In fact, their fictional worlds now inspire us to judgments of perceptual beauty, involve us in interpretation, and arouse our emotions. Reflecting the increasing technical and moral sophistication of the genre, The Art of Videogames presents a unique philosophical approach to the art of videogaming.Table of ContentsAcknowledgments. 1 The New Art of Videogames. 2 What Are Videogames Anyway? 3 Videogames and Fiction. 4 Stepping into Fictional Worlds. 5 Games through Fiction. 6 Videogames and Narrative. 7 Emotion in Videogaming. 8 The Morality of Videogames. 9 Videogames as Art. Glossary. References. Index.

Read more less

Book SynopsisLearn how to integrate Game Center features directly into your iPhone and iPad apps with the recipes in this short and concise cookbook. Each recipe gives you the solution and the code for adding features such as leaderboards, user authentication, achievements, multiplayer games and many others, using Apple's GameKit framework in the iOS SDK.

Read more less

Book SynopsisPro gaming''s award-winning broadcaster Paul Redeye Chaloner brings us the definitive book on esports, the fastest growing entertainment phenomenon in the world today. Paul Redeye Chaloner is quite simply a legend of the esports scene. And now, he will use all his years of experience to write the definitive book on the modern world of esports. What is it? What is life like in an esports team? Just how much corruption and cheating goes on behind it all? And what''s it like to stand in front of thousands of people, broadcasting to millions over the world, as one team sits on the brink of earning millions? Redeye will reveal all.What is competitive gaming, and where did it come from? What makes it so exciting? The bitter esports team and country rivalries, the scandals, the money, the last-minute Hail Mary plays; it''s all here, brought to you with the trademark wit--and access--of the industry''s most respected and experienced broadcaster. He''ll even tell you hTrade ReviewPaul has been involved with competitive gaming from its earliest days and his knowledge shines through here. This book is full of terrific stories and insights from the inside, not only of the booms and the busts, but the fascinating people who’ve grown the scene. It’s a must read not only for those interested in the rise of esports but gaming history in general. -- T.L. Taylor, Professor Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyPaul Chaloner is a living legend in the esports space. He has seen it all, survived it all and helped build it all. His expertise has created global admiration and his faith and hard work in esports have played integral roles in building a digital sport for a new digital world -- Jason Lake, founder and CEO of Complexity GamingTable of ContentsIntroduction Then and Now PART 1 This is esports (And how to spell it) From coin-ops to icons 1995-2005: Esports 1.0 Boom and Bust From Shooters to MOBAs (and back again) Enter the Internet Are fighting games an esport? Mod Makers vs Game Owners PART 2 Rivalries Life in an esports Team Rags to riches Growing Pains A Global Industry Going Live Game Over: Ready for Retirement Already? Esports Levels up: What next?

Read more less

Book SynopsisBillions of you have watched their videos and millions of you have followed them on social media.So here we go; it''s time to back up because YouTube superstars, The Sidemen, are finally here in book form and they''re dishing the dirt on each other as well as the YouTube universe. There''s nowhere to hide as KSI, Miniminter, Behzinga, Zerkaa,Vikkstar123, Wroetoshaw and Tobjizzle go in hard on their living habits, their football ability, and their dodgy clobber, while also talking Fifa, Vegas and superheroes. They''ll also give you their grand house tour, letting you in on a few secrets, before showing you their hall of fame, as well as revealing some of their greatest shames.Along the way you''ll learn how seven of the world''s biggest YouTube stars started off with nothing more than a computer console, a PC and a bad haircut before joining forces to crush the internet. And they''ll tell you just how they did it (because they''re nice like that) with their ulTrade ReviewIt's a brilliant read which is funny and informative all at once. * The Sun *

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe latest edition of this bestselling game development reference offers proven tips and techniques for the real-time rendering of special effects and visualization data that are useful for beginners and seasoned game and graphics programmers alike.Exploring recent developments in the rapidly evolving field of real-time rendering, GPU Pro6: Advanced Rendering Techniques assembles a high-quality collection of cutting-edge techniques for advanced graphics processing unit (GPU) programming. It incorporates contributions from more than 45 experts who cover the latest developments in graphics programming for games and movies.The book covers advanced rendering techniques that run on the DirectX or OpenGL runtimes, as well as on any other runtime with any language available. It details the specific challenges involved in creating games across the most common consumer software platforms such as PCs, video consoles, and mobile devices.The bTable of ContentsGeometry Manipulation. Rendering. Global Illumination Effects. Shadows. 3D Engine Design. GPGPU.

Read more less

Book SynopsisReady to make amazing games for the iPhone and iPad? With Apple's Swift programming language, it's never been easier. This updated cookbook provides detailed recipes for managing a wide range of common iOS game-development issues, ranging from 2D and 3D math, SpriteKit, and OpenGL to augmented reality with ARKit.

Read more less

Book SynopsisAt Massive Entertainment, a Ubisoft studio, a key division of one of the largest, most influential companies in gaming, Managing Director Polfeldt has had a hand in some of the biggest video game franchises of today, from Assassin's Creed to Far Cry to Tom Clancy's The Division, the fastest-selling new series this generation which revitalized the Clancy brand in gaming.In THE DREAM ARCHITECTS, Polfeldt charts his course through a charmed, idiosyncratic career which began at the dawn of the Sony PlayStation and Microsoft Xbox era--from successfully pitching an Avatar game to James Cameron that will digitally create all of Pandora to enduring a week-long survivalist camp in the Scandinavian forest to better understand the post-apocalyptic future of The Division.Along the way, Polfeldt ruminates on how the video game industry has grown and changed, how and when games became art, and the medium's expanding artistic and storytelling potential. He shares what it's like to manage a creative process that has ballooned from a low-six-figure expense with a team of a half dozen people to a transatlantic production of five hundred employees on a single project with a production budget of over a hundred million dollars.A rare firsthand account of the golden age of game development told in vivid detail, THE DREAM ARCHITECTS is a seminal work about the biggest entertainment medium of today.

Read more less

Book SynopsisWhen trainers use games, learners win big.As a trainer interested in game design, you know that games are more effective than lectures. You've seen firsthand how immersive games hold learners' interest, helping them explore new skills and experience different points of view.But how do you become the Milton Bradley of learning games? Play to Learn is here to help.This book bridges the gap between instructional design and game design; it's written to grow your game literacy and strengthen crucial game design skills. Experts Sharon Boller and Karl Kapp share real examples of in-person and online games, and offer an online game for you to try as you read. They walk you through evaluating entertainment and learning games, so you can apply the best to your own designs.Play to Learn will also show you how to: Link game design to your business needs and learning objectives. Test your prototype and refine your design. Deploy your game to motivated and excited learners. So don't just play around. Think big, design well, and use Play to Learn as your guide.

Read more less

Book SynopsisMake Your Own Twine Games! shows you how to make interactive fiction games using Twine, a beginner-friendly online tool for creating non-linear stories. Readers use basic web scripting to design choose-your-own-adventure games using author's games as examples. Anthropy walks readers through game development process from start to finish, covering everything from mapping out a game's structure and story to debugging the end product. Readers will understand what makes designing video games challenging and fun, and will feel ready to bring their own game ideas to life.

Read more less

Book SynopsisIn Marx at the Arcade, acclaimed researcher Jamie Woodcock delves into the hidden abode of the gaming industry. In an account that will appeal to hardcore gamers, digital skeptics, and the joystick-curious, Woodcock unravels the vast networks of artists, software developers, and factory and logistics workers whose seen and unseen labor flows into the products we consume on a gargantuan scale. Along the way, he analyzes the increasingly important role the gaming industry plays in contemporary capitalism and the broader transformations of work and the economy that it embodies.Trade Review"Rejecting both fanboy boosterism and moralistic denunciations, Marx at the Arcade offers a refreshing approach to video games analysis. Woodcock never loses sight of the fact that the material conditions behind game production shapes the stories games tell and how they tell them, but does not reduce its analysis of the medium to these material conditions. The book highlights how it feels to actually play a game, what makes it fun, and why that participatory aspect matters when discussing what a game communicates as a cultural product." —Jacobin "Marx at the Arcade. Consoles, Controllers, and Class Struggle by Jamie Woodcock is a seminal text if you want to understand the power dynamics behind the production, distribution and consumption of video games, seen as cultural products through a Marxist lens." —Il Manifesto "Jamie Woodcock has written a book as fun and engrossing as any game. Not only does he bring a sharp Marxist analysis to the videogames industry--in turn, he uses games to further our understanding of Marx. Whether you game or not, an indispensable book." —Sarah Jaffe, author of Necessary Trouble: Americans in Revolt "In his delightful Marx at the Arcade, Jamie Woodcock launches an urgently-needed workers’ inquiry into video and computer games—investigating both the work that goes into producing such games and the play in which so many of us seek relief from constant work. Lucid, scholarly, energetic and itself playful, Marx at the Arcade sets a new frontier for radical political understanding of the digital game." —Nick Dyer-Witheford "Marx at the Arcade is an important, brilliant and timely read that reveals the oft-ignored lives of overworked and exploited game workers, as well as the rise of the global Game Workers Unite movement that is fighting for change. Placing games within the context of a wider cultural and political struggle, Woodcock makes a compelling case for combating the toxic and reactionary elements of games culture, and pushing games towards a more positive, radical role in the world." —Karn Bianco, Games Workers Unite "Combining the unalloyed enthusiasm of the gamer with the critical gaze of the historical materialist, Jamie Woodcock's book cracks open the console to reveal the struggles over value, labour and the meaning of play that haunt the world of videogames. Even readers who last played a videogame in an arcade will gain much from this lucid and combative exploration of the industry that organizes the "free time" of countless millions."—Alberto Toscano, Reader in Critical Theory, Goldsmiths, University of London, author of Fanaticism: On the Uses of an Idea “In this highly readable, up-to-the-minute counter-guide to videogame work and play, Jamie Woodcock skillfully breaks play out of the “magic circle,” not only revealing capitalism’s shaping influence on digital game culture but also restoring a political perspective on games as a site of struggle. Whether revisiting game history, analyzing individual games, unpacking the distinctiveness of the game commodity, or reporting on the increasingly contested working conditions of game developers, Woodcock richly illustrates the use value of Marxian concepts to the critical study of game media.” —Greig de Peuter, co-author of Games of Empire: Global Capitalism and Video Games “We, as people broadly on the left, have neglected gaming at our peril. Jamie Woodcock’s Marx at the Arcade represents an important step into that fray—theorizing play, games, and their labour from the left.” –Manchester Gaming Studies Network “On the face of it, Marxists might not seem to have all that much to say about video games and gamers might not necessarily have all that much interest in Marx. But Jamie Woodcock’s brilliant book explains why they both should.” –Morning Star “Jamie Woodcock is perhaps one of England's most interesting researchers right now . . . Marx that the Arcade should . . . be read by anyone who ever controlled a bunch of pixels over a screen.” –Flammen

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe Art of Destiny showcases the stunning art and design behind one of the most exciting franchises in gaming today.From the mysterious dunes of Mars to the jungles of Venus and the abandoned aerospace installations on the Moon, Destiny takes players across the ancient ruins of our solar system on their quest to defend Earth’s last city and become legend. To build this expansive universe, the team at Bungie drew from a multitude of inspirations—from classic fantasy and science fiction worlds, the myth-meets-technology adventure of space operas, and the ornate design of medieval drapery juxtaposed with modern architecture—all of which combine to create a world uniquely imagined down to the smallest detail. The Art of Destiny is a celebration of the dynamic art at the heart of the game, featuring hundreds of pieces of concept illustrations, cinematic imagery, early sketches, and world-building graphic design. Covering the meticulous artistic development behind each class, vehicle, weapon, and environment, this lush and comprehensive overview explores the game’s sweeping world, grand scope, and vibrant visuals. © 2014 Bungie, Inc. All rights reserved. Destiny, Bungie, and the Bungie logo are trademarks of Bungie, Inc. in the US and/or other countries.

Read more less

Book SynopsisEthics and Game Design: Teaching Values through Play is the first book in its field to challenge scholars and researchers to answer questions such as: How can game design be improved to foster ethical thinking and discourse? What are the theories and methodologies that will help us understand, model, and assess ethical thinking in games? How do we use games in classrooms and informal educational settings to support moral development? This distinguished publication approaches such questions from a multidisciplinary perspective with the ultimate goal of inspiring further interdisciplinary dialogue and research in order to continue building the ethics and games community.

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisDESCRIPTION The Oculus Rift is an exciting next generation VR headset developed by OculusVR. Whether it's in a game, an architectural walk-through, or a teaching simulation, the goal of any immersive virtual reality experience is to make users feel like they're in the middle of the action. With precise, high-quality optics and a flexible programmatic interface, the Rift provides real-life field of view and head tracking hardware for natural interaction that finally nails the feeling of being there. Oculus Rift in Action introduces the powerful Oculus Rift headset and shows how to integrate its many features into 3D games and other virtual reality experiences. First, it discusses the capabilities of the Rift hardware. Then, it provides interesting and instantly-relevant examples that walk readers through programming real applications using the Oculus SDK. Along the way, the book offers practical guidance on using the Rift's sensors to produce a natural, fluid, immersive 3D experience; readers will be ready to hit the ground running with the first VR killer app when the consumer Rift is released! RETAIL SELLING POINTS An in depth guide for creating immersive VR experiences Shows the right way to create compelling VR applications Plenty of useful examples with detailed instructions AUDIENCE Readers can use this book even if they don't yet own the Oculus Rift hardware. Some experience with C++ or another OO language is required for the programming examples. No previous knowledge of optics, display, or motion tracking is expected. ABOUT THE TECHNOLOGY The Oculus Rift is a VR headset with a field comparable to what you'd get if you surrounded yourself with an array of a dozen monitors. Combined with the wide field of view, it includes head-tracking hardware so that when you turn your head, the view automatically changes, creating a feeling of 'really being there'.

Read more less

Book SynopsisWith a huge ecosystem of pre-built game assets, an enthusiastic community of fellow developers, and support for nearly every platform, Unity is a great choice to make your dream game a reality. Unity in Action, Second Edition teaches readers to write and deploy games with the Unity game development platform. Fully updated to include the latest changes to Unity, new best practices, and an entire chapter on building 2D platformers with Unity's expanded 2D toolkit, this book is essential for any aspiring game developer. Key features • Hands-on examples • Clear explanations • Excellent graphics Written for those who know how to program, in C# or a similar OO language. No previous Unity experience or game development knowledge is assumed. Unity is a professional-quality game engine used to create video games targeting a variety of platforms.

Read more less

Book SynopsisLearning games have long been used in adult education, and are particularly common in business education. This has brought up the question on how to design effective learning games to be continuously readdressed, often to emphasize some particular aspect as key to designing effective, game-based learning. Despite famous game-designer Costikyan''s characterization of game-design as an art, rather than an engineering discipline, such studies all seem to look for a recipe for unraveling how to design effective learning games. This book discusses topics on game design and developmental research. Some of the topics include game design and development curricula for digital literacies and 21st century learning; the role of metaphors in game-based learning processes; illustrative, iterative, interdisciplinary and design-oriented use of learning games in university teaching; the relationship between game volatility, house edge and prize structure of gambling games and what it tells us about gambling game design; and a gaming system for shoulder rehabilitation.

Read more less

Book SynopsisRemember what a wild frontier the early days of home gaming were? Manufacturers releasing new consoles at a breakneck pace; developers creating games that kept us up all night, then going bankrupt the next day; and what self-respecting kid didn't beg their parents for an Atari or a Nintendo? This explosion of computers, consoles, and games was genuinely unlike anything the tech world has seen before or since.This thoroughly researched and geeky trip down memory lane pulls together the most entertaining stories from this dynamic era, and brings you the classic tech that should never be forgotten.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe Art of Mafia III showcases the innovative designs and stunning art behind the latest installment in the Mafia series. In Mafia III, game developer 2K has players join Lincoln Clay as he builds his own criminal organization in 1968 New Bordeaux. Featuring the striking art behind Mafia III, explorations of the characters and locations and commentary from art director Dave Smith, this is an incredible behind-the-scenes look at this landmark title.

Read more less

Book SynopsisA wholly immersive in-world take on the blockbuster Call of Duty® series. Acclaimed for its immersive gameplay and thrilling storylines, Call of Duty® has captivated millions of players worldwide since the release of its first game in 2003. Call of Duty®: Field Manual is an engrossing collector's item for fans of the series. Presented as an official combat-issued handbook that has been misplaced by its owner, the book pairs stunning original illustrations with an engaging narrative that showcases the statistics and history of the essential units, vehicles, weapons, and battlegrounds.

Read more less

Book SynopsisBungie presents the Destiny Grimoire Anthology, a must-have collectible lore compendium designed and assembled for Destiny’s devoted and enlightened scholars and lore lovers, as well as fans of fantasy and science fiction storytelling. Until now, the myths, mysteries, and machinations of the Destiny universe were found hidden throughout the worlds—enticing threads that hinted at a greater tapestry. The Destiny Grimoire Anthology weaves tales from multiple sources together for the first time, casting new light on Destiny’s most legendary heroes, infamous villains, and their greatest moments of triumph and tragedy. This volume illuminates a facet of the world of Destiny, and challenges players’ thoughts and assumptions on what it means to be a Guardian, offering new and differing perspectives on the cosmic war that rages between the Traveler and its ancient enemies.

Read more less

Book SynopsisDelve into the world of Marvel's Avengers in this extraordinary collection of art. Packed with concept art, final designs, storyboards, and artist commentary. Marvel's Avengers: The Art of the Game features intimate studies of the Avengers, their designs, outfits, gear, and abilities, plus a detailed look at the different environments and missions in the game. Unmasking the artistry behind the hotly anticipated videogame, this showpiece hardback book contains exclusive concept sketches, character art, storyboards, and fully rendered scenes alongside fascinating insights into the creative process from the talented creators of the game.Trade Review“A fantastic peek behind the curtain in the development of Marvel’s Avengers... enjoy the fantastic artwork and finally getting to tie names to their work” - Game Trend “Another fantastic video game art book” - XBox Addict‘Beautifully presented, written with visually stunning images makes Marvel’s Avengers The Art of the Game a true treat!’ - Impulse Gamer

Read more less

Book SynopsisImmerse yourself in the stunning, dynamic world of Destiny with never-before-seen art and exclusive interviews from the Bungie team.

Read more less

Book Synopsis'A fitting tribute to gaming’s Hall of Fame.' – Esquire As seen in Vanity Fair, Axios Gaming, Esquire, and Polygon An A to Z of video games – 300 entries showcasing the most influential and celebrated games, consoles, publishers, and more A visual history of all things video games, this book will provide the reader with an overview of the gaming industry, from the very first game created around the mid-twentieth century, right through to the present day. Particular focus is given to advances within the industry during this time, such as new technologies, innovative gameplay, never-before-seen graphics, and design. An introduction by Simon Parkin provides an overview of gaming history, and exploring how iconic games have pushed the boundaries of the medium and 300 entries, hand picked by a panel of industry experts, showcase the most influential and celebrated games, consoles, publishers, and more. Each entry is accompanied by text informing the reader about the game and its history, its place in wider popular culture, and including useful information and facts, with exciting and sometimes unexpected pairings provided by the A to Z organisation. A glossary of key words and select biographies of influential creators and developers provides more context and a system of icons and infographics allows readers to see the connections between the book’s 300 entries. Wider gaming culture, and how it has grown from a niche hobby to a worldwide phenomenon, influencing popular culture, is also explored, making this the widest ranging survey of games and gaming available today.Trade Review'This big, fat, shiny book on game-changing video games, from Pac Man to Call of Duty, Donkey Kong to Fortnite and beyond, is big, fat, shiny fun. Informed writing, sharp design, printed on nice heavy paper, a fitting tribute to gaming’s Hall of Fame.' – Esquire‘The book managed to surprise me, a hardened video game journalist.’ – Polygon, Chris Plante, Co-Founder and Editor-in-Chief‘A smart, meaty, mature introductory course to gaming.’ – Polygon, Best Video Game Books of 2023 'Evokes wonder and nostalgia. – Wallpaper* 'An in-depth excavation into the evolution of video game design and technology. – Dazed 'A highly informational tome that provides insight into 300 highly varied games … brings well-deserved attention to some of the more slept-on games that have ever been released. – ONE37pm 'Game geeks, get ready!' – The Media Tourist 'Offers a sweeping view of the video game landscape and showcases its breadth.' – GeekDad 'Gamers of all types will appreciate this detailed history of video games ... If you ever wished they'd take a break from screens to read instead, this is the book to do it.' – Redbook Magazine 'If you have any interest in games, you should definitely check out Game Changers.' – Mobile Syrup 'If you’re looking for an excellent, gorgeous coffee table book that has amazing games throughout history and great art … I definitely recommend it.' – Russ Frushtick, The Besties Podcast

Read more less

Book Synopsis*Shortlisted for the British Book Design and Production Award for Graphic Novels*'A love letter to gaming in all its forms - from board games, to role-play, to virtual reality and video games. For fans of gaming, this is the perfect read. For those new to gaming, it is the perfect introduction' The ScotsmanA thrilling illustrated journey through the history of video games and what they really mean to usPac-Man. Mario. Minecraft. Doom.Ever since he first booted up his brother's dusty old Atari, comic artist Edward Ross has been hooked on video games. Years later, he began to wonder: what makes games so special? Why do we play? And how do games shape the world we live in?This lovingly illustrated book takes us through the history of video games, from the pioneering prototypes of the 1950s to the modern era of blockbuster hits and ingenious indie gems. Exploring the people and politics behind one of the world's most exciting art-forms, Gamish is a love letter to something that has always been more than just a game.Trade ReviewGamish is a fascinating read. Insights for anyone who games, and revelations for those who don't -- Val McDermidFascinating, revealing and thoughtful ... Ross constructs loving, pastel-coloured visual narrative around titles such as Metroid, Doom and Papers Please, exploring not just the timeline of games but also the culture that makes and consumes them -- Keith Stuart * Guardian *A love letter to gaming in all its forms - from board games, to role-play, to virtual reality and video games. For fans of gaming, this is the perfect read. For those new to gaming, it is the perfect introduction -- Hannah Sycamore * The Scotsman *A very fast paced and entertaining read * Metro *Gamish is warm, it has a sense of fun and humour and importantly it has a lot of optimism for the media and for the way it can empower all sorts of people (the book takes pains to include a lot of diversity in the characters we see, which again I appreciated greatly), and right now that feels like a wonderful, uplifting notion to leave the readers on -- Joe Gordon * Down the Tubes *I'm adding non-fiction comic book Gamish to my Christmas list. It's a graphical history of gaming, with an emphasis less on the technological beats of the last 40 years, and more on the games themselves and the culture surrounding them -- Colin Campbell

Read more less

Book SynopsisVideogames explores the design and culture of videogames since the mid-2000s, investigating the ground-breaking contemporary design work, creative and rebellious player communities and the political conversations that contribute to the defining genre of our time. A star-studded cast of contributors consider the wide spectrum of gaming life, from blockbusters The Last of Us and Overwatch through to cultural phenomena such as Minecraft, and alongside less mainstream productions like Consume Me.Trade Review"Visitors to the Victoria & Albert Museum gallery will be able to immerse themselves in the Game of Thrones land of Westeros while watching people splatter each other with ink when a video games exhibition opens this year. Announcing details of the show on Friday, Tristram Hunt, director of the V&A, said video games were "one of the most important design disciplines of our time". He added that he was confident the museum's founding director, Henry Cole, would also have staged the show. "Contemporary video games are strikingly innovative, uniquely creative and commercially successful - making a huge social and cultural impact across the globe," Hunt said." The Guardian The V&A exhibition will focus on video game design from the mid-2000s, [...] there will be plenty [...] to feast the eyes on, from concept art to moving footage, prototypes, character design sketches, and interactive installations. Highlights will include glimpses into the creative process Nintendo's Splatoon (2015), and of The Last of Us (2013) - a breathtaking post-apocalyptic marvel from Naughty Dog (a sequel is currently in the works). Also on view will be the painstakingly accurate recreation of the continent of Westeros from Game of Thrones in Minecraft, and a section exploring DIY arcade games and grassroots gaming culture." Wallpaper.com "Game Of Thrones and the art of Magritte are among the unlikely inspirations behind hit videogames explored in a new exhibition at the Victoria & Albert Museum. Director Tristram Hunt said it was "the right time" for the museum to be looking at a global business that reaches 2.2 billion people across the world." Evening Standard "From September the world famous V&A will be giving gamers a rare glimpse into the creative process of developing games such as The Last of Us to Kentucky Route Zero including original prototypes, early character designs, and notebooks." Mirror "Now the controversial world of videogames is to be at the centre of a major exhibition at the Victoria & Albert Museum. The exhibition, to open next September, will examine all aspects of videogames - from ground breaking contemporary design to `player communities' and the imbalance between the male dominated industry and the growing numbers of women gamers. Large scale installations and hands-on interactive experiences will allow visitors to explore the rapidly changing design and technology of today's videogames." TelegraphTable of Contents006 DIRECTOR'S FOREWORD, Tristram Hunt 010 INTRODUCTION, Marie Foulston and Kristian Volsing 012 THE ROAD TO JOURNEY, Jordan Erica Webber 032 STREET STYLE IN SPLATOON, Gita Jackson 044 STORYTELLING ON SUMMONER'S RIFT, Philippa Warr 058 PUSHING BUTTONS, Marie Foulston 066 A POUND OF FLESH, Seth Killian 080 CONSIDER THE GUNSHOT, Pippin Barr 088 THE REALTIME ART MANIFESTO: 12 YEARS LATER, Auriea Harvey and Michaël Samyn 098 HOW TO GET LOST IN A CAVE, Jake Elliot, Tamas Kemenczy and Ben Babbitt 112 TO THE EDGE OF THE UNIVERSE: THE LAST OF US AND THE POST-APOCALYPSE, Darran Anderson 126 SKIN IN THE GAME, Evan Narcisse 138 PROTOTYPING PERSONAL EXPERIENCE, Jenny Jiao Hsia 148 A CONVERSATION ON SEX AND INTIMACY IN GAMES, Nina Freeman and Robert Yang 160 WHO WATCHES THE OVERWATCHMEN, Kat Brewster 170 MADE IN MINECRAFT, Alex Wiltshire 188 SCI-FI DREAMS AND PROCEDURAL WORLDS, Kristian Volsing 204 CONTRIBUTORS / ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisSomething stirs in the dark . . . The second volume of The Art of Hearthstonedives deep into the depths of the Year of the Kraken, the first year of Hearthstone’s standard format. Consisting of hundreds of illustrations from the corruptive cults of Whispers of the Old Gods, the glamorous disco of One Night in Karazhan, and the turf wars of Means Streets of Gadgetzan, this book goes into detail about the Hearthstone team’s artistic process for card art, game boards, and other visual designs, while also exploring the challenges and triumphs of creating a game enjoyed by millions upon millions of players around the globe.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis book constitutes the refereed post-conference proceedings of two conferences: The 7th EAI International Conference on ArtsIT, Interactivity and Game Creation (ArtsIT 2018), and the 3rd EAI International Conference on Design, Learning, and Innovation (DLI 2018). Both conferences were hosed in Braga, Portugal, and took place October 24-26, 2018. The 51 revised full papers presented were carefully selected from 106 submissions. ArtsIT , Interactivity and Game Creation is meant to be a place where people in arts, with a keen interest in modern IT technologies, meet with people in IT, having strong ties to art in their works. The event also reflects the advances seen in the open related topics Interactivity (Interaction Design, Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality, Robotics) and Game Creation (Gamification, Leisure Gaming, GamePlay). ArtsIT has been successfully co-located with DLI as the design, learning and innovation frame the world of IT, opening doors into an increasingly playful worlds. So the DLI conference is driven by the belief that tools, techniques and environments can spark and nature a passion for learning, transformation domains such as education, rehabilitation/therapy, work places and cultural institutions.Table of ContentsInterfaces for Science: Conceptualizing An Interactive Graphical Interface.- ArtsIT/DLI History, Research and Network development Segmentation of Panels in d-Comics.- Co-designing Gaming Experiences for Museums with Teenagers.- Moderate Recursion: A Digital Artifact of Interactive Dance.- Worldmaking: designing for audience participation, immersion and interaction in virtual and real spaces.- Oscillating Sound Installation.- Art-based User Research: combining Art-based Research and User Research to inform the design of a technology to improve emotional wellbeing.- A Framework for Branched Storytelling and Matchmaking in Multiplayer Games.- Interactive Evolution of Swarms for the Visualisation of Consumptions.- Using Motion Expressiveness and Human Pose Estimation for Collaborative Surveillance art.- Creative approaches on interactive visualization and characterization at the nanoscale.- Contemporary Installation Art and phenomenon of digital interactivity: Aha experiences – recognition and related creating with and for affordances.- Memorial Design Pattern Catalogue– Design issues for Digital Remembrance.- Cyberella – Design issues for Interactive 360 degree film.- Smart, Affective, and Playable Cities.- Serious Game for Teaching Statistics in Higher Education: storyboard design.- Speculative Design for Development of Serious Games: A case study in the context of anorexia nervosa Multidisciplinary experience in the creation of pervasive games for Interactive Spaces Scentgraphy - Interactive Installation of Scent Communication.- The use of 360-degree video to provide an alternative media approach to Paralympic sports.- “I didn’t know, you could do that” - Affordance Signifiers for Touch Gestures on Mobile Devices.- A Social App That Combines Dating and Museum.- Visiting Experiences.- Effects of Vibrotactile Feedback in Commercial Virtual Reality Systems Evolving Virtual Ecology.- A Serious Game for Hemophobia Treatment Phobos: first Insights.- Inside the Geometry - double language Citizen Science and Game with a Purpose to Foster Biodiversity Awareness and Bioacoustic Data Validation.- To design with strings for playability in cities.- A storytelling smart-city approach to further cross-regional.- Tourism.- Re-interpreting cities with play Urban semiotics and Gamification.- Fostering Social Interaction in Playful Cities.- Saving Face: Play-full design for social engagement, in public smart city spaces.- Exploring Requirements for Joint Information Sharing in Neighbourhoods: Local Playgrounds in The Hague Infusing Creativity and Technology through Repurposing Existing Digital Tools and Social Media Apps for Educational Purposes.- GLOBE – Cognitive and social competence development by virtual collaboration and simulation games.- Makerspaces promoting students’ design thinking and collective knowledge creation: Examples from Canada and Finland.- Spatial Asynchronous Visuo-Tactile Stimuli influence Ownership of Virtual Wings.- Developing Production-Oriented, Problem-Based and Project-work Courses - The Case of Game Development in a Video Conference Setting.- Dynamic Lighting in Classrooms: A new interactive tool for teaching.- Designing a Playful Robot Application for Second Language Learning.- Study on the Optimal Usage of Active and Passive Technology-Based Teaching Resources.- An Interactive Multisensory Virtual Environment for Developmentally Disabled.- Making Puppet Circuits.- From Stigma to Objects of Desire: Interactive Jewellery For Deaf Women.- Design, learning and innovation in developing a physical activity training network: L.U.C.A.S project,. Head-Mounted Display-Based Virtual Reality as a Tool to Teach Money Skills to Adolescents Diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder,. A theory based dialogic learning architecture for sus-tained innovative collaborative learning across diversity and professional borders.- What Prevents Teachers From Using Games and Gamification Tools in Nordic Schools?.- Evolving Playful and Creative Activities When School Children Develop Game-based Designs.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis book constitutes revised selected papers from the 50th International Simulation and Gaming Association Conference, ISAGA 2019, which took place in Warsaw, Poland, during August 26–30, 2019.The 38 papers presented in this volume were carefully reviewed and selected from 72 submissions. They were organized in topical sections named: simulation gaming in the science space; simulation gaming design and implementation; simulation games for current challenges; simulation games and gamification; and board perspective on simulation gaming.Table of ContentsSimulation gaming in the science space.- A Journey to the Role of Facilitator: Personal stories unfolding alongside world trends.- Differences between Facilitator-guided and Self-guided Debriefing on the Attitudes of University Students.- Evaluation of a pilot game to change civil servants’ willingness towards open data policy making.- Structuring game design with active learning benefits: insights from logistical skills training in managing an emergency department.- Playing (in) a Crisis Simulation: What is the playful engagement in a serious simulation made of.- Through a Mirror Darkly – On the Obscurity of Teaching Goals in Game-Based Learning in IT Security.- The Tacit Knowledge in Games: From Validation to Debriefing.- Educational Escape Room – Challenges and Obstacles.-Simulation gaming design and implementation.- Simulated Construction of State`s Intersubjective Reality in Virtual Games: An Emerging Tool of Social Power.- A Review of Game-Based Research for English Language Learning in S&G Interdiscipline Journal.- Accuracy in Business Simulations.- Group-based learning and group composition on the provision of public goods: Incorporating agent-based simulation and gaming.- Can the Veil of Ignorance Create Consensus? A Qualitative Analysis Using the Siting for a Contaminated Waste Landfill Game.- The Development of the 3D Role-Playing Game on PC with an Assistive System for Deuteranopia.- The Trust Game: The influence of Trust on: Collaboration in the light of Technological Innovations.- The funnel of game design - Proposing a new way to address a problem definition using the IDEAS approach.- Little Things Mean a Lot in Simulations.- Impact of Competition in Energy Market on Promotion of Renewables: an Agent-Based Model Approach.- The perception of business wargaming practices among strategic and competitive intelligence professionals.- Managing Competing Values in Sustainable Urban Tourism: a Simulation-Gaming Approach.- Simulation games as a framework to conduct scientific experiments – the example of prospect theory research.- Study on occurrence mechanism of quality scandal in enterprises by ”Sontaku”, ”air” and ”water” theory using business game.- Interpersonal Competitiveness in a Cohesive Team: Insights from a Business Simulation Game.- Simulation games for current challenges.- Review of Haptic and Computerized (Simulation) Games on Climate Change.- Food-web modeling in the Maritime Spatial Planning Challenge Simulation Platform: Results from the Baltic Sea Region.- Unpacking, Overconfidence, and Game Design.- Authentic Learning in Entrepreneurship Education.- Learning from a Business Simulation Game: A Factor-Analytic Study.- Gamification and gaming cultures.- Resolving Migrant Issues in Thailand Using the Framework of ‘Simulation Game – Project PAL’.- Gamification Design Strategies - summary of research project.- Fostering Adaptive Organizations: Some Practical Lessons From Space Pirates.- Comparison of Experience of Using Business Games in University of Lodz and Kaunas University of Technology.- Board perspective on simulation gaming.- Video game monetization mechanisms in triple A (AAA) video games.- Learning with Location-Based Gaming.- Methodological challenges of creating a next-generation machine learning-based game engine for generating maps and vehicle behavior.- Agent-based Simulation for Sustainable Management of Supply Chain and Natural Resources: Basic Model.- Wonders of the World Simulation Program by Virtual Reality.- Framework and application of live video streaming as a virtual reality gaming technology: a study of function and performance.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis book addresses the hot topic in audiovisual translation (AVT) of video game localization through the unique perspective of dubbing, an area which has so far received relatively little scholarly focus. The author analyses the main characteristics of video game localization within the context of English-Spanish dubbing, and emphasizes the implications for research and localization as a professional practice. The book will appeal to translation studies scholars and students, as well as AVT professionals looking to understand localization processes from a systematized approach.Table of ContentsChapter 1: Videogames as Modern Multimodal Products.- Chapter 2: The History of Localization and Dubbing in Video Games.- Chapter 3: Game Localization: Stages and Particularities.- Chapter 4: Dubbing in Video Games.- Chapter 5: Dubbing Analysis through Game Situations: Four Case Studies.- Chapter 6: Conclusion

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis book constitutes the refereed proceedings of the International Conference on Computers and Games, CG 2022, held virtually, during November 22–24, 2022.The 15 full papers included in this book were carefully reviewed and selected from 23 submissions. They were organized in topical sections as follows: ​classic games, multi-player and multi-action games, solving games, measuring games, decision making in games and puzzles.Table of ContentsClassic Games: FairKalah: Towards Fair Mancala Play.- Improving Search in Go Using Bounded Static Safety.- Chinese Checkers Bitboards for Move Generation and Ranking Using Bitboards. Multi-Player and Multi-Action Games: Solving Chainmail Jousting.- An Algorithm for Multiplayer Games Exploiting Opponents' Interactions with the Player.- Incentivizing Information Gain in Hidden Information Multi-Action Games. Solving Games: QBF Solving using Best First Search.- Oware is Strongly Solved.- Solving Impartial SET using Knowledge and Combinatorial Game Theory. Measuring Games: Which Rules for Mu Torere?.- Measuring Board Game Distance. Decision Making in Games and Puzzles: Improving Computer Play in Skat with Hope Cards.- Batch Monte Carlo Tree Search.- Human and Computer Decision-Making in Chess with Applications to Online Cheat Detection.- Procedural Generation of Rush Hour Levels.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis two-volume set of HCI-Games 2023, constitutes the refereed proceedings of the 5th International Conference on HCI in Games, held as Part of the 24th International Conference, HCI International 2023, which took place in July 2023 in Copenhagen, Denmark.The total of 1578 papers and 396 posters included in the HCII 2023 proceedings volumes was carefully reviewed and selected from 7472 submissions. The HCI in Games 2023 proceedings intends to help, promote and encourage research in this field by providing a forum for interaction and exchanges among researchers, academics, and practitioners in the fields of HCI and games. The Conference addresses HCI principles, methods and tools for better games.

Read more less

Book SynopsisDelicious Pixels: Food in Video Games introduces critical food studies to game scholarship, showing the unique ways in which food is utilized in both video game gameplay and narrative to show that food is never just food but rather a complex means of communication and meaning-making. It aims at bringing the academic attention to digital food and to show how significant it became in the recent decades as, on the one hand, a world-building device, and, on the other, a crucial link between the in-game and out-of-game identities and experiences. This is done by examining specifically the examples of games in which food serves as the means of creating an intimate, cozy, and safe world and a close relationship between the players and the characters.

Read more less