{"product_id":"game-invaders-9780470597187","title":"Game Invaders","description":"\u003cb\u003eBook Synopsis\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003ePresenting a holistic and thoroughly practical investigation of the true nature of computer games that arms readers with a small yet powerful set of theories for developing unique approaches to understanding games. Game Invaders fully integrates genre theory, new media aesthetics, perceptual opportunities, and semiotics into a practical DIY toolkit for games analysisoffering detailed guidance for how to conduct in-depth critiques of game content and gameplay.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eFeaturing an informal and witty writing style, the book devotes a number of chapters to specific games from all eras, clearly demonstrating the practical application of the theories to modern, large-scale computer games. Readers will find:\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e Suggestions on how to apply the DIY package to major issues central to understanding computer games and their design  Coverage of the semiotics of video games, laying the foundation for such topics as the role of agency and virtual storytelling  Tasks and solutions for readers \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eTrade Review\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Intermediate game designers and students wishing to analyze video games will find this a helpful resource.  Summing Up: Recommended. Upper-division undergraduates and graduate students in game design and related programs, researchers\/faculty, and professionals\/practitioners.”  (\u003ci\u003eChoice\u003c\/i\u003e\u003ci\u003e,\u003c\/i\u003e 1 June 2013)\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e“Overall, Game Invadersis both a useful and needed theoretical handbook for undergraduate students interested in thinking rigorously about computer games or for game designers who need a stronger theoretical foundation moored in agency and interaction.”  (\u003ci\u003eInternational Journal of Communication\u003c\/i\u003e\u003ci\u003e,\u003c\/i\u003e 1 May 2013)\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eTable of Contents\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003ePreface ix\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eAbbreviations xi\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003ePart I Why Do People Play Games?\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e1. You Are the One 3\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eTools to Think With 5\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eGetting Started 8\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eSummary 12\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e2. Genre 13\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eWhat Are Genres? 14\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eWhat Are Genres For? 16\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eGenre Maps 18\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eComputer Game Genres 19\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eA Theory of Computer Game Genres 21\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eSummary 25\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eFurther Reading and Tasks 26\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e3. Activity 29\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe Story of Activity Groups 29\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eAn Overview of Activity Profiles 33\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThree Driving Games 35\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eCalculating Genres 38\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eSummary 43\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eTasks 44\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e4. Pleasure 45\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eAesthetics and Computer Games 47\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eSpacewar 51\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eZork 52\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003ePac-Man 56\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eComparative Aesthetics 57\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eSummary 59\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eTasks 60\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e5. Two Rail-Shooters 61\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eStar Fox and Rez 61\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eActivity Profiling and Genre Theory 63\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eApplying Aesthetic Theory 65\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe Method of Game Analysis 67\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eTetsuya Mizuguchi, Rez, and Beyond 67\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eSummary 69\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eFurther Reading and Tasks 70\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e6. Why Don’t People Play Games 71\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eWhat Do We Mean by Games? 72\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eResident Evil 73\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eWhy Not Ask the Players? 75\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eEmotional Models of Play 76\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003ePlayer Types 79\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eDemographic Research 81\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eWhy Don’t People Play Games? 82\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eConclusions 83\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003ePart II What Is a Game?\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e7. Just an Ordinary Day 87\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe Glass Vial 89\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eUnrealisms 90\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003ePerceptual Opportunities 91\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eSureties 92\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eSurprises 93\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eAttractors 93\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eConnectors 95\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eRewards 97\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eGetting It All Together in SinCity 99\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003ePerceptual Mapping in SinCity 100\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eAS-OceanFloor 103\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eSummary 108\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eFurther Reading and Tasks 109\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e8. Big Bad Streets 111\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eDriver School 111\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eSureties 113\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eSurprises 114\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eDriver and SinCity Comparisons 119\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eSummary 122\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eFurther Reading and Tasks 123\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e9. Time to Visit Yokosuka 125\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eShenmue 125\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eGenre and Activity Profile 126\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eAesthetics 128\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eShenmue POs 129\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003ePSAS and Cut Scenes 131\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eInteractive Storytelling? 133\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eAnd On With General Aesthetics 134\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eSummary 135\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eFurther Reading and Tasks 137\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e10. Meaning What? 139\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eSemiotics and Signs 140\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003ePac-Man’s Signs 143\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eIcons, Indexes, and Symbols 144\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eDenotation, Connotation, and Myth 146\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eSyntagms and Paradigms 148\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eCodes 151\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eMaking Up Pac-Man 154\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eFilling Gaps 155\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eSummary 159\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eFurther Reading and Tasks 161\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e11. All Work and Play 163\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe Work of Meaning 164\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eSigns of Interaction 167\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe Mechanics of Interaction 170\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe Inside-Out Code 176\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eWhere Is the Player? 178\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eSummary 180\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eFurther Reading and Tasks 181\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e12. Big Game Hunting 183\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eSemiosphere 183\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe Code of Interaction 185\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe Myth of Interaction 189\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eWhat Is a Game? 191\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eHow Do You Get Out of Here? 192\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eBig Game Hunting 194\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eGlossary 197\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eList of Games 203\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eBibliography 205\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eIndex 207\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Wiley","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53515418042711,"sku":"9780470597187","price":47.66,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"url":"https:\/\/bookcurl.com\/products\/game-invaders-9780470597187","provider":"Book Curl","version":"1.0","type":"link"}