UNDERSTANDING VIDEO GAMES: THE ESSENTIAL INTRODUCTION

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

The fifth edition of this pioneering textbook takes video game studies into the next decade, highlighting changes in mobile, social, and casual gaming.

This book introduces students to both the major theories used to analyze games, such as ludology and narratology, and the commercial and organizational aspects of the game industry. Drawing from historical and contemporary examples, this 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. This new edition includes updates to the history, statistics, and developments in the vast game studies landscape throughout. The book has been expanded with additional theory, research, and insights from scholars around the world, making it more inclusive and broadening its global perspective.

Extensively illustrated and featuring discussion questions, a glossary of key terms, and a detailed video game history timeline, Understanding Video Games, Fifth Edition is an indispensable resource for anyone interested in examining the ways video games are reshaping entertainment, education, 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
English	Hardcover	Fifth Edition	9781032214726	2024	428
English	Paperback	Fifth Edition	9781032229744	2024	428
English	eBook	Fifth Edition	9781032229744	2024	427