The Videogames Handbook

Description

Featuring contributions from leading figures in the videogames industry this book surveys both the theory and practice of this fast-growing, yet relatively new disciplinary area.

Mapping the commercial process of videogame production from pre-production to games journalism, David Surman demystifies the language of technical production processes by offering the reader a review of key production roles, along with the skills required to fulfil them. Focusing on the distribution and reception of videogames as a cultural form, as well as offering broader perspectives on issues such as the place of games in education and domestic technology, Surman examines the critical perspectives that have emerged in the academic community.

Contents

Foreword

by Henry Jenkins

Introduction

Section I: VIDEOGAME DEVELOPMENT

* Games Design

* The role of the videogame developer

* Concept Development

* Designing Play Experiences

* Iterative Design and ‘White Box’ Testing

* ‘Designing Videogames, a 20-Year Retrospective’

Simon and Andrew Oliver

* Programming

* Game Engines

* Artificial Intelligence

* Artists

* Character Design

* Level Design

* Computer Modelling and Animation

* Publishing Producing and Marketing

* The role of the publisher

* The commissioning process

* Supervising the production

* Quality assurance and play testing

* Games marketing and strategies

* ‘Developing Videogames, a 10-year Prediction’

Ernest Adams

* Players/Creators

* The modification of existing videogames – modding

* Machinima and the cinematic potential of videogames

* Fan criticism and games development

* Customisation and play

Section II : VIDEOGAME CULTURES

* Videogames Journalism

* The Editor

* The Art Editor

* The Games Editor

* Staff Writers

* Games Journalism and New Media

* Blogging and Online Journalism

*‘The Videogame Journalist’

Margaret Robertson

* Videogame Culture

* Players as consumers

* The place of gameplay in everyday life

* Videogames and education

* Technology and cultural form

* Videogame censorship

* (New) media effects

* Player cultures and fan authors

* ‘Gender and Games’

Aleks Krotoski

Section III: VIDEOGAME STUDIES

* Game Studies Fundamentals

* What is a game? What is a videogame?

* The limits of representation

* Understanding play

* Videogame aesthetics

* Simulation and the virtual

* Interactive media

* ‘Interactivity?’

James Newman

* Technology and determinism

* Avatars and videogame identification

* Gameworlds

* New media convergence

* ‘Videogames, and Other Media’

Tanya Krzywinska

Conclusion

Glossary of terms

Bibliography

Ludography (referenced videogames)

Index

Author Bio

David Surman is the Associate programme leader and Lecturer in Computer Games Design and Associate Lecturer in Animation at the Newport School of Art, Media and Design, University of Wales, Newport.

Related Subjects

1. Media Studies
2. New Media