2nd Edition
Dungeons and Desktops The History of Computer Role-Playing Games 2e
Computer role-playing games (CRPGs) are a special genre of computer games that bring the tabletop role-playing experience of games such as Dungeons & Dragons to the computer screen. Thisnew edition inlcudes two new chapters: The Modern Age, and a chapter on Indies and Mobile CRPGs. The new modern age chapter will cover, among other topics, Kickstarter/FIG crowdfunded projects such as Torment: Tides of Numenera and Pillars of Eternity. It'll also bring the book up to date with major games such as Dragon Age, Witcher, Skyrim. Expanded info in first chapter about educational potential of CRPGs. Color figures will be introduced for the first time.
Key Features
Acknowledgments
Chris Avellone’s Preface
Authors’ Preface
Chapter 1 ◾ Introduction to Computer Role-Playing Games
Chapter 2 ◾ Origins
Chapter 3 ◾ The Dark Age
Chapter 4 ◾ The Bronze Age
Chapter 5 ◾ The Silver Age
Chapter 6 ◾ The Birth of the Golden Age
Chapter 7 ◾ SSI’s Golden Age
Chapter 8 ◾ Origin’s Golden Age
Chapter 9 ◾ Sir-Tech, New World Computing, and Sierra
Chapter 10 ◾ Early Japanese Role-Playing Games
Chapter 11 ◾ Dungeon Master and the Rise of Real-Time 3D
Chapter 12 ◾ Other Games of the Golden Age
Chapter 13 ◾ The Epic Fails
Chapter 14 ◾ The Platinum Age
Chapter 15 ◾ Diablo and the Rise of Action RPGs
Chapter 16 ◾ Fallout and Baldur’s Gate
Chapter 17 ◾ Other Highlights of the Platinum Age
Chapter 18 ◾ The Birth of the Modern Age
Chapter 19 ◾ Modern JRPGs
Chapter 20 ◾ The Rise of the MMORPG
Chapter 21 ◾ The Late Modern Age
Chapter 22 ◾ The Renaissance, Kickstarted
Chapter 23 ◾ The Road Ever Ventures Forth
Shane’s Afterword: Surprise Encounter
APPENDIX: THE CRPG BESTIARY
INDEX
Biography
Dr. Matt Barton is a professor of English at St. Cloud State University in St. Cloud, Minnesota, where he specializes in writing studies and digital humanities. He’s authored several books on the history of videogames and produces Matt Chat, a popular YouTube series featuring developer interviews and reviews of new and classic video games.
Shane "Shane Plays" Stacks is a talk radio host, podcaster, YouTuber, blogger and recovering elected official exploring the many interests and fandoms of geek culture (of which he considers CRPGs a very important part). You can listen to his weekly Shane Plays Geek Talk radio show live over the air in Little Rock or catch the podcast edition online.
