Game Invaders (eBook)

The Theory and Understanding of Computer Games

Clive Fencott, Jo Clay, Mike Lockyer, Paul Massey (Autoren)

eBook Download: PDF

2012 | 1. Auflage
240 Seiten
John Wiley & Sons (Verlag)
978-1-118-34755-3 (ISBN)

Infos

Presenting 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 analysis--offering detailed
guidance for how to conduct in-depth critiques of game content and
gameplay.

Featuring 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:

* 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 wishing to
practice techniques introduced in the book * A companion
website featuring access to an app that enables the reader to
conduct their own activity profiling of games

An important resource for those wishing to dig deeper into the
games they design, Game Invaders gives game designers the skills
they need to stand out from the crowd. It is also a valuable guide
for anyone wishing to learn more about computer games, virtual
reality, and new media.

Autor

CLIVE FENCOTT, PhD, is a freelance writer and researcher in new media. For many years, he taught and researched the theory of computer games at Teesside University in the UK. He also worked in the games industry. Dr. Fencott has authored over fifty publications, including the successful textbook Formal Methods for Concurrency. MIKE LOCKYER, BSc, PhD, is a Professor of Web Services at Teesside University, where he has taught for over twenty-five years. He has published over thirty journal papers, successfully supervised more than ten PhDs, and is currently involved with developments in web services and rich client applications. JO CLAY completed a multimedia master's degree at Teesside University, under the supervision of Clive Fencott, before joining the games analysis team. As a gamer herself and apprentice semiotician, Jo assisted in the development of the Game Invaders method for application in computer software. PAUL MASSEY, CEng, MBCS, CITP, is a senior lecturer in computing at Teesside University, where he teaches and consults on databases. Paul believes databases are central to most IT systems and applies techniques (such as data mining) to a range of disciplines (such as games analysis and decision support).

Inhalt

Preface ix

Abbreviations xi

Part I Why Do People Play Games?

1. You Are the One 3

Tools to Think With 5

Getting Started 8

Summary 12

2. Genre 13

What Are Genres? 14

What Are Genres For? 16

Genre Maps 18

Computer Game Genres 19

A Theory of Computer Game Genres 21

Summary 25

Further Reading and Tasks 26

3. Activity 29

The Story of Activity Groups 29

An Overview of Activity Profiles 33

Three Driving Games 35

Calculating Genres 38

Summary 43

Tasks 44

4. Pleasure 45

Aesthetics and Computer Games 47

Spacewar 51

Zork 52

Pac-Man 56

Comparative Aesthetics 57

Summary 59

Tasks 60

5. Two Rail-Shooters 61

Star Fox and Rez 61

Activity Profiling and Genre Theory 63

Applying Aesthetic Theory 65

The Method of Game Analysis 67

Tetsuya Mizuguchi, Rez, and Beyond 67

Summary 69

Further Reading and Tasks 70

6. Why Don't People Play Games 71

What Do We Mean by Games? 72

Resident Evil 73

Why Not Ask the Players? 75

Emotional Models of Play 76

Player Types 79

Demographic Research 81

Why Don't People Play Games? 82

Conclusions 83

Part II What Is a Game?

7. Just an Ordinary Day 87

The Glass Vial 89

Unrealisms 90

Perceptual Opportunities 91

Sureties 92

Surprises 93

Attractors 93

Connectors 95

Rewards 97

Getting It All Together in SinCity 99

Perceptual Mapping in SinCity 100

AS-OceanFloor 103

Summary 108

Further Reading and Tasks 109

8. Big Bad Streets 111

Driver School 111

Sureties 113

Surprises 114

Driver and SinCity Comparisons 119

Summary 122

Further Reading and Tasks 123

9. Time to Visit Yokosuka 125

Shenmue 125

Genre and Activity Profile 126

Aesthetics 128

Shenmue POs 129

PSAS and Cut Scenes 131

Interactive Storytelling? 133

And On With General Aesthetics 134

Summary 135

Further Reading and Tasks 137

10. Meaning What? 139

Semiotics and Signs 140

Pac-Man's Signs 143

Icons, Indexes, and Symbols 144

Denotation, Connotation, and Myth 146

Syntagms and Paradigms 148

Codes 151

Making Up Pac-Man 154

Filling Gaps 155

Summary 159

Further Reading and Tasks 161

11. All Work and Play 163

The Work of Meaning 164

Signs of Interaction 167

The Mechanics of Interaction 170

The Inside-Out Code 176

Where Is the Player? 178

Summary 180

Further Reading and Tasks 181

12. Big Game Hunting 183

Semiosphere 183

The Code of Interaction 185

The Myth of Interaction 189

What Is a Game? 191

How Do You Get Out of Here? 192

Big Game Hunting 194

Glossary 197

List of Games 203

Bibliography 205

Index 207

Rezensionen

"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."
(Choice, 1 June 2013)

"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." (International Journal of
Communication, 1 May 2013)

Produkt-Details

• Erscheint lt. Verlag: 18.5.2012
• Sprache: englisch
• Themenwelt: Mathematik / Informatik ► Informatik ► Grafik / Design
• Themenwelt: Informatik ► Office Programme ► Outlook
• Themenwelt: Informatik ► Software Entwicklung ► Spieleprogrammierung
• Themenwelt: Informatik ► Weitere Themen ► Computerspiele
• Schlagworte: Computer Game Software • Computer-Ratgeber • Computer Science • Computerspiel • Computerspiele • End-User Computing • Informatik • Programmierung u. Software-Entwicklung • Programming & Software Development • Software Design • Software-Design • Softwareentwicklung
• ISBN-10: 1-118-34755-2 / 1118347552
• ISBN-13: 978-1-118-34755-3 / 9781118347553