Understanding Video Games (4^th Ed.)
The Essential Introduction

From Pong to virtual reality, Understanding Video Games, 4th Edition, takes video game studies into the next decade of the twenty-first century, highlighting changes in the area, including mobile, social, and casual gaming.

In this new edition of the pioneering text, students learn to assess the major theories used to analyze games, such as ludology and narratology, and gain familiarity with the commercial and organizational aspects of the game industry. Drawing from historical and contemporary examples, the 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.

Extensively illustrated and featuring discussion questions, a glossary of key terms, and a detailed video game history timeline, this new edition is an indispensable resource for students, scholars, and teachers interested in examining the ways video games continue to reshape entertainment and society.

INTRODUCTION 1. STUDYING VIDEO GAMES 2. THE GAME INDUSTRY 3. WHAT IS A GAME? 4. HISTORY 5. VIDEO GAME AESTHETICS 6. VIDEO GAMES IN CULTURE 7. NARRATIVE 8. SERIOUS GAMES AND GAMIFICATON—WHEN ENTERTAINMENT IS NOT ENOUGH 9. VIDEO GAMES AND RISKS

Simon Egenfeldt-Nielsen is CEO of the award-winning company Serious Games Interactive and has worked as an assistant professor at the Center for Computer Games Research at the IT University of Copenhagen.

Jonas Heide Smith is head of digital communication at SMK. He has previously taught computer-mediated communication at the University of Copenhagen, the Copenhagen Business School, the IT University of Copenhagen, and Roskilde University.

Susana Pajares Tosca is an associate professor at Roskilde University and is a founding editor of the journal Game Studies.