Computer Games: Text, Narrative and Play

by Diane Carr, David Buckingham, Andrew Burn

Computer games are one of the most exciting and rapidly evolving media of our time. Revenues from console and computer games have now overtaken those from Hollywood movies; and online gaming is one of the fastest-growing areas of the internet. Games are no longer just kids' stuff: the majority of players are now adults, and the market is constantly broadening. The visual style of games has become increasingly sophisticated, and the complexities of game-play are ever more challenging. Meanwhile, the iconography and generic forms of games are increasingly influencing a whole range of other media, from films and television to books and toys. This book provides a systematic, comprehensive introduction to the analysis of computer and video games. It introduces key concepts and approaches drawn from literary, film and media theory in an accessible and concrete manner; and it tests their use and relevance by applying them to a small but representative selection of role-playing and action-adventure games. It combines methods of textual analysis and audience research, showing how the combination of such methods can give a more complete picture of these playable texts and the fan cultures they generate. Clearly written and engaging, it will be a key text for students in the field and for all those with an interest in taking games seriously.

Genres: Nonfiction, Games

224 pages, Paperback

First published March 31, 2006

About the author

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Reviews

[Johnny Boi · Rating 2 out of 5]

Subjective, at best, like most semiotic analyses tend to be. Outdated (even for 2006), inexperienced and uneducated arguments (in terms of actual gaming experience and technical prowess - like the total apparent discrepancy between PC and "console games"). A general point of view of the way people OUTSIDE the industry tend to view games.

[Summer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Semiotics, ludic theory, narrative, etc. What makes this really stand out as a book of Video Game Theory is that it's not only the first one I've read that talks significantly about the vast popularity and impact of Final Fantasy VII on the gaming landscape, but also talks about FFVII fan culture and, specifically, erotic male-on-male FFVII fan comics. There's an interesting implication that the female fan, in being urged to identify with the male-bordering-on-androgynous character Cloud, uses a feminized version of him to interact sexually with the more masculine and dominant Sephiroth, but really, it's nice that the juggernaut of FFVII fan culture is mentioned at all, it shows good research skills.

Now, I'm just waiting for a critical work on Harry Potter fanfiction, which currently makes up over 54% of the total internet.

[Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you like semiotics, you'll love this book. This was written by three of my professors!