Playing with Videogames [Paperback]

Playing with Videogamesdocuments the richly productive, playful and social cultures of videogaming that support, surround and sustain this most important of digital media forms and yet which remain largely invisible within existing studies.

James Newman details the rich array of activities that surround game-playing, charting the vibrant and productive practices of the vast number of videogame players and the extensive 'shadow' economy of walkthroughs, FAQs, art, narratives, online discussion boards and fan games, as well as the cultures of cheating, copying and piracy that have emerged.

 Playing with Videogamesoffers the reader a comprehensive understanding of the meanings of videogames and videogaming within the contemporary media environment.

Chapter 1. Everybody hates videogames  PART 1: VIDEOGAMES AS REPRESENTATIONAL SYSTEMS  Chapter 2. Talking about videogames  Chapter 3. Videogames and/as stories  Chapter 4. Things to make and do: fanart, music and cosplay  PART 2: VIDEOGAMES AS CONFIGURATIVE PERFORMANCES  Chapter 5. Game Guides, walkthroughs and FAQs  Chapter 6. Superplay, Sequence Breaking And Speedrunning  PART 3: VIDEOGAMES AS TECHNOLOGY  Chapter 7. Codemining, Modding and Gamemaking  Notes  References

A solid resource for students of cultural and media studies. -CHOICE

James Newman is Senior Lecturer in Media Communications and Cultural Studies at Bath Spa University. He teaches, researches and writes about videogames and digital media. His books include Videogames(2004), Difficult Questions About Videogames(2004), Teaching Videogames(2006) and 100 Videogames(2007).