Computer games as a sociocultural phenomenon

As computer games have been gaining in sociocultural importance, the academic interest in them has grown considerably in recent years. This rich anthology comprehensibly introduces the latest approaches in the central fields of game studies and provides an extensive survey of contemporary game culture. Impressive in scope and execution, this book addresses key areas of research, such as game design and aesthetics, politics and ideology, morality and ethics, war and violence, or game play and cultural identities. International specialists among media and literature scholars, social scientists, game designers, and artists explore the cultural potential of computer games, offer new critical perspectives, and present innovative and challenging concepts of researching sociocultural, industrial, and aesthetic aspects of digital entertainment.