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Computer Games:

Text, Narrative and Play
Front Cover
Diane Carr
3 Reviews
Polity, Mar 31, 2006 - Social Science - 210 pages
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.

  

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Review: Computer Games: Text, Narrative and Play

User Review  - Summer - Goodreads

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 ... Read full review

Review: Computer Games: Text, Narrative and Play

User Review  - Ryan - Goodreads

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

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Selected pages

Contents

Defining Game Genres
14
Games and Narrative
30
Play and Pleasure
45
Space Navigation and Affect
59
Playing Roles
72
Online Fandom
88
Motivation and Online Gaming
103
Social Play and Learning
119
Agency in and around Play
133
Film Adaptation and Computer Games
149
Games and Gender
162
Doing Game Analysis
179
Games Cited
195
Index
208
Copyright

Other editions - View all

Computer Games: Text, Narrative and Play
Computer Games: Text, Narrative and Play
Diane Carr
Limited preview - 2006
Computer Games: Text, Narrative and Play
Computer Games: Text, Narrative and Play
Diane Carr,David Buckingham,Andrew Burn,Gareth Schott
No preview available - 2006

Common terms and phrases

Aarseth Abe's Oddysee action adventure game activity analysis Anarchy Online animated argue aspects audience avatar Baldur's Gate chapter character characterization choices Cloud Cloud Strife computer games console context cutscenes developers dialogue Diarmid discussion Dungeons & Dragons elements engagement example experience explore fiction film Final Fantasy VII focus Funcom function game engine game genres game system game text game world game's gameplay gamers games industry gender girls goals Gorion horror immersion implied author instance interactive involves Japanese kind ludic male manga manipulation means modes monsters motivations Mudokon narrator Nirvano Non-Player Characters Oddworld Oddworld Inhabitants offer on-screen online games options particular Planescape Torment player pleasures possible potential protagonist relation relationship RPGs screen Sephiroth Silent Hill skills social semiotic specific story strategy structures suggests teammates theory Thing tion tradition visual walkthrough women

References to this book

From other books

Media Literacy in Schools: Practice, Production and Progression
Media Literacy in Schools: Practice, Production and Progression
Andrew Burn,James Durran
Limited preview - 2007
The European Conference on Games Based Learning
The European Conference on Games Based Learning
Thomas Remenyi
Limited preview - 2007

From Google Scholar

Doing Game Studies: A Multi-method Approach To The Study Of ...
Diane Carr, Gareth Schott, Andrew Burn, David Buckingham
Studying Games in School: a Framework for Media Education
Caroline Pelletier
From SuperGoo to Scratch: Exploring creative digital media ...
Kylie A Peppler, Yasmin B Kafai
Game Literacy in Theory and Practice
DAVID BUCKINGHAM, ANDREW BURN
All Scholar search results »

References from web pages

citeulike: Computer Games: Text, Narrative And Play
TY - BOOK ID - citeulike:419121 TI - Computer Games: Text, Narrative And Play PB - Blackwell Pub SN - 074563401X N2 - * A major new introduction to a ...
www.citeulike.org/ user/ yish/ article/ 419121

Book - Diane Carr, Andrew Burn, Gareth Schott, David Buckingham ...
'Computer Games: Text, Narrative and Play will be valuable for teachers and students who want to familiaize themselves with the core concepts and important ...
www.polity.co.uk/ book.asp?ref=074563401X

London Knowledge Lab - Computer Games: Text, Narrative and Play
London Knowledge Lab :: exploring the future of learning with digital technologies
www.lkl.ac.uk/ cms/ index.php?option=com_content& task=view& id=41& Itemid=35

New Media & Society
alongside Computer Games:Text, Narrative and Play (2006). In this jointly. authored book, Carr, Buckingham, Burn and Schott examine representation ...
nms.sagepub.com/ cgi/ reprint/ 9/ 1/ 169.pdf?ck=nck

Publications «
Carr, D., Buckingham, D., Burn, A., Schott G. (2006) Computer Games: Text, Narrative and Play, Cambridge: Polity Press. Carr, D (2007) ‘The Trouble with ...
playhouse.wordpress.com/ publications/

Fan Fiction On Final Fantasy X
Computer Games: Text, Narrative and Play, Cambridge: Polity Press, 72-87. • Burn, Andrew (2006). Reworking the text: Online fandom. In: Diane Carr et al. ...
www.fdcw.org/ 0708/ yan/ Fan%20Fiction%20on%20Final%20Fantasy%20X_112207.doc

Parker/Becker Games Bibliography - 2006
Computer Games: Text, Narrative And Play. Cambridge: Polity. Cagiltay, K. (2006). An Instructional Design/Development Model for the Creation of Game-like ...
www.ucalgary.ca/ ~jparker/ TFGT/ 2006.html

PC & Video Games
-26%, 39.99, Computer Games: Text, Narrative and Play ~ Diane Carr - David Buckingham - Andrew Burn - Gare... 4.43, "Meet the Robinsons" Official Strategy ...
www.mybooksbee.co.uk/ cat100514.html

國立交通大學課程綱要
In D. Carr, D. Buckingham, A. Burn, G, Schoot, Computer games: Text, narrative and play (pp.30-44). Cambridge, Polity Press. ...
cos.adm.nctu.edu.tw/ Course/ CrsOutline/ getFile.asp?Acy=96& Sem=1& CrsNo=5731

Computer Games. Text, Narrative and Play
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About the author (2006)

David Buckingham is Professor of Education and head of the Centre for the Study of Children, Youth and Media (CSCYM) at the University of London.

Andrew Burn is Reader in Education and New Media and Associate Director of the CSCYM at the University of London.

Diane Carr is Research Officer of the CSCYM at the University of London.

Gareth Schott is Senior Lecturer of Screen and Media Studies at the University of Waikato.

Bibliographic information

QR code for Computer Games
TitleComputer Games: Text, Narrative and Play
EditorDiane Carr
ContributorDiane Carr
Editionillustrated, reprint
PublisherPolity, 2006
ISBN074563401X, 9780745634012
Length210 pages
Subjects › 

Games / Video & Electronic
Social Science / Media Studies
  
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