Videogames

James Newman's introduction guides the reader through the world of videogaming, providing a history of the videogame, from its origins in the computer lab to its contemporary status as a global entertainment industry, with characters such as Lara Croft and Sonic the Hedgehog.

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Newman's lucid and engaging introduction guides the reader through the world of videogaming. It traces the history of the videogame, from its origins in the computer lab, to its contemporary status as a global entertainment industry, where characters such as Lara Croft and Sonic the Hedgehog are familiar even to those who've never been near a games console.


Topics covered include:




What is a videogame?
Why study videogames?
a brief history of videogames, from Pac-Man to Pokémon
the videogame industry
Who plays videogames?
Are videogames bad for you?
the narrative structure of videogames
the future of videogames