The State of Play

“Editors Daniel Goldberg and Linus Larsson are interested in the way in which writing about the video game medium has grown from product criticism to social and political commentary. This broadening of scope is due not only to maturation, they argue. It is also the result of the democratization of game-making, which has allowed independent creators to release games on personal and seemingly noncommercial topics, in that way stimulating critical ­conversation.” —The New York Times Book Review

“A ground­breaking anthology that all video game players should read and ponder.” —Library Journal, starred review

“If you want to explain to anyone why videogames are worth caring about, this is a single volume primer on where we are, how we got here and where we’re going next. In every way, this is the state of play.” —Kieron Gillen, author of The Wicked + The Divine

“This should be a mainstay in media theory classrooms. Overall, this book presents a much-needed alternative look at the state and stakes of video game culture, today and tomorrow.” —Angela Washko, artist and founder of The Council on Gender Sensitivity and Behavioral Awareness in World of Warcraft

“Through a combination of deeply personal narratives and academic analyses State of Play effectively illuminates the social and cultural relevance of gaming.  We see games as cultural representations reflecting societal tensions and priorities, social systems with insiders/outsiders and ethical dilemmas where conflicts can be worked out or not, opportunities for exploration and tools for presentation of counter narratives.  The authors do not simply discuss what games are technically, but what they are, can and should be culturally.” —Ellen Middaugh, San José State University, author of The Civic Potential of Video Games

“We are past the era when it was surprising to learn that video games are more than just pleasurable power fantasies. Video games are emotional explorations of race, gender, sex and love. Video games gives us intense experiences of being others, or finding ourselves, alone with the computer or surrounded by crowds, in physical or virtual spaces. The State of Play is a key collection of writings to understand why playing video games matters more than ever.” —Miguel Angel Sicart, author of Play Matters and The Ethics of Computer Games, Associate Professor at the Center for Computer Game Research at IT University Copenhagen

“The State of Play gathers essential voices who are trying to make a more just, more true, more playful gamespace, one that’s fun for everybody.” —McKenzie Wark, author of Gamer Theory

“The thoughtful, articulate essays recursively confirm the importance of gaming to society, the book’s key theme. Beautifully written in workmanlike, accessible prose, and highly recommended.” —Bonnie Nardi, author of My Life as a Night Elf Priest: An Anthropological Account of World of Witchcraft 

“This diverse collection demonstrates the deep power of anchoring our design theories in the lived experiences of players and creators. It offers a kaleidoscopic view of the possibility space of games, providing exciting new perspectives on play and the construction of play spaces.” —Brian Upton, author of The Aesthetic of Play