Description
Condition: BRAND NEW
ISBN: 9780262542630
Format: Trade paperback (UK)
Year: 2021
Publisher: RANDOM HOUSE US
Pages: 336
Explore the profound insights of play in 'The Aesthetic of Play'. This enlightening book by game designer Brian Upton delves into the essence of gaming, examining why games have rules and how they intersect with narrative. Perfect for game enthusiasts, designers, and anyone intrigued by the psychology of play, Upton's work presents a compelling argument that the human impulse toward play is as old as time itself. With roots tracing back to our prehistoric ancestors, this book reveals the significance of playful behavior, not just in humans but in animals too, as zoologists have noted playful actions in species from turtles to chimpanzees.
Throughout its 336 pages, 'The Aesthetic of Play' provides readers with a critical lens to evaluate gameplay, urging us to address both granular and grand questions. Why does a specific battle in a game feel tedious? What deeper meanings can we extract from our gaming experiences? Drawing on examples from classic games like Monopoly and Dungeons & Dragons to modern hits like Guitar Hero, Upton crafts a comprehensive framework that offers valuable analytical tools. Whether you're a seasoned designer looking to enhance your games or a casual player seeking a deeper understanding, this book is an essential resource—bridging narrative and play in innovative ways.
Delivery information: We ensure that your order is delivered securely and promptly. Enjoy a swift delivery process where your book will reach you in optimal condition.
Condition: BRAND NEW
ISBN: 9780262542630
Format: Trade paperback (UK)
Year: 2021
Publisher: RANDOM HOUSE US
Pages: 336
Description:
A game designer considers the experience of play, why games have rules, and the relationship of play and narrative.
A game designer considers the experience of play, why games have rules, and the relationship of play and narrative.
The impulse toward play is very ancient, not only pre-cultural but pre-human; zoologists have identified play behaviors in turtles and in chimpanzees. Games have existed since antiquity; 5,000-year-old board games have been recovered from Egyptian tombs. And yet we still lack a critical language for thinking about play. Game designers are better at answering small questions ("Why is this battle boring?") than big ones ("What does this game mean?"). In this book, the game designer Brian Upton analyzes the experience of play--how playful activities unfold from moment to moment and how the rules we adopt constrain that unfolding. Drawing on games that range from Monopoly to Dungeons & Dragons to Guitar Hero, Upton develops a framework for understanding play, introducing a set of critical tools that can help us analyze games and game designs and identify ways in which they succeed or fail.
ISBN: 9780262542630
Format: Trade paperback (UK)
Year: 2021
Publisher: RANDOM HOUSE US
Pages: 336
Explore the profound insights of play in 'The Aesthetic of Play'. This enlightening book by game designer Brian Upton delves into the essence of gaming, examining why games have rules and how they intersect with narrative. Perfect for game enthusiasts, designers, and anyone intrigued by the psychology of play, Upton's work presents a compelling argument that the human impulse toward play is as old as time itself. With roots tracing back to our prehistoric ancestors, this book reveals the significance of playful behavior, not just in humans but in animals too, as zoologists have noted playful actions in species from turtles to chimpanzees.
Throughout its 336 pages, 'The Aesthetic of Play' provides readers with a critical lens to evaluate gameplay, urging us to address both granular and grand questions. Why does a specific battle in a game feel tedious? What deeper meanings can we extract from our gaming experiences? Drawing on examples from classic games like Monopoly and Dungeons & Dragons to modern hits like Guitar Hero, Upton crafts a comprehensive framework that offers valuable analytical tools. Whether you're a seasoned designer looking to enhance your games or a casual player seeking a deeper understanding, this book is an essential resource—bridging narrative and play in innovative ways.
Delivery information: We ensure that your order is delivered securely and promptly. Enjoy a swift delivery process where your book will reach you in optimal condition.
Condition: BRAND NEW
ISBN: 9780262542630
Format: Trade paperback (UK)
Year: 2021
Publisher: RANDOM HOUSE US
Pages: 336
Description:
A game designer considers the experience of play, why games have rules, and the relationship of play and narrative.
A game designer considers the experience of play, why games have rules, and the relationship of play and narrative.
The impulse toward play is very ancient, not only pre-cultural but pre-human; zoologists have identified play behaviors in turtles and in chimpanzees. Games have existed since antiquity; 5,000-year-old board games have been recovered from Egyptian tombs. And yet we still lack a critical language for thinking about play. Game designers are better at answering small questions ("Why is this battle boring?") than big ones ("What does this game mean?"). In this book, the game designer Brian Upton analyzes the experience of play--how playful activities unfold from moment to moment and how the rules we adopt constrain that unfolding. Drawing on games that range from Monopoly to Dungeons & Dragons to Guitar Hero, Upton develops a framework for understanding play, introducing a set of critical tools that can help us analyze games and game designs and identify ways in which they succeed or fail.