Understanding Video Games (The Essential Introduction) - Jonas Heide Smith, Susana Pajares Tosca, Simon Egenfeldt-Nielsen

The fifth edition of this pioneering textbook takes video game studies into the next decade, highlighting changes in mobile, social, and casual gaming. Drawing from examples, the text explores the aesthetics of games, evaluates the cultural position of video games, and considers the potential effects of both violent and "serious" games.