Overview
Since tabletop fantasy role-playing games emerged in the 1970s, fantasy gaming has made a unique contribution to popular culture and perceptions of social realities in America and around the world. This contribution is increasingly apparent as the gaming industry has diversified with the addition of collectible strategy games and other innovative products, as well as the recent advancements in videogame technology. This book presents the most current research in fantasy games and examines the cultural and constructionist dimensions of fantasy gaming as a leisure activity. Each chapter investigates some social or behavioral aspect of fantasy gaming and provides insight into the cultural, linguistic, sociological, and psychological impact of games on both the individual and society. Section I discusses the intersection of fantasy and real-world scenarios and how the construction of a fantasy world is dialectically related to the construction of a gamer's social reality. Because the basic premise of fantasy gaming is the assumption of virtual identities, Section II looks at the relationship between gaming and various aspects of identity. The third and final section examines what the personal experiences of gamers can tell us about how humans experience reality. Instructors considering this book for use in a course may request an examination copy here.
Full Product Details
Author: J. Patrick Williams ,
Sean Q. Hendricks ,
W. Keith Winkler
Publisher: McFarland & Co Inc
Imprint: McFarland & Co Inc
Dimensions:
Width: 15.20cm
, Height: 1.20cm
, Length: 22.90cm
Weight: 0.318kg
ISBN: 9780786424368
ISBN 10: 0786424362
Pages: 232
Publication Date: 04 April 2006
Recommended Age: From 18 years
Audience:
College/higher education
,
Professional and scholarly
,
Undergraduate
,
Postgraduate, Research & Scholarly
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active
Availability: Available To Order
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Reviews
perfect...studious and detailed <i>Midwest Book Review</i>; impressive...superb...insightful perspectives <i>Journal of Popular Culture</i>; this book presents the most current research in fantasy games <i>New Books in the Communications Library.</i>
perfect...studious and detailed --Midwest Book Review; impressive...superb...insightful perspectives --Journal of Popular Culture; this book presents the most current research in fantasy games --New Books in the Communications Library. perfect...studious and detailed Midwest Book Review; impressive...superb...insightful perspectives Journal of Popular Culture; this book presents the most current research in fantasy games New Books in the Communications Library.
Author Information
J. Patrick Williams is an assistant professor of Sociology at Arkansas State University. Sean Q. Hendricks is a lecturer and research consultant at the University of Georgia. W. Keith Winkler studied Anthropology and English at Emory University and International Business at Georgia State University. He is an adjunct faculty member at Murray State University in Kentucky.
