Videogames and Agency

Videogames and Agency explores the trend in videogames and their marketing to offer players more freedom. It offers a new conceptual framework that helps us understand how this freedom to act is discussed by designers and how it reflects in their design principles. The book examines what discourses around player action and game design can reveal about the nature of agency and videogame aesthetics.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 216 pages
Publication date: 30 December 2022
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

Videogames and Agency delves into the captivating trend of videogames and their strategic marketing approaches aimed at granting players an unprecedented level of freedom and choice. This insightful book presents a novel conceptual framework that facilitates our understanding of how designers conceptualize and communicate this freedom of action, ultimately shaping the fundamental principles of their designs. By exploring existing theories surrounding agency, the book sheds light on how paratextual materials, such as game manuals and tutorials, reflect the intended limitations and possibilities for player actions within a videogame. Furthermore, it investigates how game design shapes the very landscape of player actions, creating a framework for understanding the interplay between agency, videogame aesthetics, and the broader realm of media studies.

This comprehensive book appeals to a diverse audience, including game studies scholars, game designers, media studies students, and scholars of media and screen studies who may have a less familiar background in digital games. It offers a unique perspective by seamlessly blending game design, game studies, and game developer discourse, providing a rich tapestry of insights into the complex world of videogames and their artistic potential. Through a series of thought-provoking questions and carefully selected case studies encompassing both AAA and independent games, Videogames and Agency offers a comprehensive examination of player action, agency, and the aesthetics of videogames.

By delving into these critical aspects, the book provides valuable insights into the nature of agency in the digital realm, challenging traditional understandings and opening up new avenues for exploration. Whether you are a passionate gamer, a scholar seeking to expand your knowledge of the field, or simply someone interested in the intersection of technology, culture, and artistic expression, Videogames and Agency is a must-read for anyone seeking to deepen their understanding of the dynamic world of videogames.

Weight: 417g
Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032288475