The Philosophy of Computer Games

ISBN-13: 9789400742482 / Angielski / Twarda / 2012 / 284 str.

Hallvard Fossheim; John Richard Sageng

Opis

Computer games have become a major cultural and economic force, and a subject of extensive academic interest. Up until now, however, computer games have received relatively little attention from philosophy. Seeking to remedy this, the present collection of newly written papers by philosophers and media researchers addresses a range of philosophical questions related to three issues of crucial importance for understanding the phenomenon of computer games: the nature of gameplay and player experience, the moral evaluability of player and avatar actions, and the reality status of the gaming environment. By doing so, the book aims to establish the philosophy of computer games as an important strand of computer games research, and as a separate field of philosophical inquiry. The book is required reading for anyone with an academic or professional interest in computer games, and will also be of value to readers curious about the philosophical issues raised by contemporary digital culture.

Recenzje

From the reviews:

"This anthology of 16 essays discusses games from a philosophical perspective. ... Game designers and those interested in philosophy ... will find the book illuminating and a springboard for new ways to think about games and interactive media. Summing Up: Recommended. Upper-division undergraduates, graduate students, researchers/faculty, and professionals/practitioners in game design." (A. Chen, Choice, Vol. 50 (6), February, 2013)

"This book is really about the philosophy of computer games. ... Previously, foundational books in computer games ... were more sociological in their orientation. This book begins to add an important pillar to that foundation. ... It asks and attempts to answer some very serious questions. ... I would recommend it first to philosophers in related fields such as the philosophy of fiction or media studies. I would also recommend it to designers of video games and virtual worlds ... ." (J. M. Artz, ACM Computing Reviews, October, 2012)

Spis treści

The Philosophy of Computer Games

John Richard Sageng, Hallvard Fossheim and Tarjei Mandt Larsen

Table of Contents

Preface

1. John Richard Sageng, Hallvard Fossheim and Tarjei Mandt Larsen

                                                  “General introduction”

Part I: PLAYERS AND PLAY

2. Tarjei Mandt Larsen          “Introduction to Part I”

3. Rune Klevjer                       “Enter the Avatar”

4. Petri Lankoski                    “Computer Games and Emotions”

5. Olli Tapio Leino                 “Untangling Gameplay: An Account of Experience, Activity and Materiality within Computer Game Play”

6. Gordon Calleja                  “Erasing the Magic Circle”

Part II: PLAY AND ETHICS

7. Hallvard Fossheim            “Introduction to Part II”

8. Miguel Sicart                      “Digital Games as Ethical Technologies”

9. Edward H. Spence            “Virtual Rape, Real Dignity”

10. Ren Reynolds                  “Ethics and Practice in Virtual Worlds”

11. Adam Briggle                   “The Ethics of Computer Games: a Character Approach”

Part III: GAMES AND GAMEWORLDS

12. John Richard Sageng    “Introduction to part III”

13. Grant Tavinor                   “Videogames and Fictionalism”

14. Aaron Meskin and Jon Robson 

                                                  “Fiction and fictional worlds in  videogames”

15. John Richard Sageng    “In-Game Action”

16. Olav Asheim                    “Reality, Pretence and the Ludic Parenthesis”

17. Patrick Coppock              “Are Computer Games Real?”

Index

                                                 

Blurb

 

Computer games have become a major cultural and economic force, and the last decade has seen the emergence of extensive academic study of such games. Up until now there has been little attention from philosophy to investigate the philosophical problems that arise from the phenomenon of computer games. This book fill this lacuna by bringing philosophers and media researchers together in discussions of the basic concepts needed to understand computer games. The essays address central issues such as the reality status of the game environment, gameplay, and the moral evaluation of player or avatar actions. The anthology is required reading for anyone with an academic or professional interest in computer games, and will also be valuable to any reader curious about the philosophical issues that are raised by modern-day digital culture.