Anybody read Handbook of Game Studies?

[DanMarshall]

It was featured in this month's Edge... just wondering if anyone had read a copy before I shell out 30 bob on it... Sounded quite interesting...

Handbook of Computer Game Studies
J. Raessens (Editor), Jeffrey H. Goldstein (Editor)

[soniCron]

For what it's worth, and I don't know if you saw it, but there's a review on the US site:

Review by: W Boudville (Top 50 Reviewer) 4/5 Stars
For readers who grew up with Pong, Space Invaders and Atari, this book might come as a shock. Those "kids games" and the people [who are not necessarily kids] are now the subject of scholarly discourses?! Wow. Who would have dared to guess back in 1980?

Hence, it possible to read this book at several levels. One is the way its authors intend. A sober, poker faced analysis of computer gaming. But other readers might try [and fail] to stifle numerous giggles. The book is SO serious!

Although on second consideration, the authors deserve commendation from active players. They are taking computer gaming down the same academic route to respectability that science fiction, in written and movie form, took decades ago.

Still, can you imagine a "Chair of Computer Gaming"??

I love how our profession is being taken so seriously by the public.

[DanMarshall]

I love how our profession is being taken so seriously by the public.

Brilliant, isn't it? It's getting to the point where I can say (albeit sheepishly) "I write computer games" out loud at parties without fear of odd looks and mocking.

d

[Adrian Cummings]

Heh I still get people saying...

Q/ "Cool so you write games?... you must be loaded then!"...

A/ "Er NO sorry to dissapoint but it goes something like this..."

Heh

[digriz]

Brilliant, isn't it? It's getting to the point where I can say (albeit sheepishly) "I write computer games" out loud at parties without fear of odd looks and mocking.

I used to tell people i was a refuse collector. I got bored with people asking me how to get past level 2 of TombRaider, even though i've never had anything to do with it.

Also, a sad fact is i've never met a woman who was interested in what i do either. Even my wife is indifferent to it, She just doesn't seem to be able to muster up any interest in my latest and greatest pixel shader.

Cuh! Women eh! (sorry papillon)

[DanMarshall]

MY girlfriend at least expresses an interest in what I'm up to. She's an artist, so her advice on what colours etc I've used is invaluable.

She's also my lay-person playtester. My AI doesn't stand a chance again me (its CREATOOOOR!), but kicks her ass. I'm hoping that means it's a challenge for 'normal' gamers...!

In fact, I'm quite lucky. She'll happily sit with me over a pint and discuss what direction the game's going... damn I'm lucky...!

d

[JoKa]

In fact, I'm quite lucky. She'll happily sit with me over a pint and discuss what direction the game's going... damn I'm lucky...!
d

Same for me and my girl. She's even more excited than me if a fan mail arrives and she thinks it's great I make some people happy

[SquareDanceSteve]

My girl bugs me all the time to get a job... and she always cracks on me about how i am not gainfully employeed...

I think she has no right, she has never developed anything or contributed to anything... and she thinks shes doing well because she makes $15 an hour.

Granted $15 an hour would be nice to have, and im sure i could find a job for more then that if i was interested in working a full time job. But I cant do both. I working in a cubical would kill me.

Joka you are very lucky

[Sharpfish]

MY girlfriend at least expresses an interest in what I'm up to. She's an artist, so her advice on what colours etc I've used is invaluable.

She's also my lay-person playtester. My AI doesn't stand a chance again me (its CREATOOOOR!), but kicks her ass. I'm hoping that means it's a challenge for 'normal' gamers...!

In fact, I'm quite lucky. She'll happily sit with me over a pint and discuss what direction the game's going... damn I'm lucky...!

d

Same here. My little lady often has to sit in on game design board meetings to hear all I have to say *AT HER* while I get my ideas out in verbal fashion. Without her help it would be a meeting of one, and that can be the road to madness. She is also an artist (though more traditional than Computer stuff) but can help out with concept stuff, colours, feel - and she DOES play lots of casual and handeld games so is good and telling me straight when something sucks.

God bless the fairer sex, for they have to put up with a lot from us "creatives"

[DanMarshall]

My little lady often has to sit in on game design board meetings to hear all I have to say *AT HER* while I get my ideas out in verbal fashion. Without her help it would be a meeting of one, and that can be the road to madness. She is also an artist (though more traditional than Computer stuff) but can help out with concept stuff, colours, feel

Me too! MINE TOO! And we're both UK-based.

It's.... it's not the same girl, is it?!

[Nexic]

My girlfriend never took an interest in my games until I started making my current one, which features a hamster (thats the sole reason shes interested).

[JokerZ]

My girlfriend never took an interest in my games until I started making my current one, which features a hamster (thats the sole reason shes interested).

You are going to do a shooter featuring hamsters? hehe

Oh the Hamanity!

[NothingLikeit]

Heh I still get people saying...

Q/ "Cool so you write games?... you must be loaded then!"...

A/ "Er NO sorry to dissapoint but it goes something like this..."

Heh

I ran into a quy on the train. He noticed that i was reading Game Developer. He says don't tell me you compose videogames.

I reply. I do. and then we went off into a conversation about the programming languages we use.

It was worth noting this guy was probably in his 80s. composing videogames.... it kinda has an artistic ring to it.

[Anthony Flack]

Not only does my wife take no interest in my game developing, she also has no respect for it, and won't really tolerate it. If she catches me on the computer, in her mind I'm being lazy - and if I keep it up for more than half an hour, she's likely to get annoyed. This is despite the fact that I already work a full-time job AND an evening job. It's usually best to wait until everyone's asleep, so I can get a couple of hours' uninterrupted peace. But by that time I'm usually too exhausted to do anything much.

I've never enjoyed telling people I make games, either. Just because you always end up having a really boring conversation about it. These days, I just tell them I'm a high school teacher (which I am). People understand that.

[Escapee]

why wouldnt you let her read some inspiring articles about being indies , i think Steve pav and the escapist article would do ?

[GBGames]

My girlfriend isn't that interested in the details of what I do, but she can still be counted on to listen to my stories, such as "So I figured that I can make this new class encapsulate the engine, and it makes the code so much cleaner and easier to manage!" I know she doesn't understand, and she makes sure to point that out to me, but she never gets upset or annoyed.

She even sat with me for a huge chunk of June's Game in a Day. Granted, she was reading a book or two, but she didn't have to sit in the basement with me for hours on end.

She's great. B-)

[DanMarshall]

So I figured that I can make this new class encapsulate the engine, and it makes the code so much cleaner and easier to manage!

Hell, even I don't understand what that means...!

This has gone a little off-topic, hasn't it? Oh well, I'll assume the answer is "no", then...!

d

[NothingLikeit]

As soon as I mention that I'm a game designer people just kinda light up. They always wanna know how I can get stuff to move on screen and even just get things to show up. Its kinda funny because I barely know how to do this myself. . But trying to explain it is always fun cuz i try not to sound like a complete nerd but since i told them i make games its probably too late...

[Anthony Flack]

One of my students, who said that "games are my life" and was very excited about the idea of making his own, now has a reasonable grasp of what that means. "It was nothing like I imagined".

[soniCron]

Nothing quite like squashing the dreams of the young.