In the past decade, digital games have become a widely accepted form of media entertainment, moving from the traditional 'core gamer' community into the mainstream media market.

With millions of people now enjoying gaming as interactive entertainment there has been a huge increase in interest in social multiplayer gaming activities. However, despite the explosive growth in the field over the past decade, many aspects of social gaming still remain unexplored, especially from a media and communication studies perspective.

Multiplayer: Social Aspects of Digital Gaming is the first edited volume of its kind that takes a closer look at the various forms of human interaction in and around digital games, providing an overview of debates, past and present.

The book is divided into five sections that explore the following areas:

• Social Aspects of Digital Gaming
• Social Interactions in Virtual Worlds
• Online Gaming
• Co-located and Console Gaming
• Risks and Challenges of Social Gaming

This engaging interdisciplinary book will appeal to upper level students, postgrads and researchers in games research, specifically those focusing on new media and digital games, as well as researchers in media studies and mass communication.

About the Author
Thorsten Quandt is a Professor of Communication Studies at the University of Munster. He is the founding chair of ECREA's Temporary Working Group 'Digital Games Research'. His research and teaching fields include online communication, media innovation research, digital games and online journalism. Sonja Kroeger (M.A. in Education, Media Studies and German literature) works as a junior lecturer at the Institute of Communication Studies at the University of Hohenheim. Her research and teaching fields include media education, young children & media, and digital games with a focus on advertising.

Reviews

'This volume is clearly intended to bring modern sociological methodologies to bear in a relatively rigorous manner on material at a meta level. Recommendations for further study are included. Summing Up: Recommended.' - CHOICE

'Multiplayer offers a deep and sustained investigation of how we play digital games together. Exploring online as well as co-located play, this thought provoking book gathers together recent theoretical advancements, qualitative and quantitative empirical research, and reviews of the latest literature on how we are social in digital games. If you study multiplayer games or want to investigate how we play games with other people, this book is essential reading.'

Mia Consalvo, Canada Research Chair in Game Studies & Design, Concordia University

'For too long gaming has been considered from the perspective of an isolated, culturally deviant perspective. Multiplayer analyzes gaming in the social universe in which it very often exists. Compiling reports from leading experts in the field, Multiplayer breaks new ground in our understanding gaming as part of our culture and part of the social world of those who play games. Quandt and Kroeger have produced a book that will change the way academics look at gaming and behavior.'

Chris Ferguson, Associate Professor and Department Chair of Psychology, Stetson University

'This volume's innovative scholarship on social dimensions of the video game landscape, presented by a mix of bright new faces and longstanding research stalwarts, adds new energy to a well-trodden research area. With novel findings and fresh conceptualizations, Multiplayer stretches the boundaries of video game research in exciting ways. This is a recommended read for anyone in social science looking to see the newest directions in research on the quickly-evolving video game medium.'

James D. Ivory, Associate Professor, Department of Communication, Virginia Tech

Book Information
ISBN 9780415828864
Author Thorsten Quandt
Format Paperback
Page Count 252
Imprint Routledge
Publisher Taylor & Francis Ltd
Weight(grams) 500g