A World of Excesses : Online Games and Excessive Playing.

Cover -- Half Title -- Title Page -- Copyright Page -- Table of Contents -- List of Figures and Tables -- Acknowledgements -- 1 Introduction -- 2 Game Genre, Case and Empirical Material -- 3 Media Narratives and Public Concerns -- 4 Addiction and Randomness -- 5 Game Structure and Loyalty Programmes -- 6 Pathological Gaming and Social Context -- 7 Theorycrafting: Between Collective Intelligence and Intrinsic Satisfaction -- 8 Life Phase and Meaningful Play -- Appendices -- References -- Index.

Addressing the contested question of whether addiction is possible in relation to computer games - specifically online gaming - A World of Excesses demonstrates that excessive playing does not necessarily have detrimental effects, and that there are important contextual elements that influence what consequences playing has for the players. Based on new empirical studies, including in-depth interviews and virtual ethnography, and drawing on material from international game related sites, this book examines the reasons for which gaming can occupy such a central place in people's lives, to the point of excess.

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Electronic reproduction. Ann Arbor, Michigan : ProQuest Ebook Central, 2024. Available via World Wide Web. Access may be limited to ProQuest Ebook Central affiliated libraries.