Player Vs. Monster (Hardcover Book)

Player Vs. Monster (Hardcover Book)

USD $26.95

A study of the gruesome game characters we love to beat—and what they tell us about ourselves.

Since the early days of video games, monsters have played pivotal roles as dangers to be avoided, level bosses to be defeated, or targets to be destroyed for extra points. But why is the figure of the monster so important in gaming, and how have video games come to shape our culture’s conceptions of monstrosity? To answer these questions, Player vs. Monster explores the past half-century of monsters in games, from the dragons of early tabletop role-playing games and the pixelated aliens of Space Invaders to the malformed mutants of The Last of Us and the bizarre beasts of Bloodborne, and reveals the common threads among them.

Covering examples from aliens to zombies, Jaroslav Švelch explores the art of monster design and traces its influences from mythology, visual arts, popular culture, and tabletop role-playing games. At the same time, he shows that video games follow the Cold War–era notion of clearly defined, calculable enemies, portraying monsters as figures that are irredeemably evil yet invariably vulnerable to defeat. He explains the appeal of such simplistic video game monsters, but also explores how the medium could evolve to present more nuanced depictions of monstrosity.

Player Vs. Monster (Hardcover Book)

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FAQs on Player Vs. Monster (Hardcover Book)

How much does "Player Vs. Monster (Hardcover Book)" cost at ComicHub Demo?

The price of "Player Vs. Monster (Hardcover Book)" at ComicHub Demo is USD $26.95.

Who is the publisher of "Player Vs. Monster (Hardcover Book)"?

The publisher of "Player Vs. Monster (Hardcover Book)" is MIT Press.

What are the genres of "Player Vs. Monster (Hardcover Book)"?

The genres of "Player Vs. Monster (Hardcover Book)" are Pop Culture, Social Science - Media Studies, and Video & Animation.

What category does "Player Vs. Monster (Hardcover Book)" fall under?

"Player Vs. Monster (Hardcover Book)" falls under the category of Books (Hardcover).

Who is the writer of "Player Vs. Monster (Hardcover Book)"?

The writer of "Player Vs. Monster (Hardcover Book)" is Jaroslav Svelch.