Understanding Video Games is a crucial guide for newcomers to video game studies & experienced game scholars alike This revised & updated third edition of the pioneering text provides a comprehensive introduction to the field of game studies & highlights changes in the gaming industry advances in video game scholarship & recent trends in game design & development-including mobile casual educational & indie gaming In the third edition of this textbook students will Learn the major theories & schools of thought used to study games including ludology & narratology; Understand the commercial & organizational aspects of the game industry; Trace the history of games from the board games of ancient Egypt to the rise of mobile gaming; Explore the aesthetics of game design including rules graphics audio & time; Analyze the narrative strategies & genre approaches used in video games; Consider the debate surrounding the effects of violent video games & the impact of serious games Featuring discussion questions recommended games a glossary of key terms & an interactive online video game history timeline Understanding Video Games provides a valuable resource for anyone interested in examining the ways video games are reshaping entertainment & society