The World of Scary Video Games

The World of Scary Video Games PDF Author: Bernard Perron
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing USA
ISBN: 1501316214
Category : Games & Activities
Languages : en
Pages : 538

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Book Description
As for film and literature, the horror genre has been very popular in the video game. The World of Scary Video Games provides a comprehensive overview of the videoludic horror, dealing with the games labelled as “survival horror” as well as the mainstream and independent works associated with the genre. It examines the ways in which video games have elicited horror, terror and fear since Haunted House (1981). Bernard Perron combines an historical account with a theoretical approach in order to offer a broad history of the genre, outline its formal singularities and explore its principal issues. It studies the most important games and game series, from Haunted House (1981) to Alone in the Dark (1992- ), Resident Evil (1996-present), Silent Hill (1999-present), Fatal Frame (2001-present), Dead Space (2008-2013), Amnesia: the Dark Descent (2010), and The Evil Within (2014). Accessibly written, The World of Scary Video Games helps the reader to trace the history of an important genre of the video game.

The World of Scary Video Games

The World of Scary Video Games PDF Author: Bernard Perron
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing USA
ISBN: 1501316214
Category : Games & Activities
Languages : en
Pages : 538

Get Book Here

Book Description
As for film and literature, the horror genre has been very popular in the video game. The World of Scary Video Games provides a comprehensive overview of the videoludic horror, dealing with the games labelled as “survival horror” as well as the mainstream and independent works associated with the genre. It examines the ways in which video games have elicited horror, terror and fear since Haunted House (1981). Bernard Perron combines an historical account with a theoretical approach in order to offer a broad history of the genre, outline its formal singularities and explore its principal issues. It studies the most important games and game series, from Haunted House (1981) to Alone in the Dark (1992- ), Resident Evil (1996-present), Silent Hill (1999-present), Fatal Frame (2001-present), Dead Space (2008-2013), Amnesia: the Dark Descent (2010), and The Evil Within (2014). Accessibly written, The World of Scary Video Games helps the reader to trace the history of an important genre of the video game.

Game Design Deep Dive: Horror

Game Design Deep Dive: Horror PDF Author: Joshua Bycer
Publisher: CRC Press
ISBN: 1000451011
Category : Computers
Languages : en
Pages : 145

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Book Description
The Game Design Deep Dive series examines a specific game system or mechanic over the course of the history of the industry. This entry will examine the history and design of the horror genre and elements in video games. The author analyzes early video game examples, including the differences between survival, action-horror, and psychological horror. Thanks to recent hits like Five Night’s at Freddy’s, Bendy and the Ink Machine, and recent Resident Evil titles, the horror genre has seen a strong resurgence. For this book in the Game Design Deep Dive series, Joshua Bycer will go over the evolution of horror in video games and game design, and what it means to create a terrifying and chilling experience. FEATURES • Written for anyone interested in the horror genre, anyone who wants to understand game design, or anyone simply curious from a historical standpoint • Includes real game examples to highlight the discussed topics and mechanics • Explores the philosophy and aspects of horror that can be applied to any medium • Serves as a perfect companion for someone building their first game or as part of a game design classroom Joshua Bycer is a game design critic with more than eight years of experience critically analyzing game design and the industry itself. In that time, through Game-Wisdom, he has interviewed hundreds of game developers and members of the industry about what it means to design video games. He also strives to raise awareness about the importance of studying game design by giving lectures and presentations. His first book was 20 Essential Games to Study. He continues to work on the Game Design Deep Dive series.

Horror Video Games

Horror Video Games PDF Author: Bernard Perron
Publisher: McFarland
ISBN: 0786454792
Category : Games & Activities
Languages : en
Pages : 311

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Book Description
In this in-depth critical and theoretical analysis of the horror genre in video games, 14 essays explore the cultural underpinnings of horror's allure for gamers and the evolution of "survival" themes. The techniques and story effects of specific games such as Resident Evil, Call of Cthulhu, and Silent Hill are examined individually.

The Philosophy of Horror

The Philosophy of Horror PDF Author: Noel Carroll
Publisher: Routledge
ISBN: 113596503X
Category : Literary Criticism
Languages : en
Pages : 502

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Book Description
Noel Carroll, film scholar and philosopher, offers the first serious look at the aesthetics of horror. In this book he discusses the nature and narrative structures of the genre, dealing with horror as a "transmedia" phenomenon. A fan and serious student of the horror genre, Carroll brings to bear his comprehensive knowledge of obscure and forgotten works, as well as of the horror masterpieces. Working from a philosophical perspective, he tries to account for how people can find pleasure in having their wits scared out of them. What, after all, are those "paradoxes of the heart" that make us want to be horrified?

Why Are Horror Games Appealing?

Why Are Horror Games Appealing? PDF Author: Gregor Kirchhofer
Publisher: Anchor Academic Publishing
ISBN: 3960671091
Category : Social Science
Languages : en
Pages : 37

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Book Description
This book tries to explore why so many people actively seek out and enjoy horror as a form of entertainment. Why some find pleasure in horror is a question that many have asked before, but never fully answered. This book does not claim to deliver a general answer to that question, but rather offers an overview of the most popular theories and hypothesis, as well as a study focusing on the player affect. The explanations and solutions offered include mostly psychological, emotional or general approaches. Every approach presented has its benefits and flaws and will be discussed accordingly. How these come into play individually, as well as in connection to each other, will constitute a major part of this study. After having provided the general theoretical basis of horror and why it might be so appealing to some people, this study goes on discussing the medium game, and in a further step, tries to explore if the unique characteristics of the medium game change the overall horror experience one might have. Different aspects and properties of the medium in question are discussed in detail – how immersion affects us as consumers, what the role of interactivity is and how they both relate to one another in-game, how this understanding comes into play in a game design context and how it can create a whole different experience for the player, and lastly, how certain game design elements can be utilized to further improve the emotional response.

20 Essential Games to Study

20 Essential Games to Study PDF Author: Joshua Bycer
Publisher: CRC Press
ISBN: 0429802072
Category : Computers
Languages : en
Pages : 156

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Book Description
The purpose of this book is to look over the past 35 years of games to discuss titles whose design deserves to be studied by anyone with an interest in game design. While there are plenty of books that focus on the technical side of Game Development, there are few that study the nature of game design itself. Featuring a mix of console and PC offerings, I purposely left off some of the easy choices (Mario, Starcraft, Call of Duty, Overwatch) to focus on games that stood out thanks to their designs. Key Features An informative breakdown focusing on the design and gameplay of successful games Written to be useful for students or designers starting out in game development Books focused specifically on design are rare Perfect for students and professionals alike, or can be read for the nostalgia and history

Game Design Deep Dive

Game Design Deep Dive PDF Author: Joshua Bycer
Publisher: CRC Press
ISBN: 1000361985
Category : Computers
Languages : en
Pages : 121

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Book Description
Game Design Deep Dive: Roguelikes examines the history and rise of the often-confusing roguelike genre. Despite being more than 30 years old, the roguelike genre remains a mystery to a lot of consumers and developers. Procedural generation, or having the game generate content, has been a cornerstone and point of complexity since its inception. The 2010s saw an explosion of new designs and examples, along with a debate about what a roguelike is. The genre found its way back to mainstream audiences with the award-winning Demon’s Souls and Dark Souls. Since then, roguelikes have revolutionized the way we see and design games. Author and game design critic Joshua Bycer explains the differences between the various roguelike designs and give a detailed blueprint showing what makes the best ones work. The first of its kind talking about the roguelike genre Examines the design and methodology of roguelike games and the different variations A high-level discussion and breakdown of procedural and random content generation Joshua Bycer is a game design critic with more than seven years of experience critically analyzing game design and the industry itself. In that time, through Game-Wisdom, he has interviewed hundreds of game developers and members of the industry about what it means to design video games. He is also a public speaker and presenter at schools and libraries on game design and game development.

Conspiracy of Shadows

Conspiracy of Shadows PDF Author: Keith Senkowski
Publisher:
ISBN: 9781411605053
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 126

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Book Description
In this roleplaying game, the characters are people, not elves, dwarves or orcs. They are like you and I only they live in a medieval world where dark supernatural forces conspire against humanity. Driven by a secret knowledge of a hidden evil, they risk their lives searching for the truth about the conspiracy and a means to thwart it. This is a complete role-playing game that allows you to create an entertaining story with your own antagonists and protaganists. Event resolution is quick and easy, based upon a single die mechanic.

Immersion, Narrative, and Gender Crisis in Survival Horror Video Games

Immersion, Narrative, and Gender Crisis in Survival Horror Video Games PDF Author: Andrei Nae
Publisher: Routledge
ISBN: 1000440656
Category : Games & Activities
Languages : en
Pages : 256

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Book Description
This book investigates the narrativity of some of the most popular survival horror video games and the gender politics implicit in their storyworlds. In a thorough analysis of the genre that draws upon detailed comparisons with the mainstream action genre, Andrei Nae places his analysis firmly within a political and social context. In comparing survival horror games to the dominant game design norms of the action genre, the author differentiates between classical and postclassical survival horror games to show how the former reject the norms of the action genre and deliver a critique of the conservative gender politics of action games, while the latter are more heterogeneous in terms of their game design and, implicitly, gender politics. This book will appeal not only to scholars working in game studies, but also to scholars of horror, gender studies, popular culture, visual arts, genre studies and narratology.

The Silver Bayonet

The Silver Bayonet PDF Author: Joseph A. McCullough
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
ISBN: 1472844866
Category : Games & Activities
Languages : en
Pages : 161

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Book Description
As the wars of Napoleon ravage Europe, chaos and fear reign and the darkness that once clung to the shadows has been emboldened. Supernatural creatures – vampires, werewolves, ghouls, and worse take advantage of the havoc, striking out at isolated farms, villages, and even military units. Whether they are pursuing some master plan or simply revelling in their newfound freedom is unknown. Most people dismiss reports of these slaughters as the rantings of madmen or the lies of deserters, but a few know better... The Silver Bayonet is a skirmish wargame of gothic horror set during the Napoleonic Wars. Each player forms an elite band of monster hunters drawn from the ranks of one of the great powers. Riflemen, swordsmen, and engineers fight side-by-side with mystics, occultists, and even those few supernatural creatures that can be controlled or reasoned with enough to make common cause. The game can be played solo, co-operatively, or competitively, with players progressing through a series of interlinked adventures with their soldiers gaining experience and suffering grievous wounds, and their units triumphing... or falling in the face of the shadows. It is a game of action and adventure, where musket and sabre meet tooth and claw.