Lodi is a compelling collection of short stories that transcends time and explores the depths of human experience. Seamlessly blending the past, present, and future, Marcus Carter masterfully intertwines themes of mystery, technology, and morality, inviting readers to contemplate the intricacies of existence and innovation. In the title story, Lodi, an emancipated slave makes a startling discovery—an advanced form of technology capable of rewriting history. This life-altering find sets off...

In today’s globalized world, every purchase we make has far-reaching consequences. The Conscious Consumer - Ethical Choices in a Globalized World is an insightful guide to understanding the impact of our consumption habits and making informed, ethical decisions that benefit not only ourselves but also the planet and its people.This book explores how globalization has connected economies, industries, and supply chains, offering consumers unprecedented access to products from around ...

On the fiftieth anniversary of Dungeons & Dragons, a collection of essays that explores and celebrates the game’s legacy and its tremendous impact on gaming and popular culture.In 2024, the enormously influential tabletop role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons—also known as D&D—celebrates its fiftieth anniversary. To mark the occasion, editors Premeet Sidhu, Marcus Carter, and José Zagal have assembled an edited collection that celebrates a...

The fantasies that underpin common perceptions of Virtual Reality—and what we need to know about VR’s potential risks as well as its opportunities.Virtual reality is the next new frontier for Silicon Valley. Mark Zuckerberg, who has overseen Meta’s investment of billions into VR, pitches it as the next dominant computing paradigm. More than just a gaming technology, VR is top of mind for academics, tech reportage, and industry evangelists who all see the potential ...

In this ground-breaking book, we navigate the uncharted terrain of social virtual reality (VR), a technology that, while offering unprecedented immersive experiences, brings forth significant governance challenges. By merging theoretical insights with practical examples, the book examines the risks of harm in social VR environments, including both content and conduct issues. It charts a course for developing inclusive and safe social VR spaces that are respectful of diverse users’ rights a...

Examining the ethics and experience of “treacherous play” through 3 games that allow deception and betrayal—EVE Online, DayZ, and the TV series Survivor.Deception and betrayal in gameplay are generally considered off-limits, designed out of most multiplayer games. There are a few games, however, in which deception and betrayal are allowed, and even encouraged. In Treacherous Play, Marcus Carter explores the ethics and experience ...

EVE Online is a socially complex, science-fiction-themed universe simulation and massively multiplayer online game (MMOG) first released in 2003. Notorious for its colossal battles and ruthless player culture, it has hundreds of thousands of players today. In this fascinating book, scholars, players, and EVE’s developer (CCP Games) examine the intricate world of *EVE**Online--*providing authentic accounts of lived experience within a game with more than a decade of histor...

Pokémon Go is one of those rare worldwide cultural phenomena that comes around once in a generation. Almost overnight, it seemed that half the world was playing the game, while the other half was scoffing at it.Depending on who you ask, the game is either a great way to get people outside, active and social, a complete waste of time or a plot inspired by the devil.In Catch ‘Em All, editor Keith McArthur brings together the very best stories about Pokémon Go from journalists...

Endless terror. Refugee waves. An unfixable global economy. Surprising election results. New billion-dollar fortunes. Miracle medical advances. What if they were all connected? What if you could understand why?The Seventh Sense is the story of what all of today's successful figures see and feel: the forces that are invisible to most of us but explain everything from explosive technological change to uneasy political ripples. The secret to power now is understanding our new...

In this fact-filled installment in Jimmy Russell's Games Console History series, we learn 101 amazing facts about Nintendo's seminal NES, the most significant console in Nintendo history. The facts cover many areas, including the history, the hardware, game titles both rare and popular and some incredible information you probably never knew! Everyone from retro gamers who were there at the time to n00bz who think a PlayStation is Old School will find this excellent eBook jam packed full of...

"Anna Anthropy is a key personality in the ongoing paradigm shift that is slowly changing the way videogames are understood, by creators and players, and by the wider culture."—Patrick Alexander, Eegra.com"Equal parts autobiography, ethnography, and how-to manual, this book concisely makes the case for the unique power of 'zinester' games."—Adam Parrish, NYU's Interactive Telecommunication Program (Tisch School of the Arts), and author of the ZZT game "Winter"...

"A history of video games, presented through sharp profiles of their creators." —The New York Times Book ReviewWhat started as a game of Pong, with little blips dancing across a computer screen, has evolved into a multi-billion-dollar industry that is changing the future, making inroads into virtually all aspects of our culture.Who are the minds behind this revolution? How did it happen? Where is it headed?In Smartbomb, journalist...