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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

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...

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...

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...

From Among Us to Minecraft, Catan to Dungeons and Dragons, games and play are fundamentally transforming how we understand storytelling, education, identity, politics, and creativity.Game Studies provides the first ever critical and comprehensive introduction for navigating this complex, interdisciplinary, and rapidly growing research field. Each chapter introduces a timely area of debate in games research, and addresses critical questio...

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...

"An American in the Making: The Life Story of an Immigrant" is an unconventional immigrant memoir written by Marcus Eli Ravage in 1917. Ravage, a Jewish American writer and journalist originally from Romania, provides a unique perspective on Americanization and the immigrant experience during the early 20th century. Here are some key points about this thought-provoking work: Context and Purpose: Ravage's memoir was conceived at a time when immigrant writers were competing with sociological...

Faith formation resource for young adults on human sexuality.Our inherent value and worth comes from God’s love for us, but our modern world is filled with sexual expression that too often leads us away from the life of Christ. As Christians seeking to live a life worthy of our calling and desiring to pass along these values to our children and youth, these books (Leader Guide and Participant Book) offer session plans with activities for Young Adults (ages 18–30) t...

“When you control a man’s thinking you do not have to worry about his actions. You do not have to tell him not to stand here or go yonder. He will find his ‘proper place’ and will stay in it. You do not need to send him to the back door. He will go without being told. In fact, if there is no back door, he will cut one for his special benefit. His education makes it necessary.”Overcoming extreme poverty, racism, and other adversities Carter Godwin Woodson rose through the r...