An amazing book that helps the reader comprehend the major issues in the field, Understanding Video Games helps situate the medium within the broader context of the history of games. As such, the field of video games is represented as an electronic extension of board games, which have a long and storied history.

However, when looking specifically at the relatively new medium of video games, we see that they face the same barriers to recognition as others that came before it, such as movies and television. Helping the reader categorize different types of video games is important as we try to understand the evolution and social context in which these games were created.

This knowledge is important in helping shed light on those who play video games and the reasons why they do so. Often, different types of games tell us a lot about those who play them, and yet as some categories become more specialized, we see that casual games, those created for a general audience are often the most popular. As such, this book helps the reader see future trends in the video game industry.

As a newbie to this industry, this book helps fill in the gaps in my knowledge about video games. It also helps me to understand that, along with AAA titles, there is a place for indie developers. Hopefully, this knowledge will help me as my professional career evolves. 5 stars all the way! ( )