by Tom Bissell
I recently had a chance to fit in some reading between work and classes and wanted to give my impressions from the book. First, I found the title to be a bit misleading. While many aspects of video games and the experiences they give to gamers are discussed, the book never really dives in to societal relevance of these game experiences.
I did find the book fascinating in it's coverage of storytelling within games and the different impacts that the different forms of narrative give to the player. This is not a book for the average person, it's a book for game lovers.
The coverage of games range from older games, such as a gripping take on the first Resident Evil, to newer powerhouses like Mass Effect, to indie games like Braid. Each take is interesting and gives insight in to the game and how they reach people.
This is not a textbook approach to how video games have a affected society or whether video games have enhanced or ruined our lives. Rather it is a deeply personal and reflective trip through one man's video game life and how they have personally affected him. If you consider yourself a gamer or know someone who is and want to understand them more then you may find interest in this book, otherwise you may want to pass.
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