Introduction to Game Analysis

by Clara Fernandez-Vara

This accessible textbook gives students the tools they need to analyze games using strategies borrowed from textual analysis. As the field of game studies grows, videogame writing is evolving from the mere evaluation of gameplay, graphics, sound, and replayablity, to more reflective writing that manages to convey the complexity of a game and the way it is played in a cultural context. Clara Fernández-Vara’s concise primer provides readers with instruction on the basic building blocks of game analysis―examination of context, content and reception, and formal qualities―as well as the vocabulary necessary for talking about videogames' distinguishing characteristics. Examples are drawn from a range of games, both digital and non-digital―from Portal and World of Warcraft to Monopoly ―and the book provides a variety of exercises and sample analyses, as well as a comprehensive ludography and glossary. In this second edition of the popular textbook, Fernández-Vara brings the book firmly up-to-date, pulling in fresh examples from ground-breaking new works in this dynamic field. Introduction to Game Analysis remains a unique practical tool for students who want to become more fluent writers and critics not only of videogames, but also of digital media overall.

318 pages, Paperback

Published January 29, 2019

Reviews

[Aengus Schulte · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely essential for anybody interested in academic games discourse. Fernandez-Vara does such a good job of carefully dividing a game analysis into easily conceivable constituents, supporting each with a range of examples to further cement them in your imagination. The icing on the cake is the wealth of other academic sources she includes relating to each concept, making this book the perfect diving board from which to leap into the ocean of ludology.

[Braden · Rating 4 out of 5]

A comprehensive text that introduces fledgling academics to models of writing game analysis in essay form. Would make a great text for like a 200-level humanities course, where students that have the basics of composing an essay argument are opened up to discussing weirder texts than curated short stories. As a Senior in undergrad, and someone already very familiar with a multitude of games writing styles, this wasn't much more than a trek through familiar territory. Sometimes it is good to re-encounter the basics, however. This book emphasizes methods and reasons why clarity in writing is still your #1, which I can at times forget up in here in the peaks of undergrad bad-assery.

One negative thing to note is that this book is ridden with typos. Kind of shocking for a second edition, and definitely the densest amount of errors I've ever encountered in a book.

[Bill]

I reviewed this book for ALA Choice magazine, and my review appears there (Volume 56, Issue 12).

[Angel Mouser · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was very informative and had many references of games so even after writing the analysis paper I need to write for class I'll be able to have some new game recommendations haha