Microsoft has used games to painlessly and cost-effectively quadruple voluntary employee participation in important tasks. Medical schools have used game-like simulators to train surgeons, reducing their error rate in practice by a factor of six. A recruiting game developed by the U.S. Army, for just 0.25% of the Army’s total advertising budget, has had more impact on new recruits than all other forms of Army advertising combined. And Google is using video games to turn its visitors into a giant, voluntary labor force—encouraging them to manually label the millions of images found on the Web that Google’s computers cannot identify on their own.Changing the Game reveals how leading-edge organizations are using video games to reach new customers more cost-effectively; to build brands; to recruit, develop, and retain great employees; to drive more effective experimentation and innovation; to supercharge productivity…in short, to make it fun to do business. This book is packed with case studies, best practices, and pitfalls to avoid. It is essential reading for any forward-thinking executive, marketer, strategist, and entrepreneur, as well as anyone interested in video games in general. In-game advertising, advergames, adverworlds, and beyondChoose your best marketing opportunities—and avoid the pitfalls Use gaming to recruit and develop better employeesLearn practical lessons from America’s Army and other innovative case studies Channel the passion of your user communitiesHelp your customers improve your products and services—and have fun doing it What gamers do better than computers, scientists, or governmentsUse games to solve problems that can’t be solved any other way

    The Complete Vision Board Kit is a boxed kit containing all the pieces and information the reader would need to create a vision board—a roadmap to success on their own terms.A vision board is a powerful tool that anyone can use to shape an ideal future through the power of intention and visualization. Learning how to vividly imagine your desired results--attracting your perfect soul mate, radiant health, abundant career opportunities, or building personal and community relationships to give back--is the first step on the path to making them happen. Break through unconscious, limiting beliefs and get ready to transform your future now. If you can envision it, you're halfway there! This book will explain and walk you through exactly how to create a vision board in conjunction with how to retrain your brain to actually start believing that you can achieve all your goals and dreams. Then, the universe will work its magic! This is a great personal gift and one your friends and family will love.

    My Life as a Night Elf Priest digs deep beneath the surface of that icon to explore the rich particulars of the World of Warcraft player's experience."—Julian Dibbell, Wired"World of Warcraft is the best representative of a significant new technology, art form, and sector of society: the theme-oriented virtual world. Bonnie Nardi's pioneering transnational ethnography explores this game both sensitively and systematically using the methods of cultural anthropology and aesthetics with intensive personal experience as a guild member, media teacher, and magical quest Elf."—William Sims Bainbridge, author of The Warcraft Civilization and editor of Online Worlds “Nardi skillfully covers all of the hot button issues that come to mind when people think of video games like World of Warcraft such as game addiction, sexism, and violence. What gives this book its value are its unexpected gems of rare and beautifully detailed research on less sensationalized topics of interest such as the World of Warcraft player community in China, game modding, the increasingly blurred line between play and work, and the rich and fascinating lives of players and player cultures.  Nardi brings World of Warcraft down to earth for non-players and ties it to social and cultural theory for scholars.  . . . the best ethnography of a single virtual world produced so far.”—Lisa Nakamura, University of IllinoisWorld of Warcraft rapidly became one of the most popular online world games on the planet, amassing 11.5 million subscribers—officially making it an online community of gamers that had more inhabitants than the state of Ohio and was almost twice as populous as Scotland. It's a massively multiplayer online game, or MMO in gamer jargon, where each person controls a single character inside a virtual world, interacting with other people's characters and computer-controlled monsters, quest-givers, and merchants.In My Life as a Night Elf Priest, Bonnie Nardi, a well-known ethnographer who has published extensively on how theories of what we do intersect with how we adopt and use technology, compiles more than three years of participatory research in Warcraft play and culture in the United States and China into this field study of player behavior and activity. She introduces us to her research strategy and the history, structure, and culture of Warcraft; argues for applying activity theory and theories of aesthetic experience to the study of gaming and play; and educates us on issues of gender, culture, and addiction as part of the play experience. Nardi paints a compelling portrait of what drives online gamers both in this country and in China, where she spent a month studying players in Internet cafes.Bonnie Nardi has given us a fresh look not only at World of Warcraft but at the field of game studies as a whole. One of the first in-depth studies of a game that has become an icon of digital culture, My Life as a Night Elf Priest will capture the interest of both the gamer and the ethnographer.Bonnie A. Nardi is an anthropologist by training and a professor in the Department of Informatics in the Donald Bren School of Information and Computer Sciences at the University of California, Irvine. Her research focus is the social implications of digital technologies. She is the author of A Small Matter of Programming: Perspectives on End User Computing and the coauthor of Information Ecologies: Using Technology with Heart and Acting with Technology: Activity Theory and Interaction Design.Cover art by Jessica Damsky

    Written by leading video game expert Scott Rogers, who has designed the hits Pac Man World, Maxim vs. Army of Zin, and SpongeBob Squarepants, this book is full of Rogers's wit and imaginative style that demonstrates everything you need to know about designing great video games.Features an approachable writing style that considers game designers from all levels of expertise and experience Covers the entire video game creation process, including developing marketable ideas, understanding what gamers want, working with player actions, and more Offers techniques for creating non-human characters and using the camera as a character Shares helpful insight on the business of design and how to create design documents So, put your game face on and start creating memorable, creative, and unique video games with this book!

    Six deadly FOXHOUND renegades control a nuclear disposal facility on Shadow Moses Island in the icy Aleutians. If their demands are not met, a powerful, top-secret weapon will be unleashed upon the world. The solo mission is to breach the heavily fortified base, rescue hostages, and destroy the superweapon. His only obstacles are brainwashed commandos, DNA-enhanced troops, and six extraordinarily able assassins. But nothing is as it seems - secrets, a hidden agenda, and revelation to Snake of secrets from his dark past that would shake any man to his core.

    Thus begins the tale of a legend, of a boy who would become one of the Four Champions of Rubrum, of the man who would become feared as the Ice Reaper...

    Includes subtle hints for area-specific objectives, detailed strategies and tips, and illustrated maps packed with callouts! Gummi Ship Foldout: Two-sided foldout contains expert tactics to decisively win each Gummi Ship battle, plus cool artwork of the heroes in their alternate costumes! Expert Boss Tactics: Game-tested strategies and tips to deveat the game's evil minions. These proven techniques and tips will ensure a quick and painful demise for every boss! Bestiary: A comprehensive analysis of each enemy in the game, including their strengths, weaknesses, and attacks. Gummi Garage: Construct a top-notch Gummi Ship with an all-inclusive list of blueprints and various blocks. Every Mini-Game Revealed: Master each mini-game with uncanny efficiency. Try to beat the times set by the BradyGames editors! Plus much more: A comprehensive list of items, magic spells and summons -- it's all here!Platform: PlayStation 2Genre:Role-Playing Game

    Featuring hundreds of interviews with game creators and thousands of never-before-seen photos from the early days, this book honors the games that have captivated youngsters and the young-at-heart for more than 30 years--making this the ultimate tribute to electronic games.

    He has some story to tell, not just of the formidable exploits on the field, but an extraordinary life off it. His only sister, Francesca, was the youngest to perish in the Marchioness disaster on the River Thames. Her death at 19 remains the great sadness of his life. He reveals all about his personal life, the traumas he has faced, his reasons for retiring from and coming back to international rugby. Most controversially, he became captain of his country in 1997 but sensationally resigned 18 months later. In addition to his England exploits, he also led his club Wasps to the summit of European rugby, winning two Heineken Cups and three consecutive English Premiership titles. Full of drama, controversy, great sadness and heart-stopping moments, Lawrence Dallaglio's story - the last of the great World Cup heroes - is the one every rugby fan has been waiting to read.

    Learn about the origins of the game, its place in gaming history, the mechanics behind it, and--of course--EVERYTHING about weapons, villains, heroes, vehicles, locations, and more.

    See the evolution of Sky-Hooks, Heavy Hitters, the populace of Columbia, Vigors, airships, and much more! * BioShock Infinite won over 75 video game awards, including Best Original Game and Best of Show! * Introduction by creative director Ken Levine.

    Source material, the Mechanoids, new equipment, monsters and adventure.Highlights Include- 40 Mechanoids and their bots with complete M.D.C. stats!- A.R.C.H.I.E. 3 and his new creations.- New weapons and equipment.- Five adventures, random encounter tables and adventure ideas. Optional Character sheets.- 120 pages

    First issue of a new ongoing series! _Mass Effect 3_ was the winner of ""Best RPG"" at the 2012 Spike VGAs! ""Walters lends the instant authenticity, and the unique approach of having the desire to say more with these characters than he can in the video games.""Newsarama"

    Sega, on the other hand, was just a faltering arcade company with big aspirations and even bigger personalities. But that would all change with the arrival of Tom Kalinske, a man who knew nothing about videogames and everything about fighting uphill battles. His unconventional tactics, combined with the blood, sweat and bold ideas of his renegade employees, transformed Sega and eventually led to a ruthless David-and-Goliath showdown with rival Nintendo.The battle was vicious, relentless, and highly profitable, eventually sparking a global corporate war that would be fought on several fronts: from living rooms and schoolyards to boardrooms and Congress. It was a once-in-a-lifetime, no-holds-barred conflict that pitted brother against brother, kid against adult, Sonic against Mario, and the US against Japan.Based on over two hundred interviews with former Sega and Nintendo employees, Console Wars is the underdog tale of how Kalinske miraculously turned an industry punchline into a market leader. It's the story of how a humble family man, with an extraordinary imagination and a gift for turning problems into competitive advantages, inspired a team of underdogs to slay a giant and, as a result, birth a $60 billion dollar industry.

    Deluxe print treatments create a must-have collectible for Destiny fans.Two Exclusive Lithographs - Each LE guide includes two high-quality lithographs depicting Destiny artwork produced by artists at Bungie, both enclosed in a custom linen-textured sleeve.Strategy Guide FeaturesThe Mission - Your guide to the missions, patrols, public events, and strikes within the solar system of Destiny. Reclaim hidden chests and Ghosts.The Field Manual - Learn the best ways to outfit your Guardian to suit your playstyle. Tips and strategies for creating your build and maximizing your performance in both player-vs.-player and player-vs.-environment gametypes.The Armory - Discover the hidden values associated with all types of in-game gear. Equip yourself with the best gear for your playstyle and learn how each item mod affects your weapons and armor.The Multiplayer Crucible - Tips and tactics learned on site at Bungie. Learn how to adjust your Guardian’s abilities and gear to dish out maximum carnage in multiplayer games.Bonus - Includes access to a digital version of the strategy guide!