Minecraft: The Official Annual 2014


Jane Riordan - 2013
    With just your bare hands to mine with, you only have minutes to find food and shelter before darkness falls and the monsters come looking for you ...This annual celebrates the limitless possibilities of Minecraft. Packed with step-by-step instructions for exciting builds and projects, tips from the experts, including the game's creator Notch himself, cool things to make, games to test your brain power and codes to unravel, it's everything Minecraft fans have been waiting for.This might just be the one thing good enough to drag them away from their screens this year!

Halo 3: The Official Strategy Guide


James Price - 2007
    ·Detailed annotated maps for all levels·Learn how to dominate multiplayer matches with information on weapon locations and expert tips·Learn about every enemy, vehicle and weapon — their strengths and weaknesses and how you can exploit them·Confidently navigate the huge Campaign mode with our exclusive maps and step-by-step walkthrough·Complete list of all Achievements and how to unlock each onePacked with tips, tactics and techniques direct from Bungie

The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past


Shotaro Ishinomori - 1992
    This comic book version by Shotaro Ishinomori (Cyborg 009, Kamen Rider) was first serialized in Nintendo Power magazine and later collected into a graphic novel.Long out of print, this stunning, full-color graphic novel is now available once again!

The Legend of Zelda and Theology


Jonathan L. Walls - 2011
    Far from stopping there, The Legend of Zelda series has continued to release top-shelf games adored by critics and fans alike. Zelda, like all of our greatest fairy tales, legends and myths, presents that elusive and exclusive kind of enlightenment that only the fantastic can provide. In this collection, various contributors explore the connections between this cultural zeitgeist and theology.

The Art of Mass Effect: Andromeda


BioWare - 2017
    The award-winning Mass Effect series captured the renegade hearts and paragon souls of gamers everywhere with it's memorable characters, stunning visuals, and visceral combat! Now, journey to a new galaxy with Dark Horse's The Art of Mass Effect Andromeda- featuring never-before-seen art of the hotly anticipated game's characters, arsenal, locations, vehicles, and more! This deluxe hardcover is an essential addition to any gamer's collection!Exclusive never before seen concept art from the making of Mass Effect Andromeda!The comprehensive companion to the wildly anticipated Mass Effect Andromeda!

The Paleblood Hunt


Redgrave
    Redgrave first introduced this document on Reddit and it has since been revised, and finalized. He closely examines the information available to the player in order to build up the hidden story of the game. Both facts and Redgrave's own speculations are provided and a clear distinction is made between the two in order to allow the reader room to disagree with his conclusions and make up their own minds based on the evidence presented.

Joystick Nation: How Videogames Ate Our Quarters, Won Our Hearts, and Rewired Our Minds


J.C. Herz - 1997
    In arcades, living rooms, student dorms, and (admit it) offices from Ohio to Osaka, video games have become a fixture in people's lives, marking a tectonic shift in the entertainment landscape.Now, as Hollywood and Silicon Valley rush to sell us online interactive multimedia everything, J. C. Herz brings us the first popular history and critique of the video-game phenomenon. From the Cold War computer programmers who invented the first games (when they should have been working) to the studios where the networked 3-D theme parks of the future are created, Herz brings to life the secret history of Space Invaders, Pac Man, Super Mario, Myst, Doom, and other celebrated games. She explains why different kinds of games have taken hold (and what they say about the people who play them) and what we can expect from a generation that has logged millions of hours vanquishing digital demons.Written with 64-bit energy and filled with Herz's sharp-edged insights and asides, Joystick Nation is a fascinating pop culture odyssey that's must-reading for media junkies, pop historians, and anyone who pines for their old Atari.

Game On!: Video Game History from Pong and Pac-Man to Mario, Minecraft, and More


Dustin Hansen - 2016
    Find out about the fast and furious growth and evolution of video games (including how they are quickly taking over the world!) by looking at some of the most popular, innovative, and influential games ever, from Pong, the very first arcade game ever, to modern hits like Uncharted.Learn about the creators and inspiration (Mario was named after Nintendo's landlord after he barged into a staff meeting demanding rent), discover historical trivia and Easter eggs (The developers of Halo 2 drank over 24,000 gallons of soda while making the game), and explore the innovations that make each game special (The ghosts in Pac-Man are the first example of AI in a video game).Whether you consider yourself a hard-core gamer or are just curious to see what everyone is talking about, Game On! is the book for you!

Red vs. Blue: The Ultimate Fan Guide


Rooster Teeth - 2015
    Blue: The Ultimate Fan Guide, the series creators at Rooster Teeth bring together more than a decade's worth of ephemera and behind-the-scenes information. Inside you'll find:– Character dossiers– Character-driven lists, including "The Wisdom of Caboose"– Charts and statistics mapping out character, world, and episode trivia, such as how many times Simmons has sucked up to Sarge over the course of the series– The best Red vs. Blue quotes ever of all time– Alternate stories and unexplored character arcs– Spotlights on the Red vs. Blue cast and crew, who share unique anecdotes, behind-the-scenes stories, and insights into the award-winning series– Shooting scripts, including cut lines, deleted scenes, and trivia– More than 200 full-color images– And more!

A Theory of Fun for Game Design


Raph Koster - 2004
    It features a novel way of teaching interactive designers how to create and improve their designs to incorporate the highest degree of fun. As the book shows, designing for fun is all about making interactive products like games highly entertaining, engaging, and addictive. The book's unique approach of providing a highly visual storyboard approach combined with a narrative on the art and practice of designing for fun is sure to be a hit with game and interactive designers.At first glance A Theory of Fun for Game Design is a book that will truly inspire and challenge game designers to think in new ways; however, its universal message will influence designers from all walks of life. This book captures the real essence of what drives us to seek out products and experiences that are truly fun and entertaining. The author masterfully presents his engaging theory by showing readers how many designs are lacking because they are predictable and not engaging enough. He then explains how great designers use different types of elements in new ways to make designs more fun and compelling. Anyone who is interested in design will enjoy how the book works on two levels--as a quick inspiration guide to game design, or as an informative discussion that details the insightful thinking from a great mind in the game industry.

A Casual Revolution: Reinventing Video Games and Their Players


Jesper Juul - 2009
    These new casual games are now played by men and women, young and old. Players need not possess an intimate knowledge of video game history or devote weeks or months to play. At the same time, many players of casual games show a dedication and skill that is anything but casual. In "A Casual Revolution," Jesper Juul describes this as a reinvention of video games, and of our image of video game players, and explores what this tells us about the players, the games, and their interaction. With this reinvention of video games, the game industry reconnects with a general audience. Many of today's casual game players once enjoyed " Pac-Man, Tetris," and other early games, only to drop out when video games became more time-consuming and complex. Juul shows that it is only by understanding what a game requires of players, what players bring to a game, how the game industry works, and how video games have developed historically that we can understand what makes video games fun and why we choose to play (or not to play) them.

Minecraft: Guide to Survival


Mojang AB - 2020
    Previously published as Guide to Exploration, the revised and updated Guide to Survival has even more insider info and tips from the experts at game-creator Mojang, making this is the definitive, fully illustrated guide to survival in Minecraft.The mysterious world of Minecraft is just waiting to be explored. But danger lurks around every corner and survival can prove difficult for even the bravest adventurer.Learn how to find resources, craft equipment, and protect yourself. Discover which biomes to avoid when starting out, how to build a mob-proof shelter, where to look for naturally-generated structures laden with loot, and so much more.Collect all of the official Minecraft books: Minecraft: The IslandMinecraft: The CrashMinecraft: The Lost JournalsMinecraft: The Survivors' Book of SecretsMinecraft: Exploded Builds: Medieval FortressMinecraft: Guide to ExplorationMinecraft: Guide to CreativeMinecraft: Guide to the Nether & the EndMinecraft: Guide to RedstoneMinecraft: MobestiaryMinecraft: Guide to Enchantments & PotionsMinecraft: Guide to PVP MinigamesMinecraft: Guide to FarmingMinecraft: Let's Build! Theme Park AdventureMinecraft for BeginnersMinecraft: Guide to Ocean SurvivalMinecraft: Guide to Survival

Kobold Guide to Plots & Campaigns (Kobold Guides Book 6)


Margaret WeisRobert J. Schwalb - 2016
     Kobold Guide to Plots & Campaigns shows how to begin a new campaign, use published adventures or loot them for the best ideas, build toward cliffhangers, and design a game that can enthrall your players for month or even years. Want to run an evil campaign, or hurl the characters into unusual otherworldly settings? Want to ensure that you're creating memorable and effective NPCs and villains? We've got you covered. Complete with discussions on plotting, tone, branching storytelling, pacing, and crafting action scenes, you'll find all the tips and advice you need to take on the best role in roleplaying--and become an expert gamemaster, too! Featuring essays by Wolfgang Baur, Jeff Grubb, David "Zeb" Cook, Margaret Weis, Robert J. Schwalb, Steve Winter, and other game professionals.

Trigger Happy: Videogames and the Entertainment Revolution


Steven Poole - 2000
    Thirty years after the invention of the simplest of games, more videogames are played by adults than children. This revolutionary book is the first-ever academically worthy and deeply engaging critique of one of today's most popular forms of play: videogames are on track to supersede movies as the most innovative form of entertainment in the new century.

World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King - Official Strategy Guide


Jennifer Sims - 2008
    BradyGames’ World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King Official Strategy Guide includes the following: Complete coverage of each race, with strengths, weaknesses, and more.WEAPONS: Discover the awesome battery of weapons and armor, with detailed equipment listsNORTHREND EXPLORED: In-depth information on quests, bosses, and treasuresNEW DUNGEONS: Instances and Raid roles explained plus locations and strategyCOMPLETE CRAFTING COVERAGE: Every recipe for every crafting professionPlatform: PCGenre: Role-Playing Game