Optimizing Play
Why Theorycrafting Breaks Games and How to Fix It
Published on 14. May 2024
Book
Paperback/Softback
192 pages
978-0-262-54778-9 (ISBN)
Description
"A thoughtful account of how optimization (also known as theorycrafting or the "moneyballing effect") has changed the way we play games from World of Warcraft to soccer"-- Provided by publisher.
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
Cambridge (Massachusetts)
United States
Publishing group
MIT Press Ltd
Illustrations
BLACK AND WHITE ILLUS.
Dimensions
Height: 225 mm
Width: 152 mm
Thickness: 15 mm
Weight
258 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-262-54778-9 (9780262547789)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
E-Book
05/2024
MIT Press
€33.99
Available for download
Person
Christopher A. Paul is Professor of Communication and Media at Seattle University. He is the author of Free-to-Play and coauthor, with Mia Consalvo, of Real Games (both MIT Press). He is also the author of The Toxic Meritocracy of Video Games and Wordplay and the Discourse of Video Games.
Content
Acknowledgments ix
Introduction: Optimization and Common Pool Resource Problems 1
1 The Role of Optimization in Video Games 23
2 Overwatch 37
3 Baseball as the Tic-Tac-Toe of Sports 53
4 Less Solved Sports 71
5 EA SPORTS FC and NBA 2K 93
6 Clash Royale 117
Conclusion: Don't Drain the Pool for the Rest of Us 131
Notes 143
Bibliography 167
Index 185
Introduction: Optimization and Common Pool Resource Problems 1
1 The Role of Optimization in Video Games 23
2 Overwatch 37
3 Baseball as the Tic-Tac-Toe of Sports 53
4 Less Solved Sports 71
5 EA SPORTS FC and NBA 2K 93
6 Clash Royale 117
Conclusion: Don't Drain the Pool for the Rest of Us 131
Notes 143
Bibliography 167
Index 185