Scan barcode
catacombkitten's review
4.0
I was planning to rate this book three stars (or less even), up until the last chapter, 'Voices from the Combat Zone: Game Grrlz Talk Back'. The thirteen chapters before this one were rather interesting as well, but it was not until the 'Game grrlz' responded to some of the statements made in the previous 350 pages that I agreed completely and got enthusiastic about the message.
The interviews with some of the 'games for girls' designers often left me with mixed feelings (especially the one with the spokesperson for Sega). Noticing that the 'game grrlz' shared my sentiments AND that Jenkins and Cassell took the effort to include different perspectives in their book rather than just relying on the interviews with game designers surprised me very pleasantly.
Long story short, this book considers different points of view on 'games for girls' (and children in general) and especially the critical approach to the topic makes it worth reading.
The interviews with some of the 'games for girls' designers often left me with mixed feelings (especially the one with the spokesperson for Sega). Noticing that the 'game grrlz' shared my sentiments AND that Jenkins and Cassell took the effort to include different perspectives in their book rather than just relying on the interviews with game designers surprised me very pleasantly.
Long story short, this book considers different points of view on 'games for girls' (and children in general) and especially the critical approach to the topic makes it worth reading.
lanikei's review
4.0
Unfortunately it's been probably a month since I read this so all of my clever observations have been forgotten.
Ultimately I enjoyed the book. Some parts were too academic, and some didn't provide enough specifics about the research - probably less of an issue if you aren't a big nerd. Many of the comments on 'gaming culture' are incredibly dated since 10 years is an eternity in any technology field. However, some of the predictions or suggestions have proven very true which is interesting in its own way.
It was really interesting to read some of the more anectdotal parts of the book and really see myself and my gaming preferences. Preferences I had never consciously realized that I had were detailed or predicted - things like an emphasis on walk-throughs and character customization, for example.
It was a bit of a chore to get through, but it was certainly a fascinating read for me. It covered a wide range - some research, some interviews, some geared towards education, some more towards the social and cultural aspects of gaming. Even if you don't make it through the whole book, I think there are certainly interesting enough parts to merit a read if you're interested in video games.
Ultimately I enjoyed the book. Some parts were too academic, and some didn't provide enough specifics about the research - probably less of an issue if you aren't a big nerd. Many of the comments on 'gaming culture' are incredibly dated since 10 years is an eternity in any technology field. However, some of the predictions or suggestions have proven very true which is interesting in its own way.
It was really interesting to read some of the more anectdotal parts of the book and really see myself and my gaming preferences. Preferences I had never consciously realized that I had were detailed or predicted - things like an emphasis on walk-throughs and character customization, for example.
It was a bit of a chore to get through, but it was certainly a fascinating read for me. It covered a wide range - some research, some interviews, some geared towards education, some more towards the social and cultural aspects of gaming. Even if you don't make it through the whole book, I think there are certainly interesting enough parts to merit a read if you're interested in video games.
More...