{"product_id":"fictional-games-a-philosophy-of-worldbuilding-and-imaginary-play-paperback","title":"Fictional Games: A Philosophy of Worldbuilding and Imaginary Play - Paperback","description":"\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cp style=\"text-align: right;\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/reportcopyrightinfringement.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eReport copyright infringement\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cp\u003eby \u003cb\u003eStefano Gualeni\u003c\/b\u003e (Author), \u003cb\u003eRiccardo Fassone\u003c\/b\u003e (Author)\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWhat roles do imaginary games have in story-telling? Why do fiction authors outline the rules of a game that the audience will never play? Combining perspectives from philosophy, literary theory and game studies, this book provides the first in-depth investigation into the significance of fictional games within fictional worlds. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eDrawing from contemporary cinema and literature, from \u003ci\u003eThe Hunger Games\u003c\/i\u003e to the science fiction of Iain M. Banks, Stefano Gualeni and Riccardo Fassone introduce five key functions that different types of imaginary games have in worldbuilding. First, fictional games can emphasize the dominant values and ideologies of the fictional society they belong to. Second, some imaginary games function in fictional worlds as critical, utopian tools, inspiring shifts in the thinking and political orientation of the fictional characters. Third, a few fictional games are conducive to the transcendence of a particular form of being, such as the overcoming of human corporeality. Fourth, imaginary games within works of fiction can deceptively blur the boundaries between the contingency of play and the irrevocable seriousness of \"real life\", either camouflaging life as a game or disguising a game as something with more permanent consequences. And fifth, they can function as meta-reflexive tools, suggesting critical and\/or satirical perspectives on how actual games are designed, played, sold, manipulated, experienced, understood and utilized as part of our culture. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eWith illustrations in every chapter bringing the imaginary games to life, Gualeni and Fassone creatively inspire us to consider fictional games anew: not as moments of playful reprieve in a storyline, but as significant and multi-layered expressive devices.\u003ch3\u003eAuthor Biography\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eStefano Gualeni \u003c\/b\u003eis Associate Professor at the Institute of Digital Games, University of Malta, Malta. His recent publications include: \u003ci\u003eVirtual Worlds as Philosophical Tools \u003c\/i\u003e(2015) and \u003ci\u003eVirtual Existentialism\u003c\/i\u003e (2020). \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cb\u003eRiccardo Fassone \u003c\/b\u003eis Associate Professor in the Department of Humanities at the University of Torino, Italy. His recent publications include: \u003ci\u003eEvery Game is an Island. Endings and Extremities in Video Games \u003c\/i\u003e(Bloomsbury, 2017).\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNumber of Pages:\u003c\/strong\u003e 216\u003c\/div\u003e\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/strong\u003e 0.46 x 9.21 x 6.14 IN\u003c\/div\u003e\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePublication Date:\u003c\/strong\u003e July 25, 2024\u003c\/div\u003e\n            ","brand":"BooksCloud","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53301247312179,"sku":"9781350277120","price":80.71,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0300\/5595\/6612\/files\/T7PZvblYkJ9781350277120.webp?v=1777507958","url":"https:\/\/www.vysn.com\/en-ca\/products\/fictional-games-a-philosophy-of-worldbuilding-and-imaginary-play-paperback","provider":"VYSN","version":"1.0","type":"link"}