Role-Playing Game Studies

<p>This handbook collects for the first time the state of research on role-playing games (RPGs) across disciplines cultures and media in a single accessible volume. Collaboratively authored by more than 50 key scholars it traces the history of RPGs from wargaming precursors to tabletop RPGs like <em>Dungeons & Dragons</em> to the rise of live action role-play and contemporary computer RPG and massively multiplayer online RPG franchises like <em>Fallout</em> and <em>World of Warcraft</em>. Individual chapters survey the perspectives concepts and findings on RPGs from key disciplines like performance studies sociology psychology education economics game design literary studies and more. Other chapters integrate insights from RPG studies around broadly significant topics like transmedia worldbuilding immersion transgressive play or player–character relations. Each chapter includes definitions of key terms and recommended readings to help fans students and scholars new to RPG studies find their way into this new interdisciplinary field.</p>