Routledge Handbook of Role-Playing Game Studies

<p>This Handbook provides a comprehensive guide to the latest research on role-playing games (RPGs) across disciplines cultures and media in one single accessible volume.</p><p>Collaboratively authored by more than 40 key scholars it traces the history of RPGs from wargaming precursors to tabletop RPGs like <i>Dungeons & Dragons</i> to the rise of live-action role-play and contemporary computer RPG and massively multiplayer online RPG franchises like <i>Baldur’s Gate</i> <i>Genshin Impact</i> and <i>World of Warcraft</i>. 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 worldbuilding immersion and player-character relations as well as explore actual play and streaming diversity equity inclusion jubensha therapeutic uses of RPGs and storygames journaling games and other forms of text-based RPGs. Each chapter includes definitions of key terms and recommended readings to help students and scholars new to RPG studies find their way into this interdisciplinary field.</p><p>A comprehensive reference volume ideal for students and scholars of game studies and immersive experiences and those looking to learn more about the ever-growing interdisciplinary field of RPG studies.</p>