Sunday, November 28, 2010

The Evolution of Fantasy Role-Playing Games--New from McFarland

Michael J. Tresca 
ISBN 978-0-7864-5895-0 
10 photos, glossary, bibliography, index
238pp. softcover 2011
Buy Now!
Price: $35.00

Book Launch March 2011

Description
Tracing the evolution of fantasy gaming from its origins in tabletop war and collectible card games to contemporary web-based live action and massive multi-player games, this book examines the archetypes and concepts within the fantasy gaming genre alongside the roles and functions of the game players themselves. Other topics include: how The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings helped shape fantasy gaming through Tolkien’s obsessive attention to detail and virtual world building; the community-based fellowship embraced by players of both play-by-post and persistent browser-based games, despite the fact that these games are fundamentally solo experiences; the origins of gamebooks and interactive fiction; and the evolution of online gaming in terms of technological capabilities, media richness, narrative structure, coding authority, and participant roles.

Table of Contents
Acknowledgments      ix
Preface      1
Introduction      5

1. The Lord of the Rings      23
2. Collectible Card Games and Miniature Wargames      47
3. Tabletop Role-Playing Games      59
4. Play-By-Post and Browser-Based Games      92
5. Gamebooks and Interactive Fiction      100
6. Multi-User Dungeons      111
7. Computer Role-Playing Games      134
8. Massive Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Games      162
9. Live Action Role-Playing Games      181

Conclusion      200
Glossary      203
Sources      207
Index      217

About the Author
Game designer, author, and artist Michael J. Tresca has authored numerous supplements and adventures for publishers of fantasy role-playing games. An administrator at RetroMUD, he lives in Connecticut.

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