A dominant international cultural force, the video game industry is diverse and increasingly influential. In this illuminating study, Randy Nichols examines the origins, history, and current characteristics of the industry - including case studies of it's major players and analysis of it's culture, production processes and ties to other industries.
Acknowledgments.- Introduction: Video Games as a Global Phenomenon.- 1 An Industrial History of Video Games.- CASE STUDY: Atari.- CASE STUDY: Nintendo.- CASE STUDY: Sega.- 2 Market Structure, Audiences and Software Production.- CASE STUDY: Electronic Arts.- CASE STUDY: Activision-Blizzard.- 3 Video Game Hardware, Distribution and Retail.- CASE STUDY: Microsoft .- CASE STUDY: Sony.- 4 Video Games and Other Related Industries.- 5 Labour and Production in the Global Video Game Industry.- CASE STUDY: Electronic Arts, Rockstar and Labour.- CASE STUDY: Hollywood Unions, Video Games and Labour.- Conclusion: Making Sense of the Global Video Game Industry.- Bibliography.- Index.
