A World of Excesses Online Games and Excessive Playing

This book explores gaming culture, focusing on competent players and excessive use. Addressing the contested question of whether addiction is possible in relation to computer games - specifically online gaming - A World of Excesses demonstrates that excessive playing does not necessarily have detrimental effects, and that there are important contextual elements that influence what consequences playing has for the players. Based on new empirical studies, including in-depth interviews and virtual ethnography, and drawing on material from international game related sites, this book examines the reasons for which gaming can occupy such a central place in people's lives, to the point of excess. As such, it will be of interest to sociologists and psychologists working in the fields of cultural and media studies, the sociology of leisure, information technology and addiction.

Contents: Introduction; Game genre, case and empirical material; Media narratives and public concerns; Addiction and randomness; Game structure and loyalty programmes; Pathological gaming and social context; Theorycrafting: between collective intelligence and intrinsic satisfaction; Life phase and meaningful play; Appendices; References; Index.

Faltin Karlsen is Professor of Media Studies at The Norwegian School of Information Technology, Norway.