Newman's lucid and engaging introduction guides the reader through the world of videogaming. It traces the history of the videogame, from its origins in the computer lab, to its contemporary status as a global entertainment industry, where characters such as Lara Croft and Sonic the Hedgehog are familiar even to those who've never been near a games console.

Topics covered include:

• What is a videogame?
• Why study videogames?
• a brief history of videogames, from Pac-Man to Pokémon
• the videogame industry
• Who plays videogames?
• Are videogames bad for you?
• the narrative structure of videogames
• the future of videogames