Myst and Riven: The World of the D'ni (Landmark Video Games) by Mark J. P. Wolf (14 Reviews)    Price verified one hour ago

"Myst and Riven is well-written, interesting, on-topic, insightful, and a real pleasure to read." -- Edward Castronova, Indiana University Video games have become a major cultural force, and within their history, Myst and its sequel Riven stand out as influential examples. Myst and Riven: The World of the D'ni is a close analysis of two of the most popular and significant video games in the history of the genre, investigating in detail their design, their functionality, and the gameplay experience they provide players. While scholarly close analysis has been applied to films for some time now, it has only rarely been applied at this level to video games. Mark J. P. Wolf uses elements such as graphics and sound, the games' mood and atmosphere and how they are generated, the geography and design of the digital worlds, and the narrative structures of the games to examine their appeal to both critical and general audiences, their legacy, and what made them great. Myst and Riven is the ...

Genre: Humor & Entertainment

Philosopurrs by C.B. Daniels (2 Reviews)    Price verified 3 minutes ago

Introducing "Philosopurrs" - the purr-fect book for anyone who's ever wondered what advice the great philosophers might have given if they were cats! ?? Get ready to pounce into the world of philosophy like never before as author C.B. Daniels takes you on a whimsical journey through the history of thought, reimagining 30 of the world's greatest thinkers as wise and whiskered felines. In this utterly unique and irresistible book, you'll meet iconic philosophers from ancient sages like Socrates and Confucius to modern luminaries such as Simone de Beauvoir and Jean-Paul Sartre, each with their own distinct personality and style. These whiskered sages will guide you through their most profound ideas and insights, all while keeping you entertained with their feline antics and charming illustrations. But don't let the cute cats fool you - "Philosopurrs" is more than just a gimmick. Daniels has carefully crafted each chapter to explore complex philosophical concepts in a way that's both ...

Genre: Humor & Entertainment

Trans: a satire by Jen Celador Price verified 49 minutes ago

Wally has courageously rejected the species identity arbitrarily assigned to him at birth by his bigoted parents. Now he wants them to pay for his species affirmation surgery, but his cishuman father isn't convinced. Things don't look good for Wally, and his transitional journey appears to be at an end until NAFPA - the National Association of Feelings and Personal Affirmation - gets involved and convinces Wally's parents to support his identity for the sake of his mental health. The good news is that Wally doesn't have to undertake his journey alone. He has a whole group of transspecies friends at his side: there's Kitty the tabby-cat, Rover the rottweiler, and Erica the transsexual kangaroo who aren't about to let any biological facts stand in the way as they shake off the shackles of oppressive species bigotry to forge their own identity. Things really heat up, however, when a teacher questions their true identity - igniting a firestorm of outrage all over social media demanding ...

Genre: Humor & Entertainment

This Gaming Life: Travels in Three Cities by Jim Rossignol (13 Reviews)    Price verified 2 hours ago

"In May 2000 I was fired from my job as a reporter on a finance newsletter because of an obsession with a video game. It was the best thing that ever happened to me." So begins this story of personal redemption through the unlikely medium of electronic games. Quake, World of Warcraft, Eve Online, and other online games not only offered author Jim Rossignol an excellent escape from the tedium of office life. They also provided him with a diverse global community and a job -- as a games journalist. Part personal history, part travel narrative, part philosophical reflection on the meaning of play, This Gaming Life describes Rossignol's encounters in three cities: London, Seoul, and Reykjavik. From his days as a Quake genius in London's increasingly corporate gaming culture; to Korea, where gaming is a high-stakes televised national sport; to Iceland, the home of his ultimate obsession, the idiosyncratic and beguiling Eve Online, Rossignol introduces us to a vivid and largely ...

Genre: Humor & Entertainment

Junk Sale: Stories & Essays by Patrick Lombardi (17 Reviews)    Price verified 24 minutes ago

Don't expect to find any hidden gems at this junk sale. In writer and journalist Patrick Lombardi's debut book, tales get twisted and encounters get heated. This collection features more than a dozen humorous short stories and nonfiction essays. Lombardi has crafted a hilarious adventure into his own little world, where a man finds love while committing burglary, a fresh college graduate does his best not to get hired, and a bitter server verbally abuses his guests. From hopeless romantics to simply insane travelers, Lombardi captures a range of engaging personalities that will have you convulsing in laughter. So buckle up for a chaotic ride of stories that live up to their collective title. "Junk Sale" is bound to make you laugh so hard you'll cry -- or cry so hard you'll laugh. Either way, you'll cry. Isn't that the point of humor? Patrick Lombardi writes in a similar vein to comedy greats like David Sedaris, Kurt Vonnegut, and Stephen Colbert. His humor is often cheerful and ...

Genre: Humor & Entertainment