Archive for the Online resources Category

Essential Facts about the Computer and Video Game Industry 2007

Posted in Online resources with tags , , , on June 1, 2008 by frans

Entertainment Software Association (ESA) from the USA has published results from their annual market studies for several years, providing interesting claims and figures about the role of digital play in the American society. The key weakness in these reports is that they do not explicate their methodology, nor do they subject the studies to scientific evaluation and criticism. So: a word of caution while making use of these reports.

ESA (2007) ‘Essential Facts about the Computer and Video Game Industry 2007: Sales, Demographic and Usage Data’. Entertainment Software Association. Online: http://www.theesa.com/facts/pdfs/ESA_EF_2007.pdf

Internet World Stats

Posted in Online resources with tags , , on April 4, 2008 by frans

There are various sources of Internet usage statistics — one of the most easily accessible (but maybe not necessarily the most reliable) is this site, Internet World Stats. As all digital games — not only virtual role-playing worlds — are increasingly transforming into online services, it becomes increasingly important for game studies to follow what is taking place in the use of Internet.

Miniwatts Marketing Group (2000–2008) “Internet World Stats”. Online: http://www.internetworldstats.com/stats.htm

Mobygames

Posted in Online resources with tags , on March 9, 2008 by frans

Mobygames is a website that maintains a database of digital games. The site aims to catalogue all games, and it relies on user contibutions to extend its range. See:
http://www.mobygames.com/

Wikipedia

Posted in Online resources with tags , , on March 9, 2008 by frans

A collaboratively edited encyclopedia, Wikipedia includes several interesting entries that relate to game studies. These include:

Note that the Wikipedia articles might include unverified claims and tilted argumentation, so be cautious, and practice a fair deal of source criticism.

DiGRA Library

Posted in Online resources with tags , , on March 9, 2008 by frans

The open access digital library provided by DiGRA (Digital Games Research Association) collects together peer-reviewed papers presented in DiGRA conferences. See:
http://www.digra.org/dl

Game Research

Posted in Online resources with tags , on March 9, 2008 by frans

Game Research is the title of site that contains book reviews, research articles and information pages on various game studies related topics. See:
http://www.game-research.com/

Digiplay Bibliography

Posted in Online resources with tags , , , on March 9, 2008 by frans

The Digiplay Initiative maintains an extensive games research bibliography, currently reaching over two thousand references. The Digiplay site includes also links to papers, reports and books authored by the Digiplay research collective. Link to the bibliography:
http://digiplay.info/digibiblio