This is an original document from the New Games Movement, but (like its sequel, More New Games) might be a bit difficult to find these days – second hand bookshops are helpful here. New Games were forms of play that aimed to make a positive impact on culture and society.
Fluegelman, Andrew (ed) (1976) New Games Book. New Games Foundation. New York: Dolphin/Doubleday.
In this interesting article Markku Eskelinen argues that while the dominant user function in literature, theatre and film is interpretative, in games it is the configurative one.
Eskelinen, Markku (2001) ‘The Gaming Situation’. Game Studies, 1(1). Online: http://www.gamestudies.org/0101/eskelinen/
The New Games Movement of the 1970s provides an example on how games and play can take an active stance in societal, ethical and philosophical matters. DeKoven’s book is an accessible presentation that is also available (for an obligatory donation) as a downloadable PDF:
DeKoven, Bernie (2002) The Well Played Game: A Playful Path to Wholeness (3rd edn). San Jose (CA): Writers Club Press. Online site: http://www.deepfun.com/WPG.htm.
There are few as thorough anthropological studies of games and play as this classic work by Stewart Culin, now available as a two-volume paperback version.
Culin, Stewart (1907/1992a) Games of the North American Indians. Vol. 1: Games of Chance. Lincoln and London: Bison Books/University of Nebraska Press.
Culin, Stewart (1907/1992b) Games of the North American Indians. Vol. 2: Games of Skill. Lincoln and London: Bison Books/University of Nebraska Press.
An article that is important in discussing the methodological role playing games has or should have for game studies:
Aarseth, Espen (2003) ‘Playing Research: Methodological Approaches to Game Analysis’. Proceedings of DAC 2003. Melbourne: RMIT University. Online: http://hypertext.rmit.edu.au/dac/papers/Aarseth.pdf
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An Introduction to Game Studies 