Eurogames: The Design, Culture and Play of Modern European Board Games

by Stewart Woods

Overview

While board games can appear almost primitive in the digital age, eurogames—also known as German-style board games—have increased in popularity nearly concurrently with the rise of video games. Eurogames have simple rules and short playing times and emphasize strategy over luck and conflict. This book examines the form of eurogames, the hobbyist culture that surrounds them, and the way that hobbyists experience the play of such games. It chronicles the evolution of tabletop hobby gaming and explores why hobbyists play them, how players balance competitive play with the demands of an intimate social gathering, and to what extent the social context of the game encounter shapes the playing experience. Combining history, cultural studies, leisure studies, ludology, and play theory, this innovative work highlights a popular alternative trend in the gaming community.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780786490653
Publisher:	McFarland & Company, Incorporated Publishers
Publication date:	12/14/2012
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	262
File size:	4 MB

About the Author

Stewart Woods is an assistant professor of communication studies at the University of Western Australia and a postdoctoral research fellow at Curtin University.

Table of Contents

Table of Contents
Preface 1
Introduction 5

1. A Brief Introduction to Hobby Games 15
2. Anglo-American Hobby Board Games 1960–1995 32
3. Gesellschaftsspiele—Gaming in Germany 46
4. From German Games to Eurogames 63
5. The Eurogame Genre 79
6. Hobby Gamers 120
7. The Pleasures of Play 146
8. Goals and Outcomes in Social Play 173
9. An Act Apart? 194

Conclusion 210
Chapter Notes 217
Bibliography 231
Index 257

What People are Saying About This

Lewis Pulsipher

A conclusive counter to the false notion that motivation for game playing is all about winning and losing. (Lewis Pulsipher, Ph.D., Game Designer)

Mia Consalvo

A valuable study of eurogames and eurogame hobbyists...represents a significant achievement, for both its author as well as game studies. (Mia Consalvo, Ph.D., author of Cheating: Gaining Advantage in Videogames)

Editorial Reviews

A valuable study of eurogames and eurogame hobbyists...represents a significant achievement, for both its author as well as game studies.

Ph.D., author of Cheating: Gaining Advantage in Videogames - Mia Consalvo

"A conclusive counter to the false notion that motivation for game playing is all about winning and losing."

Ph.D., Game Designer - Lewis Pulsipher

well written and in depth...fascinating.... The notes section and bibliography are both outstanding...‘a must read’. Highly Recommended”—Game Nite; “A valuable study of eurogames and eurogame hobbyists...represents a significant achievement, for both its author as well as game studies.”—Mia Consalvo, Ph.D., author of Cheating: Gaining Advantage in Videogames; “A conclusive counter to the false notion that motivation for game playing is all about winning and losing.”—Lewis Pulsipher, Ph.D., Game Designer.

From the Publisher