Lost in a Good Game

Why We Play Video Games and What They Can Do for Us

By: Pete Etchells

Narrated by: Ryan Burke

'Etchells writes eloquently ... A heartfelt defence of a demonised pastime' --The Times

'Once in an age, a piece of culture comes along that feels like it was specifically created for you, the beats and words and ideas are there because it is your life the creator is describing. Lost In A Good Game is exactly that. It will touch your heart and mind. And even if Bowser, Chun-li or Q-Bert weren't crucial parts of your youth, this is a flawless victory for everyone' --Adam Rutherford

When Pete Etchells was 13, his father died from motor neurone disease. In order to cope, he immersed himself in a virtual world - first as an escape, but later to try to understand what had happened. Etchells is now a researcher into the psychological effects of video games, and was co-author on a recent paper explaining why WHO plans to classify "game addiction" as a danger to public health are based on bad science and (he thinks) are a bad idea.

In this, his first book, he journeys through the history and development of video games - from Turing’s chess machine to mass multiplayer online games like World of Warcraft or Fortnite - via scientific study, to investigate the highs and lows of playing and get to the bottom of our relationship with games - why we do it, and what they really mean to us.

At the same time, Lost in a Good Game is a very unusual memoir of a writer coming to terms with his grief via virtual worlds, as he tries to work out what area of popular culture we should classify games (a relatively new technology) under.

©2019 Pete Etchells (P)2019 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

Good information, but too board

I did learn some information from this book but felt it attempted to cover too many angles. While the different subjects transitioned well, it was somewhat clunky. We learn about the history of video games, microtransactions, the amount of screentime, if violent video games affect aggressiveness and other subjects. It is basically a study of the different studies that have been conducted in the area of video games.

Wanted to like this book but..

Was at times very dry and academic. Would have liked more insight into the games. The author is from the UK who uses English English and this should not have been narrated by an American.

Enlighten yourself to this view of gaming

Could it be that gaming is a preferred method to develop the mind and social connections? Certainly, it’s worth a look, especially when we are at the doorstep of a more virtual culture.

Great overview of gaming psychology

I was looking for a book that could help me understand why people play video games, and how to talk about video games as a growth industry. This book more than delivered. I enjoyed the personal narrative woven in throughout too, as it helped me understand the emotional impact and utility of games. Reader was also animated and engaging.

good

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Practically meaningless title

With a title of "Lost in a Good Game", I was ignorantly assuming this book would be about oh.. I dunno... the feeling and joy of getting lost in a good game. Silly me! While there's a few quips like that near the beginning, soon the book spirals down the same old garbage chute of the question of violence in video games that most people who get this book have heard endlessly and don't care about at all and then it refuses to let go and becomes all this book is about. Ugh.

It's definitely not all bad which is why I give it 3 stars but the misleading title annoys me enough to dock it 2 stars.

Fun read

more than just psychology. this is also a very cool history of video games and how they affect the world. highly recommend this book to any gamers.

Informative, Thought Provoking Listen

Loved it. Author jumped between tragic personal history and in-depth scientific research involving the statistics of studies done regarding video games.

Making me wonder why I enjoy games

The single most dense source of unique ideas about video games I think I have ever encountered. Everything from psychology to revenue models to how games make us better. I love thinking about why i love this medium so much and Dr. Etchells brought some incredible insights to my internal dialogue. Suuuuuper good

Touching 😢

I feel sad at some parts but can connect to the author. Personally the way he made it I feel like anyone can, not in a bad way in a way the he shows how even if it happens to you it can happen to all. The research dives so deep into what can happen with video games, how the games effect us, how we work and the games work,how the video games help us and don’t help us.