Booth, Dr. Paul (DePaul University, USA)

Game Play: Paratextuality in Contemporary Board Games Booth, Dr. Paul (DePaul University, USA)

Marc Notes: Includes bibliographical references and index.; Analyzes paratextual board games--particularly games based on film, television, and books--as unique media texts--; Provided by publisher. Table of Contents: IntroductionPart I: Understanding GamesChapter 1 - Ludifying Lovecraft in Arkham HorrorChapter 2 - Lord of the Rings as Convergent GameplayChapter 3 - Transmedia Pathos and Plot in "The Walking Dead"Part II: Understanding MediaChapter 4 - "Battlestar Galactica" and Spimatic Meaning in GamesChapter 5 - Mutability and Materiality in" Star Trek"Chapter 6 - "The Hunger Games" and Fan Paratextual ParticipationChapter 7 - Narratives and Databases in "Game of Thrones"Conclusion - Ludic Interaction in" Doctor Who"BibliographyGlossary of TermsIndexBiographical Note: Paul Booth is Associate Professor of Communication at DePaul University, USA. Booth's research interests include fandom, new technologies and media, popular culture, and cult media. He is the author of "Time on TV "(2012), " Digital Fandom" (2010), and "Playing Fans" (2014). He has edited "Fan Phenomena: Doctor Who" (2013), and has published numerous articles on fans, social media, and technology. He is currently enjoying a cup of coffee. Publisher Marketing: The 21st century has seen a board game renaissance. At a time when streaming television finds millions of viewers, video games garner billions of dollars, and social media grows ever more intense, little has been written about the rising popularity of board games. And yet board games are one of our fastest growing hobbies, with sales increasing every year. Today's board games are more than just your average rainy-day mainstay. Once associated solely with geek subcultures, complex and strategic board games are increasingly dominating the playful media environment. The popularity of these complex board games mirrors the rise of more complex cult media products. In "Game Play: Paratextuality in Contemporary Board Games," Paul Booth examines complex board games based on book, TV, and film franchises, including "Doctor Who," "The Walking Dead, Lord of the Rings, Star Trek, " "The Hunger Games" and the worlds of H. P. Lovecraft. How does a game represent a cult world? How can narratives cross media platforms? By investigating the relationship between these media products and their board game versions, Booth illustrates the connections between cult media, gameplay, and narrative in a digital media environment.

Contributor Bio:  Booth, Paul Paul Booth is assistant professor at DePaul University and the author of "Time on TV: Temporal Displacement" and "Mashup Television and Digital Fandom: New Media Studies. "He is a life-long fan of Doctor Who.