Death by Video Game: Danger, Pleasure, and Obsession on the Virtual Frontline

Opening with the story of Chen Rong-Yu, a 23-year old Chinese gamer who died in a Taiwanese cafe when his heart gave out after 23 hours of online gaming, journalist Parkin's debut explores the dark side and hidden alleys of the gaming world in this frequently fascinating examination of gamers and gaming culture. Video games are big business for players as well as game companies. Teams bunk together and play for days on end in hopes of winning monetary prizes that can run into the millions. Others seek out online communities and massively multiplayer games such as World of Warcraft to connect with kindred spirits remotely. Parkin chronicles the individual lives of players and the many facets of the industry. He acknowledges that there are plenty of games offering nothing but carnage and violence (including a game simulating the Columbine massacre), but Parkin argues that gaming can also transport players to new worlds, address social issues and trends, and aid in therapy. In this terrific assessment of one of the world's most popular pastimes, Parkin shows that video games have almost limitless potential to hurt, comfort, distract, and heal. (June)