This book investigates the multifaceted phenomenon of video game playing, exploring its motivations, responses, and consequences across diverse genres and demographics. Peter Vorderer, drawing from communication, psychology, and technology, presents the first comprehensive examination of the psychological and mediated aspects of computer game play. The book aims to establish a theoretical framework for understanding this increasingly prevalent form of entertainment, positioning it within the burgeoning field of entertainment studies. It addresses the dramatic upward trajectory of players across gender, culture, and age, seeking to define this area of study for future research.

The book is positioned as a foundational text within the emerging field of entertainment studies, specifically targeting the media psychology arm. Its comprehensive approach, integrating multiple disciplines, aims to define the study of video games and provide a theoretical basis for future academic inquiry. The work is intended to serve researchers and scholars interested in the psychological and social impacts of increasingly pervasive digital entertainment.