Table of Contents
1 The Many Faces of Role-Playing Game Studies
Sebastian Deterding and José P. Zagal
PART I: DEFINITIONS
2 Definitions of "Role-Playing Games"
José P. Zagal and Sebastian Deterding
PART II: FORMS
3 Precursors
Jon Peterson
4 Tabletop Role-Playing Games
William J. White, Jonne Arjoranta, Michael Hitchens, Jon Peterson, Evan Torner, and Jonathan Walton
5 Live-Action Role-Playing Games
J. Tuomas Harviainen, Rafael Bienia, Simon Brind, Michael Hitchens, Yaraslau I. Kot, Esther MacCallum-Stewart, David W. Simkins, Jaakko Stenros, and Ian Sturrock
6 Single-Player Computer Role-Playing Games
Douglas Schules, Jon Peterson, and Martin Picard
7 Multi-Player Online Role-Playing Games
Mark Chen, Riley Leary, Jon Peterson, and David W. Simkins
8 Online Freeform Role-Playing Games
Jessica Hammer
9 The Impact of Role-playing Games on Culture
Esther MacCallum-Stewart, Jaakko Stenros, and Staffan Björk
PART III: DISCIPLINARY PERSPECTIVES
10 RPG Theorizing by Designers and Players
Evan Torner
11 Performance Studies and Role-Playing Games
Sarah Hoover, David W. Simkins, Sebastian Deterding, David Meldman, and Amanda Brown
12 Sociology and Role-Playing Games
J. Patrick Williams, David Kirschner, Nicholas Mizer, and Sebastian Deterding
13 Psychology and Role-Playing Games
Sarah Lynne Bowman and Andreas Lieberoth
14 Literary Studies and Role-Playing Games
David Jara and Evan Torner
15 Learning and Role-Playing Games
Jessica Hammer, Alexandra To, Karen Schrier, Sarah Lynne Bowman, and Geoff Kaufman
16 Economics and Role-Playing Games
Isaac Knowles and Edward Castronova
17 Science and Technology Studies and Role-Playing Games
Rafael Bienia
18 Game Design and Role-Playing Games
Staffan Björk and José P. Zagal
19 Communication Research and Role-Playing Games
William J. White
PART IV: INTERDISCIPLINARY ISSUES
20 Worldbuilding in Role-Playing Games
Karen Schrier, Evan Torner, and Jessica Hammer
21 Role-Playing Games as Subculture and Fandom
Esther MacCallum-Stewart and Aaron Trammell
22 Immersion and Shared Imagination in Role-Playing Games
Sarah Lynne Bowman
23 Players and Their Characters in Role-Playing Games
Sarah Lynne Bowman and Karen Schrier
24 Transgressive Role-play
Jaakko Stenros and Sarah Lynne Bowman
25 Sexuality and the Erotic in Role-Play
Ashley ML Brown and Jaakko Stenros
26 Representation and Discrimination in Role-Playing Games
Aaron Trammell
27 Power and Control in Role-Playing Games
Jessica Hammer, Whitney Beltran, Jonathan Walton, and Moyra Turkington