Everything to Play For : How Videogames Are Changing the World

Author: Did, Marijam

Popular culture

Published on 17 September 2024 by Verso Books in the United Kingdom.

Paperback | 288 pages, integrated black & white images
209 x 140 x 19 | 260g

Everything To Play For asks if videogames can achieve egalitarian goals instead of fuelling hyper-materialist, reactionary agendas. Combining cultural theory and materialist critiques with accessible language and personal anecdotes, industry insider Marijam Did engages both novices and seasoned connoisseurs. From the innovations of Pong and Doom to the intricate multiplayer or narrative-driven games, the author highlights the multifaceted stories of the gaming communities and the political actors who organise among them. Crucially, the focus also includes the people who make the games, shedding light on the brutal processes necessary to bring titles to the public.

The videogame industry, now larger than the film and music industries combined, has a proven ability to challenge the status quo. With a rich array of examples, Did argues for a nuanced understanding of gaming's influence so that this extraordinary power can be harnessed for good.