{"product_id":"9781501359347","title":"Esport Play : Anticipation, Attachment, and Addiction in Psycholudic Development","description":"\u003cstrong\u003eEsport Play\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor(s): Veli-Matti Karhulahti\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWeaving the author's own lived experience with theoretical insights from the fields of game studies, psychology, and anthropology, \u003ci\u003eEsport Play\u003c\/i\u003e probes and advances current gaming topics such as addiction, skill development, and toxicity. With a focus on \u003ci\u003eLeague of Legends\u003c\/i\u003e – one of the flagship esports of our time – Karhulahti explicates what esport play is: documenting and identifying competitive play as a present-day means to satisfy basic human needs. Ultimately, the book presents a theory of psycholudic development that explains and organizes the development of player-play relationships that may last for years.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eReview(s):\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Esports has gone from a curiosity to global spectacle. Matti Karhulahti compiles everything you'd want to know about the about the psychology of esports under one cover.  A must-read for those interested in esports.” —\u003ci\u003eChristopher J. Ferguson, Professor of Psychology, Stetson University, USA\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“If \u003ci\u003eLeague of Legends \u003c\/i\u003eis such a toxic game space, why is it so popular? Finally, a book that makes real progress in answering this question. Karhulahti's deep dive into playing League, coupled with traditional and new theoretical approaches to understanding digital games gives us a fresh view into understanding why people play (and enjoy!) this game. If you want to better understand the appeal of MOBAs and esports, read this book.” —\u003ci\u003eMia Consalvo, Professor and Canada Research Chair In Game Studies \u0026amp; Design, Concordia University Montreal, Canada\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eISBN:  9781501359347\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e ","brand":"Bloomsbury Academic","offers":[{"title":"Hardback","offer_id":40804363206862,"sku":"9781501359347","price":110.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0600\/7029\/7806\/products\/getimage_9804eeb6-e9d3-444e-bbb4-886cfa40eaa7.jpg?v=1642574622","url":"https:\/\/pickwickbookshop.com\/products\/9781501359347","provider":"Pickwick Bookshop","version":"1.0","type":"link"}