Why Do Games Work?, In Search of the Active Substance

Richard D. Duke, one of the founding fathers of the gaming discipline, once said: It works: that's all we have.' He is now one of the authors of this book that sets out to answer the questions: Why do games work and what is the active substance that makes them do what they do?

The three Dutch editors took the initiative and invited professionals and scientists from different fields, from different disciplines, and from all over the world to contribute their answers to this intriguing question. The book presents a state-of-the-art overview that will help us to understand simulation games. It contains contributions from theory, applications and practice. The set of applications covers psychodrama, culture, change, learning, narratives, military, communication, homo ludens, management and many more areas.

This book contains many contributions from professional gamers who share their insights concerning the active substance of simulation games. Therefore, it is of value to everyone who wants to understand why simulation games really work.