Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

James Paul Gee begins his classic book with "I want to talk about video games--yes, even violent video games--and say some positive things about them." With this simple but explosive statement, one of America's most well-respected educators looks seriously at the good that can come from playing video games. In this revised edition, new games like World of WarCraft and Half Life 2 are evaluated and theories of cognitive development are expanded. Gee looks at major cognitive activities including how individuals develop a sense of identity, how we grasp meaning, how we evaluate and follow a command, pick a role model, and perceive the world.

Table of contents provided by Syndetics

• Introduction: 36 Ways to Learn a Video Game Semiotic Domains
• Is Playing Video Games a 'Waste of Time'?
• Learning and Identity: What Does It Mean to Be a Half-Elf?
• Situated Meaning and Learning: What Should You Do after You Have Destroyed the Global Conspiracy?
• Telling and Doing: Why Doesn't Lara Croft Obey Prof. Von Croy?
• Cultural Models: Do You Want to be the Blue Sonic or the Dark Sonic?
• The Social Mind: How Do You Get Your Corpse Back after You've Died?
• Conclusion: Duped or Not?
• Appendix: The 36 Learning Principles

Author notes provided by Syndetics

James Paul Gee has been featured in a variety of publications from Redbook, Child, Teacher , and USA Today to Education Week, The Chicago Tribune , and more. He is Professor of Education at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Described by the Chronicle of Higher Education as "a serious scholar who is taking a lead in an emerging field" he has become a major expert in game studies today.