Virtual Cities

Virtual Cities
Author: Konstantinos Dimopoulos
Publisher: Unbound Publishing
Total Pages: 257
Release: 2020-11-12
Genre: Games & Activities
ISBN: 1783528508

Virtual cities are places of often-fractured geographies, impossible physics, outrageous assumptions and almost untamed imaginations given digital structure. This book, the first atlas of its kind, aims to explore, map, study and celebrate them. To imagine what they would be like in reality. To paint a lasting picture of their domes, arches and walls. From metropolitan sci-fi open worlds and medieval fantasy towns to contemporary cities and glimpses of gothic horror, author and urban planner Konstantinos Dimopoulos and visual artist Maria Kallikaki have brought to life over forty game cities. Together, they document the deep and exhilarating history of iconic gaming landscapes through richly illustrated commentary and analysis. Virtual Cities transports us into these imaginary worlds, through cities that span over four decades of digital history across literary and gaming genres. Travel to fantasy cities like World of Warcraft’s Orgrimmar and Grim Fandango’s Rubacava; envision what could be in the familiar cities of Assassin’s Creed’s London and Gabriel Knight’s New Orleans; and steal a glimpse of cities of the future, in Final Fantasy VII’s Midgar and Half-Life 2’s City 17. Within, there are many more worlds to discover – each formed in the deepest corners of the imagination, their immense beauty and complexity astounding for artists, game designers, world builders and, above all, anyone who plays and cares about video games.

Deus Ex: Black Light (Deus Ex: Mankind Divided prequel)

Deus Ex: Black Light (Deus Ex: Mankind Divided prequel)
Author: James Swallow
Publisher: Titan Books (US, CA)
Total Pages: 243
Release: 2016-08-23
Genre: Fiction
ISBN: 1785651218

ILLUMINATE THE SHADOWS The year is 2029, and the shining promise of a new age of human augmentation is in ruins in the wake of the devastating ‘Aug Incident’ – a horrific catastrophe triggered by a cabal of shadowy power brokers, where millions of cybernetically-enhanced people suffered a forced psychotic break. Awakening in the aftermath of a changed world, with gaps in his memories and suspicion on all sides, augmented ex-cop and former security operative Adam Jensen struggles to piece his life back together, in a new reality where ‘Augs’ have become the targets of hatred, fear and violent discrimination. Now the dark forces behind the Incident are gathering once again, reaching out to manipulate the course of global events through terror and intimidation. To find the answers that he seeks and the people who destroyed everything he knew, Jensen must return to the ashes of the past, reconnect with old allies, and risk all to expose a deadly conspiracy – but in a world shattered by secrets, can the truth be brought into the light? A brand-new official Deus Ex novel, bridging events between Deus Ex: Human Revolution and the brand-new game Deus Ex: Mankind Divided.

Dishonored - The Corroded Man

Dishonored - The Corroded Man
Author: Adam Christopher
Publisher: Titan Books (US, CA)
Total Pages: 279
Release: 2016-09-27
Genre: Fiction
ISBN: 1783293071

A strange, shrouded figure appears in Dunwall, seeming to possess powers once wielded by the assassin known as Daud. Faced with the possibility that their deadliest foe has returned, Emily and Corvo plunge headlong into a life-and-death race against time. If they fail to learn the truth about this mysterious enemy, the result could be destruction on an unimaginable scale.

Things I Learned from Mario's Butt

Things I Learned from Mario's Butt
Author: Laura Kate Dale
Publisher: Unbound Publishing
Total Pages: 163
Release: 2021-02-04
Genre: Games & Activities
ISBN: 1783528915

Have you ever wondered why some video game characters wear trousers and others don’t? Or pondered the connection between a character’s toned, muscular derrière and their level of dexterity? What about the depth of a crack, the jiggle of a cheek? When it comes to video game character designs, one of the most overlooked aspects is the buttocks. Sure, we might appreciate a nice toned butt on a character or giggle at GIFs of farts from time to time, but how often do we stop to really think about the meaning of the butt? In Things I Learned from Mario’s Butt, video game critic Laura Kate Dale brings backsides to the foreground, analysing dozens of posteriors and asking the important questions: Has Mario let himself go? Do Link’s small buttocks hold him back? When he dies, is Pac-Man eaten by his own caboose? Wedged full of original artwork by Zack Flavin, and featuring interviews with game developers and guest butt reviews from gaming favourites such as Jim Sterling, Stuart Ashen, Brentalfloss and more, this book is a deep dive into why butts are downright integral to the games we play. So, crack it open and have a cheeky look inside at some of the most interesting bottoms the world of video games has to offer.

Atlas of Cyberspace

Atlas of Cyberspace
Author: Martin Dodge
Publisher: Addison-Wesley Professional
Total Pages: 296
Release: 2001
Genre: Computers
ISBN:

"The Atlas of Cyberspace" is one of the first books to explore the new cartographic and visualization techniques being employed to map the spatial and visual nature of cyberspace and its infrastructure. Lavish illustrations and clear writing are aimed at the intelligent lay person and should appeal to all Web users.

Anime Architecture

Anime Architecture
Author: Stefan Riekele
Publisher: National Geographic Books
Total Pages: 0
Release: 2020-11-17
Genre: Architecture
ISBN: 0500294526

An unrivaled visual guide to the cityscapes and buildings of the most celebrated and influential anime movies. Anime has been influencing cinema, literature, comic books, and video games around the world for decades. Part of what makes anime so popular are the memorable and breathtakingly detailed worlds designed by the creators, from futuristic cities of steel to romantic rural locales. Anime Architecture presents the fantastic environments created by the most important and revered directors and illustrators of Japanese animated films, such as Hideaki Anno, Koji Morimoto, and Mamoru Oshii. Unprecedented access to vast studio archives of original background paintings, storyboards, drafts, and film excerpts offers readers a privileged view into the earliest stages of conception, development, and finished versions of iconic scenes from critically acclaimed movies such as Akira, Ghost in the Shell, Metropolis, and more. Revealing the secret creative processes of these major anime studios, Anime Architecture is perfect for anyone touched by the beauty and imagination of classic anime, offering inspiration for artists, illustrators, architects, designers, video game makers, and dreamers.

Gamescenes

Gamescenes
Author: Matteo Bittanti
Publisher: Johan & Levi Editore
Total Pages: 468
Release: 2006
Genre: Art
ISBN:

Illustrates artistic expressions made with an emphasis on videogames. Text in English and Italian.

Planet City

Planet City
Author: Liam Young
Publisher:
Total Pages:
Release: 2020-12-17
Genre:
ISBN: 9780648685876

Planet City is a speculation of what might happen if the world collapsed into a new home for 10 billion people, allowing the rest of the world to return to a global wilderness. It is both an extraordinary image of tomorrow and an urgent examination of the environmental questions that face us today.

Architectonics of Game Spaces

Architectonics of Game Spaces
Author: Andri Gerber
Publisher: Transcript Verlag, Roswitha Gost, Sigrid Nokel u. Dr. Karin Werner
Total Pages: 346
Release: 2019-10
Genre:
ISBN: 9783837648027

What consequences does the design of the virtual yield for architecture and to what extent can architecture be used to turn game-worlds into sustainable places in "reality"? This pioneering collection gives an overview of contemporary developments in designing video games and of the relationships such practices have established with architecture.

Virtual Cities: An Atlas & Exploration of Video Game Cities

Virtual Cities: An Atlas & Exploration of Video Game Cities
Author: Konstantinos Dimopoulos
Publisher: The Countryman Press
Total Pages: 399
Release: 2020-11-10
Genre: Design
ISBN: 1682686108

Immerse yourself in 45 spectacularly imagined virtual cities, from Arkham City to Whiterun, in this beautifully illustrated unofficial guide. Spanning decades of digital history, this is the ultimate travel guide and atlas of the gamer imagination. Dimopoulos invites readers to share his vision of dozens of different gaming franchises like never before: discover Dimopoulos’s Half-Life 2’s City 17, Yakuza 0’s Kamurocho, Fallout’s New Vegas, Super Mario Odyssey’s New Donk City, and many more. Each chapter of this virtual travel guide consists of deep dives into the history and lore of these cities from an in-universe perspective. Illustrated with original color ink drawings and—of course—gorgeous and detailed maps, readers can explore the nostalgic games of their youth as well as modern hits. Sidebars based on the author’s research tell behind-the-scenes anecdotes and reveal the real-world stories that inspired these iconic virtual settings. With a combination of stylish original maps, illustrations, and insightful commentary and analysis, this is a must-have for video game devotees, world-building fans, and game design experts.