Player vs Monster By Jaroslav Svelch

"Player vs. Monster" delves into the integral role monsters play in video games and their influence on shaping cultural perceptions of monstrosity over the past fifty years. From the early dragons in tabletop role-playing games to pixelated aliens in Space Invaders and the mutated creatures in modern titles like The Last of Us and Bloodborne, the book explores the common threads connecting these monsters.

Jaroslav Švelch examines the art of monster design, tracing its influences from mythology, visual arts, popular culture, and tabletop role-playing games. The book covers a wide range of monsters, from aliens to zombies, highlighting the evolution of monster depictions in video games. Švelch notes that video games often follow a Cold War-era notion, portraying monsters as irredeemably evil yet inherently vulnerable to defeat.

While acknowledging the appeal of such simplistic portrayals, the book also discusses the potential for the medium to evolve, presenting more nuanced depictions of monstrosity in video games 📚❤️