With complex stories and stunning visuals eliciting intense emotional responses, coupled with opportunities for self-expression and problem solving, video games are a powerful medium to foster empathy, critical thinking, and creativity in players. As these games grow in popularity, ambition, and technological prowess, they become a legitimate art form, shedding old attitudes and misconceptions along the way. Examining the Evolution of Gaming and Its Impact on Social, Cultural, and Political Perspectives asks whether videogames have the power to transform a player and his or her beliefs from a sociopolitical perspective. Unlike traditional forms of storytelling, videogames allow users to immerse themselves in new worlds, situations, and politics. This publication surveys the landscape of videogames and analyzes the emergent gaming that shifts the definition and cultural effects of videogames. This book is a valuable resource to game designers and developers, sociologists, students of gaming, and researchers in relevant fields.

Contents Include: PART 1: DRAWING ROOM MAGIu Coin Palming Tricks with Coins Tricks with Common Objects Tricks with Cups and Balls Tricks with Handkerchiefs Chinese Tricks Tricks at Table Tricks with Cards PART 2: STAGE MAGIu General Remarks The Magician's Table and Dress Sleights and Properties for General Use Tricks with Cards Tricks with Handkerchiefs and Gloves Tricks with Coins Miscellaneous Tricks The Cornucopian Hat Tricks with Watches and Livestock Sham Mesmerism, Clairvoyance, Etc Some Up to Date Tricks Final Instructions

United States Marine Corps veteran David Hall presents a new and exciting way to experience the Second World War in "Blood and Guts: Rules, Tactics, and Scenarios for Wargaming World War Two." Hall developed his tactical game system through decades of personal wargaming, and he now shares his unique system with readers everywhere. The rules are easy to learn, and the games are fast-paced. The scenarios cover almost all of the major theaters of conflict, including France 1940, the Mediterranean, the South Pacific, and the Eastern Front. A table of organization and equipment is included to assist readers in recreating wargame infantry and armor formations. Hall doesn't simply provide a set of rules; he infuses each chapter with wargame theory, tactics, and tank development. He provides the logic behind each rule and talks about how the rule design plays out the battlefield. He also shares stories and anecdotes about his early "toy soldier" days and about how he developed into a wargamer-stories sure to spark readers' memories of their own first set of soldiers.

Bombs fell. Billions died. Now you must pick up the pieces and rebuild this Broken Earth. Broken Earth is an adventure-setting that takes place in a post-apocalyptic version of Earth. n it, heroes struggle to rebuild what was once the northern Midwest of the United States, and a tiny bit of southern Central Canada. As an adventure-setting, Broken Earth includes many compelling locations and adventures, but also gives the heroes freedom to explore the world. This book contains everything a GM needs to run a prolonged campaign in the Broken Earth setting, including locations, NPCs, plot points, mutant monsters, and a detailed first adventure that brings the party together. It also has new edges, races, and powers for players to use with their Broken Earth characters.

Bombs fell. Billions died. Now you must pick up the pieces and rebuild this Broken Earth. Broken Earth is an adventure setting that takes place in a post-apocalyptic version of Earth. It deals with a small fraction of the world, what was once the northern Midwest of the United States, and a tiny bit of southern Central Canada. As an adventure setting, Broken Earth includes many compelling locations and adventures, but also gives the heroes freedom to explore the world. The book gives the GM everything you need to run a prolonged campaign in the Broken Earth setting, including locations, NPCs, plot points, mutant monsters, and a detailed first adventure that brings the party together.

Contents Include: The Overhand Shuffle - The Riffle Shuffle - Flourishes - The Glide - The Glimpse - The Key Card - The Palm - The Backslip - The Overhand Shuffle II - False Shuffles and Cuts - The Double Lift and Turnover - The Pass - Miscellaneous Flourishes - The Reverses - The Hindu Shuffle and Other Controls - The Classic Force - Top and Bottom Changes - Arrangements - Routines - Platform Tricks

Contents Include: The Spectator's Card is Produced! Corn-Cobs Water, Water, Everywhere! The Very Peripatetic Paddle Those Four Acres! The Miser's Dream Come True The Egg Bag, Well Done The Two Covers and the Four Objects ... Billiards, Magic Style Razor Sharp The Ambitious Card! The Eternal Cups and Balls In Conclusion Elliot, Bruce, Keywords: Corn Cobs Razor Sharp Cups And Balls Ambitious Card Water Water Everywhere Peripatetic Miser Dream Come True Billiards Spectator Egg Magic ConclusionKeywords: Corn Cobs Razor Sharp Cups And Balls Ambitious Card Water Water Everywhere Peripatetic Miser Dream Come True Billiards Spectator Egg Magic Conclusion

We need to exercise our bodies to keep fit and the same is true for our brains. After all, what's good for your gut, your cardiovascular system, and your muscles, is good for your brain - it's all connected. This definitive mental workout will show you how to build up your brain's agility and enable you to solve problems faster and better. Perfect for anyone wanting to get their grey matter moving and improve their brain power, once and for all. The Brain Fitness Puzzle Book is an authoritative training regime for anyone wanting to get to grips with their brain and have fun whilst improving its power. Put your brain through its paces with over 80 puzzles, these varied puzzles will help you improve everything from logic and reasoning, creativity, visual and lateral thinking and concentration, and much more. Learn how to stretch your brain muscles and get your grey matter moving by following the comprehensive workout - structured to imitate a physical exercise session, with a warm-up, ramping up phase, high-intensity 'cardio' challenge, and a cool-down. Get ready to be pushed to your limits as million-copy bestselling author Dr Gareth Moore and University of Cambridge's Memory Laboratory expert, Helena M. Gellersen, show you how to put your brain to the test. Explaining the science behind the puzzles, and packed with tips and tricks throughout, this guided puzzle book is perfect for anyone wanting to improve their brain power but not quite sure where to start.