The eighteen original essays in this collection, woven together, make a central claim: as a consequence of the new driving logics of globalization, transnationalism, and the digital age, all late-modern institutions and forms of association and affiliation are coalescing under the banner of new identities. These logics have unsettled the processes of the social integration of modern subjects into late-modern institutions. The modern subject is being remade and reproduced in a context in which the relations between government, society, the individual, and market forces have undergone profound transformations and reorganization. As such, critical/cultural theory is needed to address these transformations in a way that moves beyond dystopian or utopian frameworks, and instead point to the particularities that make this moment (un)livable. Hence, this book is divided into four sections in which contributors map these new, volatile developments across the domains of disciplinary history, technology, the body, and neoliberal programs of cultural and economic globalization.

The eighteen original essays in this collection, woven together, make a central claim: as a consequence of the new driving logics of globalization, transnationalism, and the digital age, all late-modern institutions and forms of association and affiliation are coalescing under the banner of new identities. These logics have unsettled the processes of the social integration of modern subjects into late-modern institutions. The modern subject is being remade and reproduced in a context in which the relations between government, society, the individual, and market forces have undergone profound transformations and reorganization. As such, critical/cultural theory is needed to address these transformations in a way that moves beyond dystopian or utopian frameworks, and instead point to the particularities that make this moment (un)livable. Hence, this book is divided into four sections in which contributors map these new, volatile developments across the domains of disciplinary history, technology, the body, and neoliberal programs of cultural and economic globalization.

Video games take players on a trip through ancient battlefields, to mythic worlds, and across galaxies. They provide players with a way to try on new identities and acquire vast superpowers. Video games also give people the chance to hit reset - to play again and again until they achieve a desired outcome. Their popularity has enabled them to grow far beyond their humble origins and to permeate other forms of popular culture, from comic books and graphic novels to films and television programs. Video games are universal. In 100 Greatest Video Game Franchises, editors Robert Mejia, Jaime Banks, and Aubrie Adams have assembled essays that identify, assess, and reveal the most important video games of all-time. Each entry makes a case for the game's cultural significance and why it deserves to be on the list, from its influence on other games to its impact on an international scale. In addition to providing information about the game developer and when the franchise was established, these entries explore the connections between the different video games, examining them across genre, theme, and content. This accessible collection of essays gives readers an opportunity to gauge their favorite video game franchises against the best of all time and argue how they each fit among the 100 greatest ever created. Whether casually looking up information on these games or eager to learn how franchises evolved over the years, readers will enjoy this entertaining and informative volume. Comprehensive and engaging, 100 Greatest Video Game Franchises will appeal to fans and scholars alike.

Though in existence for only a few decades, video games are now firmly established in mainstream culture all around the planet. Every year new games are produced, and every year new favorites emerge. But certain characters have become so iconic that they withstand both time and the shifting interests of players. Such creations permeate other elements of popular culture-from graphic novels to film-and are known not only to dedicated gamers but to the general public as well. In 100 Greatest Video Game Characters, readers can learn about some of the most popular and influential figures that have leapt from computer monitors and television screens and into the public consciousness. The entries in this volume provide general facts about the characters as well as explore their cultural significance. The entries include the following information: *Game developer *Year character was established *Video game franchise In addition, the book examines the commonalities of various video game characters to help readers better understand their popularity and how they operate within the video games and the industry itself. Whether casually looking up information on video game characters or researching what these icons says about society, readers will enjoy this entertaining and informative volume. Comprehensive and engaging, 100 Greatest Video Game Characters will appeal to fans and scholars alike.