This book constitutes the thoroughly refereed proceedings of the 8th International Conference on Entertainment Computing, ICEC 2009, held in Paris, France, in September 2009, under the auspices of IFIP.

The 14 revised long papers, 19 short papers and 23 poster papers and demos presented were carefully reviewed and selected from 105 submissions for inclusion in the book.

The papers cover all main domains of entertainment computing, from interactive music to games, taking a wide range of scientific domains from aesthetic to computer science.

This book explores the development of the video game as a new form of interactive media and a template for future modes of entertainment. While television programs and movies are predominantly passive enterprises, video games engage the audience and provide not only audio-visual stimulation but also an enriching interaction that creates a heightened sense of immersion. Through a detailed discussion of gameplay and game design principles, Natkin explores the nature of this interaction and its impact on the entertainment industry. He explains the developmental process behind game design and the new concepts of narration and entertainment it has introduced. He then considers the future of gameplay with its potential for developing new means of artistic expression and its liability to be abused as an outlet for propaganda and coercion.