Power-Up: Unlocking the Hidden Mathematics in Video Games
By Matthew Lane
3.5/5
()
About this ebook
A fun and lively look at the mathematical ideas concealed in video games
Did you know that every time you pick up the controller to your PlayStation or Xbox, you are entering a game world steeped in mathematics? Power-Up reveals the hidden mathematics in many of today's most popular video games and explains why mathematical learning doesn't just happen in the classroom or from books—you're doing it without even realizing it when you play games on your cell phone.
In this lively and entertaining book, Matthew Lane discusses how gamers are engaging with the traveling salesman problem when they play Assassin's Creed, why it is mathematically impossible for Mario to jump through the Mushroom Kingdom in Super Mario Bros., and how The Sims teaches us the mathematical costs of maintaining relationships. He looks at mathematical pursuit problems in classic games like Missile Command and Ms. Pac-Man, and how each time you play Tetris, you're grappling with one of the most famous unsolved problems in all of mathematics and computer science. Along the way, Lane discusses why Family Feud and Pictionary make for ho-hum video games, how realism in video games (or the lack of it) influences learning, what video games can teach us about the mathematics of voting, the mathematics of designing video games, and much more.
Power-Up shows how the world of video games is an unexpectedly rich medium for learning about the beautiful mathematical ideas that touch all aspects of our lives—including our virtual ones.
Related to Power-Up
Related ebooks
Power-Up: How Japanese Video Games Gave the World an Extra Life Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/58 Bits of Wisdom: Video Game Lessons for Real Life's Endbosses Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5The Greatest Art Form: Video Games and the Evolution of Artistic Expression Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsGrowing Up Gamer: A Video Game Memoir Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsChips Challenging Champions: Games, Computers and Artificial Intelligence Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsClassic Video Games: The Golden Age 1971–1984 Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Four Phases Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsCrowdgaming: The Role of Crowdsourcing in the Video Games Industry Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsGameMaker Programming By Example Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Games of the Decade Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThink Like A Game Designer Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Procedural Content Generation for Unity Game Development Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsVideo Games and Creativity Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Becoming a Video Game Designer Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThinking about Video Games: Interviews with the Experts Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Indie Games: The Complete Introduction to Indie Gaming Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Utilizing RPG Maker VX Ace Lite Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Video Game Careers - Beginners Guide: Video Game Careers, #1 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsHow to Play a Video Game Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Swipe This!: The Guide to Great Touchscreen Game Design Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5PlayStation 3,PS2,PS One, PSP: Video game cheats tips secrets for playstation 3 PS3 PS1 and PSP Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsPower Play: How Video Games Can Save the World Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Breaking Into Video Game Design Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Before the Crash: Early Video Game History Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5GameMaker Cookbook Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsSignificant Zero: Heroes, Villains, and the Fight for Art and Soul in Video Games Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Gamer's Bucket List: The 50 Video Games to Play Before You Die Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Game Work: Language, Power, and Computer Game Culture Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5
Video Games For You
Sonic the Hedgehog: The Official Cookbook Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Pojo's Unofficial Big Book of Pokemon Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5The SNES Encyclopedia: Every Game Released for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Super World of Mario: The Ultimate Unofficial Guide to Super Mario® Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Big Book of Five Nights at Freddy's: The Deluxe Unofficial Survival Guide Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The BIG Book of Animal Crossing: New Horizons: Everything you need to know to create your island paradise! Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Big Book of Zelda: The Unofficial Guide to Breath of the Wild and The Legend of Zelda Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Big Book of Super Mario: The Unofficial Guide to Super Mario and the Mushroom Kingdom Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsDark Souls : Beyond the Grave - Volume 1: Demons Souls - Dark Souls - Dark Souls II Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Fallout: A Tale of Mutation Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Legendary World of Zelda Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Legend of Zelda. The History of a Legendary Saga Vol. 2: Breath of the Wild Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsZelda: The history of a legendary saga Rating: 2 out of 5 stars2/5The Big Book of Roblox: The Deluxe Unofficial Game Guide Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Narrative Design for Indies: Getting Started Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Ultimate Final Fantasy XIV Cookbook: The Essential Culinarian Guide to Hydaelyn Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Quest for the Golden Apple: An Unofficial Graphic Novel for Minecrafters Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Pojo's Unofficial Advanced Pokemon Go: The Best Tips and Strategies for the World's Hottest Game! Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Think Like A Game Designer Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5NES Classic: The Ultimate Guide to The Legend Of Zelda Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Monsters Know What They're Doing: Combat Tactics for Dungeon Masters Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5GTA V Game Guides Walkthrough Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Ultimate Guide to The Legend of Zelda A Link to the Past Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsMaster Builder Roblox: The Essential Guide Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The NES Encyclopedia: Every Game Released for the Nintendo Entertainment System Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5101 Awesome Builds: Minecraft® Secrets from the World's Greatest Crafters Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5
Reviews for Power-Up
3 ratings0 reviews