Trophy Cases

<p><b>An interdisciplinary and international roster of contributors explore the theory, design, and player practices surrounding video game reward systems, arguing for the importance of understanding trophies and achievements as a central aspect of video game design and play. </b><br><br>As PlayStation Trophies, Xbox Achievements, and other similar built-in reward systems have become widespread in the video game landscape, this volume asks critical questions about how these systems affect the games we play and the communities that surround them. <br><br>Through analyses of a range of video games, from well-known franchises like <i>Call of Duty</i> to overlooked sleeper hits like <i>Nier Automata</i> and even niche otome titles like <i>Hakuoki</i>, contributors approach these award systems from a variety of interdisciplinary perspectives to theorize their incorporation into the contemporary game market, the role they play as a component of game design, and the innovative ways that players choose to (or not to) pursue them.</p>