Everything to Play For

Marijam Did’s book offers a critical yet hopeful look at the videogame industry, now larger than film and music combined.

Combining cultural theory, materialist critique, and personal anecdotes, Did explores how games—from Pong and Doom to complex multiplayer and narrative-driven titles—reflect and shape the world.

The book highlights the stories of gaming communities, political actors within them, and the often harsh realities faced by those who make the games.

Did argues for a nuanced understanding of gaming’s influence, suggesting that its extraordinary power can be harnessed for egalitarian and progressive goals, rather than reinforcing hyper-materialist or reactionary agendas.

The book also addresses issues like labor conditions in the industry, the politics of game design, and the potential for games to challenge the status quo.