Video Game Books Discussion Thread
#1
DVD Talk Godfather
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Video Game Books Discussion Thread
I originally thought of creating a thread just to discuss the book Console Wars that came out a few days ago, but thought I would make a more generic book thread for anything video game related. I know this could go in Book Talk, but given the subject matter I think we would get more discussion here. A lot of these stories fascinate me.
Anyway, anyone interested or going to pick up Console Wars? I'm tempted to buy it and give it a read, it seems pretty interesting. There's a thread on a movie adaptation over in Movie Talk.
http://www.amazon.com/Console-Wars-N.../dp/0062276697
The spots site Grantland actually has an excerpt from the book here -
http://grantland.com/features/the-ri...games-history/
And Kotaku has a review of the book here -
http://kotaku.com/console-wars-the-k...iew-1576289967
If anyone has other good recommendations for books, that would be great. I have this book Rogue Leaders, The Story of LucasArts that is a fun read as a fan of their old adventure games, and even more sad given they're completely shut down now. It's a great read and highly recommended.
http://www.amazon.com/Rogue-Leaders-...=rogue+leaders
I never did get around to reading Masters of Doom.
http://www.amazon.com/Masters-Doom-C...asters+of+doom
Anyway, anyone interested or going to pick up Console Wars? I'm tempted to buy it and give it a read, it seems pretty interesting. There's a thread on a movie adaptation over in Movie Talk.
http://www.amazon.com/Console-Wars-N.../dp/0062276697
The spots site Grantland actually has an excerpt from the book here -
http://grantland.com/features/the-ri...games-history/
And Kotaku has a review of the book here -
http://kotaku.com/console-wars-the-k...iew-1576289967
As Console Wars wraps up, readers are led to one overwhelming conclusion: Under the unfettered leadership of Tom Kalinske, Sega of America thrived, was practically invincible, and would have continued to dominate the American video game market, if not for the meddling of a suddenly overzealous Sega of Japan. Harris tells us that every bad decision Sega made that resulted in a loss of market share—the ill-advised 32X add-on and the premature launch of the doomed Saturn console among them—was entirely within the purview of Sega's stubborn parent company, and was made despite Kalinske's protests. P
The narrative even goes so far as to suggest that the mere existence of Saturn's competition—the Nintendo 64 and Sony's original PlayStation—was Sega of Japan's fault. Kalinske, Harris tells us, orchestrated partnerships that would have essentially put the technology behind these into Sega products instead, but his Japanese bosses dismissed the plans with little to no explanation, forever dooming Sega into a distant third and, we're left on our own to conclude, ultimately out of the hardware business entirely.
The narrative even goes so far as to suggest that the mere existence of Saturn's competition—the Nintendo 64 and Sony's original PlayStation—was Sega of Japan's fault. Kalinske, Harris tells us, orchestrated partnerships that would have essentially put the technology behind these into Sega products instead, but his Japanese bosses dismissed the plans with little to no explanation, forever dooming Sega into a distant third and, we're left on our own to conclude, ultimately out of the hardware business entirely.
If anyone has other good recommendations for books, that would be great. I have this book Rogue Leaders, The Story of LucasArts that is a fun read as a fan of their old adventure games, and even more sad given they're completely shut down now. It's a great read and highly recommended.
http://www.amazon.com/Rogue-Leaders-...=rogue+leaders
I never did get around to reading Masters of Doom.
http://www.amazon.com/Masters-Doom-C...asters+of+doom
#2
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DVD Talk Legend
#4
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Video Game Books Discussion Thread
x2 for Ready Player One. Anyone who was around during the 80's and grew up playing games and watching geeky movies needs to read it. I couldn't put it down.
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Re: Video Game Books Discussion Thread
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Re: Video Game Books Discussion Thread
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/bNBcu0H-q10" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Recommended it to my Brother In Law about it and he loved it as well. There was even a real life contest similar to the one in the book. I actually figured out the first puzzle without any help but never got past the second puzzle/challenge. The grand prize was a modded Delorian.
#8
DVD Talk Special Edition
Re: Video Game Books Discussion Thread
#10
Re: Video Game Books Discussion Thread
Funny this thread was bumped. I just had two books arrive at my door today.
http://www.amazon.com/Art-Video-Game...of+video+games
http://www.amazon.com/Halo-Encyclope...o+encyclopedia
http://www.amazon.com/Art-Video-Game...of+video+games
http://www.amazon.com/Halo-Encyclope...o+encyclopedia
#12
DVD Talk Godfather
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Re: Video Game Books Discussion Thread
If anyone is interested, the Console Wars book is only $1.99 on Kindle. I'm going to pick it up.
https://www.amazon.com/Console-Wars-...16%5Bb%7Cdeals
https://www.amazon.com/Console-Wars-...16%5Bb%7Cdeals
#13
Re: Video Game Books Discussion Thread
That looks like a good read and our local library carries it. Requested.
Sorry I missed your post before. Absolutely gorgeous. For awhile there, I was reading a couple pages every night to my son before bed, he loved the art. I really need to get back to it.
I also can't believe how ridiculously expensive that Halo Encyclopedia has gotten. I guess it's out of print now or something. Prices on Amazon are between $60 to $200 now.
Not VG related, but I did add this to the collection last year. It's a great book if you like Batman TAS. I picked it up for $20 and now it's going between $65 to $120. Crazy.
https://www.amazon.com/Batman-Animat...nimated+series
Sorry I missed your post before. Absolutely gorgeous. For awhile there, I was reading a couple pages every night to my son before bed, he loved the art. I really need to get back to it.
I also can't believe how ridiculously expensive that Halo Encyclopedia has gotten. I guess it's out of print now or something. Prices on Amazon are between $60 to $200 now.
Not VG related, but I did add this to the collection last year. It's a great book if you like Batman TAS. I picked it up for $20 and now it's going between $65 to $120. Crazy.
https://www.amazon.com/Batman-Animat...nimated+series
Last edited by mattysemo247; 01-18-17 at 01:07 PM.
#14
DVD Talk Godfather
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Re: Video Game Books Discussion Thread
The US version of Super Mario Bros Encyclopedia is coming out October 23rd.
https://www.engadget.com/2018/02/19/...us-in-october/
I saw on Slickdeals that it's $23.99 on Amazon for Pre-Order.
I dig things like this, so putting in a pre-order. I've been meaning to get those Zelda books too.
https://www.engadget.com/2018/02/19/...us-in-october/
I saw on Slickdeals that it's $23.99 on Amazon for Pre-Order.
I dig things like this, so putting in a pre-order. I've been meaning to get those Zelda books too.
#15
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Re: Video Game Books Discussion Thread
Jason Schreier's Blood, Sweat, and Pixels is essential reading, for anyone who hasn't picked it up. It's a deep dive into the making of quite a few different games, not all of which even made it onto store shelves.
#16
Re: Video Game Books Discussion Thread
I also recommend this. I've been listening to it through Audible and it's extremely fascinating.
#17
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Re: Video Game Books Discussion Thread
I've been meaning to read that book. I know he embellishes some details though, I have friends that have directly refuted some of the wording used in one of the stories he writes about
#18
DVD Talk Limited Edition
Re: Video Game Books Discussion Thread
Not bad, but kind of a bummer, alrhough it did make me glad I didn’t go into that business.
#19
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Video Game Books Discussion Thread
Loved this thread. Reading Console Wars right now because of it, have all books saved to read later. I love books about video games.
#20
DVD Talk Godfather
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Re: Video Game Books Discussion Thread
Console Wars is only $1.99 on Kindle again.
A bunch of upcoming video game books being released soon have me interested.
Final Fantasy Ultimania Archive Volume 1 is out July 24th, covering games 1 - 6. I have this pre-ordered.
Volume 2 comes out in November covering the PS1 era games, 7 - 9.
A bunch of upcoming video game books being released soon have me interested.
Final Fantasy Ultimania Archive Volume 1 is out July 24th, covering games 1 - 6. I have this pre-ordered.
Volume 2 comes out in November covering the PS1 era games, 7 - 9.
Last edited by fumanstan; 07-13-18 at 07:04 PM.
#21
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Video Game Books Discussion Thread
I've been thinking about ordering The Art of Point and Click Adventure Games since that's probably favorite genre of games. The collector's edition looks cool but I don't know if I want to shell out that much.
https://www.bitmapbooks.co.uk/produc...dventure-games
https://www.bitmapbooks.co.uk/produc...dventure-games
#22
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Re: Video Game Books Discussion Thread
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Vo4HDgvShVc" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen></iframe>
This came out the other day.
And damn, I want this!
This came out the other day.
I've been thinking about ordering The Art of Point and Click Adventure Games since that's probably favorite genre of games. The collector's edition looks cool but I don't know if I want to shell out that much.
https://www.bitmapbooks.co.uk/produc...dventure-games
https://www.bitmapbooks.co.uk/produc...dventure-games
#23
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Video Game Books Discussion Thread
I've been thinking about ordering The Art of Point and Click Adventure Games since that's probably favorite genre of games. The collector's edition looks cool but I don't know if I want to shell out that much.
https://www.bitmapbooks.co.uk/produc...dventure-games
https://www.bitmapbooks.co.uk/produc...dventure-games
Also just got my copy of D&D Arts and Arcana. Another amazing book if you're a fan.
#24
Re: Video Game Books Discussion Thread
Game Over by David Sheff is fucking great. It goes into a deep detail of Nintendo’s history from the late 70s to about before the N64 launch. The section on Tetris is worth it alone, but you learn about a lot of key players and there are a ton of stories, including the Donkey Kong lawsuit, Arakawa and Lincoln’s friendship, the growing success, etc.
I did see a good movie in there years before those console wars fuckers optioned a screenplay
I did see a good movie in there years before those console wars fuckers optioned a screenplay
#25