"High Score" a history of video games

[DeV0]

Hello all

 

Has anyone read or heard of this book? Im asking as the DPG and the book from twin galaxies isnt availabe here in OZ. This sounds like a good alternative but i wanted to make sure the authors new their stuff.

 

Any help appreciated

[Fretwobbler]

Why, you can only get your fingers on a copy from the good old Atariage shop -

 

http://www.atariage.com/store/Books.html

[DeV0]

Brilliant

 

I swear everyone on this board is brilliant! I didnt even think of looking.

 

Thanks a billion fretwobbler!

 

I needed to ask as ive read some dodgy books here in the land down under.

[DeV0]

Thanks again fretwobbler

 

Bought "High Score" just after your message and its turning out to be just what the doctor ordered.

[DanBoris]

Hello all

 

Has anyone read or heard of this book? Im asking as the DPG and the book from twin galaxies isnt availabe here in OZ. This sounds like a good alternative but i wanted to make sure the authors new their stuff.

 

Any help appreciated

 

I just finished reading High Score from cover to cover and have to say it's an excellent book and compliments the other videogame books that are out there. The one thing I got from High Score that I didn't get as much from other books was the coverage of computer games as opposed to console and arcade.

 

It's not a replacement for the Digital Press Guide, since DPG is more of a collectors guide then a history book.

 

Dan

[mstulir]

The one thing I got from High Score that I didn't get as much from other books was the coverage of computer games as opposed to console and arcade.

 

Dan, I would have to agree with you. "HIGH SCORE!" does break some new ground by covering many of the major contributions in computer gaming. I enjoyed the sections on publishers such as Cinemaware, Spectrum Holobyte, Interplay, Westwood, etc. I expected some good content here from Johhny Wilson, as he was the Editor In Chief at CGW during the time that many of these companies were hitting their stride. The book does not disappoint in that regard.

 

On the whole, I would rate the book as average. The sections on early videogame history don't have any surprises in them. All of that content could have been gathered by visiting any number of classic gaming websites. The sections on early coin-op & console games just feel "stale" to me.

 

The book has its share of errors, but it isn't chock full of stupid mistakes like Supercade.

[Phosphor Dot Fossils]

While we're on the subject of videogame histories, here's a question I asked on DP almost a year ago...am I the only person who liked Joystick Nation?

[mstulir]

While we're on the subject of videogame histories, here's a question I asked on DP almost a year ago...am I the only person who liked Joystick Nation?

 

I never heard anyone say anything good about Joystick Nation, so I never bothered to buy it. Same goes for "Zap!" Yet, for some reason, when everyone was bashing Van Burnam for Supercade, I bought it anyway. Boy, was that a big mistake.

[Fretwobbler]

Thanks again fretwobbler

 

Bought "High Score" just after your message and its turning out to be just what the doctor ordered.

 

Thats OK DeV0, just add me to your christmas card list

[slapdash]

1) As someone pointed out, High Score is mistitled in that it's mostly about computer games, not videogames. On the other hand, I'm about 2/3 of the way through it and enjoying it.

 

2) I also like Joystick Nation, as no matter you can say about JC and the errors in it, I think she got across the idea that she IS enthused with gaming. Then again, I also didn't mind Trigger Happy which a lot of people think was bad. But stay away from the Berger book!