mtshark7 Posted July 4, 2012 Share Posted July 4, 2012 So I know on here someone who is a member on here published a book on video games, I was trying to search for the thread cos I was interested in buying a copy and can't seem to find it. I was wondering if anyone knew of the thread link or the person who published the book. I know it's on amazon.com too. Thanks! Also does anyone know of any other good video game books that are entertaining to read. I been trying to get back into reading and figure this is the best way to. Thanks again! -Mark Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoulBlazer Posted July 4, 2012 Share Posted July 4, 2012 The the three best video game books that I read (if you are looking for history of the industry) are these three titles, all of which compliment one another very well and can all be found for good prices used on Amazon: "The Ultimate History of Video Games" by Stephen Kent "Phoenix" by Leonard Herman "Videogames: In the Beginning" by Ralph Baer 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greg2600 Posted July 5, 2012 Share Posted July 5, 2012 Rusel de Maria's HighScore books are cool, lots of pictures. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tenorman Posted July 5, 2012 Share Posted July 5, 2012 If you are interested at all in early home computers as well as game consoles, I'd recommend "Commodore: A Company on the Edge" by Brian Bagnall. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0973864966/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0973864966&linkCode=as2&tag=atariage I'm not a huge Commodore guy, but I still found it very interesting. Some of it is very pertitent to classic gaming in general, such as how the MOS 6502 came about. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cimerians Posted July 5, 2012 Share Posted July 5, 2012 If you are interested at all in early home computers as well as game consoles, I'd recommend "Commodore: A Company on the Edge" by Brian Bagnall. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0973864966/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0973864966&linkCode=as2&tag=atariage I'm not a huge Commodore guy, but I still found it very interesting. Some of it is very pertitent to classic gaming in general, such as how the MOS 6502 came about. Whoa! this is great! Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mtshark7 Posted July 5, 2012 Author Share Posted July 5, 2012 Ah Ha! I found the book i was looking for! http://www.atariage.com/forums/topic/159897-driving-crazy-my-debut-novel/page__st__75__p__2437310__hl__my%20book?do=findComment&comment=2437310 Has anyone read the book above? It looks like a good read. Also here is anohter C64 book that's supposed to be good too: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0977998304/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0977998304&linkCode=as2&tag=atariage Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jerseystyle Posted July 5, 2012 Share Posted July 5, 2012 I would recommend Racing The Beam. It analyzes (using specific games as examples) how the limitations/strengths of the Atari 2600 led game developers at the time to find creative solutions and designs still used today. Very interesting, and not too technical http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/026201257X/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=026201257X&linkCode=as2&tag=atariage Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Megaman Legends Posted July 8, 2012 Share Posted July 8, 2012 I recommend Game Over or Replay: The Complete History of Video Games Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R.O.T.S Posted July 13, 2012 Share Posted July 13, 2012 Ultimate History Of Video Games is the most interesting book i have probably ever have read,some of the things that used to go on in Atari lol 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GameGirl420 Posted July 15, 2012 Share Posted July 15, 2012 Ultimate History Of Video Games is the most interesting book i have probably ever have read,some of the things that used to go on in Atari lol Oh yea that's a great read! I need to get that one soon.When I was going to art college a couple years ago I borrowed that from the school library. Really fun read. Yes Atari employees of the late 70's/early 80's sure knew how to party lol. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
desiv Posted July 16, 2012 Share Posted July 16, 2012 A book that I haven't read yet (What? You're recommending a book you haven't read yet? -- er.. I've been meaning too.. um.. it looks good.. :-), is http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1568814119/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1568814119&linkCode=as2&tag=atariage Written by Matt Barton of youtube's Matt Chatt (He wrote the book long before Matt Chatt, but if you browse youtube, you might have seen him there..). Also, another plug for the Bagnell Commodore book. I did read that one, and it's a great read.. desiv Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seob Posted July 16, 2012 Share Posted July 16, 2012 a nice book is the encyclopedia of game.machines by gameplan. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Desfeek Posted July 16, 2012 Share Posted July 16, 2012 Along with aforementioned titles (Ultimate History of Video Games!) I also enjoyed Vintage Games by AAer Bill Loguidice and Matt Barton. Each chapter highlights a revolutionary game of its timeframe - and truly helped me understand the nostalgia behind Utopia, Alone in the Dark, and flight simulators, among others: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0240811461/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0240811461&linkCode=as2&tag=atariage Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vaughan Posted July 16, 2012 Share Posted July 16, 2012 How about an excellent book on the making of what was - Windows NT? Love this book..... SHOWSTOPPER Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ledzep Posted July 16, 2012 Share Posted July 16, 2012 I really really like Supercade http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0262524201/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=atariage&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0262524201 It has, in my view, easily the best photography and hits on most of the great arcade games. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Retro Rogue Posted July 17, 2012 Share Posted July 17, 2012 Ultimate History Of Video Games is the most interesting book i have probably ever have read,some of the things that used to go on in Atari lol Unfortunately, it's full of a lot of incorrect facts. In fact it's notorious for it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jess Ragan Posted July 17, 2012 Share Posted July 17, 2012 Oh yeah, Jack Tramiel actually loved video games and farted rainbows, sunshine, and candy. -_-;;; Anyway, if you want to pry open some of your favorite oldies, Ken Uston's SCORE and Mastering Pac-Man are both worth a look. I also liked Craig Kubey's The Winners' Book of Video Games, written from the viewpoint of a gamer in early 1983, but without the saccharin sweetness that often comes with the territory. Kubey's got teeth, tearing into the Intellivision (he refers to George Plimpton as "the best preppie money can buy"), and the Odyssey2 ("calling this Alien Invaders: Plus! makes as much sense as calling Phyllis Diller 'Catherine Deneuve: Plus!'") without reservations. I find the cynicism refreshing, which is why I enjoyed what I've seen of the later issues of Creem's Vidiot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoulBlazer Posted July 17, 2012 Share Posted July 17, 2012 Ultimate History Of Video Games is the most interesting book i have probably ever have read,some of the things that used to go on in Atari lol Unfortunately, it's full of a lot of incorrect facts. In fact it's notorious for it. True, but it's worth reading just for the great interviews. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Retro Rogue Posted July 18, 2012 Share Posted July 18, 2012 Oh yeah, Jack Tramiel actually loved video games and farted rainbows, sunshine, and candy. -_-;;; No, but very bad gaffes like claiming the Atari Coin and Consumer buildings were connected when they weren't and tying the 'imperial forces' comment to that. (Coin headquarters was in a completely different city at the time.) Or getting basic info on the Vectrex wrong. Etc. Ultimate History Of Video Games is the most interesting book i have probably ever have read,some of the things that used to go on in Atari lol Unfortunately, it's full of a lot of incorrect facts. In fact it's notorious for it. True, but it's worth reading just for the great interviews. You have to take those with a grain of salt as well unfortunately. People's memories can be off, they can be glorifying a situation or details, they can even be very self-serving. We had to do a lot of cross-validation on stories and happenings with people while doing the interviews for our book. Likewise we had to be carefull not to cross-contaminate (i.e. not suggest the answer via the question asked, but rather ask a very generic question on the subject and see if the same story or happening comes out). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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