8bitgamer Posted March 5, 2014 Share Posted March 5, 2014 Hey everyone, My latest book, The 100 Greatest Console Video Games: 1977-1987, is now available for pre-order. It's a hardcover, full-color book from Schiffer Publishing: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0764346180/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&tag=atariage&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0764346180&linkCode=as2 There have been many top 100 books before, but rarely one like this. Here are the best of the early video games, shown in over 400 color photos and described in incredible detail in the entertaining and informative text. Each game's chapter features production history, critical commentary, quotes from industry professionals, gameplay details, comparisons to other games, author anecdotes, and more. The 100 Greatest Console Video Games: 1977-1987 celebrates the very best of the interactive entertainment industry's games from this highly crucial, fondly remembered decade. This pivotal period was marked by the introduction of the indispensable Atari 2600, Odyssey2, and Intellivision, the unleashing of the underrated Vectrex, the mind-blowing debut of the next-gen ColecoVision and Atari 5200, plus the rebirth of the industry through Nintendo's legendary juggernaut, the NES. Whether you're young or old, new to the hobby or a hardcore collector, this book will introduce you to or remind you of some of the greatest, most historically important games ever made. As always, thanks for reading! 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HARMIK Posted March 12, 2014 Share Posted March 12, 2014 I will have to get this as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AtariLynx Lover Posted March 16, 2014 Share Posted March 16, 2014 Sign me up for a review copy! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
8bitgamer Posted March 17, 2014 Author Share Posted March 17, 2014 Sign me up for a review copy! Hi, Send me an email with your information, and I'll see what I can do. brettw105 [@] sbcglobal.net Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
8bitgamer Posted August 21, 2014 Author Share Posted August 21, 2014 Sample pages are now available. You can read the "Stampede" chapter for free: http://www.brettweisswords.com/2014/08/stampede-atari-2600-100-greatest.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HARMIK Posted August 22, 2014 Share Posted August 22, 2014 Looking forward to it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HARMIK Posted September 30, 2014 Share Posted September 30, 2014 Just ordered Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kaufenpreis Posted September 30, 2014 Share Posted September 30, 2014 If Phoenix on the 2600 is not mentioned, I'm not interested. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill Loguidice Posted September 30, 2014 Share Posted September 30, 2014 If Phoenix on the 2600 is not mentioned, I'm not interested. Ah yes, the bane of authors. If my personal favorite single "x" is not in there, the whole thing is worthless. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
karokoenig Posted September 30, 2014 Share Posted September 30, 2014 1977-1987 is not available on german Amazon right now. I ordered the two "Classic Home Video Games" books instead . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
8bitgamer Posted October 5, 2014 Author Share Posted October 5, 2014 (edited) Thanks, everyone! Reviews for The 100 Greatest Console Video Games: 1977-1987 are starting to come in. You can check them out some of them here: http://videogamecritic.com/extras/books/100greatest.htm http://www.brettweisswords.com/2014/10/the-100-greatest-console-video-games.html http://www.examiner.com/article/word-play-two-video-game-books-worth-putting-your-controller-down-for http://rosepetals1984.booklikes.com/post/984265/review-100-greatest-console-video-games-1977-1987-by-brett-weiss You can listen to a podcast of me discussing the book here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1TMBN_nBWVY You can order the book here: http://www.amazon.com/The-Greatest-Console-Video-Games/dp/0764346180/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1393335803&sr=8-1&keywords=100+Greatest+Console+Video+Games%3A+1977-1987 Edited October 5, 2014 by 8bitgamer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+wongojack Posted October 11, 2014 Share Posted October 11, 2014 Phoenix is mentioned (guy with 2 posts) Sample pages are now available. You can read the "Stampede" chapter for free: http://www.brettweisswords.com/2014/08/stampede-atari-2600-100-greatest.html The book is great, and I'm really enjoying my copy which arrived today. The years you chose are perfect! '77 to '87 captures a magical time and allowing it to run to '87 sort of completes a chapter in console gaming before we get to the truly "next-gen" games that appeared on the NES. There are some choices I disagree with, but it is great to get your opinion on these. Personally, I think that Beamrider is a lot more fun than some of the other games in the book, and it is also solid across multiple systems. I'd easily include it before games like Air Sea Battle, Freeway or Carnival. I really need to play Carnival more on Coleco because wow, that game did not impress. Omitting Megamania in favor of Carnival - sheesh. I also think Pro Wrestling would have found its way somewhere into the 200 games mentioned in the book if I was writing. However, you make some "risky" decisions that I also agree with. Including Commie Mutants will probably get some negative comments, but I think it belongs on the list. I also really like the way you described 7800 Galaga which deserves to be here. While fans of Intellivision (like me) appreciate Diner there are some who will wonder what it is doing here. I also like Turmoil, Stampede, and Solar Fox, but others might wonder how they beat out games like Seaquest, Frostbite, and Gauntlet. But anyway, the point of these is to create discussion and provoke thought, so I love it. I also now need to investigate the Arcadia which I've never even seen in real life. As far as the ones that I think people will really complain about: I'd say Mike Tyson's Punch Out, Tarmin, and Cloudy Mountain are some huge titles you passed on, but after reading the preface, I think I understand why they aren't in the top 100 (I guess). I'd really be interested in reading any writing you did that didn't make it in the book. Did you have to edit the pages and text down to "fit?" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
8bitgamer Posted October 11, 2014 Author Share Posted October 11, 2014 (edited) Thanks for your thoughtful comments--I'm glad you are enjoying the book! It was tough narrowing down the choices down to 100, which is one reason I including The Next 100 honorable mentions appendix at the back of the book, where you'll find Gauntlet, Beamrider, Mike Tyson's Punch-Out!! and some other great games that didn't quit make the cut. I love MegaMania, but Carnival has more strategy (BONUS, shooting the pipes early, avoiding the negatives, shooting the 10 boxes, etc.), but as you say, these are definitely subjective opinions. One reason I included quotes from other sources is so readers would get a variety of opinions on the games and not just mine. No, I didn't have to edit the pages and text down to fit, but if you want to read more of my writing, check out the following links. Just click on the cover to each book, and you can read some sample pages, including a feature article on Alien for the Atari 2600: http://www.amazon.com/Retro-Pop-Culture-Atari-Zombie-ebook/dp/B00HBTTTYQ/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&sr=&qid= http://www.amazon.com/Classic-Home-Video-Games-1972-1984/dp/0786469382/ref=pd_bxgy_b_img_y http://www.amazon.com/Classic-Home-Video-Games-1985-1988/dp/0786469374/ref=pd_bxgy_b_img_y Thanks for reading! Edited October 11, 2014 by 8bitgamer 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wolfy62 Posted October 11, 2014 Share Posted October 11, 2014 Hey everyone, My latest book, The 100 Greatest Console Video Games: 1977-1987, is now available for pre-order. It's a hardcover, full-color book from Schiffer Publishing: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0764346180/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&tag=atariage&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0764346180&linkCode=as2 There have been many top 100 books before, but rarely one like this. Here are the best of the early video games, shown in over 400 color photos and described in incredible detail in the entertaining and informative text. Each game's chapter features production history, critical commentary, quotes from industry professionals, gameplay details, comparisons to other games, author anecdotes, and more. The 100 Greatest Console Video Games: 1977-1987 celebrates the very best of the interactive entertainment industry's games from this highly crucial, fondly remembered decade. This pivotal period was marked by the introduction of the indispensable Atari 2600, Odyssey2, and Intellivision, the unleashing of the underrated Vectrex, the mind-blowing debut of the next-gen ColecoVision and Atari 5200, plus the rebirth of the industry through Nintendo's legendary juggernaut, the NES. Whether you're young or old, new to the hobby or a hardcore collector, this book will introduce you to or remind you of some of the greatest, most historically important games ever made. As always, thanks for reading! I love your book. It is beautiful! Great work, Wolfy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TrekMD Posted October 11, 2014 Share Posted October 11, 2014 I got the book at CGE and I really like it as well. With so many games out there, it is certainly difficult creating a list of top any number games that everyone will agree with. Your choices are good and the book itself is an excellent piece of work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+wongojack Posted October 11, 2014 Share Posted October 11, 2014 Thanks, everyone! Reviews for The 100 Greatest Console Video Games: 1977-1987 are starting to come in. You can check them out some of them here: http://videogamecritic.com/extras/books/100greatest.htm http://rosepetals1984.booklikes.com/post/984265/review-100-greatest-console-video-games-1977-1987-by-brett-Weiss How is it possible that The Video Game Critic had never heard of Balloon Fight? Whoever "Rosepetals1984" is, they lost cred as a self-dubbed "retrogamer" by totally whiffing on a reference to Spy Hunter, calling it "Spy Games" and then explaining its existence as a forerunner to MegaRace. Um, how about RoadBlasters if you want to make a more modern comparison. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
8bitgamer Posted October 11, 2014 Author Share Posted October 11, 2014 Thanks for the kind words, everyone! The book was a lot of work (and a lot of fun, too), and it means a lot to me that people are enjoying it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
8bitgamer Posted October 11, 2014 Author Share Posted October 11, 2014 How is it possible that The Video Game Critic had never heard of Balloon Fight? Whoever "Rosepetals1984" is, they lost cred as a self-dubbed "retrogamer" by totally whiffing on a reference to Spy Hunter, calling it "Spy Games" and then explaining its existence as a forerunner to MegaRace. Um, how about RoadBlasters if you want to make a more modern comparison. Yeah, I was surprised that The Video Game Critic hadn't heard of a black box NES title, but these things slip through the crack sometimes--he reviews a lot of new stuff, too, so I guess it's hard to keep up with everything. Spy Games, ha ha. Oh well, at least she admitted that "many of those listed were new to me, and an apt history lesson" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rhomaios Posted October 11, 2014 Share Posted October 11, 2014 Yeah, I was surprised that The Video Game Critic hadn't heard of a black box NES title, but these things slip through the crack sometimes--he reviews a lot of new stuff, too, so I guess it's hard to keep up with everything. Spy Games, ha ha. Oh well, at least she admitted that "many of those listed were new to me, and an apt history lesson" Yeah, I'm far less surprised that someone who doesn't review video games got a little mixed than someone who's supposed to be a reviewer/critic not knowing a pretty standard title. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uNi73 Posted October 25, 2014 Share Posted October 25, 2014 How many pages are occupied by "Adventure"? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+wongojack Posted October 26, 2014 Share Posted October 26, 2014 How many pages are occupied by "Adventure"? All games have a 2 - 3 page entry. Adventure splits the difference and gets 2.5 pages. IMO you won't really learn anything new about your favorite games from the book besides maybe seeing some quick quotes of reviews from the era. Buy it for those games that you don't already have encyclopedic knowledge of. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uNi73 Posted October 27, 2014 Share Posted October 27, 2014 Your book has Adventure on the Cover, it must be good! Also the price seems fair. Much better: Amazon Germany has some on stock Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flojomojo Posted October 27, 2014 Share Posted October 27, 2014 Are there plans for a Kindle version? I'm trying to slim down my paper consumption. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
8bitgamer Posted October 29, 2014 Author Share Posted October 29, 2014 Are there plans for a Kindle version? I'm trying to slim down my paper consumption. Not yet, but I'm trying to convince the publisher it would be smart for there to be one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flojomojo Posted October 29, 2014 Share Posted October 29, 2014 I've pushed the button that says "tell this publisher I'd like this on Kindle," for what it's worth! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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