From Pong to Pokemon and Beyond . . . the Story Behind the Craze That Touched Our Lives and Changed the World
Series: Ultimate History of Video Games
The definitive behind-the-scenes history of the dawn of video games and their rise into a multibillion-dollar businessFor industry insiders and game players alike, this book is a must-have.Mark Turmell, designer for Midway Games and creator of NBA Jam, NFL Blitz, and WrestleManiaWith all the whiz, bang, pop, and shimmer of a glowing arcade, volume 1 of The Ultimate History of Video Games reveals everything you ever wanted to know and more about the unforgettable games that changed the world, the visionaries who made them, and the fanatics who played them. Starting in arcades then moving to televisions and handheld devices, the video game invasion has entranced kids and the young at heart for nearly fifty years. And gaming historian Steven L. Kent has been there to record the craze from the very beginning.The Ultimate History: Volume 1 tells the incredible tale of how this backroom novelty transformed into a cultural phenomenon. Through meticulous research and personal interviews with hundreds of industry luminaries, Kent chronicles firsthand accounts of how yesterdays games like Space Invaders, Centipede, and Pac-Man helped create an arcade culture that defined a generation, and how todays empires like Sony, Nintendo, and Electronic Arts have galvanized a multibillion-dollar industry and a new generation of games. Inside, youll discover the video game that saved Nintendo from bankruptcy the serendipitous story of Pac-Mans design the misstep that helped topple Ataris $2-billion-a-year empire the coin shortage caused by Space Invaders the fascinating reasons behind the rise, fall, and rebirth of Sega and much more!Entertaining, addictive, and as mesmerizing as the games it chronicles, this book is a must-have for anyone whos ever touched a joystick.
About Artists & Writers:
Steven L. Kent turned a lifelong joystick addiction into a fifteen-year gig writing for outlets like Microsoft News, Boys Life, USA Today, the Chicago Tribune, and The Japan Times. In addition to his two-volume account The Ultimate History of Video Games, Kent wrote The Making of Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within and The Making of Doom 3. Also a novelist, he authored the Clone Republic series and co-authored 100 Fathoms Below with Nicholas Kaufmann. He lives in Seattle, Washington.