The Ultimate History of Video Games: From Pong to Pokemon and Beyond...the Story Behind the Craze That Touched Our Lives and Changed the World

The Ultimate History of Video Games: From Pong to Pokemon and Beyond...the Story Behind the Craze That Touched Our Lives and Changed the WorldInside the Games You Grew Up with but Never Forgot With all the whiz, bang, pop, and shimmer of a glowing arcade. 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. From the arcade to television and from the PC to the handheld device, video games have entraced kids at heart for nearly 30 years. And

Inside the Games You Grew Up with but Never Forgot
With all the whiz, bang, pop, and shimmer of a glowing arcade. 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. From the arcade to television and from the PC to the handheld device, video games have entraced kids at heart for nearly 30 years. And author and gaming historian Steven L. Kent has been there to record the craze from the very beginning.
This engrossing book 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, you'll read firsthand accounts of how yesterday's games like Space Invaders, Centipede, and Pac-Man helped create an arcade culture that defined a generation, and how today's empires like Sony, Nintendo, and Electronic Arts have galvanized a multibillion-dollar industry and a new generation of games. Inside, you'll discover:
-The video game that saved Nintendo from bankruptcy
-The serendipitous story of Pac-Man's design
-The misstep that helped topple Atari's $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 who's ever touched a joystick.

Binding Type: Paperback
Publisher: Three Rivers Press (CA)
Published: 10/02/2001
ISBN: 9780761536437
Pages: 624
Weight: 2.30lbs
Size: 9.30h x 7.40w x 1.26d

Review Citations: Publishers Weekly 08/20/2001 pg. 68
Library Journal 10/01/2001 pg. 134