Games Books Now!

The Ultimate History of Video Games: From Pong to Pokemon--The Story Behind the Craze That Touched Our Lives and Changed the World
by Steve L. Kent
 

Amazon.com Games Book Section

Games Books
 

Editorial Reviews 

From Publishers Weekly 

In this rollicking, mammoth history of video games from pinball to Pong to Playstation II Kent, a technology journalist and self-professed video game addict, covers almost every conceivable aspect of the industry, from the technological leaps that made the games possible to the corporate power struggles that won (and lost) billions of dollars. Anecdotes are legion. Readers learn that early Atari, for example, had the corporate climate of a dot-com startup, with rampant drug use and meetings staged in outdoor hot tubs. The original name for Pac-Man turns out to be Puck-Man; its creators changed the name after worrying that vandals in arcades would replace the P with an F. In 1978, there were so many people playing Space Invaders in Japan that the game caused a national coin shortage. Kent meticulously documents the rise of home video games and the console wars of the past decade, when Sega, Nintendo, Sony and others raced to produce the fastest, most powerful game system. Also addressed is the public backlash of the '80s, when video games were thought to distract students from homework, and the '90s, when Doom and other violent games were linked to the massacre at Columbine High School. Along the way, Kent interviews virtually every key player in the industry. At times, Kent's comprehensiveness is exhausting 500-plus pages on video games may be a bit much, even for their most ardent admirers. But most often Kent's infectious enthusiasm is enough to carry the reader along. Equal parts oral history, engineering study, business memoir, game catalogue and Gen-X nostalgia trip, Kent's book is a loving tribute to one of the most dynamic (and profitable) industries in the world today. 

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal 
Burnham's Supercade is bursting with illustrations of video game graphics, logos, artwork, and promotional images. With as much emphasis on illustrations as on text, this book might be as close visually to an electronic-game experience as one can get in print. Burnham, a contributing editor to Wired magazine, writes in a more casual voice and has incorporated short chapters by some guest authors, including Kent; the index and bibliography are welcome additions. These books nicely complement each other, though Kent's may appeal more to historians with its comprehensive coverage and Burnham's to nostalgic gamers with its eye-popping graphics. As works that cover an important facet of our popular culture, both titles are strong candidates for both public and academic libraries. Joe J. Accardi, William Rainey Harper Coll. Lib., Palatine, IL

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

Book Description 
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 entranced 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 gamers. 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. 

From the Back Cover 
"A major triumph."
—Next Generation Magazine

"If anyone knows game history, it's Steve Kent."
—Dave Theurer, creator of Tempest, I*Robot, and Missile Command

"This is the best video game history book I've ever come across."
—John Romero, founder of Ion Storm

"For industry insiders and game players alike, this book is a must-have."
—Mark Turnell, designer for Midway Games and creator of NBA Jam, NFL Blitz, and Wrestlemania

"A compelling journey through the evolution of the video games industry."
—Minoru Arakawa, president of Nintendo

"This book is from the horse's mouth. Finally, the game designers speak out in all their wisdom and stupidity."
—Eugene Jarvis, creator of Defender and Robotron 2084 

About the Author 
Steven L Kent, a lifelong gamer since the debut of Pong, writes weekly columns about electronic entertainment for the Los Angeles Times syndicate, MSNBC, and the Japan Times. His articles have appeared in USA Today, Rolling Stone, RePlay, Wired, Next Generation, and numerous other publications. Mr. Kent has also appeared on CNN, the CBS Morning Show, and the NBC Nightly News. He lives with his wife and two children in Bothell, Washington. 
 
 

From About.com Classic Literature and Fiction Guide
 

Top Stores:

AMAZON.COM
Earth's Biggest Selection 
Review  Rating:9.4 go there now!
Read Articles and learn more about this site here
Amazon UK

The World's Largest Bookseller Online 
Rating: 9.0  go there now!

10 million books,  CD's and videos 
Rating: 9.0 go there now!

I took a course in speed reading. Then I got Reader's Digest on microfilm. By the time I got the machine set up, I was done.

I just got out of the hospital. I was in a speed reading accident. I hit a book mark and flew across the room.

All Stores:

Alibris.com
Search over 3 million used, out of print, rare and 
antiquarian books for sale from online web bookstore. Updated daily, constant inventory of  fine booksellers and ephemera.

BUY BOOKS.COM
The Internet Superstore 
Rating: 9.1 go there now!
 

VarsityBooks.com
The leading online college textbook store, offers over 400,000 titles at up to a 40% off bookstore prices.  Class textbook lists for 300 colleges 
and universities
Rating:9.0 go there now!

BigWords.com
Online college textbook store offering new and used college textbooks at discounted prices.  Buy your books online up to 40% cheaper than at your college bookstore.

Rating: 8.9  go there now!
For books-a-plenty visit this website featuring free book reviews, a Book du Jour (everyday, even!), Weekly Features, the Book Retriever (an easy-to-search database of titles), a section devoted to AudioBooks (with it’s own AudioBooks Retriever), Publisher’s Highlights and a Find & Fulfill service (just in case you can’t find the book you want, Books Now can!) With access to over 1 million titles, Books Now is sure to meet your needs!

AudioBookClub.com
Rating 8.8   go there now!
Tens of thousands of titles in dozens of categories 
so no matter what you're looking for, you're sure to find it at Audio Book Club. 4 Audiobooks For 1 Penny. 

Rating : 8.5  go there now!
For a comprehensive selection of computer, programming and technical books, interactive training and certification - such as MCSE, Fatbrain.com should be your first stop.

Rating: 8.5  go there now!
"Publisher's overstocks at blow-out prices.  Millions of in-stock books covering all major categories including out-of-print material. Secure online ordering with customer satisfaction guarantee 

Seek Books.com
Rating: 8.5  go there now!
Discount Book Seller and Source for Hard-to-find Books, Audio Books, Videos and Other Book Related Items 

Textbooks.com
Discounted new and used textbooks books. Guaranteed Buy Back.
Rating: 8.9  go there now!

Rating: 8.5  go there now!
Books, mystery books and; suspense booksnovels, romance books and; women's fiction books, history books and; biographies.No matter what you like to read, 1bookstreet has the Book for you. 

Quality Books.com
Over 700 Books Titles to Build Your Future: Divorce, Will & Banruptcy Kits, Work at Home Directories, Wholesale Directories, Tapes, CD's ... and much more!

Cherry Valley Books
Specialty children's bookstore focusing on children's books, parenting books, young adult books, book reviews.

Booksforcooks.com
8,000 cookbooks - books for every taste & palate from Books for Cooks, the cookbook bookstore on the Web!

Booksamillion.com
Offers better prices on the books you want. Millionaire's Club members save 55% off bestsellers, 46% off features and 37% off in-stock hardcovers. Paperbacks, magazines, gourmet coffee and gifts are also discounted every day.

Better Life Books.com
Better Life Books offers the best in Christian and Religious books and music as well as Childrens books and Bibles.

BusinessBookReview.com
Useful, best in business knowledge.

Ebookstand.com
eBookstand the digital publsiher of eBooks. Publishes all eBooks in less than 5 day for no more than $199

ElephantBooks.com
your primary source for out-of-print, fine used, old, rare and antiquarian books. Search our fast on-line database and order your books directly from us, guaranteed to be shipped within 24 hours.
 

* results or ranks are based on a 10 point scale judging the quality and honesty of the site. All ratings are opinions of Web Pages Now! and its staff.
Jokes by Steven Wright