The Ultimate History of Video Games, ..., Steven L. Kent
The Ultimate History of Video Games, ..., Steven L. Kent
List: $30.00 | Sale: $21.00
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The Ultimate History of Video Games, Volume 1
From Pong to Pokemon and Beyond . . . the Story Behind the Craze That Touched Our Lives and Changed the World

Author: Steven L. Kent

Narrator: Dan Woren

Unabridged: 23 hr 29 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 09/13/2022


Synopsis

The definitive behind-the-scenes history of the dawn of video games and their rise into a multibillion-dollar business
 
“For 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 WrestleMania
 
With 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 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.

About Steven L. Kent

Steven L. Kent, author and video game historian, has written for Wired, Boy’s Life, Rolling Stone, MSNBC, and numerous other publications. He is the author of the bestselling Rogue Clone series and The Ultimate History of Video Games.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Taylor on February 02, 2016

This was one of the coolest books I've ever read. Totally nerd-tastic. The vignettes on how Atari, Nintendo, and computer games all got their start were fascinating. Nolan Bushnell was quite a character - almost like he walked straight out of a work of fiction! I was slightly disappointed that the bo......more

Goodreads review by Mikko on April 01, 2016

Good for some interesting quotes and anecdotes from industry veterans, and maybe as a historical reference on the business side of certain early (US) arcade and console game companies. As an "ultimate history of video games", I found this book to be severely lacking. While the book does painstakingly......more

Goodreads review by Ignacio on December 29, 2017

Hacer un libro de estos, con un repaso lo más completo posible al mundo de los videojuegos, supone realizar sacrificios; es imposible abarcarlo todo sin perder legibilidad. Y ahí Steven L. Kent se muestra acertado: en su repaso se centra en el soporte exclusivo para este formato (pinballs, máquinas......more

Goodreads review by Paul Caceres on February 12, 2024

La gran historia de los videojuegos publicada en 2001 por Steven Kent es una buena forma de introducirse a la historia de los videojuegos en sus primeras cuatro décadas. Evidentemente no hay una forma sencilla de presentar los sucesos que han llevado a la industria del videojuego a ser una de las má......more

Goodreads review by Eric on May 26, 2018

This is a very comprehensive look at the history of video games going way, way back. I'm familiar with a lot of the main points from having read lots of industry histories. Where this one excels is in going to the smallest of details and talks about a lot of the personalities and more obscure compan......more


Quotes

“A major triumph.”Next Generation

“If anyone knows game history, it’s Steve Kent.”—Dave Theurer, creator of Tempest, Missile Command, and I, Robot

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

“A compelling journey through the evolution of the video game industry.”—Minoru Arakawa, former 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