The Ultimate History of Video Games by Steven L. Kent

It’s as hefty as any college history textbook and so it took me several months to get through (plus I’ve developed a snail’s pace for reading, putting in usually just under 30 minutes a day…I’m pretty bad). I absolutely loved this book, much more than I ever expected to. So from my husband’s point of view, he says I picked up the book because that’s just what a gamer does. A few hours later, I was well into it and did not want to put it down. It has been sitting on my husband’s shelf for years and one day I just picked it up and decided to see what it said. So from my point of view, I don’t have a good reason as to why I picked up this book. But beyond that, I really just play the one game. I think video games are fun and can actually improve our happiness levels and teach us a few new things as well. the fascinating reasons behind the rise, fall, and rebirth of SegaĮntertaining, addictive, and as mesmerizing as the games it chronicles, this book is a must-have for anyone who’s ever touched a joystick.Despite my husband claiming that I am as much a gamer as they come, I don’t really feel like one.the coin shortage caused by Space Invaders.the misstep that helped topple Atari’s $2-billion-a-year empire.

the serendipitous story of Pac-Man’s design.

the video game that saved Nintendo from bankruptcy.

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. The Ultimate History: Volume 1 tells the incredible tale of how this backroom novelty transformed into a cultural phenomenon. Kent has been there to record the craze from the very beginning.

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. 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.

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

The Ultimate History of Video Games by Steven L. Kent