Books on the industry

[PsyClerk]

I've had the urge to read some of the books that have been written on games and the game industry lately. I know some of you folks have read a few, so give me the skinny.

I'm specifically looking at Masters of Doom and the Ultimate History of Video Games. Are either of them any good?

[BigDirty]

Game Over: The Story of Nintendo I highly reccomend, however ZAP! The Story of Atari I don't reccomend at all.

[PsyClerk]

Yeah I've read Game Over. A local EB had a ton of copies for $2 sometime last year and picked it up.

[gamereviewgod]

Joystick Nation

High Score (focuses on PC Games)

Ultimate History of Videogames (First edition was called "First Quarter" Either one is probably the best book on thye subject ever written)

Supercade

Trigger Happy (A little out there)

Revolutionaries at Sony (Poorly translated from Japanese, but factual)

Phoenix (Second best book on the subject ever written)

Arcade Fever

Twin Galaxies Book of World Records (Has records and a history of gaming competition in the back, 1,000+ pages)

Game Over

That enought for ya? Oh, I reviewed (rather poorly) High Score here:

http://blogcritics.org/archives/2004/08/09/201815.php

[daikaiju]

Ultimate History of Videogames is a great book - extremely imformative and fun to read IMO

I also really like Supercade ...Nice pictures - a great coffee table book although focusing much more on the coin-op industry.

I also read something called Opening the Xbox a while back which basically is the "history" behind how the Xbox came into fruition - fairly interesting read that chronicled the internal power struggles and politics at MS.

I also saw that there is a Ken Kutagari biography out, it's name eludes me - but I've been meaning to pick it up. If I'm correct it focuses heavily on his push for the Playstation.

I've read a few others but they're eluding me at the moment.

[dcfox]

Masters of Doom is more like a biography on id software than a book on the gaming industry. But I would suggest reading if you have any interest in John Carmack, Romero, or any of id's games.

[gamereviewgod]

That history on Kutaragi/Playstation is Revolutionaries at Sony I mentioned above.

[FriskyTanuki]

I have to get that High Score for my one class next week as part of my class booklist.

[Kaijufan]

Game Over is really good, but its the only book Ive read on the industry. I got it for free when I bought my Gamecube at launch.

[gamereviewgod]

CrashSpyro: What kind of classes are you taking????

[Mouse]

I've been trying to get Game Over for a while. I had my local Borders get in touch with the publisher for them to send me a copy, but they never responded. Anyone who's read it, where and when did you find your copy?

[whitereflection]

See above: ebgames had some copies for $2. That's where I got mine too.

[BigDirty]

I forgot that another good one that focused on the launch of the XBOX is Opening Up The XBox (2002, Prima)

[hiccupleftovers]

Wow great thread OP, I myself have been wondering this exact question since I'm trying to break into the industry. Thanks all.

[epobirs]

I forget the title of the book but there is one volume with a rather eccentric looking author photo (appears to be waiting for his chance to play a background extra in a Western) included. There is a chapter on my long ago employer, Cinemaware, in which they spell my old boss' name wrong repeatedly including when they quote my old coworkers apeaking about him.

[snotnose_colossal]

does anyone know where i can get a copy of Game OVer now?