Defending the galaxy: The complete guide to videogaming [Paperback]

Michael Rubin (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: 1982

Defending the Galaxy was first published in 1982. It was unique, combining facts about the most popular arcade games with the gaming lifestyle. Now it's back, for all you Donkey Kong (movie) fans to find out how it all began.

Galaxy lists Donkey Kong high score, theme music, its place on the evolution tree, and more. It also shows how to improve your life: "Without video games what would you do with your time? Could you defend your planet from destruction? Could you save a princess from a mighty ape? Could you get your frog to cross a busy highway? With no such challenge, your life would have no meaning.

Now, 25 years later, it's even more fun to read.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

The King of Kong is a film about Donkey Kong, a 1982 "new classic" videogame. It is featured in this classic book about the arcades and the gaming lifestyle. Fun for everyone!

From the Back Cover

All the Games, High Scores, and Necessary Knowledge. Your Board Controls, The Phallusy of the Joystick, Packing Factors, Jamming In, Videologoy, The High Score Mode, VideoEvolution.

Video Wear, Hardware and Software, Is There Life Beyond the 243rd Key? Secrets to Setting Records, The Future of Video Games, Guide to the Galaxy: Arcades U.S.A.

Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Triad (1982)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0937404179
• ISBN-13: 978-0937404171
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.5 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,792,932 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great piece of Classic Videogaming nostalgia, January 11, 2000

By 

Jeff C. Mercer "Jeff The Riffer" (Raleigh, NC) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Defending the galaxy: The complete guide to videogaming (Paperback)

I remember when I first read this book back in 1984. My mother worked at the Tirad publishing company so I got an advance copy of the book, :) Michael gives tips for how to survive (and thus get higher scores) in a variety of popular games at the time. He also has tips on how to dress, arcade etiquitte, general-purpose playing tips, arcades to check out (sadly, most defunct now), etc. The illustrations and photos are humorous, and the book never get self-centered.

If you get a chance to pick this up used somewhere, do so! It's a great piece of 80's memorabillia, especially for the vidiots out there, :)

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Forensics humor piece?, April 21, 2006

By 

A-sen "Purveyor of the Random" (Boulder, CO) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Defending the galaxy: The complete guide to videogaming (Paperback)

I found this title hidden away in a forgotten part of my high school's library a couple years ago, at - coincidentally - the same time I was searching for a humorous book to cut for a forensics piece (speech and debate - not CSI). Flipping through the book, I instantly connected with the dry, sarcastic, and sometimes dark humor.

The book is divided into various chapters and subchapters, with random lists and comments on the gaming world scattered in between. Some sections are: "GUI - Gaming under the influence," with the subsection "Levels of Gamer Inebriation" ; "Gamer Etiquitte" ; and "Top Four Places NEVER to Videogame."

The target group for this book at this point are those who frequented arcades in the early to mid '80's and want to relive the glory days, but as an 20-year-old who still busts out his Game Gear to play Burnout, I was able not only to enjoy much of the humor, but even relish it.

After performing my cut version of this piece for Humurous Interpretation in forensics (it was a 10 minute presentation), many people came up to me to not only congratulate me on finding this remarkable book, but also to ask me where they could get a copy. For gamers today who like to play classics, or for those who felt they missed out on the golden age of gaming, this is an almost invaluable read.

EDIT: ON ANOTHER SITE, MICHAEL RUBING (THE AUTHOR) MENTIONED THAT ONLY 15,000 COPIES WERE EVER SOLD, SO THIS IS A PRETTY RARE TITLE. IF YOU FIND ONE AND ARE MODERATELY INTERESTED, BUY IT!

5.0 out of 5 stars It was very interesting, fun to read, and gave good tips., September 4, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Defending the galaxy: The complete guide to videogaming (Paperback)

I enjoyed the setup of the book. It was very funny and had a lot of pictures and illustrating. As well as ways not to get hurt at arcades and a history of video games. The tips that the book gave were how to survive, not to win at a game, because in classics, you can't win, but you can survive.