Vintage Games explores the most influential videogames of all time, including Super Mario Bros., Grand Theft Auto III, Doom, The Sims and many more. Drawing on interviews as well as the authors' own lifelong experience with videogames, the book discusses each game's development, predecessors, critical reception, and influence on the industry. It also features hundreds of full-color screenshots and images, including rare photos of game boxes and other materials. Vintage Games is the ideal book for game enthusiasts and professionals who desire a broader understanding of the history of videogames and their evolution from a niche to a global market.
Vintage Games
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Book Description
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Editorial Reviews
Review
"They say you can't go back again, but reading Vintage Games comes close. Open the book, and I'm back in the video arcades of my youth. Turn the page, and I'm in college again, discovering the secret joys of the early PC games. Turn the page again, and I'm back in my living room, playing Mario with my young kids. But Vintage Games is more than just a trip down memory lane, because the authors analyze each game in ways that bring fresh insights to those nostalgic memories."--Steve Meretzky, Veteran Game Designer
"An interesting and insightful trip down a gamer's memory lane, focusing on titles that have become benchmarks in videogame history."--Didi Cardoso, Managing Editor, Grrlgamer.com
"The video game industry has a poor track record when it comes to preserving its history. Fortunately, scholars and enthusiasts have stepped in to fill the void, and Vintage Games is an essential contribution to this effort. Loguidice and Barton are to be commended for documenting the history of gaming's greatest landmarks."--Michael Abbott, The Brainy Gamer Blog and Podcast, Professor of Theater and Film Studies, Wabash College
"Essential reading for video game fans and game studies scholars alike!"--Laurie N. Taylor, Digital Library Center, University of Florida
"A must-read for anyone even remotely interested in video gaming history - from the hardcore to the casual. A book that anyone that has ever held a joystick would enjoy."--Shane R. Monroe, Host of RetroGamer Radio/Monroeworld.com
"The book is smart and fun - much like the games it addresses."--Dr. Matthew S. S. Johnson, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
"An interesting and insightful trip down a gamer's memory lane, focusing on titles that have become benchmarks in videogame history."--Didi Cardoso, Managing Editor, Grrlgamer.com
"The video game industry has a poor track record when it comes to preserving its history. Fortunately, scholars and enthusiasts have stepped in to fill the void, and Vintage Games is an essential contribution to this effort. Loguidice and Barton are to be commended for documenting the history of gaming's greatest landmarks."--Michael Abbott, The Brainy Gamer Blog and Podcast, Professor of Theater and Film Studies, Wabash College
"Essential reading for video game fans and game studies scholars alike!"--Laurie N. Taylor, Digital Library Center, University of Florida
"A must-read for anyone even remotely interested in video gaming history - from the hardcore to the casual. A book that anyone that has ever held a joystick would enjoy."--Shane R. Monroe, Host of RetroGamer Radio/Monroeworld.com
"The book is smart and fun - much like the games it addresses."--Dr. Matthew S. S. Johnson, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
13 of 13 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I read the book cover to cover over a span of 3 days (it's hard to put down). Each chapter stands on its own, so it's easy to read in small segments as well.
Because game developers draw from other titles for inspiration, the book will reference itself as applicable to show how these influences propagated across games over time. There are numerous examples of what did/didn't work, as well as discussion to support these claims. Additionally, several of the supplemental/external references are available over the web, so pursuing areas of interest is easy.
As the title says, the book is about influential games, which aren't always the best-selling games (though they usually inspire a best-selling game if the original work wasn't a hit in its own right). It's a collection of 'firsts', as well as cataloging those that followed (with varying degrees of success).
Ultimately it was a very enjoyable read that flowed very well from chapter to chapter. Certainly it was nostalgic thinking back to when those earlier games were released, but the combination of the discussion and additional insight made it like living those experiences for the first time.
Because game developers draw from other titles for inspiration, the book will reference itself as applicable to show how these influences propagated across games over time. There are numerous examples of what did/didn't work, as well as discussion to support these claims. Additionally, several of the supplemental/external references are available over the web, so pursuing areas of interest is easy.
As the title says, the book is about influential games, which aren't always the best-selling games (though they usually inspire a best-selling game if the original work wasn't a hit in its own right). It's a collection of 'firsts', as well as cataloging those that followed (with varying degrees of success).
Ultimately it was a very enjoyable read that flowed very well from chapter to chapter. Certainly it was nostalgic thinking back to when those earlier games were released, but the combination of the discussion and additional insight made it like living those experiences for the first time.
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
By CM
Format:Paperback
I bought this book for my teenaged sons, who are enthusiastic video game fans and love reciting the history of games and gaming systems. Even they found out things from this book that they did not know. The full-color pictures on almost every page are great and brought back a lot of memories of my early gaming days! What they liked best was how detailed and fact-filled the descriptions of the games were; the authors definitely know their video games.
The other surprising thing about this book is how hefty it is. I expected a lightweight book with a few pages on each game. It is actually a thick book and surprisingly high quality. It is about time a book like this was available, putting all the information in one place instead of relying on "flashback" articles in Nintendo Power or other gaming magazines.
I look forward to your next one!
The other surprising thing about this book is how hefty it is. I expected a lightweight book with a few pages on each game. It is actually a thick book and surprisingly high quality. It is about time a book like this was available, putting all the information in one place instead of relying on "flashback" articles in Nintendo Power or other gaming magazines.
I look forward to your next one!
8 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I really wanted to love this book, but ultimately found it a bit underwhelming. I don't really have a problem with the choice of games featured, but found the book's execution lacking.
Firstly, the chapters were inconsistent. One would look at cultural impact of the title it was discussing, but not really explain the game sufficiently (not a problem if you're familiar enough with the games, but it could be frustrating if not). Another would describe the game in a lot of detail, but gloss over the history too easily. It would have made for a better read if there was a consistent structure to each chapter - description of the game, history of the developer, precedents leading to that game, impact (culturally and on the gaming industry) of the game.
Secondly, the actual writing felt sub-par at times. Too many times it would introduce a topic, and then literally say "We will now discuss this". Exclamation marks appear a bit too often. A bit of judicious editing would've helped the flow of reading the actual text.
There are numerous images through-out the book, but a little too many of box art and not enough of the games. For example, the chapter on "Pole Position" only contains a single screenshot of "Pole Position" itself (admittedly, not a game that needs many screenshots to get the idea across). The screenshots also don't always focus on things that the text is making a point of saying were important/a major innovation.
A minor quibble is every time a game is mentioned that is has a chapter to itself, the chapter is always mentioned in full after the game e.g. "... a game like Super Mario Bros (Chapter 19, 'Super Mario Bros (1985): How High Can Jumpman Get?') wasn't ...". I understand why this is done, but after seeing it for the 50th time interrupting the flow of the text, it became rather frustrating.
Theres no doubt a lot of work has gone into this, and I discovered a lot of history I was unaware of. I just wish it had been a better read than it was.
Firstly, the chapters were inconsistent. One would look at cultural impact of the title it was discussing, but not really explain the game sufficiently (not a problem if you're familiar enough with the games, but it could be frustrating if not). Another would describe the game in a lot of detail, but gloss over the history too easily. It would have made for a better read if there was a consistent structure to each chapter - description of the game, history of the developer, precedents leading to that game, impact (culturally and on the gaming industry) of the game.
Secondly, the actual writing felt sub-par at times. Too many times it would introduce a topic, and then literally say "We will now discuss this". Exclamation marks appear a bit too often. A bit of judicious editing would've helped the flow of reading the actual text.
There are numerous images through-out the book, but a little too many of box art and not enough of the games. For example, the chapter on "Pole Position" only contains a single screenshot of "Pole Position" itself (admittedly, not a game that needs many screenshots to get the idea across). The screenshots also don't always focus on things that the text is making a point of saying were important/a major innovation.
A minor quibble is every time a game is mentioned that is has a chapter to itself, the chapter is always mentioned in full after the game e.g. "... a game like Super Mario Bros (Chapter 19, 'Super Mario Bros (1985): How High Can Jumpman Get?') wasn't ...". I understand why this is done, but after seeing it for the 50th time interrupting the flow of the text, it became rather frustrating.
Theres no doubt a lot of work has gone into this, and I discovered a lot of history I was unaware of. I just wish it had been a better read than it was.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fun read, fairly comprehensive, insightful chapter arrangement,...
I especially like how the chapters are arranged: each is allegedly about one particular emblematic game, but in fact is about the entire genre that game symbolizes, with good... Read more
Published 3 months ago by J. C. C. Castro
4.0 out of 5 stars
Good insight
A good book providing an interesting look at some unforgettable videogames and how different titles influenced each other throughout the years. Read more
Published 14 months ago by ziagina
3.0 out of 5 stars
Kindle Edition is Poorly Put Together
I was excited to purchase the Kindle edition of this book, but disappointed to find it was sloppily put together, full of typos and missing characters. Read more
Published on February 21, 2011 by Jason
1.0 out of 5 stars
Very poor
How exactly is this an "Insider Look at the history..."? The authors are fanboys, not game developers or industry veterans. Read more
Published on November 17, 2010 by William Gillooley
5.0 out of 5 stars
This book gets me excited about retro gaming.
If you're at all interested in the history of video games you'll likely find this to be a very enjoyable read. Read more
Published on October 19, 2010 by Donald E. Kurtz Jr.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Mucho más que un simple texto cargado de datos (more than just...
Matt Barton y Bill Leguidice hacen un extenso recorrido por la muy interesante historia de los videojuegos y su época dorada. Read more
Published on October 10, 2010 by Ricardo Lopera Jaramillo
4.0 out of 5 stars
How is the Kindle version?
I'd like to get it on Kindle but am afraid something so picture-centric would be far less compelling on that platform due images being removed. Read more
Published on September 18, 2010 by A. Farmer
1.0 out of 5 stars
Pretentious cr@p
This is the worst game book I've ever read. The authors manage to turn a vivid, fun topic into a boring and unbelievably pretentious paper wanna-be. Read more
Published on February 13, 2010 by T. A. Papassilekas
5.0 out of 5 stars
Perfect introductory book about games!
This is the perfect introductory book about games i've read yet. It connects the dots and draws interesting parallels with modern games which keeps it relevant & interesting. Read more
Published on September 3, 2009 by S. Brassard
3.0 out of 5 stars
Video game lineages
Bought this title on an impulse and haven't even used the "look inside the book" button here at Amazon. Read more
Published on July 17, 2009 by Fabio Fonseca
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