I don't think you'll find a better book on this topic. Especially if you're old enough to remember playing these games on the original systems.
As background, this is a golden period in home gaming where arcades were still big and the Atari 5200, Intellivision, and Colecovision had barnstormed into the scene while the Atari 2600 was still super relevant. Many kids owned both the 2600 and a next generation system and switched back and forth. And the NES was launching its first classics (these games also made this book).
I chose 3 at random to show the next-level content Weiss provides...
(1) PBA Bowling for Intellivision: Whether or not you played this, the research is a great read: licensed by the Pro Bowlers Association (PBA); the first game developed in-house by Intellivision programmers; and he discusses every other systems' bowling games before and after it (not just this version) and why this one was special: Can choose many options which mimic the real sport (ahead of its time) such as handedness, spin, lane slickness, difficulty of lanes, and a "loft" maneuver where the ball breaks sharply at the end; pins bounce around realistically; the bowler looks realistic vs other games at the time and his arm swings with "a full range of motion." And the first sports game with a TV style view of the action.
(2) Defender for Atari 5200 and Colecovision. You get an article about the arcade coin-op version transitioning into the home console versions, and he mentions the sequel arcade game (Stargate aka Defender II).
Interesting facts: Defender was the very first side-scrolling shooter; the 5200 and Colecovision created faux vector mountains (vector graphics was a thing at the time); and the home versions had excellent smooth scrolling which was "not always a given" with Colecovision. He praises the long laser fire on both systems and the 5200's superior graphics vs Colecovision with fire coming out of the rear thruster and a "fireworks" style explosion when you lose your ship. He lists the zany names of the half dozen alien enemies.
Weiss discusses the intensity and difficulty of the game and compares it with Robotron 2084 and Asteroids Deluxe coin ops for that. I remember this game was probably the biggest accomplishment for the 5200 system (showcasing what it was capable of) and Weiss nails it by quoting magazines that argued the same point.
(3) Air Sea Battle for the 2600. If you know, you know. He thought to include this 2600 initial launch title. 27 variations, two-player competition that "never gets old." Picture a pair of kids right when video games came home dueling it out (rather than waiting your turn).
Finally, little things matter: the book's index contains a handy list of all the games that might not of made the list but were discussed as a comparison in the main articles.
The pages are heavy card stock and glossy, with good hardcover binding, and that's not cheap to do.
A couple reviews complained there weren't enough screenshots. Of the three articles I mentioned, Defender did have one from Atari Age magazine; Air Sea Battle had one too; the PBA Bowling one instead showed the box front/back, a magazine ad showing the gameplay, and a color scan of the Intellivision control layover. I'm sure there were licensing considerations...honestly the book has many other strengths so I guess you can look up a still shot on your tablet.
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From the Publisher
The Must-Have Book for all Video Game Lovers!
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RICHARD W.
A great guide to '80s console gaming.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 4, 2016
mark feder
It's very informative and full of excellent facts and pics
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 24, 2014
