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David Sheff
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Game Over: How Nintendo Conquered The World Paperback – March 29, 1994

by David Sheff (Author)
4.4 out of 5 stars (275)
A chronicle of Nintendo's climb to the top of the video game market describes the company's tactics and how it has become one of the most successful high tech companies in the world
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  1. Print length
    451 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Vintage
  4. Publication date
    March 29, 1994
  5. Dimensions
    5.25 x 1 x 8 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    0679736220
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0679736226
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The Amazon Book Review
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Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Vintage
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ March 29, 1994
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 451 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0679736220
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0679736226
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 13.6 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.25 x 1 x 8 inches
  • Best Sellers Rank: #840,360 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 out of 5 stars (275)

About the author

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David Sheff

David Sheff

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DAVID SHEFF's books include Game Over, China Dawn, and All We Are Saying. His many articles and interviews have appeared in the New York Times, Rolling Stone, Playboy, Wired, Fortune, and elsewhere. His piece for the New York Times Magazine, My Addicted Son, won an award from the American Psychological Association for Outstanding Contribution to Advancing the Understanding of Addiction. It led to his #1 New York Times Best Seller, Beautiful Boy, which was named the best nonfiction book of 2008 by Entertainment Weekly. Beautiful Boy was also an Amazon Best Book of 2008. Sheff and his family live in Inverness, California.

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Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
275 global ratings

Customers say

Customers find the book to be a wonderful and addictive read that provides a nice overview of Nintendo's business side. Moreover, the history is engaging, with one customer noting it covers years from 1986 to 1993, and the story is intriguing. However, the writing style receives mixed feedback, with some customers finding it well written while others note it could be improved.

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ReadabilityInformation qualityHistoryEnthralling storyWriting style
19 customers mention "Readability"17 positive2 negative

Customers find the book highly readable, describing it as a wonderful and insanely addictive read that is quite interesting.

"This was a great book and very well written! I would highly recommend this to anyone that enjoys reading features from polygon.com." Read more

"Great book to read. It tells you about how Nintendo was a monopoly at one point in the gaming industry." Read more

"The book gives a very interesting and quite well-written overview of the business aspect of Nintendo's rise to the top of the video game industry in..." Read more

"An excellent read, but the last 2-3 chapters haven't aged well..." Read more

14 customers mention "Information quality"14 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's information quality, providing insights into the business side of Nintendo, with one customer noting its thorough coverage of the corporation's history and another highlighting its detailed look at the company's inner workings.

"...Nintendo games, this book is filled with fascinating stories and insights that went into the making of Nintendo's smash hits." Read more

"...The historical facts (like Nintendo started in 1889) are the best parts of the book and near the beginning...." Read more

"...Great insight into what brought Nintendo into prominence and it leads nicely into Console Wars." Read more

"Great condition for a used item. Book has some very interesting facts about how Nintendo got its start...." Read more

8 customers mention "History"8 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's historical content, with one customer noting it covers years from 1986 to 1993, while another mentions it takes readers back to a bygone era.

"Interesting history, but my one knock on it is that it is very mired in the time it was written...." Read more

"Great history for anyone even remotely interested in the games industry...." Read more

"...Nintendo has a fascinating origin story, and this book is an excellent historical record...." Read more

"Loved the history of how nintendo single handedly saved the gaming world that we know today... But I found the way of storytelling very annoying,..." Read more

5 customers mention "Enthralling story"5 positive0 negative

Customers find the book's story intriguing, with one customer noting that the first chapter is particularly engaging, and another mentioning it serves as an interesting follow-up to the Console Wars.

"...It covers years from 1986 to 1993, but the story is intriguing..." Read more

"...like the magic behind Nintendo games, this book is filled with fascinating stories and insights that went into the making of Nintendo's smash hits." Read more

"...what I had anticipated, making for a meticulously detailed, extremely gripping story..." Read more

"just as the back of the book says the first chapter truly is enthralling. i was at the edge of my seat for more...." Read more

5 customers mention "Writing style"3 positive2 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the writing style of the book.

"This was a great book and very well written! I would highly recommend this to anyone that enjoys reading features from polygon.com." Read more

"Good book with a lot of information, however the writing style has some room for improvement, the author jumps in themes and time a little to..." Read more

"The book gives a very interesting and quite well-written overview of the business aspect of Nintendo's rise to the top of the video game industry in..." Read more

"...history, but my one knock on it is that it is very mired in the time it was written...." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Noreen Segrest
    5.0 out of 5 stars Required reading for any Nintendo fan
    Reviewed in the United States on February 1, 2016
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    To be blunt, David Sheff knocked this book out of the ballpark. The story of Nintendo's rise to power would likely have been interesting on its own, but Sheff's research clearly goes above and beyond what I had anticipated, making for a meticulously detailed, extremely gripping story (there were two chapters devoted to how Nintendo obtained the rights to Tetris, and I promise that that particular tale is so much more interesting than you'd think).

    The book primarily focuses on the story of Nintendo of America, but there's plenty of attention devoted to the Japanese branch when needed. Sheff does a fantastic job humanizing the key players of the story, with a number of their personal stories interspersed with the overarching business narrative. Sheff also avoids sugar coating Nintendo's more controversial methods- the treatment of all sides of the story seems especially fair. The book's only noticeable flaw is that the final chapter or two aren't so exciting for modern readers- a lot of attention is devoted to Nintendo's future plans (the book was released in 1993), so we already know what does and doesn't end up happening- did you know that Sony is prototyping CDs that play movies!?

    Overall, this is definitely a remarkable book, and is well worth a read by anybody with even a cursory interest in the history of video games.
    4 people found this helpful
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  • Melissa J.
    4.0 out of 5 stars An excellent read, but the last 2-3 chapters haven't aged well
    Reviewed in the United States on February 2, 2019
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    If you grew up during the NES and SNES era, this book will likely be incredibly interesting. It's a wonderful companion piece to another book, Console Wars, which focuses on Sega during the 16-bit era but mostly glosses over Nintendo's details. Nintendo has a fascinating origin story, and this book is an excellent historical record. Since it was written in the mid-90s, the interviews were timely and fresh, and many of the key players were still in their roles when it was being written.

    However, the speculation about the future of the industry has not aged well. The author breaks from his historical voice to ponder the future of CD-based entertainment and multimedia few times, and I skipped entire paragraphs at a time towards the end. Some sentiments, like how the "PC revolution never came" sound absurd in 2019, when most homes have multiple PCs, laptops, etc and other devices which do 90% of what PCs can. Reading on my iPad Mini, it felt a little ironic.

    Other than this, the first ~400 pages are a wonderful read, and highly recommended for anyone who loves videogames and enjoys this kind of thing.
    6 people found this helpful
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  • Chuckingdice
    5.0 out of 5 stars The History of Nintendo
    Reviewed in the United States on July 21, 2015
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    This title is a nice overview on the business side of how Nintendo went from a simple toy company to one of the video game giants in the world. Although I was looking for something that explored the background of the designers of these iconic games (which is briefly explored), the story of how NOA was built, the law suits and the marketing strategies were interesting dramas that would probably make a great TV show some day. If you've ever wondered how one of your favorite childhood past times continued to be one of your current favorite past times, check out this read. If you're interested business strategy, also take a look. If you're one of those people who think video games are for kids, or too violent, then quit reading this review on your handheld device/ smart phone.....and read this book anyway.
    4 people found this helpful
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  • guy incognito
    5.0 out of 5 stars Phenomenal Read
    Reviewed in the United States on April 30, 2014
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    Insanely addictive read, was hard to put down. From engineering ingenuity to financial takeovers to international politics with Bush and Gorbachev, this story has it all. What a history of not only Nintendo's ascension but the videogame industry from its infancy. Of how Atari employed a young Steve Jobs to help reduce number of chips used in games and how the creator of Tetris was rewarded for his ingenuity with a pc and a game boy (the only one in USSR). Can't recommend enough.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Matt Piersall
    4.0 out of 5 stars Really Interesting Read
    Reviewed in the United States on January 9, 2010
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    Very interesting read for sure. If your at all interested in the history of video games this is a must read.

    The historical facts (like Nintendo started in 1889) are the best parts of the book and near the beginning. It gets a little lengthy and slightly boring when it goes in to the legal battles but its still very interesting.
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  • Tony Ingesson
    3.0 out of 5 stars Great description of the business side, less so when it comes to hardware and the actual games
    Reviewed in the United States on August 23, 2016
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    The book gives a very interesting and quite well-written overview of the business aspect of Nintendo's rise to the top of the video game industry in the 1980s, although it goes no farther than circa 1994. However, the author seems to be quite clueless when it comes both to the hardware and technical aspects, and more seriously, when it comes to video games themselves. At least his descriptions when it comes to these issues are quite awkward and in several cases outright bizarre (such as portraying Super Mario World as lackluster compared to Sonic the Hedgehog). Even more jarring are the lengthy sections in which the author writes about particular products from the early 1990s in a language that looks like press statements.

    However, anyone interested in the business side of Nintendo can find quite a few gems, as long as you don't mind skipping some parts.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • M.M.H. van Best
    5.0 out of 5 stars Must-read
    Reviewed in the United States on July 13, 2015
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    Great history for anyone even remotely interested in the games industry. The book covers the rise of Nintendo in Japan and the US (and a bit of Europe) but doesn't forget to mention other companies like Atari, Sega, Commodore and other seminal entrepreneurs. Go read it!
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  • Ryan S Johnson
    4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting follow-up to the Console Wars
    Reviewed in the United States on June 20, 2014
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    Interesting history, but my one knock on it is that it is very mired in the time it was written. The view from the early 90s and its over-emphasis on the future of multimedia drags down the end of the book.
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • Adinan Batista Alves
    5.0 out of 5 stars Still a must read
    Reviewed in Brazil on August 2, 2019
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    A must have classic to understand how the gaming industry began by Nintendo entering in America. There are some errors here and there (Sigeru Miyamoto) but it's still an important book for videogame enthusiasts and historians.
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  • Chase Strolenberg
    5.0 out of 5 stars Dated but Exceptional
    Reviewed in Canada on March 7, 2017
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    There is so much information in this book that you can't just stumble over doing a search on the internet. Though some pf the opinions in the book are outdated, it is an excellebt snapshot in time of an era when the industry was new and every Noth American home that could afford it had a Nintendo.

    I would recommend this to any fan who wants to understand the history and business practices of the early game industry, specifically Nintendo.
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  • Ivancho
    5.0 out of 5 stars Captivating story of how Nintendo grew up
    Reviewed in Spain on November 22, 2014
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    Very difficult book to put down and very easy to read. Would recommend including a timeline to help illustrate the complexity of the events that unfolded.
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  • Alexander I.
    5.0 out of 5 stars Eins der besten Bücher zur Videospielgeschichte
    Reviewed in Germany on July 17, 2014
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    Obowohl diese Buch aus der ersten Hälfte der 90er Jahre stammt, ist es noch immer das Standardwerk zur Entstehungsgeschichte und dem Aufstieg von Nintendo. Ausführlich und nie langweilig wird der Weg Nintendos aus dem 19. Jahrhundert bis ca. 1993 (bis zum SNES) beschrieben, Akteure vorgestellt und Geschäftsmodell und wegweisende Managemententscheidungen analysiert.

    Dem Autor gelingt es dabei stets spannend zu schreiben und Kontext vor die reine Aneinanderreihung von Fakten zu Stellen. So werden zusammenhängende Geschichten erzählt, und andere zeitgleich stattfinden Dinge ausgespart, bis die eigentliche Geschichte oder Anekdote zu Ende erzählt ist. Zeitgleiche Dinge werden danach in eigenen Geschichten wieder aufgegriffen. So springt zwar die Erzählung ständig in den 80er Jahren hin und her, dafür aber bekommt man den vollständigen Kontext vieler Dinge mit. Auch nimmt sich der Autor oft Zeit um die Biografie der wichtigsten Akteure zu beleuchten und ihre Motivation damit auf eine gehaltvolle Grundlage zu stellen. Dabei verliert sich der Autor nie in unwichtigen Details und offenbart ein unglaubliches Hintergrundwissen, dass mit viel Sinn für Humor eingestreut wird.

    Das Buch ist nicht nur die Geschichte Nintendos, sondern auch des gesamten Videospielbusiness und der Kultur der 80er und frühen 90er Jahre. Letztendlich ist es auch eine Business-Analyse, die Nintendo als einen Konzern vorstellt, der ausschliesslich langfristig denkt, kurzfristige Renditen (für Investoren und Anteilseigner) ignoriert, Mitarbeiter leistungsgerecht bezahlt, höhere Managementposten im Unternehmen fast ausschliesslich aus eigenen, verdienten Mitarbeitern rekrutiert und bereit ist, in Visionen langfristig zu investieren und Notfalls auch Geld zu verlieren um Ideen gegen Widerstände durchzusetzen. Nintendos unglaublicher Erfolg dürfte gerade heute, wo die Religion des maximalen Shareholder Value wütet wie nie, ein interessantes Lehrstück in Unternehmensführung sein. (Das die Unternehmensführung spätestens seit 2002 auch ideologisch gewechselt haben dürfte, ist eine andere Geschichte und nicht mehr Thema dieses Buches.)

    Die Entwicklungsgeschichte der berühmtesten Nintendo-Spiele und des Meisters Shigeru Miyamoto kommt ebenfalls nicht zu kurz. Wer mit Nintendo aufgewachsen ist, wird hier eine Unmenge an Aha!-Momenten und Flashbacks in die "gute alte Zeit" erleben. Videospielern sei dieses Buch alleine daher schon wärmstens ans Herz gelegt.

    An weiterführender Lektüre möchte ich hier unbedingt noch "Console Wars: Sega, Nintendo, and the Battle that Defined a Generation" empfehlen, welches Nintendos Aufstieg gerade aus der Konkurrenten-Perspektive von Sega beleuchtet. Auch die zeitliche Abfolge der Handlung der Bücher passt perfekt - wo "Game Over" aufhört, führt "Console Wars" fort. Auch empfehlenswert ist "The Ultimate History of Video Games". Idealerweise vor "Game Over" gelesen, bringt es einen sehr empfehlenswerten Überblick über die komplette Spielebranche vom Anfang mit mechanischen Apparaten bis heute. Ein sehr guter Kontext um sich anschliessend auf der Couch "Game Over" zu widmen um schliesslich die alte Nintendo-Konsole vom Dachboden zu holen und die "gute alte Zeit" noch einmal aufleben zu lassen.

    Ich habe es getan und Mario, Zelda und Metroid noch einmal neu für mich entdeckt. Danke dafür. 5 Sterne.
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  • Yanick Morin
    5.0 out of 5 stars but hey it's like going in the past to see what was doing ...
    Reviewed in Canada on January 26, 2018
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    Very interesting for anybody liking video games history. But near the end you truly realise the age of the book, but hey it's like going in the past to see what was doing your favorite hobby in 1992.
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