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Patrick Hickey Jr.

The Minds Behind the Games: Interviews with Cult and Classic Video Game Developers (Studies in Gaming) Paperback – April 9, 2018

by Patrick Hickey Jr. (Author), Matthew Wilhelm Kapell (Editor)

31 ratings

Part of: Studies in Gaming (23 books)

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Featuring interviews with the creators of 36 popular video games--including Deus Ex, Night Trap, Mortal Kombat, Wasteland and NBA Jam--this book gives a behind-the-scenes look at the creation of some of the most influential and iconic (and sometimes forgotten) games of all time. Recounting endless hours of painstaking development, the challenges of working with mega publishers and the uncertainties of public reception, the interviewees reveal the creative processes that produced some of gaming's classic titles.

Print length

216 pages
Language

English
Publisher

McFarland & Company
Publication date

April 9, 2018
Reading age

18 years and up
Dimensions

7 x 0.43 x 10 inches
ISBN-10

1476671109
ISBN-13

978-1476671109
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"For the ardent hardcore gamer, this book is a gift. It's a great behind the console look at the people who gave existence to beloved video game titles. There is even some appeal for people who have simply dipped their toes into the gaming world or want to gain insight into a world their loved ones are entrenched in. There is some technical jargon but it does not overshadow the story and the personal story is what the author most wanted to convey. It was great that they included photos of the developers and images of their games. For longtime gamers, this book will be a nostalgic walk down memory lane with discussions of the very first games and consoles. This book was well written and put together. Pick up a copy and enjoy reading it...if you're GAME! --Jen Bush: Arts Views

"Patrick interviews some of the greatest pioneers of the gaming industry in his book 'The Minds Behind the Games: Interviews With Cult and Classic Video Game Developers.' He treats us to a factual yet accessible look at some of the most influential games ever created through first-hand interviews with the developers."-- Pete Paquette: Senior Animator, Bioshock: Infinite, Overwatch, Madden NFL 18

"The Minds Behind the Video Games lays it all out in a way that's both interesting and entertaining...a valuable addition to the collection of anyone who obsesses over video game history."--Josh Wirtanen, Retrovolve.com

Instead of simply just sharing each interview from the Developers as you would expect, Patrick intimately weaves their tales as the intricate stories they truly are. If you are a fan of classic video games, then many of the games featured are already probably near and dear to your heart. Hearing the stories behind the games you grew up with pulls at your nostalgic heartstrings while inspiring you to go on a retro game playing binge!--Phil Williams- FlipSprings

"The Minds Behind the Games" reads like a personal voiceover for an ESPN 30-for-30 documentary on every classic video game mentioned in the book. This is a must-read for classic gaming fans and anyone interested in learning about the thought process of game developers"-- Brian Mazique- Forbes.com

"Fantastic. One part serious journalism and the other a love letter to the history of gaming."--Anthony Frisina, author of The Regulator

"From arcade rats to indie developers, Hickey gives an intimate look at the personalities behind gaming with the passion of a fanboy and the attention of a scholar."--Cesar R. Bustamante, Jr., New York Daily News

"This book will make your inner gamer do the time warp again and again."--Chris Butera, founder, Bonesaw Webzine

"I love the 'WWF WrestleMania: The Arcade Game' chapter, which perfectly captures the aura surrounding that title--its development and release during such a transitionary phase for Wrestling--and how it smartly serves as a fun and exemplary reminder of the game's uniqueness in being a fighting game at heart, hybridized...and stylized with mystical, whimsical gimmick-specific elements effectively creating a 'game for everyone,' during a time when that was an impossible task."-- Joel Gertner, Extreme Championship Wrestling Legend

"Hickey's discussions of the NHL Faceoff brought back huge memories for me. Being able to play a season, insert yourself in the lineup and play to hoist the Stanley Cup made the dreams of my youth come alive on the television. Thanks for allowing me to re-live my past with the telling of these stories."--Gary Harding, 1240 SportsTalk Radio.

About the Author

Patrick Hickey, Jr., is the founder and editor-in-chief of ReviewFix.com and a lecturer of English and journalism at Kingsborough Community College, in Brooklyn, New York. Over the past decade, his video game coverage has been featured in national ad campaigns by Nintendo, Disney and EA Sports.

Matthew Wilhelm Kapell worked in the Media and War & Society programs at Swansea University, United Kingdom. He lives in Roseville, California.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ McFarland & Company; Illustrated edition (April 9, 2018)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 216 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1476671109
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1476671109
Reading age ‏ : ‎ 18 years and up
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 13.6 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 7 x 0.43 x 10 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #2,460,649 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #4,809 in Scientist Biographies
- #6,062 in Video & Computer Games
- #7,465 in Computer & Video Game Strategy Guides

Customer Reviews:
31 ratings

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Patrick Hickey Jr.

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Patrick Hickey Jr. is a full-time Lecturer of English and Assistant Director of the Journalism program at Kingsborough Community College in Brooklyn, NY and is the Chairman of the City University of New York Journalism Discipline Council. Away from academia, Hickey is the Founder and Editor-In-Chief of ReviewFix.com. He’s also a former News Editor at NBC Local Integrated Media and National Video Games Writer at Examiner.com. Over the last ten years, he has won numerous awards and had his work mentioned in National Ad campaigns by Disney, Nintendo and EA Sports.

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Splinter

Very good reading! Recommended

Reviewed in the United States on April 18, 2019

Verified Purchase

Patrick reminds us with this amazing book why we love video games. He understands that there is a story behind the scenes and gives us a rare look at these stories. He realizes the really interesting element of games are the story behind the game. These are stories of struggle and people striving for their dreams. Patrick is the perfect stuard of this amazing trip into the narrative of games. I can't recommend this enough.

One person found this helpful

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Washi

Get The Inside Scoop on Your Favorite Games

Reviewed in the United States on July 19, 2018

Verified Purchase

This book is for both the casual and hardcore gamer. If you want to know the story behind the struggle of how your favorite games came to be realized, then most definitely buy this book. I immediately went to the Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego and Mortal Kombat sections and enjoyed them both immensely.

2 people found this helpful

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Stephen Fontana

A must read for video game nerds like me.

Reviewed in the United States on May 4, 2019

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This book should be up there with the greats of the video game historical books. You will not find a compilation of stories of this magnitude, in this detail, but most of all, this FUN, anywhere. Patrick Hickey has a gold mine here and nerds like me should keep this book in our rotation forever.

One person found this helpful

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Sharon

A MUST BUY & MUST READ !!

Reviewed in the United States on March 18, 2019

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You don’t have to be a gamer to read a book on gaming and enjoy it ! This book brang me back to my childhood of growing up with these games and opened my eyes to finally get the view on the original makers behind these games: the ideas, amount of work and imagination put into these games is amazing. Great book & enjoyed it !

2 people found this helpful

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Amazon Customer

Do you like video games? Do you like to be entertained?

Reviewed in the United States on June 18, 2018

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Do you like video games? Do you like going behind the scenes to see how things came to be? Do you like to be entertained? Then why have you not bought this book?!?!?

2 people found this helpful

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Alexander G Gonzalez

Great stories and detailing

Reviewed in the United States on May 3, 2019

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Love the details and great story telling. Best writing I have seen about the industry in a long while.

One person found this helpful

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Chris Carpenter

History in the making. Absolutely amazingly well researched and narrated.

Reviewed in the United States on July 2, 2018

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Absolutely amazingly well researched and narrated. Many of these interviews will be public record gaming history in years to come. Enjoyed every minute of this book and gleaned a lot of useful information for game design and heaps of fun game play facts.

2 people found this helpful

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Anthony Frisina

This book is a definite must buy!!

Reviewed in the United States on May 7, 2018

Verified Purchase

This is a book that must be read even if you are not a fan of video games. The author places attention to every word he writes with each page seeming like a mater painter’s canvas. This is one terrific piece of non fiction and I enjoyed every turn of the page. I highly recommend to anyone who is seeking a deeper understanding of some of the most influential games in the industry’s history. The author is brilliant with each passage of this non fiction masterwork. Can’t wait to read his next book.

2 people found this helpful

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