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erin_oriordan_is_reading_again's review against another edition
4.0
I was born in the late '70s and grew up in the '80s, so I have many vivid memories of the Atari game console, video arcades, the Nintendo revolution, the change over from Nintendo to Sega, et al. For me, this was a fascinating history of the technology that had to happen in order for the human race to have massive multiplayer online role-playing games (MMORPGs) and other gaming technology at our fingertips. I noticed some reviewers thought that it took the graphic novel too long to explain the background technology, but for me, the background technology and some of the names and faces behind it were some of the charm and fascination of this book.
If you're a fan of [b:Ready Player One|9969571|Ready Player One|Ernest Cline|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1500930947s/9969571.jpg|14863741], this is an absolute must-read for you. Like Parzival, you need to know your gaming history if you want to navigate the Oasis.
I received a copy of this graphic novel in exchange for my review through BloggingForBooks.com.
If you're a fan of [b:Ready Player One|9969571|Ready Player One|Ernest Cline|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1500930947s/9969571.jpg|14863741], this is an absolute must-read for you. Like Parzival, you need to know your gaming history if you want to navigate the Oasis.
I received a copy of this graphic novel in exchange for my review through BloggingForBooks.com.
taberiusrex's review against another edition
3.0
Full of great information about the history of video games and video gaming, with some expressive and detailed artwork by McGowan. My only real critique is in the later chapters that deal with more contemporary gaming: where before the pace was measured, here it rushes and seems to become scattered.
sidneyua's review against another edition
3.0
Доволі пізнавально, але дуже рвано. Калейдоскоп дат, персоналій, подій, яким часто відводиться всього кілька малюнків. Автор намагається настільки ґрунтовно простежити історію, що часто втрачає послідовність, особливо ближче до кінця, коли події розвиваються паралельно. Про якусь емоційну прив'заність до персоналій не може і йтися, настільки часто ми прощаємося з одними важливими для ігор людьми і знайомимося з іншими.
fdterritory's review against another edition
2.0
So disappointing. The authors can't decide whether they're writing a history, a comic book, a polemic, or a cultural review, so they try to do all of them at the same time and fail. Even the art isn't that good. Hard, HARD pass.
vernip's review against another edition
informative
slow-paced
2.0
Good GAWD ALMIGHTY does this dig too far deep into things we don't care about!
Did I want to know how the history of computers were made? No.
Did I want to know the innumerable people who "played" with "electronics" in all their prototype forms? No.
Heck, you can start at Chapter 4 and still be a little overwhelmed by all the precursors us gamers had to deal with before the computer, arcade, and console kids of the 80s ever saw their first pixel.
The only thing that kept my attention throughout were the little cameos from popular video game characters and situations that helped to illustrate the past.
Did I want to know how the history of computers were made? No.
Did I want to know the innumerable people who "played" with "electronics" in all their prototype forms? No.
Heck, you can start at Chapter 4 and still be a little overwhelmed by all the precursors us gamers had to deal with before the computer, arcade, and console kids of the 80s ever saw their first pixel.
The only thing that kept my attention throughout were the little cameos from popular video game characters and situations that helped to illustrate the past.
bleary's review against another edition
4.0
A fun, lively romp through the history of video games, taking in all of the serendipity, backstabbing and opportunism that built a multi-billion dollar industry. It doesn't contain any especially surprising information but the story is told with vigour, and each panel is bursting with video game in-jokes.
carroq's review against another edition
3.0
Disclaimer: I received a free ecopy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
There is way more information here than I was initially expecting. It begins with pinball machines, early computers, and their creators and continues to the present day with next gen game consoles and mobile apps.
This book is pretty comprehensive for the format. It covers a good deal of time and connects things together through associations between various creators. I did lose track of who was connected with which system over time. The amount of information covered cause the book to move at a slower pace than I wanted. While I wanted information on more recent game companies, I appreciate the groundwork the writers laid with the periods they chose to focus on.
The biggest strength of the book has got to be the art. When talking about video games, it makes sense to include visual references. The creators go all out with visual references to numerous video game characters and franchises. They play around with page layout at times, which I feel works very well. Fans of video games will get a lot out of the book from the art alone. Choosing the comic format fits perfectly with this topic.
There is way more information here than I was initially expecting. It begins with pinball machines, early computers, and their creators and continues to the present day with next gen game consoles and mobile apps.
This book is pretty comprehensive for the format. It covers a good deal of time and connects things together through associations between various creators. I did lose track of who was connected with which system over time. The amount of information covered cause the book to move at a slower pace than I wanted. While I wanted information on more recent game companies, I appreciate the groundwork the writers laid with the periods they chose to focus on.
The biggest strength of the book has got to be the art. When talking about video games, it makes sense to include visual references. The creators go all out with visual references to numerous video game characters and franchises. They play around with page layout at times, which I feel works very well. Fans of video games will get a lot out of the book from the art alone. Choosing the comic format fits perfectly with this topic.
aus10england's review against another edition
informative
slow-paced
2.0
Goddddd I was so BORED. The biographies of the people important people were cool, but otherwise it read like a war history. Very wordy. Not my fave format for graphic novel histories.
Content Warnings
Moderate: War