Scan barcode
emheld's review against another edition
4.0
An introspective look into creativity and maturity. It's not the companion to Ready Player One that some want it to be - not nearly so obvious or plot-heavy - and that's a good thing. Grossman is writing a bit of memoir here, though perhaps more fictionalized than we'd want it (in that it still has a level of Protagonist on a Quest that real life doesn't contain). Recommended for gamers, writers, frustrated creators, fans of RPGs.
fisk42's review against another edition
3.0
I probably would have rated this lower if I weren't a computer programmer interested in video games.
Don't read this if you're expecting Ready Player One part 2. It's a good book, but they're not very similar.
Overall it's a decent read, and I could tell that there is an awesome book underneath. It's just not executed as well as it could have been.
Don't read this if you're expecting Ready Player One part 2. It's a good book, but they're not very similar.
Overall it's a decent read, and I could tell that there is an awesome book underneath. It's just not executed as well as it could have been.
bengriffin's review against another edition
2.0
I was suckered in by the Superbrothers cover which I knew was a bad move on my part but I persevered anyway, and sadly lost a lot of time to this book. I'm not quite sure who it's aimed at as it over explains games at some point and descends into inside baseball at others. It's chronically dull, has zero likeable characters, and nothing particularly driving the plot. The only reason I carried on until the end was to see if something happened that made it all worthwhile. It didn't. Avoid.
sammy_stenger's review against another edition
2.0
i liked the concept and the writing style, but the plot really wasn’t there
dave_white's review against another edition
4.0
YOU is a bout Russel - 28 year old college drop out. Not quite a lawyer, not an English major either. Lost and disappointed in life (or himself) he gets a job with a game making company of his high school friends. Not quite though, one of them is dead and another one left to create another game company. Russel struggle with a newly assigned position of lead designer on a new game while hunting for a bug which might have taken root in their childhoods.
It's a great mix of video game history, technology, friendship and self reflection. Narration might have some problems, but it sure makes connection with a certain kind of people (amongst them - myself).
Not for everybody, but it sure is not bad.
P.S. Ready Player One fans be warned. While it shares common themes, this book is not of same ilk. Just so you don't get disappointed.
It's a great mix of video game history, technology, friendship and self reflection. Narration might have some problems, but it sure makes connection with a certain kind of people (amongst them - myself).
Not for everybody, but it sure is not bad.
P.S. Ready Player One fans be warned. While it shares common themes, this book is not of same ilk. Just so you don't get disappointed.
grid's review against another edition
3.0
This started to get a bit too abstract toward the end. It's funny, I listened to this on audiobook, and have a WORSE concept of pacing as a result. I really have no idea where it basically stopped being about the main character, and became set almost entirely in the fictional world of the video game. But that's where it kinda started to loose me. Wish I had written this review closer to the time I listened to the book, because I can't remember much else, other than some details about the epic (10-20 hour?) battles the kids had in the original version of the game. (At a camp for software development no less.)
evanmc's review against another edition
3.0
I really liked this book, as the setting and main character drew me into an unfamiliar world of game design. My biggest gripe is the fact that the teased 'Mystery' of the death of one of the main character's childhood friends is never investigated, never solved, and left as a huge glaring loose end that kept this from being an either 4 star or 5 star book in my opinion.
tnanz's review against another edition
5.0
I mean five stars for sure, I thoroughly enjoyed it and think anyone with even a passing knowledge of Mariokart or Runescape would feel the same way. But at the same time, I'm not sure this book had an ending? And I definitely didn't find out as much about the characters as I wanted to (Darren in particular doesn't really make sense to me. I don't get him. Maybe that's a good thing though?), but I can live with that. The insight into gaming structure and development was shockingly accessible and fascinating. The Cambridge/Somerville/Alewife setting came through shockingly clearly. I think it's the characters that are still giving me pause, that make this book less than perfect. While they are fascinating and well rounded, they don't shift or move or grow at all during the narrative. Something about that constancy doesn't feel right.
But again, thoroughly enjoyed it, will be immediately sending copies to my brother and father, and will most likely read it again. Certainly makes me want to pick up more of Grossman's books, the prose itself was top notch (particularly impressive in this highly technical setting).
But again, thoroughly enjoyed it, will be immediately sending copies to my brother and father, and will most likely read it again. Certainly makes me want to pick up more of Grossman's books, the prose itself was top notch (particularly impressive in this highly technical setting).