The Game industry has been recently investing a lot of time, attention and effort into game history. The Game canon is modeled on the efforts of the National Film Preservation Board, which produces an annual list of films that are subsequently added to the National Film Registry. The philosophy and assertion within the game industry is that digital games have a cultural significance and a historical significance. This book follows that trend in the industry by covering the most influential videogames (Super Mario, Grand Theft Auto, Doom, The Sims, etc...) of all-time including each game's history/development, sequels and spiritual successors (those influenced) described. Each game's play concepts, techniques and mechanics will also be included, with opinions on what's good and bad in each design - all augmented with interviews and references.
Chapter 1 Alone in the Dark (1992): The Polygons of Fear; Chapter 2 Castle Wolfenstein (1981): Achtung! Stealth Gaming Steps Out of the Shadows; Chapter 3 Dance Dance Revolution (1998): The Player becomes the Star; Chapter 4 Diablo (1996): The Rogue Goes to Hell; Chapter 5 Doom (1993): The First-Person Shooter takes Control; Chapter 6 Dune II: The Building of a Dynasty (1992): Spicing up Strategy in Real Time; Chapter 7 Final Fantasy VII (1997): It's Never Final in the World of Fantasy; Chapter 8 Flight Simulator (1980): Digital Reality; Chapter 9 Grand Theft Auto III (2001): The Consolejacking Life; Chapter 10 John Madden Football (1988): Modern Sports Videogames Kickoff; Chapter 11 King's Quest: Quest for the Crown (1984): Perilous Puzzles, Thorny Thrones; Chapter 12 Myst (1993): Launching Multimedia Worlds; Chapter 13 Pac-Man (1980): Japanese Gumption, American Consumption; Chapter 14 Pole Position (1982): Where the Raster Meets the Road; Chapter 15 SimCity (1989): Building Blocks for Fun and Profit; Chapter 16 Space Invaders (1978): The Japanese Descend; Chapter 17 Street Fighter II (1991): Would you Like the Combo?; Chapter 18 Super Mario 64/Tomb Raider (1996): The Third Dimension; Chapter 19 Super Mario Bros. (1985): How High can Jumpman Get?; Chapter 20 Tetris (1985): Casual Gaming Falls into Place; Chapter 21 The Legend of Zelda (1986): Rescuing Zeldas and Uniting Triforces; Chapter 22 The Sims (2000): Who Let the Sims Out?; Chapter 23 Ultima (1980): The Immaculate Conception of the Computer Role-Playing Game; Chapter 24 Ultima Online (1997): Putting the Role-Play Back in Computer Role-Playing Games; Chapter 25 Zork (1980): Text Imps Versus Graphics Grues;
Show moreThe Game industry has been recently investing a lot of time, attention and effort into game history. The Game canon is modeled on the efforts of the National Film Preservation Board, which produces an annual list of films that are subsequently added to the National Film Registry. The philosophy and assertion within the game industry is that digital games have a cultural significance and a historical significance. This book follows that trend in the industry by covering the most influential videogames (Super Mario, Grand Theft Auto, Doom, The Sims, etc...) of all-time including each game's history/development, sequels and spiritual successors (those influenced) described. Each game's play concepts, techniques and mechanics will also be included, with opinions on what's good and bad in each design - all augmented with interviews and references.
Chapter 1 Alone in the Dark (1992): The Polygons of Fear; Chapter 2 Castle Wolfenstein (1981): Achtung! Stealth Gaming Steps Out of the Shadows; Chapter 3 Dance Dance Revolution (1998): The Player becomes the Star; Chapter 4 Diablo (1996): The Rogue Goes to Hell; Chapter 5 Doom (1993): The First-Person Shooter takes Control; Chapter 6 Dune II: The Building of a Dynasty (1992): Spicing up Strategy in Real Time; Chapter 7 Final Fantasy VII (1997): It's Never Final in the World of Fantasy; Chapter 8 Flight Simulator (1980): Digital Reality; Chapter 9 Grand Theft Auto III (2001): The Consolejacking Life; Chapter 10 John Madden Football (1988): Modern Sports Videogames Kickoff; Chapter 11 King's Quest: Quest for the Crown (1984): Perilous Puzzles, Thorny Thrones; Chapter 12 Myst (1993): Launching Multimedia Worlds; Chapter 13 Pac-Man (1980): Japanese Gumption, American Consumption; Chapter 14 Pole Position (1982): Where the Raster Meets the Road; Chapter 15 SimCity (1989): Building Blocks for Fun and Profit; Chapter 16 Space Invaders (1978): The Japanese Descend; Chapter 17 Street Fighter II (1991): Would you Like the Combo?; Chapter 18 Super Mario 64/Tomb Raider (1996): The Third Dimension; Chapter 19 Super Mario Bros. (1985): How High can Jumpman Get?; Chapter 20 Tetris (1985): Casual Gaming Falls into Place; Chapter 21 The Legend of Zelda (1986): Rescuing Zeldas and Uniting Triforces; Chapter 22 The Sims (2000): Who Let the Sims Out?; Chapter 23 Ultima (1980): The Immaculate Conception of the Computer Role-Playing Game; Chapter 24 Ultima Online (1997): Putting the Role-Play Back in Computer Role-Playing Games; Chapter 25 Zork (1980): Text Imps Versus Graphics Grues;
Show moreChapter 1 Alone in the Dark (1992): The Polygons of Fear; Chapter 2 Castle Wolfenstein (1981): Achtung! Stealth Gaming Steps Out of the Shadows; Chapter 3 Dance Dance Revolution (1998): The Player becomes the Star; Chapter 4 Diablo (1996): The Rogue Goes to Hell; Chapter 5 Doom (1993): The First-Person Shooter takes Control; Chapter 6 Dune II: The Building of a Dynasty (1992): Spicing up Strategy in Real Time; Chapter 7 Final Fantasy VII (1997): It's Never Final in the World of Fantasy; Chapter 8 Flight Simulator (1980): Digital Reality; Chapter 9 Grand Theft Auto III (2001): The Consolejacking Life; Chapter 10 John Madden Football (1988): Modern Sports Videogames Kickoff; Chapter 11 King's Quest: Quest for the Crown (1984): Perilous Puzzles, Thorny Thrones; Chapter 12 Myst (1993): Launching Multimedia Worlds; Chapter 13 Pac-Man (1980): Japanese Gumption, American Consumption; Chapter 14 Pole Position (1982): Where the Raster Meets the Road; Chapter 15 SimCity (1989): Building Blocks for Fun and Profit; Chapter 16 Space Invaders (1978): The Japanese Descend; Chapter 17 Street Fighter II (1991): Would you Like the Combo?; Chapter 18 Super Mario 64/Tomb Raider (1996): The Third Dimension; Chapter 19 Super Mario Bros. (1985): How High can Jumpman Get?; Chapter 20 Tetris (1985): Casual Gaming Falls into Place; Chapter 21 The Legend of Zelda (1986): Rescuing Zeldas and Uniting Triforces; Chapter 22 The Sims (2000): Who Let the Sims Out?; Chapter 23 Ultima (1980): The Immaculate Conception of the Computer Role-Playing Game; Chapter 24 Ultima Online (1997): Putting the Role-Play Back in Computer Role-Playing Games; Chapter 25 Zork (1980): Text Imps Versus Graphics Grues;
Bill Loguidice, Matt Barton
"They say you can't go back again, but reading Vintage Games comes
close. Open the book, and I'm back in the video arcades of my
youth. Turn the page, and I'm in college again, discovering the
secret joys of the early PC games. Turn the page again, and I'm
back in my living room, playing Mario with my young kids. But
Vintage Games is more than just a trip down memory lane, because
the authors analyze each game in ways that bring fresh insights to
those nostalgic memories.--Steve Meretzky, Veteran Game
Designer
"An interesting and insightful trip down a gamer's memory lane,
focusing on titles that have become benchmarks in videogame
history.--Didi Cardoso, Managing Editor, Grrlgamer.com
"The video game industry has a poor track record when it comes to
preserving its history. Fortunately, scholars and enthusiasts have
stepped in to fill the void, and Vintage Games is an essential
contribution to this effort. Loguidice and Barton are to be
commended for documenting the history of gaming's greatest
landmarks.--Michael Abbott, The Brainy Gamer Blog and Podcast,
Professor of Theater and Film Studies, Wabash College
"Essential reading for video game fans and game studies scholars
alike!--Laurie N. Taylor, Digital Library Center, University of
Florida
"A must-read for anyone even remotely interested in video gaming
history - from the hardcore to the casual. A book that anyone that
has ever held a joystick would enjoy."--Shane R. Monroe, Host of
RetroGamer Radio/Monroeworld.com
"The book is smart and fun - much like the games it addresses.--Dr.
Matthew S. S. Johnson, Southern Illinois University
Edwardsville
"Vintage Games is an impressive and entertaining read if you are
interested in the video game industry. Reading about how such an
interesting industry came to where it is today is very fun, and
seeing how it got here on such specific levels such as genre and
mechanics is even better. The easy to read categorization of the
information works. Whether you're a new gamer yearning for a
history lesson on your favorite hobby or a veteran wanting to read
up on your favorite classics, Vintage Games has what you're looking
for."--GameIndustry and GameInformer.com"A study on video games -
particularly those video games which have had the greatest
influence on the market today, whether they were big successes at
retail, genre-defining or even genre-creating. Vintage Games has a
superb layout - each chapter is accompanied by a variety of
screenshots, promotional materials and other paraphenalia, all in
full colour. The text is masterfully written; it's sharp,
insightful and to-the-point and doesn't suffer from the stuffiness
of other academically focused video game publications.. Vintage
Games is highly recommended reading. If you are looking to learn
more about the origins of some of the most influential video games
to date, then Vintage Games' wonderful layout and clear, concise
and insightful writing make it a vital
resource."--RetgroGamesAus.com
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