Phoenix: The Fall & Rise of Videogames

[8bitgamer]

Congrats, Lenny, on having the second greatest videogame book of all time!

(According to the new issue of Game Informer).

[swlovinist]

The book is awsome(I read every word, every page a couple of times). I am glad to see that it has gotten some spotlight that it deserves. Congrats

[mezrabad]

Agreed! It's a great book and I'm proud to have it in my library. I wasn't aware of the Game Informer accolades. Congratulations!

[tmc]

Anyone know how i can get hold of this book? does anywhere still sell it? I see the publishers site 'rolenta press' has every version out of print but does state that a 4th edition is coming out soon.

Would love this book, any help?

[8bitgamer]

And for the complete list...

1. Masters of Doom
2. Phoenix The Fall & Rise of Videogames
3. Snow Crash
4. The Ultimate History of Video Games
5. Confessions of the Game Doctor
6. Opening the Xbox
7. Lucky Wander Boy
8. Game Over: Press Start to Continue
9. A Theory of Fun for Game Design
10. High Score: The Illustrated History of Electronic Games

[swlovinist]

Any other books that are good either coffee table reads on old systems(picture books) or just plain good video game history books that were not mentioned? I am interested in what else is out there. Thanks, John

[Phosphor Dot Fossils]

How did Ralph Baer's book not make that list?

[RCM]

How did Ralph Baer's book not make that list?

was thinking the same thing.

[diskoboy]

Masters of Doom better than Phoenix??

I demand a recount.....

[Mayhem]

Any other books that are good either coffee table reads on old systems(picture books) or just plain good video game history books that were not mentioned? I am interested in what else is out there. Thanks, John

http://c64goldenyears.com/

Though I should plug in given I helped out providing pictures and proof reading :)

[Steven]

Well, it recently came out and is more of one man's take on the gaming scene and his memories of it (as well as a couple of his cohorts) but such a video game book thread would be incomplete without mentioning Rob's (webmaster of the OPCFG/West Mansion) "Memoirs of a Virtual Caveman."

[rolenta]

Thanks all!!!!!

I wasn't online last night so I didn't see this post, and I only learned about the list when Bill Kunkel sent me his congratulations.

Is this issue of Game Informer out yet? I have a subscription but haven't received it yet. And I was in Gamestop today and they still have the May issue.


I read every word, every page a couple of times

Well you'll have to read the 4th edition because many of the words have been changed! Not only am I adding chapters to cover the years 2001 through the present, but I am also rewriting the entire book, and have several editors helping out to make sure it's done correctly this time!

Thanks for your support!

[swlovinist]

Thanks all!!!!!

I wasn't online last night so I didn't see this post, and I only learned about the list when Bill Kunkel sent me his congratulations.

Is this issue of Game Informer out yet? I have a subscription but haven't received it yet. And I was in Gamestop today and they still have the May issue.



Well you'll have to read the 4th edition because many of the words have been changed! Not only am I adding chapters to cover the years 2001 through the present, but I am also rewriting the entire book, and have several editors helping out to make sure it's done correctly this time!

Thanks for your support!

I cant wait to read the book, as the book you wrote has inspired me as a writer and collector. Just let me know when I can buy the new edition. Collecting video games is fun and exciting, but even more so is reading all the back stories and oddball info about what happened back in the day. I would consider the the book that you wrote to be the best that I have read HANDS DOWN.

[boatofcar]

I thought Phoenix was a great book, but to me Game Over: Press Start to Continue is the most riveting account of video game history put to paper. However, I imagine its limited scope (being mostly about Nintendo) probably kept it from placing higher on the list.

[Poofta!]

I thought Phoenix was a great book, but to me Game Over: Press Start to Continue is the most riveting account of video game history put to paper. However, I imagine its limited scope (being mostly about Nintendo) probably kept it from placing higher on the list.

while i havent read Pheonix (i second on letting us know when the newest edition hits, ill get and read it) GAME OVER was too my favorite. so much knowledge about something that has changed my and so many other's lives.

[swlovinist]

I have also read Game Over from end to end, and thought it was pretty good. For me, it did get a little long in the middle when it covered the whole tetris story. It was very detailed, and insightful to the history of Nintendo and others.

[Gamereviewgod]

3. Snow Crash


Only one I never heard of. Checked Amazon and the only listing doesn't exactly seem like a video game book.

[8bitgamer]

Only one I never heard of. Checked Amazon and the only listing doesn't exactly seem like a video game book.

It's a novel by Neal Stephenson. The storyline was a progenitor of sorts to such online games as World of Warcraft.

[slapdash]

Yeah, I don't think Snow Crash belongs on the list, but it is a great read (though the ending is... well, not as good as the setup?).