Video Game Book -- YOU CHOOSE

[Flack]

Over the past few years I have been compiling my "memoirs", so to speak. I'm getting close to the point where I would like to write a book. The problem is, I have several ideas, and I really need to focus on just ONE idea. Here are the piles I've kind of sorted everything into -- which of the three ideas presented here do you think you would be most likely to purchase as a book and read?

Commodore 64 /Modeming Stories - The majority of my teenage gaming years was spent behind a Commodore 64. This would basically be my story, from when I got my 64 until I finally shelved it. This book would include stories of people being arrested, credit card theft, hacking, phreaking, pirating, and lots and lots of interesting (at least I think) and funny stories. (I have also thought about calling this something like "Growing up Modeming" or something, and then I would take it up through the IBM BBS's, and then basically to the beginning of the Internet which was, for all intents and purposes, the death of the local BBS.)

Growing up Pong - This book would include some of that, but wouldn't really focus on it. It would be more of a book about the history of games, but from a personal point of view. It wouldn't focus too much on any one particular gaming system. I have quite a few stories for this one but not as exciting or adventurous as the first one.

10 Best/Worst Games - What this would be would be like my favorite 10 games for multiple systems, and then my 10 most hated games for the same system. So each system would have 2 countdowns. The positive ones would make you want to play the games, and the negative ones would be funny. I would probably do several mainstream systems, like 2600/NES/SNES/Genesis/PSX/N64/next gen maybe even, with lots of screen shots. I might even do 5 per system, if I did a lot of systems.

Ok, so those are my ideas -- my pen is in your hand. Tell me what you think! I am taking the feedback from this poll very seriously.

[downfall]

Personally, given your writing style, humor, and timing (as seen via your posts on the board), I believe I would enjoy the first choice the best. I'm not a huge Commodore fan or anything, but like I said, given your sense of humor and writing style, I think it would suit you best.

Carry on.

[Flack]

Personally, given your writing style, humor, and timing (as seen via your posts on the board), I believe I would enjoy the first choice the best. I'm not a huge Commodore fan or anything, but like I said, given your sense of humor and writing style, I think it would suit you best. Carry on.

Thanks for the feedback! The more I think about it, I'm thinking maybe the first two could almost be combined into one book. Divided into three sections -- Pre-Commodore, Commodore, and then the IBM PC era (during which I have lots of good stories as well).

[classicb]

I voted for the first one the Commodore 64 because it sounds like a fun read and a good story. I like the idea of reading something that centers around videogames with more story than video games and that's what that one seems like it would be. I have to say though while the Commodore 64/ Modeming Stories sounds more interesting to me I think you would sell more if you did 10 Best/Worst Games. Everybody love a good top ten list.

[Flack]

I voted for the first one the Commodore 64 because it sounds like a fun read and a good story. I like the idea of reading something that centers around videogames with more story than video games and that's what that one seems like it would be.

Oh the stories I could tell ... and most likely will.

[max 330 mega]

i wanna hear about shitty games!!!

[SegaAges]

i think the 1st one would rock, as long as the story is better than the movie "the wiz" or whatever its called. you guys know what i am talking about. that movie sucked

[Crush Crawfish]

I would really, really enjoy that 10 best/worst games book. I love those types of things. Great ideas, dude. I can't wait to see the result.

[downfall]

By the way Flack, I didn't mean to sound like I was just discounting either of the other two ideas. I just reread my post, and that was the impression that I got from it (but it wasn't my intent at all). The other two ideas sound good as well, and I'm sure that you'll be successful with it, whichever you choose.

Good luck with everything, and let us know when/where to get the final product! :D

[Sniderman]

What would you most like to read?
Where's the button for "Softcore erotica?"

:D

[downfall]

What would you most like to read?
Where's the button for "Softcore erotica?"

:D


http://www.myimgs.com/data/downfall/flack.jpg

This button?*

* Flack - feel free to edit this if you must. ;)

[Flack]

Flack - feel free to edit this if you must. ;)

Never -- that's hilarious!

[vespertillio]

After hanging out with you at the OKGE and listening to some of your stories, I would say any of them would be a great read. I voted Pong, but they all sound like winners. Keep us posted. :D

[davidleeroth]

That's softcore? @_@

Anyways, I'd love to read your take about the Commodore/modem era. People just didn't understand what you could actually do with these things (other than rack up a huge phonebill). Interesting times for sure.

[NintendoMan]

Top 10 list for sure. I ABSOLUTELY love anything to do with best game list. I love to see what everyone else likes, as their fav/most liked games. It gives to a chance to see what other titles I should check out.

[Dahne]

I never get tired of worst/best games lists.

I was born too late for the Commodore era, so I know very little about it. Sounds like you've got some good stories. And if you go for that one, I might even learn something. :)

[Ze_ro]

Tales from the days of the BBS would be a great read. In my opinion, the whole BBS subculture has pretty much evaporated without a trace. Kids these days have absolutely no idea what a BBS is, despite the role the played in paving the way for the internet we have today.

--Zero

[kainemaxwell]

I voted for the C=64 book. The other 2 have been done in various forms already so I think one on the Commordore would be most intresting.

[Ed Oscuro]

10 best/worst games would fill a book? Jeesh, maybe if you had program listings!

I'm going with option one, as I think your stories about the days of the BBS would be most interesting indeed :)

[kai123]

10 best/worst games would fill a book? Jeesh, maybe if you had program listings!

I'm going with option one, as I think your stories about the days of the BBS would be most interesting indeed :)

I was thinking along those lines as well. Top 10 lists and such are for websites not for books.

[Flack]

10 best/worst games would fill a book? Jeesh, maybe if you had program listings!

I probably didn't make it very clear. What I was thinking of was like the top 10 best and top 10 worst for maybe 10 systems. Putting one per page (with screenshots and what not) it would be about 200 pages. My idea was like for the first one, when you open the book on the left would be a 10 with angel's wings and a review and on the right would be a 10 with devil's horns, something like that. Then you would keep reading, so each open spread would have a good one on the left and a bad one on the right.

[izret101]

I picked 10 best and worst games but i would actually read them all ;) .
I love the history behind the games i grew up playing and the ones i play today.

[El CiF]

i dont know why but ive always loved reading people making fun of terrible anythings. same with people praising really good anythings.
reading about peoples fav/least fav games is especially entertaining because sometimes i can relate to what the persons is talking about. and sometimes when i hear someone praise a game that i love, it makes me feel good. dunno why. also i gotta know which games suck 8-)

[Flack]

Looks like I might end up writing two books, who knows? :)

[Dahne]

Tales from the days of the BBS would be a great read. In my opinion, the whole BBS subculture has pretty much evaporated without a trace. Kids these days have absolutely no idea what a BBS is, despite the role the played in paving the way for the internet we have today.

--Zero

I admit, I have no idea what a BBS is. :) I know it survives in the Japanese lexicon, as in the .hack//SIGN anime they often refer to the "Bi Bi Esu", which is translated in the subtitles as "the Board (as in message board)".

[dojosky]

yup do the commodore one !!! :D if u can do 2 then do c64 book and the pong book :)

[Flack]

I admit, I have no idea what a BBS is. :) I know it survives in the Japanese lexicon, as in the .hack//SIGN anime they often refer to the "Bi Bi Esu", which is translated in the subtitles as "the Board (as in message board)".

Oh child, why must you make me feel this old this early? :)

BBS stood for Bulletin Board System. People ran them from their homes. Without going in to a huge long description, think of them like websites that you had to call using a modem and your phone line; websites that for the most part, only one person at a time could be connected to. BBS's were mainly known for their message boards (like forums, but again, imagine how slow things went since only one person could be online at a time), file areas (for uploading and downloading files), and online games (like tradewards, etc).

[izret101]

Tales from the days of the BBS would be a great read. In my opinion, the whole BBS subculture has pretty much evaporated without a trace. Kids these days have absolutely no idea what a BBS is, despite the role the played in paving the way for the internet we have today.

--Zero

I admit, I have no idea what a BBS is. :) I know it survives in the Japanese lexicon, as in the .hack//SIGN anime they often refer to the "Bi Bi Esu", which is translated in the subtitles as "the Board (as in message board)".

Im 16 i know what a BBS is. I played on quite a few. I love L.O.R.D.S games. I never really got into the other games on the BBSes(how would you pluralize that?) i used to use.

I would find that pretty interesting too though.