The Ultimate History of Video Games: From Pong to Pokemon and Beyond . . . the Story Behind the Craze That Touched Our Lives and Changed the World, Kent Steven L.

For industry insiders and game players alike, this book is a must-have.--Mark Turmell, designer for Midway Games and creator of NBA Jam, NFL Blitz, and WrestleMania

With all the whiz, bang, pop, and shimmer of a glowing arcade, volume 1 of The Ultimate History of Video Games reveals everything you ever wanted to know and more about the unforgettable games that changed the world, the visionaries who made them, and the fanatics who played them. Starting in arcades then moving to televisions and handheld devices, the video game invasion has entranced kids and the young at heart for nearly fifty years. And gaming historian Steven L. Kent has been there to record the craze from the very beginning.

The Ultimate History: Volume 1 tells the incredible tale of how this backroom novelty transformed into a cultural phenomenon. Through meticulous research and personal interviews with hundreds of industry luminaries, Kent chronicles firsthand accounts of how yesterdays games like Space Invaders, Centipede, and Pac-Man helped create an arcade culture that defined a generation, and how todays empires like Sony, Nintendo, and Electronic Arts have galvanized a multibillion-dollar industry and a new generation of games. Inside, youll discover

- the video game that saved Nintendo from bankruptcy
- the serendipitous story of Pac-Mans design
- the misstep that helped topple Ataris $2-billion-a-year empire
- the coin shortage caused by Space Invaders
- the fascinating reasons behind the rise, fall, and rebirth of Sega
- and much more