Rating: 
Summary: As good as it gets for video game fans!!!!!
Review: This book will give you what no other book can - the feeling of walking into an arcade filled with the greatest games from an age long since gone.It is really funny (anyone who enjoys the Simpsons will enjoy the humor immensely) and filled with great information. Unlike other (very) dry books on the subject, this one is as much fun as the games it glorifies.
Rating: 
Summary: Somewhat interesting but shallow
Review: This book, subtitled "The Fan's Guide to the Golden Age of Video Games" is about 50 or so video arcade games from the early 80's of the author's choosing. Each game is briefly described in about one page of text and several cabinet shots and/or screen-shots (mostly MAME). Also included are several small discussions about a particular genre or game similarities, as well as several interviews with some of the early pioneers such as Nolan Bushnell and Eugene Jarvis.
On the whole, the book was a mildly interesting read. I found that a lot of the descriptions were obvious and sometimes tedious to read. If you have played the game at all, you probably know 90% or more of what is discussed in the description. There is virtually no discussion of playing strategy or technical details of the game, not that the book purports to be a technical or player's guide. I didn't find any obvious errors, although I wasn't specifically looking for such. I was somewhat disturbed by the overall tone and treatment of the subject by the author. For example, the author talks about having wet dreams over the game/movie Tron. Where some people may have had (or still have) such experiences, I really rather *not* read about it. There were other such 'trash-talking' bits sprinkled throughout the book, but this only made the text more distracting than interesting. I also found that that the author's use of the word 'titular' quickly became overused - titular this, titular that...
I thought the physical quality of the book was above average. The pages are thick glossy stock and the binding looks fairly decent for a book of this price. The photographs of the games appeared to be un-retouched as evidenced by the visible scratches and used condition of the various games. Some of the photos were partially blurred (intentionally, I guess) to give more of a 'zoomed-in' appearance. Personally, I found it distracting and somewhat hindered the overall image that was trying to be portrayed.
I'd recommend the book if you are interested in a light, casual read regarding some of the classics from the early 80's. This book is a good introduction of the games if you never had the chance to play them in the arcade. The book does not make a good reference, and once read, will have little value in re-reading.
I give the book a rating of 3 of 5 possible stars. I'd have given it 4 stars if the author had left out the various unwanted, unnecessary, and sometimes repulsive trashy quips.
Rating:
Summary: Somewhat interesting but shallow
Review: This book, subtitled "The Fan's Guide to the Golden Age of Video Games" is about 50 or so video arcade games from the early 80's of the author's choosing. Each game is briefly described in about one page of text and several cabinet shots and/or screen-shots (mostly MAME). Also included are several small discussions about a particular genre or game similarities, as well as several interviews with some of the early pioneers such as Nolan Bushnell and Eugene Jarvis.
On the whole, the book was a mildly interesting read. I found that a lot of the descriptions were obvious and sometimes tedious to read. If you have played the game at all, you probably know 90% or more of what is discussed in the description. There is virtually no discussion of playing strategy or technical details of the game, not that the book purports to be a technical or player's guide. I didn't find any obvious errors, although I wasn't specifically looking for such. I was somewhat disturbed by the overall tone and treatment of the subject by the author. For example, the author talks about having wet dreams over the game/movie Tron. Where some people may have had (or still have) such experiences, I really rather *not* read about it. There were other such 'trash-talking' bits sprinkled throughout the book, but this only made the text more distracting than interesting. I also found that that the author's use of the word 'titular' quickly became overused - titular this, titular that...
I thought the physical quality of the book was above average. The pages are thick glossy stock and the binding looks fairly decent for a book of this price. The photographs of the games appeared to be un-retouched as evidenced by the visible scratches and used condition of the various games. Some of the photos were partially blurred (intentionally, I guess) to give more of a 'zoomed-in' appearance. Personally, I found it distracting and somewhat hindered the overall image that was trying to be portrayed.
I'd recommend the book if you are interested in a light, casual read regarding some of the classics from the early 80's. This book is a good introduction of the games if you never had the chance to play them in the arcade. The book does not make a good reference, and once read, will have little value in re-reading.
I give the book a rating of 3 of 5 possible stars. I'd have given it 4 stars if the author had left out the various unwanted, unnecessary, and sometimes repulsive trashy quips.
Rating:
Summary: You will now read.....Arcade Fever
Review: This is the ultimate guide to the byegone era of when your social status was determined by whether or not your initials were listed as the high score on Bubbles at your local arcade. The author has not only taken a very informative look at some of the seminal arcade games during this era, but has also provided an informative timeline of game innovations and milestones. For example, not only are the first of the very first games profiled, but the author has also pointed out why these games were important - which was the first to incorporate vector graphics, continue play, etc. Instead of being a tired listing of obscurities and the descriptions of these games, he reminds the reader of what a tremendous effect these games had on popular culture as well as a humorous timeline of the happenings of the years in which this phenomenon overtook the US. Pac Man cartoons, movies about video games, songs about video games - all were spawned by the incessant need to pump every cent you had into these electronic ... pipes, and John has provided the entire package in this great book. While the author does have some unnatural obsession with the game Pooyan, as well as use the word "titular" enough to make me think he had a pubescent Beavis and Butthead moment each time he wrote it, this is an excellent read for those of us who were (and still are) caught up in the Wokka Wokka craze. Thanks, John.
Rating:
Summary: Awesome
Review: What a book! Page after page of well-written text and screenshots of all the best classic arcade games (and a few lame ones like Bubbles and Berzerk)from the 80's. Sinistar, Dig Dug, QBert, Defender, Track & Field, Karate Champ, Tempest, you name it it's in here. The author has a hilarious sense of humor that will keep you reading the text as well as looking at the pictures. You can tell the author was a huge video game fanatic back in the heyday. His first-hand knowledge of the games seems to come through in the writing. One thing: The book doesn't talk much about how to "beat" these games, i.e. no strategy or "playing tips." Personally, though, I didn't read the book to learn how to play video games. I read it because it looked really interesting -- and it was.
Rating:
Summary: If you like video games, you'll love this book.
Review: What else do you want from an arcade book? There aren't enough references for 80's arcade games and this one is funny to boot. If you lost a lot of quarters when Reagan was president, then lose some more now and buy this book!
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