A History of Video Games in 64 Objects

4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars | 74 ratings

Price: 19.68

Last update: 09-01-2024


About this item

Inspired by the groundbreaking A History of the World in 100 Objects, this book draws on the unique collections of The Strong museum in Rochester, New York, to chronicle the evolution of video games, from Pong to first-person shooters, told through the stories of dozens of objects essential to the field’s creation and development.

Drawing on the World Video Game Hall of Fame’s unmatched collection of video game artifacts, this fascinating history offers an expansive look at the development of one of the most popular and influential activities of the modern world: video gaming.

Sixty-four unique objects tell the story of the video game from inception to today. Pithy, in-depth essays examine each object’s significance to video game play - what it has contributed to the history of gaming - as well as the greater culture.

A History of Video Games in 64 Objects explains how the video game has transformed over time. Inside, you’ll find a wide range of intriguing topics, including:

  • The first edition of Dungeons & Dragons - the ancestor of computer role-playing games
  • The Oregon Trail and the development of educational gaming
  • The Atari 2600 and the beginning of the console revolution
  • A World of Warcraft server blade and massively multiplayer Online games
  • Minecraft - the backlash against the studio system
  • The rise of women in gaming represented by pioneering American video game designers Carol Shaw and Roberta Williams’ game development materials
  • The prototype Skylanders Portal of Power that spawned the Toys-to-Life video game phenomenon and shook up the marketplace
  • And so much more

A panorama of unforgettable anecdotes and factoids, A History of Video Games in 64 Objects is a treasure trove for gamers and pop culture fans. Let the gaming begin!


Top reviews from the United States

Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Cool Book
Reviewed in the United States on December 22, 2018
I bought the book as a gift for as 13 year old. I have been paging through it prior to wrapping it and I have to say I am happy with my purchase. The book has a cool cover that grabs your interest. Each chapter focuses on a historical video game and has one or two cool pictures and a few pages explaining the origin and importance of each game. This review isn't very specific but I can sum this up best by saying it's cool and a good value for what I paid.
Ricky Kimsey
5.0 out of 5 stars An Informitive Book That's Also A Visual Treat
Reviewed in the United States on March 30, 2020
This book covers the history of video games using photos of objects donated to the Strong museum which is the only museum devoted to play. It goes back to the days of pinball and brings us up to when Pokemon Go became the latest rage.
John
5.0 out of 5 stars Son had to do a summer book report on a ...
Reviewed in the United States on July 21, 2018
Son had to do a summer book report on a non-fiction book. While Mom disagreed this is history, there are plenty of facts that are keeping my 11 year old entertained enough to read over the summer. Personally, I fell he could read Playboy for all I care, at least he is reading.
Mite
5.0 out of 5 stars Lots of untold stories instead of "the usual highlights"
Reviewed in the United States on January 30, 2019
I really enjoyed this book. The authors picked 64 items from The Strong Museum's collection, put them in chronological order and then wrote how each item was part of the overall history. Many of the games and systems represented turning points in game history. Although the book covers some famous game creators, it also tells the story of under-appreciated pioneers like Jerry Lawson, the African American engineer who invented removable and exchangeable game cartridges. Before Lawson all the games were programmed into the game consoles when they manufactured them, and you couldn't add in new titles. This book will definitely give readers a good overview of video game history and its key turning points.
T. Pariso
4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting look at video game history
Reviewed in the United States on June 21, 2021
Really interesting and amazingly well researched. Can be a bit dry at times but definitely super cool. Can read straight through or pick and choose different games/items.
Nicholas Bromley
5.0 out of 5 stars A thoroughly entertaining deep dive into the little-known history of gaming
Reviewed in the United States on June 15, 2018
A thoroughly fantastic read. I was expecting lots of the usual suspects—Pong, Asteroids, Pac Man etc.—and they are certainly well represented, but the authors include crucial objects that I never knew existed, nor how they fundamentally shaped the future of video games. I had heard of luminaries like Ralph Baer, but never knew until now the extent to which they contributed to today's gaming landscape. Meanwhile, unknowns (to me) like Jerry Lawson laid the basis for interchangeable cartridges, forever changing how games were played.

This is a thoroughly entertaining deep dive into the little-known history of gaming, and I highly recommend it.
Erica Coverley
3.0 out of 5 stars I found this book to be very good for the content it had but overall mediocre due ...
Reviewed in the United States on June 14, 2018
I found this book to be very good for the content it had but overall mediocre due to the content it left out. Not sure how someone can publish a History of Video games by leaving out games that influenced so many things about the video game industry today. To name a few...the Ultima Series (the book maybe a single sentence on Lord British), the Wizardry Series, System Shock, the Castle Woflenstein(1981), Wing Commander, Goldeneye, (VR) Virtual Reality, etc etc. The list could go on and on.
Joseph A Seidel
3.0 out of 5 stars Good book but left out some key history
Reviewed in the United States on April 20, 2020
I enjoyed the book very much. It brought back many memories of my youth. And I learned how some of my favorite game companies got started. A good history lesson.

But I can't give a 5-star review due to the number of titles and companies that the book left out. Which kinda led me to believe that if a company or developer did not donate to the Strong Museum, they did not get any historical mention. I understand the book self-admittedly limits itself to 64 objects. But c'mon...Densha De GO! instead of Railroad Tycoon?

What about Microsoft's Flight Simulator?

Nothing on real strategy Age of Empires?

Zero on Civilization?

Sadly, I started to think I was reading a long advertisement for the Strong Museum of Play than an unbiased history of video games.

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