Game on! : video game history from Pong and Pac-man to Mario, Minecraft, and more

Game on! Video game history from Pong and Pac-man to Mario, Minecraft, and more

Dustin Hansen

Book - 2016

"A middle-grade nonfiction book about the history and impact on pop culture of video games"--

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Location Call Number   Status
Children's Room j794.8/Hansen Due Jan 25, 2025
Subjects
Video games > History > Juvenile literature.
Published
New York : Feiwel & Friends 2016.
Language
English
Main Author
Dustin Hansen (author)
Edition
First edition
Physical Description
ix, 352 pages : illustrations ; 25 cm
Audience
1090L
Bibliography
Includes bibliographical references.
ISBN
9781250080950
  • A living history: to those that came before
  • Pong 1972: game, set, match
  • Space Invaders 1978: a first invasion
  • Pac-Man 1980: thank you, pizza
  • Zork 1980: you are likely to be eaten by a grue
  • Donky Kong 1981: It's on like Donkey Kong!
  • E.T. the extra-terrestrial 1982: don't phone home
  • Super Mario Bros. 1985: the plan, the people, and the plumber
  • The Legend of Zelda 1986: it's dangerous to go alone! take this
  • John Madden Football 1988: it's in the game
  • Tetris 1989: line 'em all up
  • Song the Hedgehog 1991: so fast, you'll need a barf bag
  • Street Fighter II 1991: Hadouken!
  • Mortal Kombat 1992: fatality!: violence and the ESRB
  • Super Mario Kart 1992: an all-star cast
  • Myst 1993: a planet full of guns
  • Tomb Raider 1996: a new face, a new system, a new era
  • Gran Turismo 1997: gentlemen, start your engines
  • Final Fantasy IV 1997: not as final as you thought
  • Half-Life 1998: welcome to Black Mesa
  • Dance Dance Revolution 1999: step in a new direction
  • Pokémon Yellow 1999: gotta catch 'em all
  • The Sims 2000: plenty of room to expand
  • Grand Theft Auto III 2001: hijacked!
  • World of Warcraft 2004: wowzers!
  • Halo 2 2004: one down, fifty billion to go
  • Guitar Hero 2005: bring on the plastic!
  • Wii Sports 2006: tighten your shoelaces and your wrist strap
  • Portal 2007: the cake is a lie
  • Little Big Planet 2008: I'll play yours, you play mine
  • FarmVille 2009: e-i-e-i-ooo
  • Angry Birds 2009: who you callin' angry?
  • Minecraft 2009: kick it up another notch!
  • Uncharted 2 2009: armor? I don't need no stinkin' armor!
  • League of Legends 2009: ten million and counting
  • Skylanders 2011: greetings, portal master!
  • The Walking Dead 2011: tell me a story?
  • Overwatch 2016: on the shoulders of heroes
  • The future: tomorrow and beyond.
Review by Booklist Review

This lengthy love letter comes from a self-professed video game addict. Thirty-nine breezy, irreverent chapters celebrate individual games, starting back at the dawn of gaming (the 1970s had Pong and Space Invaders) and then working chronologically through all the greats: John Madden Football, Super Mario, Mortal Combat, Tomb Raider, Dance Dance Revolution, Guitar Hero, Angry Birds, and onward. Readers are treated to such diverse tidbits as step-by-step playing descriptions (accompanied by cheeky, ongoing commentary), trials and failures, public reception and sales, cheat codes and Easter eggs, and continuing cultural influences (Pokemon's Pikachu has his own balloon in Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade). Articles highlight creative innovations showing the increasing sophistication of video games as they've evolved, including predictions for the future (virtual reality, educational applications, badges and points). Sidebars and inserts offer top 10 lists and general observations. Unabashedly enthusiastic, author Hansen also provides tips on how to evaluate games for personal enjoyment. The length and heft might deter some browsers, but true gamers will be delighted.--McBroom, Kathleen Copyright 2016 Booklist

From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by School Library Journal Review

Gr 4 Up-This zippy primer on video game development takes readers from the arcades of the 1970s to Minecraft and the future of gaming. Short, chronological chapters introduce iconic games that represent innovations in design, story, and player experience. The well-told origin tales are a fantastic mash-up of pop and gaming culture and reveal the dedication and creativity of industry leaders such as Shigeru Miyamoto, creator of Donkey Kong and Super Mario Bros. Each chapter builds on the last, tracing the development of gaming technology, including apps. Sectioning the information into easily digestible chapters, factoids, and lists and using a conversational tone, the book is accessible, even though the content is quite extensive. Visuals include screenshots and photos of consoles and controllers. VERDICT This satisfyingly thorough and worthy addition to any collection is sure to please hard-core gamers and newbies alike.-Marian McLeod, Convent of the Sacred Heart, Greenwich, CT © Copyright 2016. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

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