The Ultimate History of Video Games, Volume 1 cover art

The Ultimate History of Video Games, Volume 1

From Pong to Pokemon and Beyond . . . the Story Behind the Craze That Touched Our Lives and Changed the World

 Preview
Try Standard free
Select 1 audiobook a month from our entire collection.
Listen to your selected audiobooks as long as you're a member.
Auto-renews at $8.99/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

The Ultimate History of Video Games, Volume 1

By: Steven L. Kent
Narrated by: Dan Woren
Try Standard free

Auto-renews at $8.99/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy Now for $33.99

Buy Now for $33.99

About this listen

 The definitive behind-the-scenes history of the dawn of video games and their rise into a multibillion-dollar business

“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 yesterday’s games like Space Invaders, Centipede, and Pac-Man helped create an arcade culture that defined a generation, and how today’s empires like Sony, Nintendo, and Electronic Arts have galvanized a multibillion-dollar industry and a new generation of games. Inside, you’ll discover

• the video game that saved Nintendo from bankruptcy
• the serendipitous story of Pac-Man’s design
• the misstep that helped topple Atari’s $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!

Entertaining, addictive, and as mesmerizing as the games it chronicles, this book is a must-have for anyone who’s ever touched a joystick. Media Studies Social Sciences Game Video Game Sports

Critic Reviews

“A major triumph.”—Next Generation

“If anyone knows game history, it’s Steve Kent.”—Dave Theurer, creator of Tempest, Missile Command, and I, Robot

“This is the best video game history book I’ve ever come across.”—John Romero, founder of Ion Storm

“A compelling journey through the evolution of the video game industry.”—Minoru Arakawa, former president of Nintendo

“This book is from the horse’s mouth. Finally, the game designers speak out in all their wisdom and stupidity.”—Eugene Jarvis, creator of Defender and Robotron: 2084
All stars
Most relevant
This book was, imo, mistitled. It is by and large not about video games at all. It is about the United States video game *business*. If that sounds interesting to you, this book is perfectly fine. If you want to learn about some weird and wonderful games and hardware, and the story of their development, this is probably not the book for you. There are some interesting anecdotes, and I finished it easily, but it wasn't what I expected, and I doubt I will get volume 2. It's fine, it just isn't a history of video GAMES.

Ultimate history of the US video game BUSINESS

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.