Author: Rebecca Levene
Publisher: Aurum
ISBN: 1781311072
Category : Computers
Languages : en
Pages : 376
Book Description
Gaming: it’s the greatest British invasion of them all. Lara Croft is an international icon and the British-born Grand Theft Auto and its spin-offs have sold more than 100 million copies worldwide. The UK’s games industry is now bigger than either its cinema or its music. Yet the medium’s birth in Thatcher’s Britain was almost accidental. While politicians championed computers like the BBC Micro and the ZX Spectrum as engines of learning, it was left to a grassroots culture of amateur programmers to unlock their true potential. And from bedrooms and classrooms across the country, a brilliant profusion of innovative and idiosyncratic games soon emerged – propelling their young creators to fame, riches and, eventually, a place on the world stage. This is the story of those teenage coders – tracing their journey from the first home computers to the age of the smartphone. A mix of oddball characters, programming miracles and moral panics, Grand Thieves & Tomb Raiders reveals how the unique history of British computing led to some of the greatest games of all time.
Grand Thieves & Tomb Raiders
Author: Rebecca Levene
Publisher: Aurum
ISBN: 1781311072
Category : Computers
Languages : en
Pages : 376
Book Description
Gaming: it’s the greatest British invasion of them all. Lara Croft is an international icon and the British-born Grand Theft Auto and its spin-offs have sold more than 100 million copies worldwide. The UK’s games industry is now bigger than either its cinema or its music. Yet the medium’s birth in Thatcher’s Britain was almost accidental. While politicians championed computers like the BBC Micro and the ZX Spectrum as engines of learning, it was left to a grassroots culture of amateur programmers to unlock their true potential. And from bedrooms and classrooms across the country, a brilliant profusion of innovative and idiosyncratic games soon emerged – propelling their young creators to fame, riches and, eventually, a place on the world stage. This is the story of those teenage coders – tracing their journey from the first home computers to the age of the smartphone. A mix of oddball characters, programming miracles and moral panics, Grand Thieves & Tomb Raiders reveals how the unique history of British computing led to some of the greatest games of all time.
Publisher: Aurum
ISBN: 1781311072
Category : Computers
Languages : en
Pages : 376
Book Description
Gaming: it’s the greatest British invasion of them all. Lara Croft is an international icon and the British-born Grand Theft Auto and its spin-offs have sold more than 100 million copies worldwide. The UK’s games industry is now bigger than either its cinema or its music. Yet the medium’s birth in Thatcher’s Britain was almost accidental. While politicians championed computers like the BBC Micro and the ZX Spectrum as engines of learning, it was left to a grassroots culture of amateur programmers to unlock their true potential. And from bedrooms and classrooms across the country, a brilliant profusion of innovative and idiosyncratic games soon emerged – propelling their young creators to fame, riches and, eventually, a place on the world stage. This is the story of those teenage coders – tracing their journey from the first home computers to the age of the smartphone. A mix of oddball characters, programming miracles and moral panics, Grand Thieves & Tomb Raiders reveals how the unique history of British computing led to some of the greatest games of all time.
Porn & Pong
Author: Damon Brown
Publisher: Feral House
ISBN: 1932595368
Category : Social Science
Languages : en
Pages : 164
Book Description
Explores, for the first time, how pornography and video games have influenced the world's sexual mores and technological compulsions on a massive scale. The first Atari systems and their phallic joysticks sold by the millions, reality TV skyrocketed at the same time The Sims took off and the surgically-endowed Pamela Anderson was outshone by only one other woman: Lara Croft. Porn & Pong examines how politics, hidden agendas and financial pressure affect the controversial art forms of gaming and pornography.
Publisher: Feral House
ISBN: 1932595368
Category : Social Science
Languages : en
Pages : 164
Book Description
Explores, for the first time, how pornography and video games have influenced the world's sexual mores and technological compulsions on a massive scale. The first Atari systems and their phallic joysticks sold by the millions, reality TV skyrocketed at the same time The Sims took off and the surgically-endowed Pamela Anderson was outshone by only one other woman: Lara Croft. Porn & Pong examines how politics, hidden agendas and financial pressure affect the controversial art forms of gaming and pornography.
Tomb Raiders and Space Invaders
Author: Geoff King
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
ISBN: 0857717405
Category : Social Science
Languages : en
Pages : 273
Book Description
The first in the field to focus on the key aspects of videogames themselves as a distinctive medium, this is a rich and original read for gamers as well as students and researchers of popular culture internationally, which reviews the passionate gamer/game relationship viz all types of games from "Doom" to "EverQuest". Videogames now rival Hollywood cinema in popularity and profits and there are huge followings for titles such as "Tomb Raider" or "The Sims". Exactly what games offer, however, as a distinct form of entertainment, has received scant attention. This book is a valuable contribution to this new field. Its main focus is on key formal aspects of games and the experiences and pleasures offered by the activities they require of the player. A wide range of games are considered, from first-person shooters to third-person action-adventures, strategy, sports-related and role-playing games. Issues examined in detail include the characteristics of gameplay and its relationship with narrative, genre, virtual landscapes, realism, spectacle and sensation. Lively and accessible in style, this book is written for both an academic readership and the wider audience of gamers and those interested in popular culture.
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
ISBN: 0857717405
Category : Social Science
Languages : en
Pages : 273
Book Description
The first in the field to focus on the key aspects of videogames themselves as a distinctive medium, this is a rich and original read for gamers as well as students and researchers of popular culture internationally, which reviews the passionate gamer/game relationship viz all types of games from "Doom" to "EverQuest". Videogames now rival Hollywood cinema in popularity and profits and there are huge followings for titles such as "Tomb Raider" or "The Sims". Exactly what games offer, however, as a distinct form of entertainment, has received scant attention. This book is a valuable contribution to this new field. Its main focus is on key formal aspects of games and the experiences and pleasures offered by the activities they require of the player. A wide range of games are considered, from first-person shooters to third-person action-adventures, strategy, sports-related and role-playing games. Issues examined in detail include the characteristics of gameplay and its relationship with narrative, genre, virtual landscapes, realism, spectacle and sensation. Lively and accessible in style, this book is written for both an academic readership and the wider audience of gamers and those interested in popular culture.
The Great British Dream Factory
Author: Dominic Sandbrook
Publisher: Penguin UK
ISBN: 0141979313
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 688
Book Description
SPECTATOR BOOKS OF THE YEAR 2015 Britain's empire has gone. Our manufacturing base is a shadow of its former self; the Royal Navy has been reduced to a skeleton. In military, diplomatic and economic terms, we no longer matter as we once did. And yet there is still one area in which we can legitimately claim superpower status: our popular culture. It is extraordinary to think that one British writer, J. K. Rowling, has sold more than 400 million books; that Doctor Who is watched in almost every developed country in the world; that James Bond has been the central character in the longest-running film series in history; that The Lord of the Rings is the second best-selling novel ever written (behind only A Tale of Two Cities); that the Beatles are still the best-selling musical group of all time; and that only Shakespeare and the Bible have sold more books than Agatha Christie. To put it simply, no country on earth, relative to its size, has contributed more to the modern imagination. This is a book about the success and the meaning of Britain's modern popular culture, from Bond and the Beatles to heavy metal and Coronation Street, from the Angry Young Men to Harry Potter, from Damien Hirst toThe X Factor.
Publisher: Penguin UK
ISBN: 0141979313
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 688
Book Description
SPECTATOR BOOKS OF THE YEAR 2015 Britain's empire has gone. Our manufacturing base is a shadow of its former self; the Royal Navy has been reduced to a skeleton. In military, diplomatic and economic terms, we no longer matter as we once did. And yet there is still one area in which we can legitimately claim superpower status: our popular culture. It is extraordinary to think that one British writer, J. K. Rowling, has sold more than 400 million books; that Doctor Who is watched in almost every developed country in the world; that James Bond has been the central character in the longest-running film series in history; that The Lord of the Rings is the second best-selling novel ever written (behind only A Tale of Two Cities); that the Beatles are still the best-selling musical group of all time; and that only Shakespeare and the Bible have sold more books than Agatha Christie. To put it simply, no country on earth, relative to its size, has contributed more to the modern imagination. This is a book about the success and the meaning of Britain's modern popular culture, from Bond and the Beatles to heavy metal and Coronation Street, from the Angry Young Men to Harry Potter, from Damien Hirst toThe X Factor.
Vintage Games
Author: Bill Loguidice
Publisher: Taylor & Francis
ISBN: 1136137572
Category : Computers
Languages : en
Pages : 603
Book Description
Vintage Games explores the most influential videogames of all time, including Super Mario Bros., Grand Theft Auto III, Doom, The Sims and many more. Drawing on interviews as well as the authors' own lifelong experience with videogames, the book discusses each game's development, predecessors, critical reception, and influence on the industry. It also features hundreds of full-color screenshots and images, including rare photos of game boxes and other materials. Vintage Games is the ideal book for game enthusiasts and professionals who desire a broader understanding of the history of videogames and their evolution from a niche to a global market.
Publisher: Taylor & Francis
ISBN: 1136137572
Category : Computers
Languages : en
Pages : 603
Book Description
Vintage Games explores the most influential videogames of all time, including Super Mario Bros., Grand Theft Auto III, Doom, The Sims and many more. Drawing on interviews as well as the authors' own lifelong experience with videogames, the book discusses each game's development, predecessors, critical reception, and influence on the industry. It also features hundreds of full-color screenshots and images, including rare photos of game boxes and other materials. Vintage Games is the ideal book for game enthusiasts and professionals who desire a broader understanding of the history of videogames and their evolution from a niche to a global market.
Narratives Crossing Boundaries
Author: Joachim Friedmann
Publisher: transcript Verlag
ISBN: 3839464862
Category : Social Science
Languages : en
Pages : 369
Book Description
As the dominant narrative forms in the age of media convergence, films and games call for a transmedial perspective in narratology. Games allow a participatory reception of the story, bringing the transgression of the ontological boundary between the narrated world and the world of the recipient into focus. These diverse transgressions - medial and ontological - are the subject of this transdisciplinary compendium, which covers the subject in an interdisciplinary way from various perspectives: game studies and media studies, but also sociology and psychology, to take into account the great influence of storytelling on social discourses and human behavior.
Publisher: transcript Verlag
ISBN: 3839464862
Category : Social Science
Languages : en
Pages : 369
Book Description
As the dominant narrative forms in the age of media convergence, films and games call for a transmedial perspective in narratology. Games allow a participatory reception of the story, bringing the transgression of the ontological boundary between the narrated world and the world of the recipient into focus. These diverse transgressions - medial and ontological - are the subject of this transdisciplinary compendium, which covers the subject in an interdisciplinary way from various perspectives: game studies and media studies, but also sociology and psychology, to take into account the great influence of storytelling on social discourses and human behavior.
The Video Games Guide
Author: Matt Fox
Publisher: McFarland
ISBN: 078647257X
Category : Games & Activities
Languages : en
Pages : 385
Book Description
The Video Games Guide is the world's most comprehensive reference book on computer and video games. Presented in an A to Z format, this greatly expanded new edition spans fifty years of game design--from the very earliest (1962's Spacewar) through the present day releases on the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Wii and PC. Each game entry includes the year of release, the hardware it was released on, the name of the developer/publisher, a one to five star quality rating, and a descriptive review which offers fascinating nuggets of trivia, historical notes, cross-referencing with other titles, information on each game's sequels and of course the author's views and insights into the game. In addition to the main entries and reviews, a full-color gallery provides a visual timeline of gaming through the decades, and several appendices help to place nearly 3,000 games in context. Appendices include: a chronology of gaming software and hardware, a list of game designers showing their main titles, results of annual video game awards, notes on sourcing video games, and a glossary of gaming terms.
Publisher: McFarland
ISBN: 078647257X
Category : Games & Activities
Languages : en
Pages : 385
Book Description
The Video Games Guide is the world's most comprehensive reference book on computer and video games. Presented in an A to Z format, this greatly expanded new edition spans fifty years of game design--from the very earliest (1962's Spacewar) through the present day releases on the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Wii and PC. Each game entry includes the year of release, the hardware it was released on, the name of the developer/publisher, a one to five star quality rating, and a descriptive review which offers fascinating nuggets of trivia, historical notes, cross-referencing with other titles, information on each game's sequels and of course the author's views and insights into the game. In addition to the main entries and reviews, a full-color gallery provides a visual timeline of gaming through the decades, and several appendices help to place nearly 3,000 games in context. Appendices include: a chronology of gaming software and hardware, a list of game designers showing their main titles, results of annual video game awards, notes on sourcing video games, and a glossary of gaming terms.
The Book of Games
Author: Bendik Stang
Publisher: Book of Games
ISBN: 829973780X
Category : Games & Activities
Languages : en
Pages : 449
Book Description
A feast for the eyes with literally thousands of vivid, high-resolution screen shots, this book provides a comprehensive visual tour through the world of PC and video gaming. Sorted by genre, 150 of the most exciting current software titles are reviewed with information of interest to players, parents, and industry professionals. Each game is featured in a two-page spread that includes detailed game summary, analysis, and strategy, nine representative in-game screen shots, games with similar skill and strategy requirements, appropriate age range, ESRB content ratings, complete technological specifications, and more. Feature stories are included throughout the book, covering game-related topics such as multiplayer online gaming, games in movies, and the future of gaming. The book also includes useful reference tools such as an illustrated glossary, an overview of game publishers, and information on current and upcoming hardware platforms such as Sony's new PS3 and Nintendo's Wii.
Publisher: Book of Games
ISBN: 829973780X
Category : Games & Activities
Languages : en
Pages : 449
Book Description
A feast for the eyes with literally thousands of vivid, high-resolution screen shots, this book provides a comprehensive visual tour through the world of PC and video gaming. Sorted by genre, 150 of the most exciting current software titles are reviewed with information of interest to players, parents, and industry professionals. Each game is featured in a two-page spread that includes detailed game summary, analysis, and strategy, nine representative in-game screen shots, games with similar skill and strategy requirements, appropriate age range, ESRB content ratings, complete technological specifications, and more. Feature stories are included throughout the book, covering game-related topics such as multiplayer online gaming, games in movies, and the future of gaming. The book also includes useful reference tools such as an illustrated glossary, an overview of game publishers, and information on current and upcoming hardware platforms such as Sony's new PS3 and Nintendo's Wii.
Vintage Games
Author: Bill Loguidice
Publisher: CRC Press
ISBN: 1136137580
Category : Art
Languages : en
Pages : 409
Book Description
Vintage Games explores the most influential videogames of all time, including Super Mario Bros., Grand Theft Auto III, Doom, The Sims and many more. Drawing on interviews as well as the authors' own lifelong experience with videogames, the book discusses each game's development, predecessors, critical reception, and influence on the industry. It also features hundreds of full-color screenshots and images, including rare photos of game boxes and other materials. Vintage Games is the ideal book for game enthusiasts and professionals who desire a broader understanding of the history of videogames and their evolution from a niche to a global market.
Publisher: CRC Press
ISBN: 1136137580
Category : Art
Languages : en
Pages : 409
Book Description
Vintage Games explores the most influential videogames of all time, including Super Mario Bros., Grand Theft Auto III, Doom, The Sims and many more. Drawing on interviews as well as the authors' own lifelong experience with videogames, the book discusses each game's development, predecessors, critical reception, and influence on the industry. It also features hundreds of full-color screenshots and images, including rare photos of game boxes and other materials. Vintage Games is the ideal book for game enthusiasts and professionals who desire a broader understanding of the history of videogames and their evolution from a niche to a global market.
Crossword Lists & Crossword Solver
Author: Anne Stibbs Kerr
Publisher: A&C Black
ISBN: 1408176165
Category : Language Arts & Disciplines
Languages : en
Pages : 895
Book Description
Anyone who regularly tackles challenging crossword puzzles will be familiar with the frustration of unanswered clues blocking the road to completion. Together in one bumper volume, Crossword Lists and Crossword Solver provide the ultimate aid for tracking down those final solutions. The Lists section contains more than 100,000 words and phrases, listed both alphabetically and by number of letters, under category headings such as Volcanoes, Fungi, Gilbert & Sullivan, Clouds, Cheeses, Mottoes, and Archbishops of Canterbury. As intersecting solutions provide letters of the unanswered clue, locating the correct word or phrase becomes quick and easy. The lists are backed up with a comprehensive index, which also guides the puzzler to associated tables - e.g. Film Stars; try Stage and Screen Personalities. The Solver section contains more than 100,000 potential solutions, including plurals, comparative and superlative adjectives, and inflections of verbs. The list extends to first names, place names, technical terms, compound expressions, abbreviations, and euphemisms.Grouped according to number of letters - up to fifteen - this section is easy to use and suitable for all levels of crossword puzzle. At the end a further 3,000 words are listed by category, along with an index of unusual words.
Publisher: A&C Black
ISBN: 1408176165
Category : Language Arts & Disciplines
Languages : en
Pages : 895
Book Description
Anyone who regularly tackles challenging crossword puzzles will be familiar with the frustration of unanswered clues blocking the road to completion. Together in one bumper volume, Crossword Lists and Crossword Solver provide the ultimate aid for tracking down those final solutions. The Lists section contains more than 100,000 words and phrases, listed both alphabetically and by number of letters, under category headings such as Volcanoes, Fungi, Gilbert & Sullivan, Clouds, Cheeses, Mottoes, and Archbishops of Canterbury. As intersecting solutions provide letters of the unanswered clue, locating the correct word or phrase becomes quick and easy. The lists are backed up with a comprehensive index, which also guides the puzzler to associated tables - e.g. Film Stars; try Stage and Screen Personalities. The Solver section contains more than 100,000 potential solutions, including plurals, comparative and superlative adjectives, and inflections of verbs. The list extends to first names, place names, technical terms, compound expressions, abbreviations, and euphemisms.Grouped according to number of letters - up to fifteen - this section is easy to use and suitable for all levels of crossword puzzle. At the end a further 3,000 words are listed by category, along with an index of unusual words.