A riveting account of the strange birth and remarkable evolution of the most important development in entertainment since television, Replay is the ultimate history of video games. Based on extensive research and over 140 exclusive interviews with key movers and shakers from gaming's past, Replay tells the sensational story of how the creative vision of game designers gave rise to one of the world's most popular and dynamic art forms.
Replay: The History of Video Games
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Review
"While other history books have covered the topic, Tristan Donovan's 500-page tome is the most wide-ranging history I've read."
--Wired
"An amazing work. Comprehensive and wide ranging - yet engrossing and splendidly entertaining. If you read only one history of video games - Replay is it." --Eugene Jarvis, creator of Defender, Narc and Smash TV
"Tons of interviews with creators, a window into early US and Europe PC industry stuff I'd never read about before at all... very enjoyable and informative reading." --Christian Nutt, Gamasutra
"Tristan Donovan's account is the most comprehensive thus far...He details with great insight the people and events that led to what is the most powerful creative field today."
--Richard Garriott (aka Lord British), creator of the Ultima series
I can't think of a reason that you shouldn't go and order a copy of it immediately...If you enjoy reading about games, there's absolutely no way that you're not going to find spending quality time with this rewarding.
-- Kieron Gillen, Rock Paper Shotgun
Whether you grew up with your eyes glued to Adventure or Super Mario Bros, with your hand around a joystick or inside a Nintendo Power Glove, this is one history lesson worth its weight in quarters.
-- Rob Lott, Bookgasm
Striking a near-perfect balance between art and commerce, Replay is the most comprehensive history of videogames so far.
-- Edge
Essential reading
-- GamesTM
--Wired
"An amazing work. Comprehensive and wide ranging - yet engrossing and splendidly entertaining. If you read only one history of video games - Replay is it." --Eugene Jarvis, creator of Defender, Narc and Smash TV
"Tons of interviews with creators, a window into early US and Europe PC industry stuff I'd never read about before at all... very enjoyable and informative reading." --Christian Nutt, Gamasutra
"Tristan Donovan's account is the most comprehensive thus far...He details with great insight the people and events that led to what is the most powerful creative field today."
--Richard Garriott (aka Lord British), creator of the Ultima series
I can't think of a reason that you shouldn't go and order a copy of it immediately...If you enjoy reading about games, there's absolutely no way that you're not going to find spending quality time with this rewarding.
-- Kieron Gillen, Rock Paper Shotgun
Whether you grew up with your eyes glued to Adventure or Super Mario Bros, with your hand around a joystick or inside a Nintendo Power Glove, this is one history lesson worth its weight in quarters.
-- Rob Lott, Bookgasm
Striking a near-perfect balance between art and commerce, Replay is the most comprehensive history of videogames so far.
-- Edge
Essential reading
-- GamesTM
About the Author
Tristan Donovan has written about video games for The Guardian, Edge, Game Developer, Stuff, The Gadget Show, GamesTM and many other publications. He lives in East Sussex, UK.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Video Game entertainment at its very best!
I have certain nostalgia for the days of monochrome video games. Endless hours locked in a room watching a white square bounce across a screen controlled with two `paddles', later Sunday mornings in the pub with 10p to play the space invaders. I therefore approached this book with a degree of expectation; and was not disappointed.
Tristan Donovan's book explores the growth and development in games from their scientific origins through the multi million marketing budgets of today's epics. The book also does so much more, investigating the social and economic drivers of the market as well as the technological enablers. It also happens to be funny, entertaining and very well written.
Replay will be of as much interest and entertainment to a student of sociology or cultural anthropologist as it will to us 40-something `Geeks' with a longing for the golden times of video gaming.
A great book - highly recommended.
I have certain nostalgia for the days of monochrome video games. Endless hours locked in a room watching a white square bounce across a screen controlled with two `paddles', later Sunday mornings in the pub with 10p to play the space invaders. I therefore approached this book with a degree of expectation; and was not disappointed.
Tristan Donovan's book explores the growth and development in games from their scientific origins through the multi million marketing budgets of today's epics. The book also does so much more, investigating the social and economic drivers of the market as well as the technological enablers. It also happens to be funny, entertaining and very well written.
Replay will be of as much interest and entertainment to a student of sociology or cultural anthropologist as it will to us 40-something `Geeks' with a longing for the golden times of video gaming.
A great book - highly recommended.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Kindle Edition
For anyone considering this book, or it's closest competitor (that I've seen) "The ultimate history of video games.", my advice would be to buy this one. This book gives a much broader story of the development of video games, with much more in depth details of European developments (British, French and the Demo scene are well covered). As well as some things I had not previously encountered (having been a gamer for 30 odd years and following retro games for about a decade), like Hasbro's aborted Nemo VHS based console.
There are a few error I've spotted (The protagonist in Half Life is GORDON Freeman, not George). But a few quibbles aside an enjoyable and enlightening book.
There are a few error I've spotted (The protagonist in Half Life is GORDON Freeman, not George). But a few quibbles aside an enjoyable and enlightening book.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Exactly what you want if want a book about the history of video games!
21 May 2012
By M. Sowden
Format:Kindle Edition
I was searching for a book about the history of video games and after reading a few samples I plumped for this one. I haven't been disappointed. I particularly like the way it covers all the international video games market and not just the US and UK markets. I would love an interactive version of this book as I'm constantly switching between my Kindle app and the YouTube app to see videos of the games the author is talking about!
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4.5 out of 5 stars
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
1 Up
Deeply impressive examination of video game creation, culture and commerce. Scholarly in approach and scope its global perspective is particularly satisfying. Read more
Published 11 months ago by fearofgordon
4.0 out of 5 stars
Informative, and wide-ranging
Entertaining and informative, and covering nearly every continent, which gives a nice view of the differences between cultures. Read more
Published 20 months ago by Samuel Atkins
5.0 out of 5 stars
Couldn't put it down
This book brought back some good memories. But the background and history to the games and games companies is a real eye opener. I seriously couldn't put it down. Read more
Published 20 months ago by Mr. S. Bonser
5.0 out of 5 stars
Essential reading
As a lecturer in Computer Games Development at degree level I would have to say this book has to be essential reading for any student planning a career in the Games Industry. Read more
Published 22 months ago by Iancee
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great Value book
I highly reccomand this book to anyone who is interesting in studying or knowing the history of video games. Read more
Published on 11 Feb 2011 by Fulvio
5.0 out of 5 stars
How video games emerged
Video games are now a huge business. The average family spends more on them than on cinema tickets and recorded music combined. Read more
Published on 5 Dec 2010 by R. Parry
4.0 out of 5 stars
Replay
Nice review of the birth of video games, seems to have all the bases covered USA, Japan and Europe/Britain. Excellent book
Published on 12 Nov 2010 by R. M. Middleton
4.0 out of 5 stars
Comprehensive and readable
A very comprehensive and readable account of the history of video (and to a lesser extent computer) games. Read more
Published on 29 Jun 2010 by R. M. Graham
3.0 out of 5 stars
Clear and business-like, with an emphasis on business
As a life-long player of video games, I was happy to discover Tristan Donovan's book 'Replay', which promised a solid and entertaining general history of the people and technology... Read more
Published on 24 Jun 2010 by Kennedy
5.0 out of 5 stars
Comprehensive and fascinating
I'm not a gamer but had to purchase this book as part of a communications project I was working on. Expecting it to be dull and/or aimed at total geeks, I was surprised when I was... Read more
Published on 31 May 2010 by R. Levitt
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