The design and UX isn't done, Rob and Abbie, okkurrrr! 😌
ein's review against another edition
5.0
Неплохо написанная история игровой индустрии с акцентом на ее заигрываниях с Голливудом и фильмами. Масса любопытных деталей, после которых начинаешь другими глазами смотреть на кинопроизводство. Собственно, теперь вообще непонятно, как в Голливудском производственном бардаке под началом ни о чем не думающих руководителей кто-то умудряется снимать хорошие фильмы.
darthada's review against another edition
2.0
There was something disappointing about this book that I can't quite put my finger on.
I think it's the premise of the book though, rather than the writing. The premise of the book is the invasion of Hollywood, but that never really happens. We're still not there, so the book ends up telling a story that's still only half complete...
I think it's the premise of the book though, rather than the writing. The premise of the book is the invasion of Hollywood, but that never really happens. We're still not there, so the book ends up telling a story that's still only half complete...
djotaku's review against another edition
4.0
Anyone who has followed my book reviews on Good Reads or my blog knows that I have read quite a bit of video game history. Whether it's a history of video games starting with the miltiary and university campuses, a book like [b:A Mind Forever Voyaging: A History of Storytelling in Video Games|16146784|A Mind Forever Voyaging A History of Storytelling in Video Games|Dylan Holmes|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1352757861l/16146784._SX50_.jpg|21980413] or the Boss Fight Books series - I've gone through quite a bit of video game history. So when this one started off with Atari and the ET game I was a little wary. By this point anyone my age or older with any bit of knowledge of video game history knows of the crash in the 80s and how it was (at least partially) caused by Atari's horrible ET game. The Indiana Jones game would have been news to me if I hadn't seen a long Ars Technica article about it last year. So a slightly boring start for me.
But then the book swiveled away to a part of video game history that I was just a little too young and a little too poor to have known about. (Too young for Night Trap and too poor for Sega CD) The chapter on the Super Mario Brothers movie was great and I also recommend listening to the SMB movie How Did this Get Made podcast episode. Wen they got to the FMV craze, I remembered playing some demos of those games when I got a CD-ROM drive kit back before computers came with CD-ROMs or sound cards. From there it moved on to Tomb Raider, GTA, and more modern titles. Each way it showed how the movie and video game industries were engaged in a tango in which the role of lead partner kept changing.
Eventually the book's thesis turns out to be that Avatar is the ultimate, final merging of these two mediums. In the same chapter it mentions how Andy Serkis and his mocap (or apparently nowadays it's called motion performance) work has changed Hollywood. Also, for a few decades now, the AAA video games have been making WAAAAY more money than the Hollywood blockbusters.
It's a great book that shows a different part of video game history than all the other books I've come across. I appreciate it for that. I know books can't be infinitely long, but I was surprised he (or she.... can't tell just by name) didn't really spend time exploring video cut scenes like in Command and Conquer considering how important those were at the time. Perhaps because it didn't contribute to the ultimate thesis? Or was a dead end since most cuts cenes are now done "in engine". Also a bummer this was written before The Mandalorian provided what I think is the true apotheosis of the video game/Hollywood merger. I also thought it would have been an interesting note in the epilogue about how AAA games may be merging with Hollywood, there continues to be an indie scene with immensely popular games with SNES graphics (like Stardew Valley).
Highly recommend if you're into video game histories.
But then the book swiveled away to a part of video game history that I was just a little too young and a little too poor to have known about. (Too young for Night Trap and too poor for Sega CD) The chapter on the Super Mario Brothers movie was great and I also recommend listening to the SMB movie How Did this Get Made podcast episode. Wen they got to the FMV craze, I remembered playing some demos of those games when I got a CD-ROM drive kit back before computers came with CD-ROMs or sound cards. From there it moved on to Tomb Raider, GTA, and more modern titles. Each way it showed how the movie and video game industries were engaged in a tango in which the role of lead partner kept changing.
Eventually the book's thesis turns out to be that Avatar is the ultimate, final merging of these two mediums. In the same chapter it mentions how Andy Serkis and his mocap (or apparently nowadays it's called motion performance) work has changed Hollywood. Also, for a few decades now, the AAA video games have been making WAAAAY more money than the Hollywood blockbusters.
It's a great book that shows a different part of video game history than all the other books I've come across. I appreciate it for that. I know books can't be infinitely long, but I was surprised he (or she.... can't tell just by name) didn't really spend time exploring video cut scenes like in Command and Conquer considering how important those were at the time. Perhaps because it didn't contribute to the ultimate thesis? Or was a dead end since most cuts cenes are now done "in engine". Also a bummer this was written before The Mandalorian provided what I think is the true apotheosis of the video game/Hollywood merger. I also thought it would have been an interesting note in the epilogue about how AAA games may be merging with Hollywood, there continues to be an indie scene with immensely popular games with SNES graphics (like Stardew Valley).
Highly recommend if you're into video game histories.
hulan's review against another edition
4.0
Lo único que no me gustó fueron los guiños y bromas, forzados para demostrar que el autor tiene validez como gamer.
merkaba's review
4.0
Films and games have always had a tumultuous relationship from the very beginning. Ask any gamer what they think of their favorite franchises and gaming experiences being translated to the silver screen and they'll surely answer you with a rueful sigh and a string of titles that will surely include the Mario Brothers movie and everything directed by Uwe Boll.
Generation Xbox takes readers through a wonderful journey from the beginnings of this relationship and leads us through to how games and cinema are more respectful and tolerant of each other and have even learned how to work together to create new and engaging experiences.
The book itself is well written and covers many of the major points and players from both sides. The author isn't afraid to address the problems that have come from both sides and doesn't look at the issue through rose-tinted glasses.
If you're a gamer or a film aficionado then be sure to read this to see how these two industries are moving towards a new and exciting future of interactive media.
Generation Xbox takes readers through a wonderful journey from the beginnings of this relationship and leads us through to how games and cinema are more respectful and tolerant of each other and have even learned how to work together to create new and engaging experiences.
The book itself is well written and covers many of the major points and players from both sides. The author isn't afraid to address the problems that have come from both sides and doesn't look at the issue through rose-tinted glasses.
If you're a gamer or a film aficionado then be sure to read this to see how these two industries are moving towards a new and exciting future of interactive media.
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