Atari Age

Author : Michael Z. Newman
Publisher : MIT Press
Page : 266 pages
File Size : 54,9 Mb
Release : 2017
Category : Games & Activities
ISBN : 9780262035712

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Atari Age by Michael Z. Newman Pdf

The cultural contradictions of early video games: a medium for family fun (but mainly for middle-class boys), an improvement over pinball and television (but possibly harmful) Beginning with the release of the Magnavox Odyssey and Pong in 1972, video games, whether played in arcades and taverns or in family rec rooms, became part of popular culture, like television. In fact, video games were sometimes seen as an improvement on television because they spurred participation rather than passivity. These “space-age pinball machines” gave coin-operated games a high-tech and more respectable profile. In Atari Age, Michael Newman charts the emergence of video games in America from ball-and-paddle games to hits like Space Invaders and Pac-Man, describing their relationship to other amusements and technologies and showing how they came to be identified with the middle class, youth, and masculinity. Newman shows that the “new media” of video games were understood in varied, even contradictory ways. They were family fun (but mainly for boys), better than television (but possibly harmful), and educational (but a waste of computer time). Drawing on a range of sources—including the games and their packaging; coverage in the popular, trade, and fan press; social science research of the time; advertising and store catalogs; and representations in movies and television—Newman describes the series of cultural contradictions through which the identity of the emerging medium worked itself out. Would video games embody middle-class respectability or suffer from the arcade's unsavory reputation? Would they foster family togetherness or allow boys to escape from domesticity? Would they make the new home computer a tool for education or just a glorified toy? Then, as now, many worried about the impact of video games on players, while others celebrated video games for familiarizing kids with technology essential for the information age.

Author : Michael Z. Newman
Publisher : MIT Press
Page : 265 pages
File Size : 41,7 Mb
Release : 2018-10-30
Category : Games & Activities
ISBN : 9780262536110

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Atari Age by Michael Z. Newman Pdf

The cultural contradictions of early video games: a medium for family fun (but mainly for middle-class boys), an improvement over pinball and television (but possibly harmful). Beginning with the release of the Magnavox Odyssey and Pong in 1972, video games, whether played in arcades and taverns or in family rec rooms, became part of popular culture, like television. In fact, video games were sometimes seen as an improvement on television because they spurred participation rather than passivity. These “space-age pinball machines” gave coin-operated games a high-tech and more respectable profile. In Atari Age, Michael Newman charts the emergence of video games in America from ball-and-paddle games to hits like Space Invaders and Pac-Man, describing their relationship to other amusements and technologies and showing how they came to be identified with the middle class, youth, and masculinity. Newman shows that the “new media” of video games were understood in varied, even contradictory ways. They were family fun (but mainly for boys), better than television (but possibly harmful), and educational (but a waste of computer time). Drawing on a range of sources—including the games and their packaging; coverage in the popular, trade, and fan press; social science research of the time; advertising and store catalogs; and representations in movies and television—Newman describes the series of cultural contradictions through which the identity of the emerging medium worked itself out. Would video games embody middle-class respectability or suffer from the arcade's unsavory reputation? Would they foster family togetherness or allow boys to escape from domesticity? Would they make the new home computer a tool for education or just a glorified toy? Then, as now, many worried about the impact of video games on players, while others celebrated video games for familiarizing kids with technology essential for the information age.

Author : Jamie Lendino
Publisher : Ziff Davis
Page : 278 pages
File Size : 40,6 Mb
Release : 2018-06-04
Category : Computers
ISBN : 9781732355200

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Adventure: The Atari 2600 at the Dawn of Console Gaming by Jamie Lendino Pdf

The sprawl of Adventure. The addictiveness of Breakout. The intensity of Space Invaders. Once upon a time, you could only experience this kind of excitement at the arcade. But in 1977 that changed forever. You, and maybe a friend or a sibling, could instantly teleport from your own living room to a dazzling new world—with nothing more than a small plastic cartridge. This was the promise of the Atari 2600—and it was delivered in ways no one ever expected. No, the games it put on your TV weren’t what you saw when you plunked in your quarters at the convenience store or in the noisy, smoky business on the other side of town. But they brought the arcade home—and it hasn’t left since. With Adventure: The Atari 2600 at the Dawn of Console Gaming, Jamie Lendino takes you to the front lines of the home gaming revolution, exploring the history of the world-changing console and delves into the coin-op ports and original titles that still influence gaming today. Before your next trip to a magical universe with your Xbox One, PlayStation 4, or Nintendo Switch, see how the home gaming industry truly began.

Author : Bill Kurtz
Publisher : Schiffer Pub Limited
Page : 238 pages
File Size : 51,6 Mb
Release : 2004
Category : Games
ISBN : 0764319256

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The Encyclopedia of Arcade Video Games by Bill Kurtz Pdf

Arcade video games have become one of the hottest collectibles around and this book features over 600 photos of the machines that filled arcades during the 1970s and '80s. Includes information about the manufacturers who produced these classic games, a section about video game collectibles, and information on how to start your own collection. Beginning collectors and long-time game enthusiasts alike are sure to enjoy this nostalgic and informative look at the world of arcade video games.

Author : Roberto Dillon
Publisher : CRC Press
Page : 211 pages
File Size : 45,5 Mb
Release : 2016-04-19
Category : Computers
ISBN : 9781439873243

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The Golden Age of Video Games by Roberto Dillon Pdf

This book focuses on the history of video games, consoles, and home computers from the very beginning until the mid-nineties, which started a new era in digital entertainment. The text features the most innovative games and introduces the pioneers who developed them. It offers brief analyses of the most relevant games from each time period. An epilogue covers the events and systems that followed this golden age while the appendices include a history of handheld games and an overview of the retro-gaming scene.

Author : Steven Hugg
Publisher : Puzzling Plans LLC
Page : 263 pages
File Size : 50,8 Mb
Release : 2016-12-22
Category : Computers
ISBN : 9781541021303

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Making Games for the Atari 2600 by Steven Hugg Pdf

The Atari 2600 was released in 1977, and now there's finally a book about how to write games for it! You'll learn about the 6502 CPU, NTSC frames, scanlines, cycle counting, players, missiles, collisions, procedural generation, pseudo-3D, and more. While using the manual, take advantage of our Web-based IDE to write 6502 assembly code, and see your code run instantly in the browser. We'll cover the same programming tricks that master programmers used to make classic games. Create your own graphics and sound, and share your games with friends!

Author : Jason Moore
Publisher : Lulu.com
Page : 123 pages
File Size : 48,6 Mb
Release : 2024-07-01
Category : Electronic
ISBN : 9780578556420

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Atari Projects by Jason Moore Pdf

Author : Simon Carless
Publisher : "O'Reilly Media, Inc."
Page : 468 pages
File Size : 46,9 Mb
Release : 2004
Category : Computers
ISBN : 0596007140

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Gaming Hacks by Simon Carless Pdf

Aimed at avid and/or highly skilled video gamers, 'Gaming Hacks' offers a guide to pushing the limits of video game software and hardware using the creative exploits of the gaming gurus.

Author : John Wills
Publisher : Johns Hopkins University Press
Page : 297 pages
File Size : 45,8 Mb
Release : 2019-05-21
Category : History
ISBN : 9781421428703

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Gamer Nation by John Wills Pdf

Ultimately, Gamer Nation reveals not only how video games are a key aspect of contemporary American culture, but how games affect how people relate to America itself.

Author : Andreas Rauscher,Daniel Stein,Jan-Noël Thon
Publisher : Routledge
Page : 361 pages
File Size : 55,7 Mb
Release : 2020-10-18
Category : Comics & Graphic Novels
ISBN : 9781000224214

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Comics and Videogames by Andreas Rauscher,Daniel Stein,Jan-Noël Thon Pdf

This book offers the first comprehensive study of the many interfaces shaping the relationship between comics and videogames. It combines in-depth conceptual reflection with a rich selection of paradigmatic case studies from contemporary media culture. The editors have gathered a distinguished group of international scholars working at the interstices of comics studies and game studies to explore two interrelated areas of inquiry: The first part of the book focuses on hybrid medialities and experimental aesthetics "between" comics and videogames; the second part zooms in on how comics and videogames function as transmedia expansions within an increasingly convergent and participatory media culture. The individual chapters address synergies and intersections between comics and videogames via a diverse set of case studies ranging from independent and experimental projects via popular franchises from the corporate worlds of DC and Marvel to the more playful forms of media mix prominent in Japan. Offering an innovative intervention into a number of salient issues in current media culture, Comics and Videogames will be of interest to scholars and students of comics studies, game studies, popular culture studies, transmedia studies, and visual culture studies.

Author : Mark J. P. Wolf
Publisher : Wayne State University Press
Page : 270 pages
File Size : 50,8 Mb
Release : 2012-06-15
Category : Games & Activities
ISBN : 9780814337226

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Before the Crash by Mark J. P. Wolf Pdf

Contributors examine the early days of video game history before the industry crash of 1983 that ended the medium’s golden age.

Author : Mark J. P. Wolf
Publisher : Bloomsbury Publishing USA
Page : 1365 pages
File Size : 46,6 Mb
Release : 2021-05-24
Category : Games & Activities
ISBN : 9781440870200

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Encyclopedia of Video Games [3 volumes] by Mark J. P. Wolf Pdf

Now in its second edition, the Encyclopedia of Video Games: The Culture, Technology, and Art of Gaming is the definitive, go-to resource for anyone interested in the diverse and expanding video game industry. This three-volume encyclopedia covers all things video games, including the games themselves, the companies that make them, and the people who play them. Written by scholars who are exceptionally knowledgeable in the field of video game studies, it notes genres, institutions, important concepts, theoretical concerns, and more and is the most comprehensive encyclopedia of video games of its kind, covering video games throughout all periods of their existence and geographically around the world. This is the second edition of Encyclopedia of Video Games: The Culture, Technology, and Art of Gaming, originally published in 2012. All of the entries have been revised to accommodate changes in the industry, and an additional volume has been added to address the recent developments, advances, and changes that have occurred in this ever-evolving field. This set is a vital resource for scholars and video game aficionados alike.

Author : Raiford Guins
Publisher : Bloomsbury Publishing
Page : 281 pages
File Size : 46,6 Mb
Release : 2020-11-12
Category : Design
ISBN : 9781474284530

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Atari Design by Raiford Guins Pdf

Drawing from deep archival research and extensive interviews, Atari Design is a rich, historical study of how Atari's industrial and graphic designers contributed to the development of the video game machine. Innovative game design played a key role in the growth of Atari – from Pong to Asteroids and beyond – but fun, challenging and exciting game play was not unique to the famous Silicon Valley company. What set it apart from its competitors was innovation in the coin-op machine's cabinet. Atari did not just make games, it designed products for environments. With “tasteful packaging”, Atari exceeded traditional locations like bars, amusement parks and arcades, developing the look and feel of their game cabinets for new locations such as fast food restaurants, department stores, country clubs, university unions, and airports, making game-play a ubiquitous social and cultural experience. By actively shaping the interaction between user and machine, overcoming styling limitations and generating a distinct corporate identity, Atari designed products that impacted the everyday visual and material culture of the late 20th century. Design was never an afterthought at Atari.

Author : Lu Zhouxiang
Publisher : Routledge
Page : 320 pages
File Size : 53,9 Mb
Release : 2022-05-13
Category : History
ISBN : 9781000588538

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A History of Competitive Gaming by Lu Zhouxiang Pdf

Competitive gaming, or esports – referring to competitive tournaments of video games among both casual gamers and professional players – began in the early 1970s with small competitions like the one held at Stanford University in October 1972, where some 20 researchers and students attended. By 2022 the estimated revenue of the global esports industry is in excess of $947 million, with over 200 million viewers worldwide. Regardless of views held about competitive gaming, esports have become a modern economic and cultural phenomenon. This book studies the full history of competitive gaming from the 1970s to the 2010s against the background of the arrival of the electronic and computer age. It investigates how competitive gaming has grown into a new form of entertainment, a sport-like competition, a lucrative business and a unique cultural sensation. It also explores the role of competitive gaming in the development of the video game industry, making a distinctive contribution to our knowledge and understanding of the history of video games. A History of Competitive Gaming will appeal to all those interested in the business and culture of gaming, as well as those studying modern technological culture.

Author : Chris Kohler
Publisher : "O'Reilly Media, Inc."
Page : 504 pages
File Size : 54,5 Mb
Release : 2005-10-12
Category : Games & Activities
ISBN : 9781449303907

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Retro Gaming Hacks by Chris Kohler Pdf

Maybe it was the recent Atari 2600 milestone anniversary that fueled nostalgia for the golden days of computer and console gaming. Every Game Boy must ponder his roots from time to time. But whatever is driving the current retro gaming craze, one thing is certain: classic games are back for a big second act, and they're being played in both old and new ways. Whether you've just been attacked by Space Invaders for the first time or you've been a Pong junkie since puberty, Chris Kohler's Retro Gaming Hacks is the indispensable new guide to playing and hacking classic games. Kohler has complied tons of how-to information on retro gaming that used to take days or weeks of web surfing to track down and sort through, and he presents it in the popular and highly readable Hacks style. Retro Gaming Hacks serves up 85 hard-nosed hacks for reviving the classic games. Want to game on an original system? Kohler shows you how to hack ancient hardware, and includes a primer for home-brewing classic software. Rather adapt today's equipment to run retro games? Kohler provides emulation techniques, complete with instructions for hacking a classic joystick that's compatible with a contemporary computer. This book also teaches readers to revive old machines for the original gaming experience: hook up an Apple II or a Commodore 64, for example, and play it like you played before. A video game journalist and author of Power Up: How Japanese Video Games Gave the World an Extra Life, Kohler has taught the history of video games at Tufts University. In Retro Gaming Hacks, he locates the convergence of classic games and contemporary software, revealing not only how to retrofit classic games for today's systems, but how to find the golden oldies hidden in contemporary programs as well. Whether you're looking to recreate the magic of a Robotron marathon or simply crave a little handheld Donkey Kong, Retro Gaming Hacks shows you how to set the way-back dial.