Gamer’s Book Shelf: Gaming Books For You

Last week, I decided to extend my gaming reading list beyond my Google Reader. I ordered two books you might want to think about getting if you’re a gamer.

Please note: This isn’t a book review post. They just arrived on my door step. I’ve flipped through the pages of each one but I haven’t read through them yet. This post is composed of my initial impressions and thoughts. 

Print Media is Dying: Why Should You Care?

Books can be well researched and stocked with information and accounts that haven’t made their way into the digital realm yet. As many of you know, print media is going through a rough patch now. The internet is turning media business models upside down. I’m torn as to how I should feel about it. On the one hand, print media companies should be ashamed of themselves for not getting with the program sooner. But when I encounter well researched tomes that required a team of artists, writers, and researchers to produce, I fear that we might be losing something special as the web rises to prominence. I hope we can continue to support good quality books (and not just the Twilights and Seventeen managzines of the world).

Guinness World Records 2009: Gamer’s Edition

The Gamer’s Edition is packed with up-to-date achivements, high scores, and comprehensive lists of games by genre. I’m looking forward to the History of Gaming section that covers gaming from 1889 through 2008. The Gaming Awards Round Up charts and the Collectors sections are also worth checking out. Did you know that the largest Playstation collection is owned by a man named Jason Dvorak? He owns a 1,500 piece collection consisting of hardware, games and guides. It’s also a pretty book. The hardcover and it’s pages are well designed with colorful charts, images and photographs. 

The Ultimtate History of Video Games: From Pong to Pokemon and Beyond

This 600+ page book has been described as the definitive history of computer and video games. It was published in 2001 and authored by Steven L. Kent. According to Twitter friend, Mike Brothers, UHVG is a good read as well as highly detailed and well researched. I’m looking forward to the following chapters:The Battle for the Home, Mortal Kombat and The Mainstream and All its Perils.

I tend to read books out of order. I like picking over interesting chapters to get straight to the good stuff. But I’ve been told that I should read this book from front to back. Some say that Steven Kent wrote the historical narrative as a riveting novel. 

Have you read either of these books? If so, drop me a line in the comments or via e-mail and share your thoughts with me. 

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Tagged as: gamer's edition, guiness world records, guiness world records 2009, guiness world records gamer's edition, Jason Dvorak, mike brothers, steven kent, steven l. kent, the ulitmate history of video games, ultimate history of video games