Video Games are a form of art that can give movies and TV shows a run for their money today not only in terms of market share but also in terms of reach, engagement and interest. From playing a casual game on your smartphone to an immersive story-driven game on your gaming console or PC video games today have become the new form of entertainment and storytelling. We have games like Hellblade that delve into the world of psychosis and games like Uncharted which put you in the shoes of a wise-cracking treasure hunter that could give Indiana Jones a run for his money. We have played games where we save the universe from destruction and there are others where saving a princess is all that matters. But the world of videogames is filled with stories that are from behind the scenes and rarely get told. These are stories of the people that defined video game genres, that made the impossible possible and the ones that ensured that hardware you played your video games on, were technical marvels for their time. If you love video games and want to know the journey of the people behind the games, then here are 4 books you should definitely read that are available on Amazon.in.
Blood, Sweat, and Pixels: The Triumphant, Turbulent Stories Behind How Video Games are Made
Written by renowned games journalist, Jason Schreier, this book follows the development hell that 10 games went through. The games are – Diablo, Diablo III, Destiny, The Witcher 3, Halo Wars, Uncharted 4, Shovel Knight, Pillars of Eternity, Dragon Age: Inquisition, Stardew Valley and Star Wars 1313. The common thread between all these 10 games is the fact that they were all delayed at least once. Some of the games were so ambitious, they were nearly swallowed by their own ambition. Nonetheless, this book will give you an insight into the development of video games.
Extra Lives: Why Video Games Matter
The writer's passion for video games is evident when you read the book. It touches upon the lives of some of the iconic minds behind video games. He talks about iconic games like Gears of War and the journey they went through before becoming iconic names in the world of games. The book also touches upon the journey and how sometimes mistakes and missteps led to features that are the most engaging in video games. The game touches upon may genre-defining games like Metal Gear Solid and also delves into controversial games like Grand Theft Auto.
Console Wars: Sega, Nintendo, and the Battle that Defined a Generation
If you are one that is more interested in the business of video games, then this is the book for you. The book follows the David vs Goliath fight. Where a small company at the time Sega, challenges the heavyweight in the world of video games – Nintendo. It is a behind-the-scenes business thriller that chronicles how Sega, led by an unlikely visionary and a team of rebels, took on the juggernaut Nintendo and revolutionized the video game industry. The war between both the gaming companies went beyond just the console that sat under your living room TV. On the hardware front, we see Sega and Nintendo battle out for the better gaming machine. On the software front, the battle ranged between two iconic mascots – Mario for Nintendo and Sonic for Sega. The book gives readers an insight into what really went down behind closed doors at both the companies.
Masters of Doom: How Two Guys Created an Empire and Transformed Pop Culture
If there are two game developers that were the first in the world to achieve celebrity status it has to be the 2 Johns – John Remoro and John Carmack. They are the masterminds behind the invention, inception and perfect execution of the first-person shooting genre. Delve into the story of these two game developers, one a mastermind coder and the other a design genius. Read through their journey of making games that transformed popular culture and provoked a national controversy. Learn how their humble beginnings in gaming taught them the ropes of development that would ultimately lead to the creation of one of the most iconic characters in video games – the Doom Marine.
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Sameer Mitha
Sameer Mitha lives for gaming and technology is his muse. When he isn’t busy playing with gadgets or video games he delves into the world of fantasy novels. View Full Profile
