High Score!: The Illustrated History of Electronic Games

by Rusel DeMaria, Johnny L. Wilson

In this lavishly illustrated full-color retrospective, discover never-before-seen photos that bring to life the people and stories behind the most popular games of all time, including Space Invaders, Pac-Man, Centipede, Donkey Kong, Asteroids, SimCity, Quake, Myst, Tomb Raider, and more. This is the inside scoop on the history, successes, tricks, and even failures of the entire electronic games industry.

Genres: History, Games, Video Games, Nonfiction, Gaming, Computers, Technology

Paperback

First published January 1, 2002

Reviews

[Sophie Crane · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best books I have read on video game history. This provides a great overview and a perfect starting point for anyone wishing to learn about video games. The writing is to the point and is not editorial as some books on this subject can be. And the images are all high quality and expertly chosen again this is something that not all books on the subject have in there favour.

[Roger Tavares · Rating 5 out of 5]

A visual trip for the senses. Very nostalgic. Best value for the pics.

[F. Dum · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great coffee table book that combines lots of images and screenshots with a lot of well-researched information about the history of electronic games, from the beginnings to the 1990s. I especially like that it doesn't just focus on video games like so many other books (i.e. arcade and console games), but indeed relates the history of electronic games. DeMaria even notes mainframe games, the oft-forgotten root of home computer games, and later editions add two appendices about U.K. and Japanese games. I guess this book could be updated to include some of the games of the noughties, but as my interest in video games ends with the 90s, I'm totally fine with it as it is.

Together with the boastful, but correctly titled Ultimate History of Video Games , this gives me all I need in my library on electronic games. Also check out the new series that started with They Create Worlds, Vol. 1 which has seriously in-depth information on early computer game history.

[Spiral · Rating 1 out of 5]

what we have here is yet another account of video games from the perspective of men who think that unethical business practices are interesting, misogyny is funny, and that trans women should be deadnamed and misgendered to be "accurate" to the time they are written about. I stopped reading when I ran into the first instance of transmisogyny.

furthermore, the main rule for inclusion in the book seems to be the financial success of any particular game or company. so have a history narrated by the winners, making it difficult to learn anything new or truly insightful. for instance, the Fairchild Channel F gets one page about it, which calls it "one" of the first video uses of the video game cartridge, and gives the impression that it is only a novelty because it didn't sell very well. there is no mention of Jerry Lawson, who designed the Fairchild Channel F and created the *first* video game cartridge. every other system discussed up to this point names at least some of the engineers involved, so the neglect treated to Jerry Lawson is highly questionable.

perhaps if I read more, the coverage could be more valuable and insightful, but I am not putting up with these authors any further. and frankly I doubt they have the maturity or willingness to push back against the dominant and flawed self-perceptions of the video games industry.

[Jonathan Harbour · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic romp through past video games and in full color. Absolutely a blast to flip through the pages and a great coffee table piece. p.s. I originally bought this book due to the author, Johnny Wilson who I enjoyed reading when he was doing Computer Gaming World (r.i.p.--the magazine, not the editor-in-chief).

[Drew · Rating 5 out of 5]

The paramount bathroom book, High Score is a visual feast, with pictures of long-forgotten machines and games. There's also a personal twist to everything, as the author seems to love video games as much as his readers. It won't win the Pulitzer, but for what it is, it's great.

[Jamie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. It was fun reading about how video-games have evolved into the modern day, and how consolses and that have become how they are.

[Holden Linder · Rating 4 out of 5]

So much nostalgia!

[Elijah Christopher · Rating 5 out of 5]

High Score is an in-depth record at the history of video games from the beginning of electronic games to the mid-nineties. DeMaria and Wilson tell many stories that give the reader an inside look at many well known, and not so well known designers, programmers and businessmen and women within the video game industry.
This book was the most entertaining and informative book on video game history that I have read thus far. With many stories told that I would've never known, and many pictures to go along with them. It was a treat for the eyes and a nostalgic trip of joy for me, as I have been an avid gamer my whole life.
Though the book could feel like some work to get through, none of the information felt repetitive, and for the most part DeMaria and Wilson were very thorough and used interesting writing in their explanations of the various aspects of the video game industry, and the games that were played that shaped the history of gaming. I absolutely loved this book, and I would recommend it for anyone that wants an in-depth look at the games we know and love, and the work it took to bring the industry to what it is today.