{"product_id":"the-ultimate-history-of-video-games-volume-2-nintendo-sony-microsoft-and-the-billion-dollar-battle-to-shape-modern-gaming-9781984825438","title":"The Ultimate History of Video Games, Volume 2: Nintendo, Sony, Microsoft, and the Billion-Dollar Battle to Shape Modern Gaming","description":"\u003cb\u003eThe definitive behind-the-scenes history of video games' explosion into the twenty-first century and the war for industry power\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cb\u003e\"A zippy read through a truly deep research job. You won't want to put this one down.\"--Eddie Adlum, publisher, \u003ci\u003eRePlay Magazine\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eAs video games evolve, only the fittest companies survive. Making a blockbuster once cost millions of dollars; now it can cost hundreds of millions, but with a $160 billion market worldwide, the biggest players are willing to bet the bank. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eSteven L. Kent has been playing video games since \u003ci\u003ePong\u003c\/i\u003e and writing about the industry since the Nintendo Entertainment System. In volume 1 of \u003ci\u003eThe Ultimate History of Video Games, \u003c\/i\u003e he chronicled the industry's first thirty years. In volume 2, he narrates gaming's entrance into the twenty-first century, as Nintendo, Sega, Sony, and Microsoft battle to capture the global market. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eThe home console boom of the '90s turned hobby companies like Nintendo and Sega into Hollywood-studio-sized business titans. But by the end of the decade, they would face new, more powerful competitors. In boardrooms on both sides of the Pacific, engineers and executives began, with enormous budgets and total secrecy, to plan the next evolution of home consoles. The PlayStation 2, Nintendo GameCube, and Sega Dreamcast all made radically different bets on what gamers would want. And then, to the shock of the world, Bill Gates announced the development of the one console to beat them all--even if Microsoft had to burn a few billion dollars to do it. In this book, you will learn about \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e- the cutthroat environment at Microsoft as rival teams created console systems\u003cbr\u003e- the day the head of Sega of America told the creator of \u003ci\u003eSonic the Hedgehog\u003c\/i\u003e to \"f**k off\"\u003cbr\u003e- how \"lateral thinking with withered technology\" put Nintendo back on top\u003cbr\u003e- and much more! \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eGripping and comprehensive, \u003ci\u003eThe Ultimate History of Video Games: Volume 2\u003c\/i\u003e explores the origins of modern consoles and of the franchises--from \u003ci\u003eGrand Theft Auto \u003c\/i\u003eand\u003ci\u003e Halo \u003c\/i\u003eto\u003ci\u003e Call of Duty \u003c\/i\u003eand\u003ci\u003e Guitar Hero\u003c\/i\u003e--that would define gaming in the new millennium.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSteven L. Kent\u003c\/b\u003e turned a lifelong joystick addiction into a fifteen-year gig writing for outlets like Microsoft News, \u003ci\u003eBoys' Life, USA Today, \u003c\/i\u003e the \u003ci\u003eChicago Tribune, \u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eThe Japan Times\u003c\/i\u003e. In addition to his two-volume account \u003ci\u003eThe Ultimate History of Video Games, \u003c\/i\u003e Kent wrote \u003ci\u003eThe Making of Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eThe Making of Doom 3\u003c\/i\u003e. Also a novelist, he authored the Clone Republic series and co-authored \u003ci\u003e100 Fathoms Below\u003c\/i\u003e with Nicholas Kaufmann. He lives in Seattle, Washington.\u003cbr\u003e","brand":"Crown Publishing Group (NY)","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50380192874770,"sku":"9781984825438","price":17.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0831\/4771\/8930\/files\/img_198bd71b-f936-4d1c-8bc1-6d51caa6759d.jpg?v=1728677109","url":"https:\/\/surprise-castle.myshopify.com\/products\/the-ultimate-history-of-video-games-volume-2-nintendo-sony-microsoft-and-the-billion-dollar-battle-to-shape-modern-gaming-9781984825438","provider":"Surprise Castle","version":"1.0","type":"link"}