Smartbomb, Power Up and other video game books
 

Hey gang, I've been reading a couple of really good books about the history and cultural impact of Video Games, tilted Smartbomb: The quest for art, entertainment, and Big Bucks in the Videogame Revolution by Heather Chaplin and Aaron Ruby, and Power Up: How Japanese Video Games gave the world and Extra Life by Chris Kohler. They're both really well written, informative, and add a note of legitimacy to an industry plagued by political backlash (HIllary Clinton/Joe Lieberman) and legal backlash (led by the ever infamous Jack Thomson). They are just two of many books out there, both of which I suggest reading (though Power-Up is a bit Nintendo-centric) and I was wondering who else out here has read them, plans to, or has read other books on video games and would like to share impressions.

The only one I've read was an abridged version of Game Over, which is an unofficial history of Nintendo. It was great, and I wish I knew what happened to my copy. :(

Although this is about books, I think this discussion would find a more receptive audience in General Video Gaming.

I'll move it there presently.

I've only read Game Over : How Nintendo Zapped an American Industry, Captured Your Dollars, and Enslaved Your Children. It's actually an interesting read.

Now I wish I could find my Blaster Master book.

Hmm. That sounds like an interesting thrust just from the title. I read a bit of it over on Amazon, and it makes me want to read more, though given it's publication date (the last edition was out in 1999) I wonder what the author's ideas and views would look like in hindsight...