The Shmups Forum Dead Pool

[Skykid]

Damn, it's like Satoru Iwata all over again...

Not really.

[EmperorIng]

It makes me reflect on just how little good literature* there is about the early history of video-games, of how companies like Namco, Sega, Nintendo, Taito etc. all got out of the industrial manufacturing/amusement machine business and decided to take the jump into electronic entertainment. That required a bit of foresight and betting on the future, and I think we are all the beneficiaries of those early leaps.

*excepting blackoak's site, which I think one day will likely be the bedrock of some book about video-game history in Japan

[GaijinPunch]

It makes me reflect on just how little good literature* there is about the early history of video-games, of how companies like Namco, Sega, Nintendo, Taito etc. all got out of the industrial manufacturing/amusement machine business and decided to take the jump into electronic entertainment. That required a bit of foresight and betting on the future, and I think we are all the beneficiaries of those early leaps.

*excepting blackoak's site, which I think one day will likely be the bedrock of some book about video-game history in Japan

Sore ha Pong kara hajimatta is absolutely amazing. A kick starter for the rights and a proper translation is far more worthy a project than anything that's happened yet.

[WelshMegalodon]

It makes me reflect on just how little good literature* there is about the early history of video-games, of how companies like Namco, Sega, Nintendo, Taito etc. all got out of the industrial manufacturing/amusement machine business and decided to take the jump into electronic entertainment. That required a bit of foresight and betting on the future, and I think we are all the beneficiaries of those early leaps.

*excepting blackoak's site, which I think one day will likely be the bedrock of some book about video-game history in Japan

From Felipe Pepe:

http://www.rpgcodex.net/forums/index.ph ... st-3536962

Besides the highly recommendable Dungeons & Desktops from Matt Barton, I've read:

REPLAY: History of Video-Games - Arguably the best book about gaming history, is very well researched and touches everything from mainframes to PCs to consoles, in various countries and not only the US. It's the one I would recommend. Would definitely benefit from some pictures though... I hate having to google while reading to have an idea of WTF he's talking about.

The Ultimate History of Video-Games - Has a insane amount of interviews and backstage info, but focused entirely on consoles and arcades. Like, really. Wizardry and Ultima aren't even mentioned in the 600 pages of the book. Old book so it ends with the release of the Xbox in 2001, which is quite haunting.

High-Score: The Illustrated History of Electronic Games - It isn't as in-depth as the others, but thanks to the big colored images, it's a great nostalgia trip. Was written by Johnny L. Wilson, ex-chief editor of CGW magazine.

Dungeons & Dreamers: Could be titled "My life as Lord British and other stories". Its 50% about Richard Garriott, 25% about John Carmak & Romero and 25% about MUD and Colossal Cave, all tied by "bros playing together". Cool read, but there's a annoying bias towards Garriott's ego. Seriously, is like he commissioned the book as script for a film about him. I would watch such film though. :3

http://www.rpgcodex.net/forums/index.ph ... st-3755749

Gaming is... weird. Even the best books we have on the subject are mostly about the market, the companies and sales. Is all like "Super Mario was released and sold a ton, become a cultural icon and paved way for Nintendo's sucess...". Almost nothing about the game per se. Only REPLAY actually delves more into games, and unsurprisingly it's the best book an the one with the most extensive bibliography, list of references and overall research.

Still, I finished reading Jon Peterson's amazing book "Playing the World" some time ago, and it is the only one I would actually call the work of a historian. Everything is extensively researched, referenced and explained in minimal details. Althought it's mostly about tabletop RPGs, its section on CRPGs is honestly much more detailed and researched than Matt Barton's book.

[xxx1993]

Well, what's gonna happen to Namco now that their CEO is dead?

[Xyga]

Well, what's gonna happen to Namco now that their CEO is dead?

All the employees will become sacrifice and join him in the other world (which is a freaking huge market full of opportunities)

[soprano1]

Well, what's gonna happen to Namco now that their CEO is dead?

Commit sudoku.

[GaijinPunch]

Well, what's gonna happen to Namco now that their CEO is dead?

Uncharted waters. No CEO of a corporation has ever been replaced.

[xxx1993]

No way. Nintendo still kept going even after Iwata died.

[trap15]

[xxx1993]

I'm sure Namco can still keep going...

[Immryr]

....lol.... oh dear

[EmperorIng]

I think you guys are all trolling each other at this point.

[BIL]

Just remember - in the faceless, voiceless, aspergers-supercharging ether of the internet, nothing is impossible

...companies like Namco, Sega, Nintendo, Taito etc. all got out of the industrial manufacturing/amusement machine business and decided to take the jump into electronic entertainment. That required a bit of foresight and betting on the future, and I think we are all the beneficiaries of those early leaps.

Well said!

[Mills]

Damn, now I know what this thread is about.

[Hoagtech]

Maybe PAC man and Kirby are now friends in dreamland.

[ColonelFatso]

John Wetton has passed away. A consummate musician and one of the reasons I started to learn bass guitar. The depth and breadth of emotion in his play was astounding.

[xxx1993]

http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/20 ... 82/.111718

[lilmanjs]

Actor Richard Hatch as died at age 71. Stage 4 Pancreatic Cancer.

[Sly Cherry Chunks]

Actor Richard Hatch as died at age 71. Stage 4 Pancreatic Cancer.

Gosh, did Axanar ever get finished? I know they recently settled the lawsuit with Paramount/CBS.

[lilmanjs]

Axanar has not been in production since the lawsuit started. He is going to be in the pilot episode of Blade of Honor though. That looks like it will be cool. They are doing everything else that doesn't require actors.

[MintyTheCat]

Actor Richard Hatch as died at age 71. Stage 4 Pancreatic Cancer.

That is a real shame, and 71 is no age these days:

https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radi ... dies-at-71

He will always be Apollo.

[soprano1]

Warren Frost, from Twin Peaks dies at 91
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/w ... -91-977507

[lilmanjs]

Japanese movie director Seijun Suzuki has passed away.
https://www.theguardian.com/film/2017/f ... i-obituary

[xxx1993]

Bill Paxton (from Aliens) has died from surgery problems. He was 61. Game Over man...

[Skykid]

Bill Paxton (from Aliens) has died from surgery problems. He was 61. Game Over man...

Shit, say it ain't so!

[xxx1993]

Mom told me the news. How will the Training Day TV show proceed?

[GaijinPunch]

GF just said something about it -- that hurts.

[soprano1]

Neil Fingleton, one of Britain’s tallest men and an actor who was best known for playing the giant Mag the Mighty on HBO’s “Game of Thrones,” has died.
http://www.latimes.com/local/obituaries ... story.html
Only 36...

[maximo310]

Chuck Berry died earlier today at 90.

http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/leg ... d=46228597