The Ultimate History of Video Games: From Pong to Pokemon--The Story Behind the Craze That Touched Our Lives and Changed the World - Review

The Ultimate History of Video Games: From Pong to Pokemon--The Story Behind the Craze That Touched Our Lives and Changed the World

Steven Kent’s The Ultimate History of Video Games: from Pong to Pokémon and Beyond should be considered the cornerstone text of video game history.  Starting with pinball machines to Spacewar on the PDP-1 in 1962, all the way through to Pokemon in the early 2000’s, this 624-page book provides the reader with a factual and fairly even history of video games and video game culture as a whole.  Although each page is packed with information, it flows in a logical and entertaining manner.  The only issue that readers may encounter is that the history from Playstation onward seems very rushed.  Final section of the book, however, reveals that the majority of the book was finished in 1995 and letter amended for a 2001 release.

Regardless of the date of publication and a North American bias, this book is a must for anyone concerned in the history of video games. Kent manages to inject drama, suspense, and emotion into the narrative, while remaining true to observable facts. The rise and fall of Gunpei Yokoi starting with the creation of the eternally popular Game Boy, leading to the complete failure of the Virtual Boy, and ultimately ending with his tragic death soon after is a perfect example of how Kent weaves great stories utilizing the facts. There are too many merits to mention in a brief review, but I highly recommend this book.  

Kent, S.L., 2001. The ultimate history of video games: from Pong to Pokémon and beyond: the story behind the craze that touched our lives and changed the world, Roseville, CA: Prima Pub.