292 pages
English language
Published April 17, 2011 by Portfolio Penguin.
Nintendo has continually set the standard for video game innovation in America, and the saga of Mario, the portly plumber who became the most successful franchise in the history of gaming, has plot twists worthy of a video game.
It's only fitting if I'm going to devote this much time to gaming that I should re-familiarize myself with the difficult business narrative of how gaming in North America really came to be. My favorite book on this subject is David Scheff's GAME OVER, from which this book heavily borrows its first-half structure. (Ryan cites Scheff's work at least one time, indicating that yes, he read it, and decided to follow the timeline almost exactly).
I was familiar with a lot of the history covered here but still found this to be an enjoyable read. While the style is not as entertaining as 'Console Wars' for example, I still found myself burning through each chapter. A fun exploration of Nintendo's past, and due to its publication, and interesting prediction of what may be to come. If you are looking for a quick read and want to pledge yourself to the Shrine of Miyamoto, why not start here?
