I found this review of my book today on the Video Game Critic website (yes, I admit, I do "Google myself" from time to time). The review was written by someone called "Colin H Atarifever":
Classic Home Video Games 1972-1984: A Complete Reference Guide
By: Brett Weiss
Classic Home Video Games 1972-1984 covers a huge number of systems and games put out between 1972 and 1984. There is a brief description of all official releases for each system, and a brief description of each system. As a special bonus (as far as I am concerned anyway) because the 7800 was test marketed in 1984, it too is included.
The descriptions of both the games and systems are well written and informative, without being long winded or "youtube silly." Every review gives the impression that the author has taken each game in the context of its time and its system. Even games that most people give a hard time often get put into context well. For example, Computer Intro for the O2 is called "quite an accomplishment back in the relatively PC-free days of 1979."
As well, the book is well laid out. The games are listed alphabetically for each system, and the font and layout are similar to that of a good text book (two nicely organized columns of text). Like many difficult textbooks however, the book contains few pictures and what ones there are are in black and white. More pictures and some screen shots would no doubt have been nice. However, then the book would likely have cost a lot more, for something that is almost unnecessary considering how good the descriptions are. Also, what pictures are in the book are quite nice and are well labeled.
Another really good, textbook like, feature of the book is the glossary and index. These are really top notch, and make looking up anything in the book a breeze. This honestly makes the book seem like something one would find being used in a course on the history of gaming.
This book will certainly find itself staying on my coffee table (helped along by the fact that it looks really nice on the outside). I would recommend this book to any classic gaming fan, or anyone new to the hobby looking for a good, all purpose, non-online resource. It also has obvious value as a quick reference for garage sales and thrift stores. It is a very solid buy.
A+
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