I loved this book for two reasons. Firstly, the nostalgia factor. I was a kid of the generation defined by the introduction of home gaming systems. We got our first Nintendo one year for Hanukkah and it changed everything. Throughout my childhood, Mario, Luigi, Sonic, Eco, and so many more characters impacted conversations and culture. This story is part of my story, so it was so very interesting to follow the timeline of productivity and technological evolution. Secondly, business and marketing practices before the advent of social media are simply fascinating to me. How people built products and conceptualized strategies to get consumers interested, especially in such a competitive landscape as the gaming industry, is so varied and intricate that it's exciting to read about. So essentially, this book let me 'nerd out' in two totally different ways, making it a great non-fiction read for my generation.
The other aspect to this book that made it engaging, content aside, was the style in which it was written. Rather than simply report the facts or tell the story, Harris took on a narrative approach to the content so you feel as if you're reading fiction when you're not. It built anticipation, let you connect better with the people in the story, and allowed a long timeline of events to flow quickly and seamlessly.
A lot happens in the story of Nintendo, Sega, and Sony (Playstation) during the 80's and 90's when video games and gaming consoles become something individuals can own in their home. The sense of competition and one-upping each other created a rivalry where anything was okay in the name of success. Primarily Nintendo and Sega went at each other as best they could to be the top gaming company and the scales tipped in both directions over the years, although Nintendo ultimately won. That wasn't a surprise. The surprise lay in learning more about how each company ran their business. What obstacles they faced from a corporate perspective, how much timing meant in the game, and who the key players really were.
After reading this book, I wanted to sit down with the then-head of Sega and just have coffee. I wanted to write a nasty letter to the then-leaders at Nintendo for their strict business practices, and I wanted to chastise people (no longer at) Sony for being too over the top. It was a race full of cheap jabs and powerful marketing campaigns, but the competition between these companies shaped the way we know personal gaming. They pushed each other to do better - create better graphics in games, better consoles - to continually innovate. It's a powerful story on the power of healthy competition.
There's not much story to summarize, since you should, by now, know at least part of this story from your own experience as you go to turn on your gaming console of choice in your own living room or man cave. But, the whole story is worth a read, so I highly recommend this title for just about everyone who loves a video game.
I know I'm late to the game with this one, even though it's a book right up my alley, but I made it eventually and the trip was worth it.
Ready Player One was exactly what I expected it to be - a book for children of the 80's and 90's who really grew up around the digital revolution. I never stopped identifying with the references throughout the book as well as call to game. I'll admit it right now, I played World of Warcraft for a time and while I wouldn't call myself a serious gamer, I used to get excited when I'd be left alone in my apartment so I could settle in and game with no distractions. So, I get it and reconnecting with that side of myself through the adventures in this book was, "most excellent."
But this book is more than just an homage to the birth of gaming and the love of its players, it represents a struggle that is very real - the powerful controlling the masses vs the every man rising above the corrupt power. The battle to gain control of the OASIS, which has been left up for grabs by its eccentric, deceased creator, has put individual gamers or Gunters at war against the Sixers, members of a corrupt company that wants to monetize this virtual world where most people truly come alive. The battle is action-packed and dangerous with the highest stakes possible. If the Sixers win, the OASIS will no longer be available to everyone. You cheer for the five gunters who have managed to make progress in the quest to win control of the OASIS. Three keys and three gates are all that stand between them and winning control. You hate the Sixers who are cheating their way through the quest as much as possible, using their own army of avatars to try and win the game. It really does become a battle to the death.
With so much more made possible having this battle take place in the virtual world, the surprises don't stop and a somewhat common plot is taken through new twists and turns for an entertaining ride. I had a lot of fun reading this book and nerding out in my own way. A great read for lovers of 80's pop culture and all things video game.
