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Books on all aspects of gaming in the 8-bit and 16-bit eras. The list continues here: https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1...
Score
A book’s total score is based on multiple factors, including the number of people who have voted for it and how highly those voters ranked the book.
| 1 |
|
The Making of Prince of Persia
by
Jordan Mechner (Goodreads Author)
4.09 avg rating — 1,851 ratings
score: 391,
and
4 people voted
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| 2 |
|
Ocean: The History
by
Chris Wilkins (Goodreads Author)
4.21 avg rating — 81 ratings
score: 385,
and
5 people voted
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| 3 |
|
The Story of the Sinclair ZX Spectrum in Pixels
by
Chris Wilkins (Goodreads Author)
4.06 avg rating — 63 ratings
score: 384,
and
5 people voted
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| 4 |
|
The Story of U.S. Gold: A very American, British software house
by
Chris Wilkins (Goodreads Author)
4.08 avg rating — 52 ratings
score: 350,
and
4 people voted
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| 5 |
|
Official Video Game & Pinball Book Of World Records
by
really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 7 ratings
score: 253,
and
3 people voted
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| 6 |
|
Ready: A Commodore 64 Retrospective
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4.10 avg rating — 10 ratings
score: 250,
and
3 people voted
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| 7 |
|
Replay: The History of Video Games
by
Tristan Donovan (Goodreads Author)
4.04 avg rating — 1,479 ratings
score: 234,
and
3 people voted
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| 8 |
|
The Making of Karateka
by
Jordan Mechner (Goodreads Author)
4.14 avg rating — 502 ratings
score: 228,
and
3 people voted
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| 9 |
|
The Perfect Game: Confessions of a Pac-Man Junkie
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4.20 avg rating — 10 ratings
score: 199,
and
3 people voted
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| 10 |
|
Sid Meier's Memoir!: A Life in Computer Games
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4.18 avg rating — 3,518 ratings
score: 195,
and
2 people voted
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| 11 |
|
Hardcoregaming101.net Presents: The Guide to Classic Graphic Adventures
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4.21 avg rating — 225 ratings
score: 190,
and
2 people voted
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| 12 |
|
Masters of Doom: How Two Guys Created an Empire and Transformed Pop Culture
by
4.29 avg rating — 19,853 ratings
score: 188,
and
2 people voted
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| 13 |
|
Commodore 64: a visual Commpendium
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4.24 avg rating — 104 ratings
score: 186,
and
2 people voted
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| 14 |
|
The A-Z of the Atari 2600 (Retro Gaming A-Z Book 1)
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3.86 avg rating — 44 ratings
score: 182,
and
2 people voted
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| 15 |
|
Dungeons and Desktops: The History of Computer Role-Playing Games
by
Matt Barton (Goodreads Author)
3.65 avg rating — 246 ratings
score: 178,
and
2 people voted
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| 15 |
|
The Golden Age of Video Games
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3.89 avg rating — 36 ratings
score: 178,
and
2 people voted
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| 17 |
|
More basic computer games
by
4.32 avg rating — 31 ratings
score: 171,
and
2 people voted
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| 17 |
|
BASIC Computer Games: Microcomputer Edition
by
4.34 avg rating — 56 ratings
score: 171,
and
2 people voted
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| 19 |
|
Zap!: The Rise and Fall of Atari
by
3.30 avg rating — 81 ratings
score: 169,
and
2 people voted
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| 19 |
|
The 100 Greatest Console Video Games: 1977-1987
by
Brett Weiss (Goodreads Author)
3.95 avg rating — 64 ratings
score: 169,
and
2 people voted
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| 21 |
|
Phoenix: The Fall & Rise of Video Games
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3.70 avg rating — 70 ratings
score: 167,
and
2 people voted
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| 22 |
|
A Mind Forever Voyaging: A History of Storytelling in Video Games
by
3.72 avg rating — 144 ratings
score: 165,
and
2 people voted
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| 23 |
|
The Video Games Guide
by
3.54 avg rating — 13 ratings
score: 164,
and
2 people voted
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| 24 |
|
The Adventures of Q*bert
by
John Robinson (Goodreads Author)
4.13 avg rating — 15 ratings
score: 163,
and
2 people voted
|
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| 25 |
|
The Encyclopedia of Arcade Video Games (Schiffer Book for Collectors)
by
3.73 avg rating — 15 ratings
score: 161,
and
2 people voted
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| 26 |
|
Commodore Amiga: a visual Commpendium
by
4.41 avg rating — 94 ratings
score: 151,
and
2 people voted
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| 27 |
|
ABC to the VCS: A Directory of Software for the Atari 2600
by
really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 2 ratings
score: 147,
and
2 people voted
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| 28 |
|
The Ultimate History of Video Games: From Pong to Pokemon - The Story Behind the Craze That Touched Our Lives and Changed the World
by
Steven L. Kent (Goodreads Author)
4.14 avg rating — 2,970 ratings
score: 146,
and
2 people voted
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| 28 |
|
1001 Video Games You Must Play Before You Die
by
3.83 avg rating — 587 ratings
score: 146,
and
2 people voted
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| 30 |
|
Hey! Listen!: A journey through the golden era of video games
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3.67 avg rating — 333 ratings
score: 143,
and
2 people voted
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| 30 |
|
The Game Console: A Photographic History from Atari to Xbox
by
4.36 avg rating — 385 ratings
score: 143,
and
2 people voted
|
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| 32 |
|
SUPER iam8bit: More Art Inspired by Classic Videogames of the '80s
by
4.53 avg rating — 15 ratings
score: 139,
and
2 people voted
|
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| 32 |
|
i am 8-bit: Art Inspired by Classic Videogames of the '80s
by
4.08 avg rating — 123 ratings
score: 139,
and
2 people voted
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| 32 |
|
The CRPG Book Project
by
4.46 avg rating — 267 ratings
score: 139,
and
2 people voted
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| 35 |
|
The Internal Magic of the Atari 2600: Volume One of David Crane's Technical Wizardry Series
by
really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 1 rating
score: 135,
and
2 people voted
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| 35 |
|
Racing the Beam: The Atari Video Computer System
by
4.07 avg rating — 807 ratings
score: 135,
and
2 people voted
|
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| 37 |
|
Baldur's Gate II (Boss Fight Books, #8)
by
Matt Bell (Goodreads Author)
3.45 avg rating — 277 ratings
score: 132,
and
2 people voted
|
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| 38 |
|
Ready Player One (Ready Player One, #1)
by
Ernest Cline (Goodreads Author)
4.23 avg rating — 1,276,750 ratings
score: 131,
and
2 people voted
|
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| 39 |
|
Super Mario Bros. 2 (Boss Fight Books, #6)
by
3.52 avg rating — 384 ratings
score: 129,
and
2 people voted
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| 39 |
|
Ready Player Two (Ready Player One, #2)
by
Ernest Cline (Goodreads Author)
3.44 avg rating — 180,700 ratings
score: 129,
and
2 people voted
|
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| 41 |
|
Jagged Alliance 2 (Boss Fight Books, #5)
by
Darius Kazemi (Goodreads Author)
4.03 avg rating — 243 ratings
score: 127,
and
2 people voted
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| 42 |
|
Galaga (Boss Fight Books, #4)
by
3.09 avg rating — 239 ratings
score: 125,
and
2 people voted
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| 43 |
|
ZZT (Boss Fight Books, #3)
by
Anna Anthropy (Goodreads Author)
3.99 avg rating — 318 ratings
score: 123,
and
2 people voted
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| 44 |
|
Chrono Trigger (Boss Fight Books, #2)
by
Michael P. Williams (Goodreads Author)
3.39 avg rating — 475 ratings
score: 121,
and
2 people voted
|
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| 45 |
|
The 8-Bit Book - 1981 to 199X
by
4.42 avg rating — 12 ratings
score: 119,
and
2 people voted
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| 45 |
|
The Book of Adventure Games
by
4.33 avg rating — 12 ratings
score: 119,
and
2 people voted
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| 45 |
|
EarthBound (Boss Fight Books, #1)
by
Ken Baumann (Goodreads Author)
3.63 avg rating — 571 ratings
score: 119,
and
2 people voted
|
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| 48 |
|
Playing the Past: History and Nostalgia in Video Games
by
Zach Whalen (Editor)
3.82 avg rating — 17 ratings
score: 118,
and
2 people voted
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| 49 |
|
Commodore VIC 20: A Visual History
by
Giacomo M. Vernoni (Goodreads Author)
4.75 avg rating — 8 ratings
score: 109,
and
2 people voted
|
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| 50 |
|
Art of Atari
by
Tim Lapetino (Goodreads Author)
4.42 avg rating — 603 ratings
score: 105,
and
2 people voted
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| 51 |
|
Coleco: The Official Book
by
2.50 avg rating — 4 ratings
score: 104,
and
2 people voted
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| 51 |
|
The Player's Strategy Guide To Atari VCS Home Video Games
by
2.80 avg rating — 5 ratings
score: 104,
and
2 people voted
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| 53 |
|
The Space Invaders: In Search of Lost Time: The Complete Interviews
by
0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings
score: 103,
and
2 people voted
|
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| 54 |
|
Britsoft - An Oral History
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4.28 avg rating — 32 ratings
score: 100,
and
1 person voted
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| 54 |
|
Mega Man 3 (Boss Fight Books, #14)
by
Salvatore Pane (Goodreads Author)
3.69 avg rating — 195 ratings
score: 100,
and
1 person voted
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| 54 |
|
The Micro Kids: An 80s Adventure with ZX Spectrum, Commodore 64 and more (Video Games Book)
by
Gary Plowman (Goodreads Author)
3.96 avg rating — 72 ratings
score: 100,
and
1 person voted
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| 54 |
|
ZX Spectrum Games Code Club: Twenty fun games to code and learn
by
Gary Plowman (Goodreads Author)
4.19 avg rating — 16 ratings
score: 100,
and
1 person voted
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| 54 |
|
The Micro Kids: An 80s Adventure with ZX Spectrum, Commodore 64 and more
by
Gary Plowman (Goodreads Author)
3.96 avg rating — 72 ratings
score: 100,
and
1 person voted
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| 54 |
|
The Soul Snatchers
by
Richard Sanford (Goodreads Author)
4.40 avg rating — 10 ratings
score: 100,
and
1 person voted
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| 54 |
|
Inside Video Game Creation: Development Experts Share Their Stories
by
Todd Mitchell (Goodreads Author)
4.40 avg rating — 5 ratings
score: 100,
and
1 person voted
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| 54 |
|
Level-Up with Game Assist
by
Grover Walters (Goodreads Author)
4.40 avg rating — 5 ratings
score: 100,
and
1 person voted
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| 54 |
|
The Computer Game Murder (Galaxy Gang, #5)
by
it was ok 2.00 avg rating — 2 ratings
score: 100,
and
1 person voted
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| 63 |
|
Twisty Little Passages: An Approach to Interactive Fiction
by
3.75 avg rating — 341 ratings
score: 99,
and
1 person voted
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| 63 |
|
Super Mario Bros. 3 (Boss Fight Books, #13)
by
3.77 avg rating — 295 ratings
score: 99,
and
1 person voted
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| 63 |
|
Retrogame Archeology: Exploring Old Computer Games
by
really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 11 ratings
score: 99,
and
1 person voted
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| 63 |
|
Video Games FAQ: All That's Left to Know About Games and Gaming Culture
by
4.25 avg rating — 8 ratings
score: 99,
and
1 person voted
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| 63 |
|
Computer Monsters
by
4.67 avg rating — 3 ratings
score: 99,
and
1 person voted
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| 68 |
|
World of Warcraft (Boss Fight Books, #12)
by
Daniel Lisi (Goodreads Author)
3.68 avg rating — 188 ratings
score: 98,
and
1 person voted
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| 68 |
|
NBA Jam (Boss Fight Books Book 21)
by
4.34 avg rating — 304 ratings
score: 98,
and
1 person voted
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| 68 |
|
Computer Olympics
by
really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 1 rating
score: 98,
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1 person voted
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| 71 |
|
Spelunky (Boss Fight Books, #11)
by
4.44 avg rating — 1,679 ratings
score: 97,
and
1 person voted
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| 71 |
|
Hints & Tips for Videogame Pioneers
by
4.33 avg rating — 36 ratings
score: 97,
and
1 person voted
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| 71 |
|
The Impossible Fortress
by
Jason Rekulak (Goodreads Author)
3.78 avg rating — 12,364 ratings
score: 97,
and
1 person voted
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| 71 |
|
A Brief History Of Video Games: From Atari to Virtual Reality
by
really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 5 ratings
score: 97,
and
1 person voted
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| 75 |
|
Metal Gear Solid (Boss Fight Books, #9)
by
3.59 avg rating — 485 ratings
score: 96,
and
1 person voted
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| 76 |
|
The Fat Man on Game Audio: Tasty Morsels of Sonic Goodness
by
4.33 avg rating — 30 ratings
score: 95,
and
1 person voted
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| 76 |
|
Dragon's Lair: A Don Bluth Animation Flip Book
by
Don Bluth (Illustrator)
4.50 avg rating — 2 ratings
score: 95,
and
2 people voted
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| 78 |
|
Atari Flashback: The Essential Companion
by
4.07 avg rating — 15 ratings
score: 94,
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2 people voted
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| 79 |
|
The Internal Magic of Activision Dragster: Volume Two of David Crane's Technical Wizardry Series
by
it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 1 rating
score: 92,
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1 person voted
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| 80 |
|
Atari 2600 Programming for Newbies
by
it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 2 ratings
score: 91,
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1 person voted
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| 81 |
|
Game Sound: An Introduction to the History, Theory, and Practice of Video Game Music and Sound Design
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4.07 avg rating — 101 ratings
score: 90,
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1 person voted
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| 82 |
|
NBA Jam (Boss Fight Books #21)
by
4.34 avg rating — 304 ratings
score: 88,
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1 person voted
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| 83 |
|
Dungeons and Dreamers: The Rise of Computer Game Culture from Geek to Chic
by
Brad King (Goodreads Author)
3.62 avg rating — 395 ratings
score: 87,
and
1 person voted
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| 84 |
|
The Commodore 64 Book - 1982 to 199x
by
really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 11 ratings
score: 86,
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1 person voted
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| 84 |
|
Art of Atari Poster Collection
by
4.11 avg rating — 63 ratings
score: 86,
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2 people voted
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| 86 |
|
The Official Book of Ultima
by
3.73 avg rating — 33 ratings
score: 85,
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1 person voted
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| 87 |
|
Write Your Own Adventure Programs for Your Microcomputer
by
3.94 avg rating — 17 ratings
score: 84,
and
1 person voted
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| 87 |
|
Art of Midway: Before Pixels and Polygons
by
3.91 avg rating — 11 ratings
score: 84,
and
1 person voted
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| 89 |
|
Mega Man Tribute
by
4.35 avg rating — 20 ratings
score: 83,
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1 person voted
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| 90 |
|
The Art of Video Games: From Pac-Man to Mass Effect
by
3.69 avg rating — 223 ratings
score: 82,
and
1 person voted
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| 91 |
|
Classic Home Video Games, 1985-1988: A Complete Reference Guide
by
Brett Weiss (Goodreads Author)
3.90 avg rating — 21 ratings
score: 81,
and
1 person voted
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| 92 |
|
The Texbook of Video Game Logic: Volume 1
by
really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 1 rating
score: 80,
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1 person voted
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| 92 |
|
Classic Home Video Games, 1989-1990: A Complete Guide to Sega Genesis, Neo Geo and TurboGrafx-16 Games
by
Brett Weiss (Goodreads Author)
really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 20 ratings
score: 80,
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1 person voted
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| 94 |
|
Electrifying, Action-Packed, Unusual History of Video Games, The
by
4.31 avg rating — 13 ratings
score: 79,
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1 person voted
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| 95 |
|
Inventing the Adventure Game: The Design of Adventure and Rocky's Boots
by
0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings
score: 78,
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1 person voted
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| 96 |
|
Halcyon Days: Interviews with Classic Computer and Video Game Programmers
by
James Hague (Editor)
3.90 avg rating — 10 ratings
score: 77,
and
1 person voted
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| 96 |
|
100 Best Video Games
by
4.30 avg rating — 66 ratings
score: 77,
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1 person voted
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| 98 |
|
The Game Design Reader: A Rules of Play Anthology
by
Katie Salen (Editor)
4.05 avg rating — 135 ratings
score: 76,
and
1 person voted
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| 98 |
|
Hardcore Gaming 101 Presents: The 200 Best Video Games of All Time
by
3.91 avg rating — 55 ratings
score: 76,
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1 person voted
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| 100 |
|
A Slow Year
by
3.30 avg rating — 33 ratings
score: 75,
and
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