Best books about Atari 2600?

[R4ngerM4n]

Hi guys, I am looking for books that describe the history of Atari 2600 development (time line, hardware variations etc.) and its worldwide marketing (promotional stuff, sales figures etc.) in detail. So far I am aware of 'Racing the Beam' and 'The Ultimate History of Video Games'.

 

I am looking forward to your recommendations!

Edited June 16, 2012 by R4ngerM4n

[+bcombee]

I'm thinking the best book is still in development, check out

which is coming this fall.

[donssword]

"Racing is the Beam" by Nick Montfort and Ian Bogost is awfully good.

 

Its gets a little technical, explaining some details of the programming, but it gives the reader a pretty in-depth view of how some of the top (and most infamous) games were built back in the day.

 

I think one of the most eye opening things it covers is how truly amazing Combat really was at the time.

 

I am a big fan of Steve Kent's "The Ultimate History of Video Games" (orig pub as The First Quarter), but it requires more familiarity with specifc games already.

[WSGEXE]

Racing the Beam is kind of -the- book at the moment so far as I know. But be forewarned it's very technical especially if you're interested primarily in games as opposed to programming & hardware nuts and bolts. Still, it will give you a very good idea of just how limited the programmers were and should give you a certain reverence for the miraculous things that were done within those limitations.

 

Here's a link to Amazon.

[+Random Terrain]

If you are interested in release dates, you might like these two pages:

 

www.randomterrain.com/atari-2600-memories-history-1982.html

 

www.randomterrain.com/atari-2600-memories-history-1983.html

[R4ngerM4n]

Thanks so far for all comments!

 

The release date list is pretty cool, thanks Random Terrain!

 

While browsing the net I found another book: Atari 2600 by Frederic Miller. Anyone knows that book and its content?

[Syntaxerror999]

A good book on the video game industry in general (mostly atari and activision) I enjoyed as a kid was Video Invaders by Steve Boom. I believe it was written pre crash.

 

Side note: author went on to write articals for High Times magazine

Edited June 18, 2012 by Syntaxerror999

[rolenta]

The 4th edition of Phoenix: The Fall & Rise of Videogames will be available in late 2013. The third edition is still available from Amazon or www.rolentapress.com.

 

In 2008 Game Informer named Phoenix the #2 videogame-related book of all time.

 

More info about Phoenix can be found at: http://en.wikipedia....e_of_Videogames

[kennybrooks]

The 4th edition of Phoenix: The Fall & Rise of Videogames will be available in late 2013. The third edition is still available from Amazon or www.rolentapress.com.

 

In 2008 Game Informer named Phoenix the #2 videogame-related book of all time.

 

More info about Phoenix can be found at: http://en.wikipedia....e_of_Videogames

 

Second this, one of the best for reading and very interesting.

[chuckwalla]

The Ultimate History of Video Games is very good and i'd also be interested in a detailed history and timeline of Atari including interviews from the programmers and executives and their take on the culture, the politics, and game development (existing games and games that the programmers wanted to create but may not have been given permission to, etc.), home games, arcade games, computers - the whole smack. Regardless of opinions here on the Tramiel's, there are some good interviews on Youtube with Jack & Son in those later years.