Computer games: strategy guides Books

Book SynopsisTrade Review"David Craddock's deep dive into the origins behind some of the most important Apple II games will keep you riveted as you learn the wondrous stories of how these games came to be and how the industry started." -- John Romero, co-founder of id Software, co-designer of Wolfenstein 3D, Doom, and Quake"Thanks to this excellent and thoroughly researched book, we can relive the genesis of several seminal [Apple II] games and fully appreciate the legacy this revolutionary machine had. As aptly said by Craddock in the Introduction, whatever we can think of today, 'The Apple II already did it.'" -- Dr. Roberto Dillon, Author of The Golden Age of Video Games"By going straight to the source, Craddock has shed new light on such iconic titles as Zork, The Oregon Trail, and Wizardry. Break Out is a must-own for anyone interested in the history of computers and computer games." -- Brett Weiss, author of The 100 Greatest Console Video Games: 1977-1987Break Out covers a deeply important era in game creation, marketing, and distribution that is often overlooked by even the most avid historians. Everyone who loves video games should devour this one cover-to-cover. -- Patrick Scott Patterson, video game advocate

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Book SynopsisTrade ReviewA serious look at a growing business. - Communications Booknotes Quarterly ""McAllister has a clear vision of the medium, a vision that spans the technological, generational gap. In this book, he analyzes and investigates the historical forces that brought video games from concept to market, and he does this with economic, technical, and sociological perspectives in mind.... Stands as one of the finest studies of its kind."" - Choice

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Book Synopsis_Boss Fights_ celebrates a fading art in modern games. Author Daryl Baxter has written about 51 bosses that have made the greatest impact, ever since the first boss debuted in 1974. Full of interviews and insights from the developers who helped made the bosses as memorable as they are, includes those who have worked on Mario 64, DOOM, Bioshock, Star Wars, Half Life and many more. Some explained how they came to be, what was scrapped, and, ultimately, if they were happy with them, looking back. The book goes into detail about the first ever boss from the start, called the Golden Dragon in dnd, which first debuted in 1974. Heralded as the first ever boss in a video game, Daryl spoke to its creators about how it came to be, and how they feel about creating a standard in games. The book sheds light on what was scrapped in other bosses, and how some bosses were so illegal, they had to be updated in rapid fashion to avoid a potential lawsuit. Full of photos that showcase how the boss

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Book SynopsisGet a taste of the full breadth of video games with 325 no-violent titles profiled.

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Book SynopsisThe journey through the creation of the groundbreaking video games continues with this breathtaking volume, featuring hundreds of pieces of concept art, design notes, and creator retrospectives from the original team behind the making of Final Fantasy X, Final Fantasy XI, Final Fantasy XII, Final Fantasy XIII, and Final Fantasy XIV.Art, commentary, and lore from a transformative era in the indispensable role-playing franchise, collected in a beautifully printed 300-plus-page hardcover. Foray into one of gaming's most iconic properties, exploring beautiful art and incisive commentary behind five of the most memorable entries in the Final Fantasy saga.Final Fantasy Ultimania Archive Volume 3 authentically translates original Japanese source material to present unparalleled access for a Western audience. This incredible tome is a must-have addition to any Final Fantasy enthusiast's collection.

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Book SynopsisWhat might Heidegger say about Halo, the popular video game franchise, if he were alive today? What would Augustine think about Assassin’s Creed? What could Maimonides teach us about Nintendo’s eponymous hero, Mario? While some critics might dismiss such inquiries outright, protesting that these great thinkers would never concern themselves with a medium so crude and mindless as video games, it is impor­tant to recognize that games like these are becoming the defining medium of our time. We spend more time and money on video games than on books, television, or film, and any serious thinker of our age should be concerned with these games, what they are saying about us, and what we are learning from them. Yet video games remain relatively unexplored by both scholars and pundits alike. Few have advanced beyond out­moded and futile attempts to tie gameplay to violent behavior. With this rumor now thoroughly and repeatedly disproven, it is time to delve deeper. Just as the Museum of Modern Art in Manhattan recently acquired fourteen games as part of its permanent collection, so too must we seek to add a serious consideration of virtual worlds to the pantheon of philosophical inquiry. In God in the Machine, author Liel Leibovitz leads a fas­cinating tour of the emerging virtual landscape and its many dazzling vistas from which we are offered new vantage points on age-old theological and philosophical questions. Free will vs. determinism, the importance of ritual, transcendence through mastery, notions of the self, justice and sin, life, death, and resurrection all come into play in the video games that some critics so quickly write off as mind-numbing wastes of time. When one looks closely at how these games are designed, their inherent logic, and their cognitive effects on players, it becomes clear that playing these games creates a state of awareness vastly different from when we watch television or read a book. Indeed, the gameplay is a far more dynamic process that draws on various faculties of mind and body to evoke sensa­tions that might more commonly be associated with religious experience. Getting swept away in an engaging game can be a profoundly spiritual activity. It is not to think, but rather to be, a logic that sustained our ancestors for millennia as they looked heavenward for answers. As more and more of us look “screenward,” it is crucial to investigate these games for their vast potential as fine instruments of moral training. Anyone seeking a concise and well-reasoned introduction to the subject would do well to start with God in the Machine. By illuminating both where video game storytelling is now and where it currently butts up against certain inherent limitations, Liebovitz intriguingly implies how the field and, in turn, our experiences might continue to evolve and advance in the coming years. Trade Review “Many dismiss video games as a worthless pursuit, and some even go so far as to consider them a harmful and addictive activity that sets individuals towards violence. Liel Leibovitz defies those assumptions while explaining gaming’s allure and place in the world . . . this work is a thoughtful, well-written, and concise scholarly analysis of a popular pastime. As such, it is a recommended resource for college and university libraries.” —Sarah E. Keil, Trevecca Nazarene University, The Christian Librarian “Leibovitz’s book is brief but wildly ambitious, studded with references unexpected in writing on this subject.” —New York Review of Books “God in the Machine shows depth as well as breadth. It would be a fitting addition to a book discussion group or theological reading circle. Whether you come to the same conclusions as the author did or not, God in the Machine will change the way you see gaming from here on out. I recommend the book.” —Michael Philliber "Liel Leibovitz has thought more deeply than anyone I know about the meaning of video games; he has managed to persuade me, without overloading my circuits, that they belong not to the seventh circle of hell—where I’d consigned them— but to the great American tradition that turns a dark theology of sin into redemptive popular entertainment." —Jonathan Rosen, author of The Talmud and the Internet: A Journey Between Worlds

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Book SynopsisMinecraft is one of the fastest-growing phenomena in video game history, played by tweens everywhere on their video game consoles, tablets, and even smartphones. Popular with both girls and boys, this "virtual play set" of building blocks lets players create essentially anything they can imagine. With Master Builder, the unofficial comprehensive guide for this virtual world, beginners, experts, and general enthusiasts of Minecraft will learn how to get more out of their valuable playtime—how to build better structures and cooler worlds and how to cooperate more efficiently in multiplayer mode. This full-color book shares strategy from Minecraft's top players, examines the creation of many of today's most impressive worlds, and provides a glimpse at what's to come in this ever-expanding universe. It also includes a bonus section on other building games, including Lego Universe. This book is not authorized, sponsored, endorsed or licensed by Mojang AB. The trademark Minecraft is owned by Mojang AB; and other company names and/or trademarks mentioned in this book are the property of their respective companies and are used for identification purposes only.

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Book SynopsisOne of the most popular video games of all time, Minecraft has become a global craze thanks to nearly 40 million registered users worldwide across all platforms. In Minecrafter 2.0 Advanced , those who mastered the basics laid out in the first Minecrafter strategy guide now find tips on more complex areas of game play, including Redstone circuitry and other inventions, and advice for beating "The End." This must-have guide for even the most advanced of experts includes the game's latest innovations and features 100 color images. This book is not authorized, sponsored, endorsed or licensed by Mojang AB. The trademark Minecraft is owned by Mojang AB; and other company names and/or trademarks mentioned in this book are the property of their respective companies and are used for identification purposes only.

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Book SynopsisIn 2005, the video game World of Warcraft struck the cultural landscape with tidal force. One hundred million people have played WoW in the twelve years since.But those people did more than play. They worked, they fought, they triumphed, they held entire game servers hostage, they even married each other in real life. They developed new identities, swapping their workaday selves for warriors, mages, assassins, and healers. They built communities and rose to lead them. WoW was the world’s first mass virtualization: before Facebook or Twitter, millions of people established online identities and had to reckon with the consequences in their real lives.Blood Plagues and Endless Raids explores this wild, incredibly complex culture partly through the author’s engaging personal story, from absolute neophyte to leader of North America’s top Spanish-speaking guild, but also through the stories of other players and the game’s developers. It is the definitive account of one of the world’s biggest pop culture phenomena.World of Warcraft is more than ones and zeroes, more than lines of code, and so its history must be more than pushing buttons or slaying dragons. It’s the tale of a huge and passionate community of people: the connections they made, the experiences they shared, and the love they held for one another.Trade Review"From the Mulgore plain to Draenor, Tony Palumbi and his avatar, a tauren shaman named Ghando, journey for years through the heroscape of World of Warcraft . Into these depths we plunge, too: Horde and Alliance, raiding and grinding, PvP battles and chat channels, guilds and ganking, leveling up, clearing dungeons, and making friends and enemies along the way. Writing a potent blend of cultural criticism and memoir, Palumbiour Virgil-like guide through a Dantesque digital underworlddescribes these travails with verve, wit, and wisdom. WoW the game may not be 'real,' but what happens there is. Blood Plagues and Endless Raids shows us why we should care." -- Ethan Gilsdorf, author of Fantasy Freaks and Gaming Geeks"[a] fascinating peek inside one of the Internet's most popular online communities." -- Booklist

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Book SynopsisThe best-selling author of the Baby Loves Science series levels up with this playful STEM picture book introducing kids?and grown-ups?to the coding world.Grown-ups do NOT have all the answers! In this tongue-in-cheek guide, an in-the-know narrator instructs perceptive kid readers in the fine art of explaining coding to a grown-up. Both children and their adults learn the basics of coding, including hardware, software, algorithms, and debugging. Cleverly disguised ?pro tips? suggest best practices for teaching any topic.Fun and fact-filled, the How to Explain Science series will empower kid experts to explore complex scientific concepts with any grown-up who will listen.

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Book SynopsisMinecraft is one of the most popular video games of all time, with more than 35 million participants having made the game a global craze. In The Ultimate Minecraft Creator, players at all levels can fully explore the most popular aspect of the game: building. Including detailed, colorful guides to builds of various sizes—with tips for aesthetic concerns and giant builds—this book is a must-have guide for even the most advanced of experts. It has more original, expert-created content than any other source available online or in print in North America: more hints, tips, and cheats to get the most out of players’ Minecraft gaming time and dollars.This book is not authorized, sponsored, endorsed or licensed by Mojang AB. The trademark Minecraft is owned by Mojang AB; and other company names and/or trademarks mentioned in this book are the property of their respective companies and are used for identification purposes only.

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Book SynopsisMinecraft®™ is so much more than a video game, taking your own creativity and turning it into impressive art and unbelievable builds- not to mention adding in minigames and powerful Redstone creations! In 101 Awesome Builds you will be introduced to the most incredible structures from the world's greatest creators. There's something for every building style inlcuidng Science Fiction, Fantasy and Ancient, Modern, Pop Culture, Redstone, and more! Prepare to be awed and inspired, whether you're a brand new 'Crafter or a master builder in your own right. Remember- what you can do in Minecraft®™ and other building games is only limited by your imagination. So let these builds kickstart your ideas, or just marvel at the amazing creations that can come out of the human mind, a video game, and a little bit of free time. This book is not authorized, sponsored, endorsed or licensed by Mojang AB. The trademark Minecraft is owned by Mojang AB; and other company names and/or trademarks mentioned in this book are the property of their respective companies and are used for identification purposes only.

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Book SynopsisMinecraft has more than 100 million registered users and this book guides them through the mods You’ve built a great base, a secret hideout, and other awesome builds. You’ve mined diamond, gold, and iron. You may have even played around with Redstone or fought the Ender Dragon. Now, take your Minecraft game to a whole new level by experiencing the coolest mods—short for modifications—available. Mods change the game of Minecraft, both in ways that can be small and simple, such as better lighting or new creatures to fight, or they can literally reshape the game from the ground up, turning it into something entirely different and new. Enter Master the Mods!, the definitive guide for everything you need to know to about mods. This guide gives an overview of what mods are, what types of mods exist, and how to easily install them. Whether you’re trying mods for the first time or are already familiar with the wide world of mods, Master the Mods! presents whole new worlds to explore.This book is not authorized, sponsored, endorsed or licensed by Mojang AB. The trademark Minecraft is owned by Mojang AB; and other company names and/or trademarks mentioned in this book are the property of their respective companies and are used for identification purposes only.

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Book SynopsisThe best builds in Minecraft and the game’s most stunning creations — from minigames to giant cities — are found on Minecraft servers. But where to start in exploring the massive maps and multitude of servers available? The Ultimate Guide to Mastering Minigames and Servers introduces the most popular and unique servers and minigames for ’Crafters to discover. The No. 1 online activity for Minecrafters is minigames. In fact, for some ’Crafters, minigames are the only way they play Minecraft! Whether you’re new to servers and minigames or you’re an experienced adventurer, this book is bound to introduce exciting places to explore and games to play.

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Book SynopsisBrought to you by the writers and editors that created Pojo's Unofficial Ultimate Pokemon, Pojo's Unofficial Big Book of Pokemon features more of everything— more characters, more tv shows, more movie reviews, more video game history, and more tips for building the very best Pokemon team! Up to date for the 2016 holiday season, this collector's edition is packed with collector’s information, toy history, puzzles pages, and more! It is the ultimate guide, touching on everything Pokemon enthusiasts could ever ask for.

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Book SynopsisThe international phenomenon Pokémon GO has already changed the way people interact with their world, and the game is evolving just as fast as the Pokémon themselves! It’s time to level up, load up your Pokédex, and become a gym master with Pojo’s Unofficial Advanced Pokémon Go, the fully up to date game guide featuring tricks, strategies, and dozens of instructive full-color screenshots. Pojo’s Unofficial Advanced Pokémon Go is also your go-to reference on attacks, rankings, nests, tracking, rare Pokémon sightings, and more—even the new Pokémon GO Plus device. It’s the perfect book for any player, whether you’re Level 5 or 25, whether you’re Team Mystic or Team Instinct. Achieve master trainer status, and GO catch ’em all!

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Book SynopsisFrom his very first quest to attain the Triforce, explore Hyrule, and rescue Princess Zelda, Link has been on the ultimate adventure since 1986, and fans around the world have been involved in the journey all along the way. Now celebrating its 30th anniversary, the universe of the beloved Legend of Zelda video games is still ever-evolving, gaining new fans and reminding the world why it continues to captivate. The Legendary World of Zelda is a comprehensive look at everything to know and love about your favorite games with character profiles, gameplay tips, little-known facts, and more! From A Link to the Past, to Ocarina of Time, to Twilight Princess, and gazing ahead to Breath of the Wild, this is the ultimate guide for all fans of The Legend of Zelda.

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Book SynopsisThe Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is one of the highest-rated, fastest-selling video games of all time, a new crown jewel in the beloved Legend of Zelda series. Having just celebrated its 30th anniversary, the universe of the Legend of Zelda is clearly ever-evolving, gaining new fans and reminding the world why it continues to captivate. The Big Book of Zelda is a comprehensive look at everything to know and love about your favorite games with character profiles, gameplay tips, little-known facts, and more. From A Link to the Past, to Ocarina of Time, to Twilight Princess, and featuring extensive coverage of Breath of the Wild, this is the ultimate guide for fans old and new to explore Hyrule and capture the Triforce!

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Book SynopsisFortnite: Battle Royale is taking the world by storm, combining the high-octane action of traditional shooters with the creative construction elements of sandbox games like Minecraft. With 40 million players and counting, competition is fierce, and strategy is essential. Once you jump from the Battle Bus onto the island below, there can be only one goal: survival. This guide has all the tips and tricks you need to master the melee, whether you're playing on a console, PC, or your phone. Illustrated with dozens of full-color screenshots, find essential information on big-picture offensive and defensive tactics, best practices for building, and indispensable combat techniques. Learn all about uncovering loot, optimizing weapons use, exploring map locations, establishing a fortress, completing challenges, and more—in solo, duo, or squad mode.

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Book SynopsisYour island, your games, your rules! With over 125 million users and counting, Fortnite continues to expand and keep players on their toes! Master Builder Fortnite: Creative Mode is your ultimate guide to the game’s newest dimension. Packed with hints and hacks, this guide has all you need to know to build your own playable worlds with Fortnite Creative. Topics covered include new construction materials, building mechanics, game modes like racing and obstacle courses, island codes, and more. Additional chapters showcase the wildest, most astonishing creations we’ve seen so far, with helpful commentary and tips for getting featured on The Block. It’s time to turn imagination into reality and take your creations to new levels!

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Book SynopsisIn Chicks Dig Gaming, editors Jennifer Brozek (Apocalypse Ink Productions), Robert Smith? (Who is the Doctor?) and Lars Pearson (editor-in-chief, the Hugo Award-winning Chicks Dig series) bring together essays by nearly three dozen female writers to celebrate the gaming medium and its creators, and to examine the characters and series that they love. Catherynne M. Valente (The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland, Indistinguishable from Magic) examines Super Mario Bros. through the lens of Samsara, the Wheel of Birth and Rebirth; Seanan McGuire (the October Daye series) details how gaming taught her math; G. Willow Wilson (Alif the Unseen) comes to terms with World of Warcraft; and Rosemary Jones (Forgotten Realms) celebrates world traveler Nellie Bly and the board game she inspired. Other contributors include Emily Care Boss (Gaming as Women), Jen J. Dixon (The Walking Eye), Racheline Maltese (The Book of Harry Potter Triffles), Mary Anne Mohanraj (Bodies in Motion), L.M. Myles (Chicks Unravel Time), Jody Lynn Nye (the MythAdventures series), and E. Lily Yu (The Cartographer Wasps and the Anarchist Bees).

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