The Video Game Critic

Posted: **June 3rd, 2007, 12:31 am**

Plug alert!

My new classic video game book from McFarland Publishing is now available for pre-order via amazon.com. I included a link below for ordering convenience.

Here is a description from McFarland's website:

Classic Home Video Games, 1972–1984 A Complete Reference Guide Brett Weiss

ISBN978-0-7864-3226-4photos, glossary, appendix, bibliography, index316pp.hardcover(7 x 10)2007

Description This reference work provides a comprehensive guide to popular and obscure video games of the 1970s and early 1980s, covering virtually every official U.S. release for programmable home game consoles of the pre–Nintendo NES era. Included are such systems as Arcadia 2001, Atari 2600, Atari 5200, ColecoVision, Fairchild Channel F, Intellivision, Odyssey, Odyssey2, and Vectrex, among seven others. Organized alphabetically by console brand, each chapter includes a history and description of the game system, followed by a complete listing of video games released for that console. Each video game entry includes publisher/developer information and the release year, along with a substantive description and, frequently, the author’s critique. A glossary provides a helpful guide to the classic video game genres and terms referenced throughout the work. An appendix lists a number of “homebrew” titles that have been created by fans and amateur programmers and are available for download or purchase.

About the Author Freelance writer and former comic book store owner Brett Weiss lives in the Dallas/Fort Worth area.

Amazon.com

Posted: **June 3rd, 2007, 12:17 pm**

No mention of the Commodore 64? No video game guide from that era can be considered complete without a chapter devoted to the ol' C64.
Sudz

Posted: **June 3rd, 2007, 1:59 pm**

Um, no image, no reviews and it's $55. No, thank you. I'm sure it's an excellent book though I'd like a review with details before forking over the price of a new 360 game.

Posted: **June 3rd, 2007, 2:55 pm**

[QUOTE=Sudz]No mention of the Commodore 64? No video game guide from that era can be considered complete without a chapter devoted to the ol' C64.
Sudz

[/QUOTE]

C64 was a PC.

Posted: **June 3rd, 2007, 9:54 pm**

[QUOTE=Blah]

[QUOTE=Sudz]No mention of the Commodore 64? No video game guide from that era can be considered complete without a chapter devoted to the ol' C64.
Sudz

[/QUOTE]

C64 was a PC.

[/QUOTE]

Technically that is true, but it definitely made it's mark and exploded in popularity based on it's gaming abilities. That is what it will be forever known as; the gaming console that wasn't a console. Considering it's popularity as a gaming device in the era covered, it would be a crime if it weren't given it's due.
Sudz

Posted: **June 5th, 2007, 3:17 pm**

I would love to have included cartridge-based Commodore 64 games, Atari computer games, etc., but there was simply no room. Every game for every console of the era is given 30-100 words or so of coverage, detailing gameplay and (usually) commentary. This is the first and only book to cover EVERY official U.S. console release for EVERY pre-NES console.

I'll post again as soon as a cover image is available and as soon as the book is available for sale (as opposed to simply being available for pre-order).

Brett Weiss

Posted: **June 9th, 2007, 9:31 pm**

A picture of the cover is now online:

http://www.amazon.com/Classic-Home-Video-Games-1972-1984/dp/0786432268/ref=sr_1_1/102-4833994-2708962?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1180844138&sr=8-1

Posted: **July 14th, 2007, 12:49 am**

Classic Home Video Games, 1972-1984 is Now Available.

Click the following link to read excerpts from my new book:

http://brettweisswords.blogspot.com/

Posted: **July 14th, 2007, 3:24 am**

Looks interesting Brett.

Posted: **July 20th, 2007, 4:57 pm**

Thanks! I appreciate the kind words!

http://brettweisswords.blogspot.com/