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| By Ralph H. Baer The Inventor of Home Videogames Published April 2005
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THE REAL STORY BEHIND VIDEOGAMES Long before there was a Sony Playstation 3, Microsoft Xbox 360 or Nintendo Wii, there was the Magnavox Odyssey, the world’s first home videogame console. But the story of videogames predates the Odyssey by six years. It begins in 1966 when a television engineer named Ralph H. Baer sat down at a New York bus station and entered history. Videogames: In The Beginning is Ralph H. Baer’s account of how today’s $11-billion per year videogame industry began. A meticulous note keeper, Baer presents in his own words the real story of what led to the Odyssey… and beyond. But he doesn’t end there. In this book Baer also examines other products that he has worked on such as Simon, the most popular electronic toy ever created. He also discusses his pioneering work into early forms of CD-ROMs and digital imagery. Whether you are a student of videogame design, a game player, or a fan of inventions and history, you are sure to find Baer’s history fascinating and informative. Included in this book are: |
"Ralph Baer’s story — and the ubiquitous
catalogue of games, toys and other projects which he pioneered — are
captured here with youthful enthusiasm and without the personal
agendas all too common in the autobiographies of great men; Ralph’s
phlegmatic tone keeps even the most potentially vitriolic issues in
perspective. Videogames: In the Beginning should be a tentpole in the
library of any student of electronic games." "This work could be the
definitive history of the engineering of the videogame. But more than
that, it offers a glimpse into the challenges faced by the earliest
innovators." "It’s great that there’s
finally a book that reveals why we game developers (from all over the
world) owe our careers to Ralph Baer. I feel very fortunate that our
industry is not too old to give us a chance to learn about his
experiences first hand, and also it gives us a chance to appreciate
his first steps, that have now generated billions of hours of fun
entertainment for people." "Videogame pioneer and
Odyssey inventor Ralph Baer tells all in amazing detail, staking his
claim as the inventor of consumer videogames. A fascinating read for
the extreme videophile." Ralph Baer has done an amazing job of explaining
both the bolts and particularly the nuts of the origins of videogames.
He blows away the popular myths and finally exposes the truth of where
it really came from. No one has cut a wider swath through videogame
history." "I can never thank Ralph enough for what he
gave to me and everyone else." "Videogames: In the Beginning, like
everything else from the engineer/inventor who wrote it, is tight,
intelligent, and meticulously documented. Baer is brilliant,
knowledgeable, and, perhaps, a little angry. Can you blame him?" |
