BEAM RACER: MIT PREVIEWS BOGOST/MONTFORT ATARI 2600 BOOK
In other un-related Ian Bogost news, MIT Press has opened a Google Preview of the opening chapters of Bogost and MIT assistant professor Nick Montfort’s forthcoming book Racing the Beam, chronicling the life and times of the Atari 2600, and how the development pioneers at the time created “new techniques, mechanics, and even entire genres.”
Interestingly, the book takes the form of following the console’s lifespan through six key carts: Combat, Adventure, Pac-Man, Yars’ Revenge, Pitfall!, and Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back and what each would mean to games now.
Bogost is a consistently interesting voice — academic but highly approachable — in his columns for Gamasutra: very much looking forward to seeing what the two of them make of this under-explored chunk of the past.
Racing the Beam [MIT Press, Google Preview, via 8bitrocket, via GameSetWatch]
Previously:
Touch me I'm slick: Persuasive Games' experimental Jetset – Offworld
Passage's Jason Rohrer and emotional game experiences – Offworld
BAFTA to honor Pong/Atari head Nolan Bushnell – Offworld
Pixel porn: the brilliantly honest Yar's Revenge, Asteroids, Star …
What Does Your Soul Look Like (Part 2600) – Offworld
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