Game culture book "Dungeons and Dreamers"

***fov*** · 09-11-2003, 04:01 AM

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/AS...venturegame-20

i started a new fiction class last night and one of the guys in the class just published this book. sounds interesting, but as it appears not to mention adventures i'll probably pass. maybe next week i'll sit next to the guy and ask him questions...

-emily

mrdunn · 09-11-2003, 06:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fov

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/AS...venturegame-20

i started a new fiction class last night and one of the guys in the class just published this book. sounds interesting, but as it appears not to mention adventures i'll probably pass. maybe next week i'll sit next to the guy and ask him questions...

-emily

One of the authors of that book was on TechTV just the other day. Sounded like an interesting book, although I would never read, as I am more of a fiction person.

***Marek*** · 09-14-2003, 01:29 AM

Hmm, interesting. I hadn't heard of that book yet. I'm kind of collecting books about gaming and I think I might buy this one, even though I'm not into fantasy or RPGs, nor do I really understand what the angle of this book is.

I wonder how much this book is about gaming and how much it is about fantasy and geekdom.

On a semi-related note: Of the seven gaming related books that I have, only [url=http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1559705396//ref=nosim/adventuregame-20 Happy[/url] by Edge columnist Steven Poole really stood out. Recommended reading for all!

James · 09-14-2003, 04:25 AM

I don't like Edge at all, they're far too prententious to recognise fun. Poole is a decent writer though, more grounded.

***Marek*** · 09-14-2003, 05:07 AM

I read Edge at the library, mainly for its feature stories. I don't care much for their reviews. I always just skip them.

James · 09-14-2003, 05:20 AM

yeah they do have some good articles, from time to time, on some specific areas that more mainstream press dont focus on..

irbrian · 09-14-2003, 02:01 PM

Saw the book on Amazon recently, thought it sounded interesting. If anyone does get a chance to pick it up, let me know what you think.

twifkak · 09-14-2003, 05:15 PM

Marek: Joystick101 had a review of [url=http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0773525912//ref=nosim/adventuregame-20 Play[/url] recently. Is that one of the books you have that didn't stand out? I've been thinking of getting it.

edit: Also, do you have Richard Rouse's book? I wanted to get it, if only for the interview with Mechner.

James · 09-15-2003, 03:16 AM

PC Gamer UK also gave away an excellent book "Construction Complete" a few years ago, detailing the history of PC Gaming to date. Obviously eternally outdated, but the earlier stuff was very interesting and helpful.

***fov*** · 09-17-2003, 04:44 PM

my class met again today and during the break i talked to john a little about his book. he said there's very little about the fantasy / D&D culture and most of the book is about the creation / evolution of computer games. he said a lot of it is about the creators of Ultima. I asked if it includes adventure games and when he gave me a blank look i specified "Sierra? LucasArts?" he said "the creators of Sierra make an appearance" -- dunno what that says about the book's weight on the whole. but it does pique my interest.

hmm... i have this amazon gift certificate but i'd been planning to buy Conspiracies with it... what's a girl to do?!

marek, if you do read this i'd love to hear what you think. (if you want to send it to san francisco maybe i could get it signed...

)

oh, and he was the one on TechTV. small world, no?

-emily

ps thanks to whichever mod pepped up my subject line...

twifkak · 09-18-2003, 12:58 AM

I think Marek's avoid this thread, for fear he might have to answer my questions...

09-11-2003, 04:01 AM	#1
*fov* Rattenmonster Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: San Francisco Posts: 10,404	anyone read (or heard of) this book? http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/AS...venturegame-20 i started a new fiction class last night and one of the guys in the class just published this book. sounds interesting, but as it appears not to mention adventures i'll probably pass. maybe next week i'll sit next to the guy and ask him questions... -emily Share Share this post on Twitter

09-14-2003, 01:29 AM	#3
*Marek* Puts the 'e' in Mark Join Date: Sep 2003 Posts: 3,138	Hmm, interesting. I hadn't heard of that book yet. I'm kind of collecting books about gaming and I think I might buy this one, even though I'm not into fantasy or RPGs, nor do I really understand what the angle of this book is. I wonder how much this book is about gaming and how much it is about fantasy and geekdom. On a semi-related note: Of the seven gaming related books that I have, only [url=http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1559705396//ref=nosim/adventuregame-20 Happy[/url] by Edge columnist Steven Poole really stood out. Recommended reading for all! Share Share this post on Twitter

09-14-2003, 04:25 AM	#4
James Prove it all night Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Dublin, Ireland Posts: 730	I don't like Edge at all, they're far too prententious to recognise fun. Poole is a decent writer though, more grounded. Share Share this post on Twitter __________________ "All men dream, but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds, wake in the day to find that it was vanity: but the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act on their dreams with open eyes, to make them possible." - Thomas Edward Lawrence

09-14-2003, 05:07 AM	#5
*Marek* Puts the 'e' in Mark Join Date: Sep 2003 Posts: 3,138	I read Edge at the library, mainly for its feature stories. I don't care much for their reviews. I always just skip them. Share Share this post on Twitter

09-14-2003, 05:20 AM	#6
James Prove it all night Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Dublin, Ireland Posts: 730	yeah they do have some good articles, from time to time, on some specific areas that more mainstream press dont focus on.. Share Share this post on Twitter __________________ "All men dream, but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds, wake in the day to find that it was vanity: but the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act on their dreams with open eyes, to make them possible." - Thomas Edward Lawrence

09-14-2003, 02:01 PM	#7
irbrian Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Utah, USA Posts: 13	Saw the book on Amazon recently, thought it sounded interesting. If anyone does get a chance to pick it up, let me know what you think. Share Share this post on Twitter

09-14-2003, 05:15 PM	#8
twifkak :P ^^^ at tamz Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Football Town, USA Posts: 1,354	Marek: Joystick101 had a review of [url=http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0773525912//ref=nosim/adventuregame-20 Play[/url] recently. Is that one of the books you have that didn't stand out? I've been thinking of getting it. edit: Also, do you have Richard Rouse's book? I wanted to get it, if only for the interview with Mechner. Share Share this post on Twitter __________________ In the next AG crash ___\| A temporary board ____\| I am born to spam In the "Get New" list __\| Scrolling up and down \| I am born to spam through a broadband ISP \| i am back to steal your bandwidth --Spammo-head, "Windbag"

09-15-2003, 03:16 AM	#9
James Prove it all night Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Dublin, Ireland Posts: 730	PC Gamer UK also gave away an excellent book "Construction Complete" a few years ago, detailing the history of PC Gaming to date. Obviously eternally outdated, but the earlier stuff was very interesting and helpful. Share Share this post on Twitter __________________ "All men dream, but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds, wake in the day to find that it was vanity: but the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act on their dreams with open eyes, to make them possible." - Thomas Edward Lawrence

09-17-2003, 04:44 PM	#10
*fov* Rattenmonster Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: San Francisco Posts: 10,404	my class met again today and during the break i talked to john a little about his book. he said there's very little about the fantasy / D&D culture and most of the book is about the creation / evolution of computer games. he said a lot of it is about the creators of Ultima. I asked if it includes adventure games and when he gave me a blank look i specified "Sierra? LucasArts?" he said "the creators of Sierra make an appearance" -- dunno what that says about the book's weight on the whole. but it does pique my interest. hmm... i have this amazon gift certificate but i'd been planning to buy Conspiracies with it... what's a girl to do?! marek, if you do read this i'd love to hear what you think. (if you want to send it to san francisco maybe i could get it signed... ) oh, and he was the one on TechTV. small world, no? -emily ps thanks to whichever mod pepped up my subject line... Share Share this post on Twitter

09-18-2003, 12:58 AM	#11
twifkak :P ^^^ at tamz Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Football Town, USA Posts: 1,354	I think Marek's avoid this thread, for fear he might have to answer my questions... Share Share this post on Twitter __________________ In the next AG crash ___\| A temporary board ____\| I am born to spam In the "Get New" list __\| Scrolling up and down \| I am born to spam through a broadband ISP \| i am back to steal your bandwidth --Spammo-head, "Windbag"

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