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Summary
Summary
An acclaimed critic argues that video games are the most vital art form of our time
Video games have seemingly taken over our lives. Whereas gamers once constituted a small and largely male subculture, today 67 percent of American households play video games. The average gamer is now thirty-four years old and spends eight hours each week playing -- and there is a 40 percent chance this person is a woman.
In Bit by Bit , Andrew Ervin sets out to understand the explosive popularity of video games. He travels to government laboratories, junk shops, and arcades. He interviews scientists and game designers, both old and young. In charting the material and technological history of video games, from the 1950s to the present, he suggests that their appeal starts and ends with the sense of creativity they instill in gamers. As Ervin argues, games are art because they are beautiful, moving, and even political -- and because they turn players into artists themselves.
Reviews (4)
Publisher's Weekly Review
In a contemplative ode to electronic entertainment, Ervin (Burning Down George Orwell's House) ventures into the world of video and computer games. Starting with arguably the first video game, 1958's Tennis for Two, and traveling right up to modern juggernauts such as Minecraft and World of Warcraft, Ervin examines numerous aspects of the industry, including its unlikely origins during the Cold War and the ongoing argument about the artistic value of video games. His affection for the subject is obvious, especially in his detailed descriptions of his research for the book, which involves playing each game in as close to its original state as he can manage: tracking down a vintage Donkey Kong cabinet, borrowing his neighbor's Xbox to play Halo. Ervin's philosophical ruminations occasionally verge on the abstract, and the book is by no means an exhaustive history; it's a personal journey that speaks volumes on how video games have grown, evolved, and multiplied to fill myriad roles over the years. Agent: Markus Hoffmann, Regal Hoffmann & Associates. (May) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
Booklist Review
It's unusual for a history of video games to feature multiple quotes from Rilke, references to philosophy and Zen Buddhism, and comparisons to great works of art. But that's exactly what Ervin serves up to support his compelling argument: video games can be art. They can achieve the same heights of storytelling and social commentary, inspire genuine self-reflection, and promote personal and social progress, like any other creative medium. He examines what he considers the most seminal games, designers, and developments in the short history of video games. This isn't a comprehensive history and doesn't pretend to be. It's a personal list Ervin focuses on what he considers most important and his own experiences as a lifelong gamer. He's clear about his personal preferences but does his best to understand the appeal of important games he doesn't like. Ultimately, this is less about how video games have transformed our world and more about how they can. Ervin's hopefulness sometimes feels naive, but that doesn't render his faith in games any less compelling.--Keogh, John Copyright 2017 Booklist
Choice Review
This text examines the history of video games through layered lenses: historical, artistic, social, and personal. Ervin, renowned author of numerous books, essays, and reviews, interweaves personal experiences with video games, in both the past and present, with robust historical and social analysis. Demonstrating a refreshing recognition of gender, race/ethnicity, and other representation and social issues, as connected to gaming cultures and communities, the author effectively situates video games in a larger social context. At the same time, Ervin's inclusion of personal anecdotes and experiences tempers the text to make it approachable to a wide variety of readers while inviting their engagement. Notable about this text is the author's tracing of a game's genealogy through prior works of a creator; following a particular creator's thematic and programming style across several games offers a useful approach to examining games as art. At the same time, Ervin engages in a robust discussion about the conflicts involved in classifying games as art, arguing for them to sometimes not be treated as such. In this, video games are viewed through multiple lenses, making this text valuable across disciplines like art history, media studies, and game studies. Summing Up: Highly recommended. All readers. --Sabrina M. Weiss, Arizona State University
Library Journal Review
Ervin (Burning Down George Orwell's House) traces the lineage of video games with engaging reportage that includes interviews, personal experience, and critical analysis. This work covers similar ground to Simon Parkin's Death by Video Game yet offers a unique range of examples and a fresh voice. From the charming position of a newly minted old fuddy duddy, Ervin describes his encounters with the most significant video game creators and their games, explaining their contribution to the genre. He also tells personal stories with contagious enthusiasm: restoring a Donkey Kong arcade cabinet, getting to play Adventure again on the original Atari 2600, on being slaughtered by Minecraft zombies (hidden from the prying eyes of his nephews) to name just a few. Not every pixelated encounter is sweet, however. His distaste for first-person shooters is strong, which makes sense as his analysis takes shape. He believes artful games aim to build empathy in their players and "offer a new means of thinking about more timeless existential problems." VERDICT A thoughtful, personal, and enlightening look at the past, present, and future of video games.-Paul Stenis, -Pepperdine Univ. Lib., Malibu, CA © Copyright 2017. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Table of Contents
| Introduction: The Purpose of Playing | p. 1 |
| 1 Epic Origins | p. 13 |
| 2 Era of Innovation | p. 27 |
| 3 Atari | p. 39 |
| 4 Call to Adventure | p. 53 |
| 5 Arcade Projects | p. 73 |
| 6 The First Auteur | p. 89 |
| 7 The Renaissance | p. 103 |
| 8 Dialing Up | p. 117 |
| 9 An American Master | p. 129 |
| 10 World of Warcraft | p. 147 |
| 11 Trigger Warnings | p. 165 |
| 12 Exile and the Kingdom | p. 181 |
| 13 New Auteurs | p. 195 |
| 14 The Art Question | p. 211 |
| 15 Restart | p. 221 |
| Appendix My 11 Favorite Games | p. 235 |
| Acknowledgements | p. 235 |
| Notes | p. 237 |
| Index | p. 275 |