Bit by Bit

Name: Bit by Bit
Brand: Hachette Aotearoa New Zealand
SKU: 9780465039708
Price: 70.0 NZD
Availability: OutOfStock

How Video Games Transformed Our World

By Andrew Ervin

0.0 (0 reviews)

3.29

( 238 ratings, 51 reviews)

Summary

Bit by Bit by Andrew Ervin takes readers on an enlightening journey through the history and cultural impact of video games. It explores how video games have shaped and been shaped by society, delving into their technological evolution and the artistry involved in their creation. The book offers a nuanced perspective on gaming's role in the modern world, combining insight into both the industry's history and its future potential.
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Format: Hardback

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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

If you're fascinated by the intersection of video games and culture, you might enjoy this book. It explores how games have evolved from simple entertainment to rich cultural artefacts, influencing the way we perceive reality. It could appeal to you if you're interested in the storytelling and artistry behind gaming and how it shapes and reflects societal values.

Bit by Bit

An acclaimed novelist and critic argues that video games are the most vital art form of our time

Description

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 instil in gamers. As Ervin argues, games can be art because they are beautiful, moving, and even political.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Bit by Bit has been praised for its engaging and thoughtful exploration of video game history, blending philosophical insights and literary references. The book is celebrated for including women's contributions and Ervin's personal journey through electronic entertainment. Reviewers commend its user-friendly guide to video game evolution, combining cultural musings with first-hand accounts from developers. The narrative is described as literary, with philosophical depth and humour, supporting the view that video games can indeed be considered art.

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780465039708

Publisher: Basic Books

Format: Hardback

Date Published: 25 May 2017

Country: United States

Imprint: Basic Books

Illustration: 5 B/W illustrations

Audience: General / adult, Tertiary education, Professional and scholarly

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 26.0mm

Width: 143.0mm

Height: 221.0mm

Weight: 416g

Pages: 304

Collections

Andrew Ervin Computing & Technology Education & Reference Non-Fiction

About the Author

Andrew Ervin is the author of Extraordinary Renditions and Burning Down George Orwell's House. He has written essays and reviews for the New York Times Book Review, Chicago Tribune, San Francisco Chronicle, and others. He teaches part time at Temple University and lives with his wife in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.