Power Up.Power Up Chris Kohler Brady Games 800 East 96th Street, 3rd floor, Indianapolis, IN 46240 0744004241 $19.99 www.bradygames.com Power Up examines video games See video game console. in general, and Japanese video games in particular, as an interactive storytelling
Interactive storytelling is a developing kind of computer entertainment. The term was coined by Chris Crawford, a main proponent and developer. medium. But video games were not always regarded as art--Japanese influence pioneered cinematic techniques that transformed games from primitive, non-story plaything such as the classic Pong (games) Pong - A computer game invented in 1972 by Atari's Nolan Bushnell. The game is a minimalist rendering of table tennis. Each of the two players are represented as a white slab, controllable by a knob, which deflects a bouncing ball. to sweeping epic sagas such as the hero's complex journey in role-playing games See:
Final Fantasy ( 7. Though non-Japanese games are included in the discussion, Power Up especially examines how storytelling ideas in Japanese videogames have so thoroughly permeated the gaming world, from the first-ever game cutscenes in Donkey Kong onward. Author and dedicated game fan Chris Kohler presents his research of and personal interviews with industry movers and shakers such as Shigeru Miyamoto (creator of Mario), Hideo Kojima (designer of Metal Gear Solid  This article is about the original Metal Gear Solid released for the PlayStation. For the Game Boy Color spin-off of the same name, see . ), and many more. The impact of classic series on game storytelling and narrative include discussions of specific series such as a Mario games, Pokemon, Final Fantasy, and Grand Theft Auto among others. Black-and-white photographs and screenshots illustrate this fascinating exploration of everything from how videogame music evolved from bleeps and boops to full-symphony orchestras to the adventures that might await any truly hardcore gaming fan who dares to shop in Akihabara. Though Power Up concentrates especially on video game history, references to modern developments up through 2004 keep this survey current. A highly recommended treat for gamers in particular, and a valuable resource for students and researchers seeking to better understand the cultural shifts in video games as a communicative, interactive, expressive artistic medium as vibrant (and popular!) in its own right as books and movies. |
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