Rating: 
Summary: A wonderful insight into a brillaint success story
Review: This is a great book that provides a wonderful insight into the crazy, gutsy, and pioneering journey of John Carmack and John Romero. It details their path as restless kids fascinated by arcade games in the late 70, to their interest and involvement in early computer programming (APPLE II) and ultimately, onto their eventual meeting and the self-belief that the revolutionary technological advancements they were making, would lead them to extraordinary riches, joy and self-satisfaction. In all, it was unbelievable reading about the lives and story behind the two guys who actually created DOOM - a game that holds so many fond memories of growing up in the early and mid 90s. The missed university classes, the 16 hours death-match sessions, pizza, coke and watching the world go by without its unnecessary responsibilities. Arrgghh, now it all seems so complicated!
Rating: 
Summary: THE 2 JOHNS
Review: This is an excellent book that tells the tale of the 2 Johns (Carmack and Romero) who brought us all those cool id games. Having only played the console versions of many of the games mentioned, it was great to get the background on where they came from (originally PC games) and how they were created. A piece of gaming history that shouldn't be missed. I only wish that Kushner had included at least a few photos so that I could place a face to a name for these icons (and the people that surrounded them). It was amusing that I read this book while playing Return To Castle Wolfenstein/Operation Resurrection on the PS2. Pass the controller please.
Rating:
Summary: Doom at its best.
Review: this is an excellent book. I read it in a day, I couldn't stop reading it. it tells the life of two revolutionary figures in video game history, it presents it in novel form, and succeeds with flying colors. 5/5 10/10 bling-bling, whatever. its awesome.
Rating:
Summary: Masters of Doom a History of online Gaming
Review: This is an great read. If you are at all interesting in the history of the gaming industry it is a must read. A very easy read, the author keeps the pace moving with the history of who, what, where and when, he gives the reader a real sense of how much has happened in the last 15 years... I really enjoyed this and would love to read a sequel of sorts that follows the characters to their places in the world today.
Rating:
Summary: Masters of Doom a History of online Gaming
Review: This is an great read. If you are at all interesting in the history of the gaming industry it is a must read. A very easy read, the author keeps the pace moving with the history of who, what, where and when, he gives the reader a real sense of how much has happened in the last 15 years... I really enjoyed this and would love to read a sequel of sorts that follows the characters to their places in the world today.
Rating:
Summary: entertaining read
Review: This was a really fun and engaging read. The book follows the story of John Carmack and John Romero from the time they started programming games, through the founding and rise of id Software and the Doom/Quake legacies, though Romero's departure to found Ion Storm, and ending around the time Ion Storm shut down and Romero founded Monkeystone. There has been a lot written about these events (in particular about Romero) so it was great to get an in-depth look at what really happened. There have been some concerns over its accuracy, but given that both Carmack and Romero had to sign off on it before it was published, it can't be too far off.If you're into games at all you'll probably enjoy this book.
Rating:
Summary: Suck it Down! Wonderful book for even non-fans
Review: What a gripping glimpse behind the curtain! Even if you don't like video games, you can't ignore the human drama in this story: two towering personalities who transcend their work; office politics for huge stakes; the birth of a multi-billion dollar industry; a blast of creative spirit so strong it still gets my heart going. The story is perfectly readable for a "non-fan", and I'd bet a game-hating girlfriend or wife would enjoy this book and maybe even feel a connection. The game developers at "id" were like snotty kids who created a huge fad, only to discover they had talent and the fad wasn't going away. John Carmack was the brains and John Romero the heart, an incredible partnership of opposites that created (or at least cemented) an new form of entertainment, only to break up at the height of their success. Like the Beatles, fans have argued who had the greatest impact, but in truth the magic was lost and never really regained. By now their story has been ground into the dirt by the gaming press. At the time, the events seemed very one-dimensional with clear losers (first Carmack, then Romero), but author Kushner points out enough obvious contributions that I was reminded of the greatness of the partnership, not their egos. Hardcore fans will find all kinds of "So THAT's what happened" moments, lots of cameos and observations from famous id employees, and the all important history of the "Two Johns" after their break-up. The story of Ion Storm is included but too brief to feel authentic (ion deserves it's own book) and Kushner follows the conflicts within id after Romero left. I don't have enough good things to say. This book isn't perfect, but the subject is so fascinating I couldn't put it down. Buy it, now.
|
