Encyclopedia of Arcade Video Games

[Milky]

Does anyone have a copy of this and would they recommend it as a useful/interesting read? I've seen it referenced repeatedly on the Arcade Museum site when looking for info on specific machines and was curious as to peoples opinions on it? Call me old fashioned, but I still love flicking through a book rather than googling everything

 

[Fuzzy]

I've got it Milky, Father Christmas brought it for me.

TBH I've only had a quick scan through it. The photographs are of varying quality, some are very low resolution and have obviously been ripped straight from low-res images on the web.

There are some interesting snippets of information, but even in the (literally) 5 minutes I spent flicking through the pages at Christmas, I noticed some appalling errors, such as a screenshot of Astro Blaster that was upside down, and a reference to speech in Robotron.

Having said that, there are plenty of machines I'd not heard of or not seen for a while, and so I'm sure I'll enjoy flicking through it now and again.

 

[Milky]

Hmmm, I'd expect the quality to be there for £35. Upside down pics suggests even basic QA was not performed! Thanks for the heads up, maybe I'll get a 2nd hand one to save a few notes

 

[Fuzzy]

I'd read poor reviews and was put off it for a while. I remembered that this sort of stuff goes out of print and then people start asking silly money for them, so rather than shell out for it myself, asked my parents-in-law to get it me for Xmas.

Just had a quick look at it again for you.

Nice heavy hardback book, LOTS of colour images, nice quality paper used for the pages.

On page 121, just to check it wasn't a figment of my imagination:

"Set in the year 2084, Williams' ROBOTRON (1982) was an intense game with color graphics and a robotic voice. Move your robot around the screen while fighting off the attacking robots. $500-$850."

So, not only have they got the bit wrong about the voice, they've said you control a robot, not a human, and I'm sure the price estimate is 'interesting', too.

Like you said, get a second hand one, or if you haven't got one by November, I'll ask my parents-in-law to buy you a copy.

Thunder Child2013-02-03 15:19:16

 

[Milky]

Sounds more like a description of Berzerk maybe? I'm going to have a
poke around on fleabay but if your in-laws don't mind, that would be
very kind of them. Tell them I can pick it up when I come over for
Christmas dinner

 

[Fuzzy]

Hehe, will do! BYOB!

 

[Bensonrad]

I had this book, but sold it around October last year, price seems to have gone up on it! sold mine for £20. Its NOT such a great book I felt, there is not a lot in it, aside smallish photo's of cabs, and some of them are not great, think it only goes up as far as 1985 as well, as it didn't have Outrun in it.

If you really want it, stick it on an amazon wish list, the prices fluctuate everyday, and you'll get it for less that its currently listed up at. Its not worth £35

Bensonrad2013-02-04 10:04:44

 

[Milky]

No Outrun? Well, that tears it! Thanks for the heads up on this one guys. Ebay was the usual ridiculous price, so might have a go if amazon drop it down again but won't lose any sleep.

Out of interest, are there any books that peeps can recommend?

 

[stevebm1]

I paid $5 for mine when i was in calafornia 2 years ago,they had a pile of them,wish i had brought more than 1 home if they sell for £35 a go!