Back on November 23, 2009, the Awful Library Books blog featured a book entitled, I CAN BE A COMPUTER OPERATOR (1985, Childrens Press), by Catherine Matthias. After expressing interest in the book in the comments, I was contacted about and subsequently received the book through a generous anonymous donation. What immediately attracted me to the book were the wonderful period photos, particularly of home and education personal computer use. I have now taken photos of the entire book and made them available, here. The book is also available used on Amazon and via other resellers if you're interested. I posted a few of my favorite images of the book below. Can you name the systems (and when possible, the games on the screen) in each of the photos from the small selection of my favorites from the book below? (you may need to click through and select "All Sizes" and see the original resolution to make out the details)

Bill Loguidice shows the Italian translation of Vintage Games, which is available at www.vintagegames.it, and discusses the book in general, as well as the upcoming feature film from Lux Digital Pictures, Gameplay.

Wii Fitness for Dummies (2010), by Christina and Bill Loguidice, through

Wii Fitness for Dummies (2010), by Christina and Bill Loguidice, through Wiley.

We just finished primary author review on the book, so it's now considered at 100%, though there are still a few minor things to do. Since it's at that point, I'm now able to release what should be the final Table of Contents. Check it out here: http://www.armchairarcade.com/neo/node/3046 . As always, any questions, ask away. We're still looking at a February/March 2010 release.

Wii Fitness for Dummies, available from retailers worldwide, is THE book on the Nintendo Wii fitness revolution. Part 1 covers Nintendo's Wii Fit Plus, Part 2 covers EA Sports Active: Personal Trainer from Electronic Arts, and Part 3 covers Majesco's Jillian Michaels Fitness Ultimatum 2010. There are two parts of ten at the back of book, as well, which cover ten Wii fitness accessories, and ten other Wii fitness games, respectively. You'll not only get to know all of the games inside and out, but also learn proper exercise form, theory and methodology to maximize your fitness experience, all in the inimitable friendly and approachable for Dummies style.

Wii Fitness for Dummies (2010), by

The ninth of nine free online bonus chapters that are in addition to the 25 chapters found in our book, Vintage Games: An Insider Look at the History of Grand Theft Auto, Super Mario, and the Most Influential Games of All Time, available at booksellers worldwide, including Amazon.com, is now available. Head on over to Gamasutra to read Star Raiders (1979): The New Hope. This concludes our experiment in providing a true value add for readers of the book, content that could never fit in a reasonably priced mass market publication. Hopefully this convinces the last of the fence sitters to buy the book! Don't forget there are well over 100 bonus images not found in the book or in the online bonus chapters, available here. Want to know what others' think of the book? Check it out here. Between all of the free online content and the content in the book, it should keep you busy for quite some time. It looks like there is also a good possibility for fully translated special editions of Vintage Games for other territories, starting with an Italian Edition. We'll let you know as this news develops.

Our next book out should be Wii Fitness for Dummies, which will be released in early 2010, followed by an amazing feature film documentary on the history of videogames through Lux Digital Pictures. Keep checking back at Armchair Arcade for the latest on these and other exciting projects!

Since I know everyone appreciates updates, I thought I would take some time to let everyone know the latest with the two hottest projects that we're all working on here at Armchair Arcade, as well as an old favorite. First, is the book, Wii Fitness for Dummies, which I'm working on with my wife Christina. Section I of the book covers Wii Fit Plus, Section II of the book covers EA Sports Active: Personal Trainer, and Section III of the book covers Jillian Michaels Fitness Ultimatum 2010. This full color Dummies book will contain a typical "Part of Tens" section (actually two) that will talk about some of the other Wii fitness options as well. The book is shaping up nicely, but we won't have access to the software in Sections I and III until their street release dates, which are in October. The present plan is to finish the book by the end of November for a possible January release. Fingers crossed with that, but at least Section II should be finished in another week!

The feature film documentary on videogames for Lux Digital Pictures also appears on track, as Matt Barton, Mark Vergeer and I are busy capturing and sending footage to the Director/Editor. It's still going to be a long process, as even though we already did a few hundred media files, there will ultimately be thousands in the film, along with the interviews we filmed back in March. Good stuff and we'll try to make a big push on this over the next month.

Finally, there's our book, Vintage Games, which I'm sure you're tired of hearing about by now. Anyway, the ninth and final free online bonus chapter (not found in the book) should hit Gamasutra any day now, and a special Italian edition is presently being shopped around, with more translations possibly to follow. Exciting stuff to be sure as that book continues to surprise us.

Any questions? Sound off!

Marty Goldberg and ClassicGaming.com just put up a great review of our book, Vintage Games: An Insider Look at the History of Grand Theft Auto, Super Mario, and the Most Influential Games of All Time, available at booksellers worldwide, including Amazon.com. While I naturally disagree with the reviewer trying to differentiate what a "videogame" and a "computer game" is based on display - I believe anything that generates its own changeable display of a sufficient resolution qualifies as a videogame (in other words get over the word "video" and treat it as the concept it is, making it both past and future proof (which is one of many reasons why I prefer it as a single word) and not beholden to what amounts to Ralph Baer's convenient legal argument) - overall the review is a positive one. Check it out here.

The eighth of nine free online bonus chapters that are in addition to the 25 chapters found in our book, Vintage Games: An Insider Look at the History of Grand Theft Auto, Super Mario, and the Most Influential Games of All Time, available at booksellers worldwide, including Amazon.com, is now available. Head on over to Gamasutra to read Robotron: 2084 (1982): Running Away While Defending Humanoids. The remaining online bonus chapter, released next month, will be Star Raiders, which will form the complete set of 34 chapters between the book and online. Don't forget there are well over 100 bonus images not found in the book or in the online bonus chapters, available here. Want to know what others' think of the book? Check it out here and don't forget to get yourself a copy!