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Dungeons & Desktops on Slashdot!

Wed, 07/02/2008 - 3:01pm — Matt Barton

Thanks to Bill L. for letting me know that my book is now on Slashdot Book Reviews. The reviewer, Mr. Michael Fiegel, does an excellent job covering the book's, well, coverage, and says that he finds it informative and entertaining. While he doesn't give the book a perfect score (again, the subject of the muddy screenshots rears its ugly head), he still recommends the book to anyone who likes fantasy and RPGs. On more personal notes, I recently received my first official fan email from a guy living in Greece, who says he loved the book because it brought back so many memories to him of playing these games as a teenager.


Book Extract Published on Gamasutra!

Mon, 05/26/2008 - 12:08pm — Matt Barton

UltimaUltimaGamasutra has just published an extract from my book, specifically the Silver Age chapter that covers the early home CRPGs (Ultima, Wizardry, etc.) If you don't have the book, by all means head over there, but even if you do, you might like seeing the screenshots in all their full-color glory. I'm very proud of this book and hope you are, too! Without the support of my fellow gaming nerds this project wouldn't be possible.

Link via Gamasutra Industry News.


Updates on Book Projects

Tue, 05/13/2008 - 9:01am — Bill Loguidice

I'd just like to take a moment to provide an official update in response to several questions of late about when the book on the first 15 years of home videogames and computers will be coming out (the one that Gamasutra is running excerpts from). As you know, during the time from when that book was first announced 3+ years ago, Matt Barton was able to get his first mainstream book published. Unfortunately, the major publisher for the 15 years book had to pull out simply because it was taking too long to finish and they had their own internal staff changes to sort through (and other financial considerations). In short though, the book collapsed under its own ambitions. Sadly, by the time all of that was worked out and the formula perfected (again, as evidenced by the Gamasutra excerpts), the market for videogame books through normal publishing means (meaning not vanity press, subsidized or self-published) has collapsed, making publishers hesitant to bite on even a 90% completed book with proven content and testimonials from countless people who actually want to purchase it.


Pre-Order Dungeons & Desktops Today!

Thu, 01/24/2008 - 12:00am — Matt Barton

Dungeons & Desktops: Pre-order your copy today!Dungeons & Desktops: Pre-order your copy today!I have great news for everyone who enjoys CRPGs (computer role-playing games): Dungeons & Desktops is now available for pre-order on Amazon.com, and, as a bonus, if you pre-order now you'll get 5% off the $34.95 price tag. As you all know, I've worked very hard on this project and think the end result is truly worth your attention. I know of no other book (or website, for that matter) that has attempted to cover the subject in this level of detail and accuracy--much less in a form that's fun to read and thought provoking. Although we've talked about the book a lot here at AA, I'll recap some of the main features so you'll know what you're getting:


CRPG Book in the Works

Sun, 04/29/2007 - 11:08am — Matt Barton

UPDATE: Dungeons and Desktops is now available from Amazon and many other booksellers! Buy your copy today!

Good news! The publisher A K Peters has accepted my proposal for my upcoming book about the Computer Role Playing Game. We're still in talks about the title (though leaning towards "Dungeons and Desktops" with Mat's permission), but if anyone has any good ideas, let me know. At any rate, I should be able to expand the coverage considerably and go into much more detail (we're tentatively capping it at 200 pages).


John Leguizamo Reveals Horrors of Playing Luigi in the movie Super Mario Bros

Fri, 03/02/2007 - 1:36pm — Mat Tschirgi

The Super Mario Bros. movie is not one of the better flicks based off a video game. It's certainly not the worst, but is odd in so many ways that it is probably worth watching at least once.

In his recent autobiography Pimps, Hos, Playas, And the Rest of my Hollywood Friends, John Leguizamo (the actor who played Luigi in the movie) devotes an entire chapter to the horrors of making is usually considered to be the first video game movie.

Here are some highlights:


Review: "Robots Unlimited: Life in a Virtual Age" by David Levy

Wed, 01/10/2007 - 9:12pm — Matt Barton

David Levy's book Robots Unlimited: Life in a Virtual Age is a great introduction not only to robots, but also the various technologies that must work together in their creation: logic, artificial intelligence (AI), speech synthesis, natural language processing, sensory recognition, personality training, emotion--does it ever end? Although most people assume that we're centuries away from the invention of an intelligent, human-like android like "Data," Levy shows just how close we've gotten and just how soon we'll be interacting with amazingly smart robots on a daily basis. Robots will enhance our lives in countless ways; they'll not only help us in our daily tasks, but also become our friends and even our soul mates. They'll talk to us and show a sensitivity to our emotional states that not even our mothers could match. Furthermore, they'll be wonderful inventors and artists, breathing new life into every field of creative endeavor. Sound like science fiction? Levy shows that the only "fiction" is that robots won't play a vital role in the (near) future of the human race. David Levy will make you a believer.


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