Bit by Bit: How Video Games Transformed Our World

In a contemplative ode to electronic entertainment, Ervin (Burning Down George Orwell’s House) ventures into the world of video and computer games. Starting with arguably the first video game, 1958’s Tennis for Two, and traveling right up to modern juggernauts such as Minecraft and World of Warcraft, Ervin examines numerous aspects of the industry, including its unlikely origins during the Cold War and the ongoing argument about the artistic value of video games. His affection for the subject is obvious, especially in his detailed descriptions of his research for the book, which involves playing each game in as close to its original state as he can manage: tracking down a vintage Donkey Kong cabinet, borrowing his neighbor’s Xbox to play Halo. Ervin’s philosophical ruminations occasionally verge on the abstract, and the book is by no means an exhaustive history; it’s a personal journey that speaks volumes on how video games have grown, evolved, and multiplied to fill myriad roles over the years. [em]Agent: Markus Hoffmann, Regal Hoffmann & Associates. (May) [/em]