Console Wars - Blake J. Harris

Console Wars

By Blake J. Harris

  • Release Date: 2014-05-13
  • Genre: Industries & Professions
4.5 Score: 4.5 (From 267 Ratings)

Description

Now a documentary on CBS All Access. 

Following the success of The Accidental Billionaires and Moneyball comes Console Wars—a mesmerizing, behind-the-scenes business thriller that chronicles how Sega, a small, scrappy gaming company led by an unlikely visionary and a team of rebels, took on the juggernaut Nintendo and revolutionized the video game industry. 

In 1990, Nintendo had a virtual monopoly on the video game industry. Sega, on the other hand, was just a faltering arcade company with big aspirations and even bigger personalities. But that would all change with the arrival of Tom Kalinske, a man who knew nothing about videogames and everything about fighting uphill battles. His unconventional tactics, combined with the blood, sweat and bold ideas of his renegade employees, transformed Sega and eventually led to a ruthless David-and-Goliath showdown with rival Nintendo.

The battle was vicious, relentless, and highly profitable, eventually sparking a global corporate war that would be fought on several fronts: from living rooms and schoolyards to boardrooms and Congress. It was a once-in-a-lifetime, no-holds-barred conflict that pitted brother against brother, kid against adult, Sonic against Mario, and the US against Japan.

Based on over two hundred interviews with former Sega and Nintendo employees, Console Wars is the underdog tale of how Kalinske miraculously turned an industry punchline into a market leader. It’s the story of how a humble family man, with an extraordinary imagination and a gift for turning problems into competitive advantages, inspired a team of underdogs to slay a giant and, as a result, birth a $60 billion dollar industry.

A best book of the year: NPR, Slate, Publishers Weekly, Goodreads

Reviews

  • SCORE!

    5
    By Gamez_FTW
    I only bought this book because I love video games. But if you love video games too, you’ve got to hear this story! It’s the only perfect way to teach us the real history of the 16 bit console war
  • Excellent Read

    5
    By JP Worldwide
    I loved every minute of this book.
  • Had potential...but failed to reach

    2
    By Yelps10056
    Love the topic of book because I was a child during the Console War. I had a Nintendo..I had a Sega Genesis, so I can relate. I was expecting to reminisce of those golden days. Unfortunately, the format of this book did not do. This book was a challenge because it strayed from the documentary-style I was expecting and turning it into a story full of made-up conversations. Thus making this book longer and more drawn out than necessary.
  • I️ read this 3x in 2017!

    5
    By Team Gorman
    This book has been an absolute joy to read, so much so l read it 3x in 2017! Not only has it been entertaining, but l have learned so much about competitive behind the scenes business that it has helped shape the 4 businesses l own. Highly recommended!
  • Essential

    5
    By Ezee_peezy
    An excellent and essential read for anyone interested in video games, especially those into gaming history and anyone who grew up enjoying the amazing 16 bit era. Can't recommend this enough!
  • Kind of idiotic

    2
    By Raymond Brigleb
    This is one of those books that's probably 90% fiction. It's just too melodramatic, from the disclaimer in the intro it's kinda clear. It just reads way too pulp and not nearly well-enough researched for my taste. “Slowly but surely,” Kalinske said, almost surprised to realize he was indeed starting to get a handle on things. “Slowly but surely.” Ugh.
  • Phenomenal Read

    5
    By Jrbrier
    All in all a great read, it really helps to capture the mind set of those involved in such an interesting time.
  • Should be called "The Biography of Tom Kalinske"

    3
    By CrazyPackersFan
    I was expecting a back and forth battle between Sega and Nintendo - you know, "Console Wars." Instead, this book is actually simply a biography of Sega of America's Tom Kalinske - there is not enough on the Nintendo side to fill a thimble. It's not even as much about Sega as it is about Kalinske himself. Now the book is entertaining regardless - Kalinske turns out to be quite a colorful character to follow. But the title and cover are misleading, so if you're really looking to read about the "Console Wars," you may be better looking someplace else.
  • Pretty good book, just a bit too long

    3
    By LngTmBIIMFan
    This was really interesting to read as a guy who grew up with Nintendo and Sega friends. It was fun to think back on those days during parts of this book, but towards the end I was just wishing the book was over. Over 700 pages is just too much and it got pretty dry. Otherwise, fun read!
  • Great read for any video game nerd that appreciates the history.

    4
    By deph d
    I thoroughly enjoyed this book and really liked to learn what and who was behind the 16bit console wars. The only reason that I didn't give this book a five star rating was because I ran across a handful of typos while reading. This is a well written book that fetches a pretty good price in the store, so I would expect the read to be flawless. These mistakes should never make it through to the final print. Otherwise, this is a great read for any gamer!

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