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David L. Craddock
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Break Out: How the Apple II Launched the PC Gaming Revolution Hardcover – 1 October 2017

by DAVID L. CRADDOCK (Author)
4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 16 ratings
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Around the world, millions of people hijack cars in Grand Theft Auto, role play fantastical heroes in World of WarCraft, and crush candy on phones as small as wallets yet nearly as powerful as desktop computers. But long before video games became a multi-billion-dollar industry, two hackers invented the Apple II, a PC that contained less memory than the average Microsoft Word document and bowled over consumers by displaying four colours at once. Some users tapped its resources to design productivity software. Others devised some of the most influential games of all time. From the perils along the Oregon Trail and the exploits of Carmen Sandiego to the shadowy dungeons of Wizardry and Prince of Persia's trap-filled labyrinth, Break Out recounts the making of some of the Apple II's most iconic games, illustrates how they informed the games we play today, and tells the stories of the pioneers who made them. AUTHOR: David L. Craddock lives with his wife in Canton, Ohio. He writes fiction, nonfiction, and the occasional grocery list. He is the author of The Gairden Chronicles fantasy series for young adults, and the bestselling Stay Awhile and Listen nonfiction books that recount the history of Blizzard Entertainment. 327 colour and b/w images
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  1. Print length
    256 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Schiffer Publishing
  4. Publication date
    1 October 2017
  5. Dimensions
    19.05 x 3.18 x 26.67 cm
  6. ISBN-10
    0764353225
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0764353222
  8. See all details
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Product description

Review

Break Out covers a deeply important era in game creation, marketing, and distribution that is often overlooked by even the most avid historians. Everyone who loves video games should devour this one cover-to-cover.--Patrick Scott Patterson, video game advocate

"By going straight to the source, Craddock has shed new light on such iconic titles as Zork, The Oregon Trail, and Wizardry. Break Out is a must-own for anyone interested in the history of computers and computer games."--Brett Weiss, author of The 100 Greatest Console Video Games: 1977-1987

"David Craddock's deep dive into the origins behind some of the most important Apple II games will keep you riveted as you learn the wondrous stories of how these games came to be and how the industry started."--John Romero, co-founder of id Software, co-designer of Wolfenstein 3D, Doom, and Quake

"Thanks to this excellent and thoroughly researched book, we can relive the genesis of several seminal [Apple II] games and fully appreciate the legacy this revolutionary machine had. As aptly said by Craddock in the Introduction, whatever we can think of today, 'The Apple II already did it.'"--Dr. Roberto Dillon, Author of The Golden Age of Video Games

About the Author

David L. Craddock lives with his wife in Canton, Ohio. He is the author of The Gairden Chronicles fantasy series, and the bestselling Stay Awhile and Listen books that recount the history of Blizzard Entertainment. Visit him at davidlcraddock.com and @davidlcraddock

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Schiffer Publishing; 1st edition (1 October 2017)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 256 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0764353225
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0764353222
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 19.05 x 3.18 x 26.67 cm
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 16 ratings

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  1. David L. Craddock

    David L. Craddock

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    Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

    David L. Craddock lives with his wife and business partner in Ohio. He is the author of STAY AWHILE AND LISTEN, a three-part series that chronicles the history of World of WarCraft developer Blizzard Entertainment and Diablo/Diablo II developer Blizzard North; and HERITAGE, a young adult fantasy novel. Follow his writing exploits at davidlcraddock.com, facebook.com/davidlcraddock, and @davidlcraddock on Twitter.

    See more on the author's page
  2. David L. Craddock

    David L. Craddock

    Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
    Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

    David L. Craddock lives with his wife and business partner in Ohio. He is the author of the bestselling Stay Awhile and Listen trilogy detailing the history of Blizzard Entertainment, the Gairden Chronicles epic fantasy series for young adults, and Arcade Perfect: How Pac-Man, Mortal Kombat, and Other Coin-Op Classics Invaded the Living Room. Follow him online at davidlcraddock.com and @davidlcraddock on Twitter.

    See more on the author's page
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Ben E.
5.0 out of 5 stars Entertaining and informative
Reviewed in the United States on 16 January 2019
Verified Purchase
I bought this book on a whim, having spent many hours playing Apple ][ games as a kid. From that perspective, it was entertaining and nostalgic, as well as a well-researched look into some influential Apple ][ games.

Here are the games covered, based on chapters:

Akalabeth
The Bard's Tale
The Bilestoad
Carmen Sandiego
Karateka
The Oregon Trail
Pinball Construction Set
Prince of Persia
Raster Blaster
SunDog: Frozen Legacy
Ultima
Wasteland
Wizardry
Zork

It also mentions quite a few other games, and has some history of some of the game companies and information on some of the people involved, as well as some bonus interviews at the end. If you were curious what went into the making of these games, it's worth reading.
4 people found this helpful
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Scot J
5.0 out of 5 stars New stories!
Reviewed in the United States on 16 September 2017
Verified Purchase
Just started reading the book and I'm really enjoying reading some new stories (for a change) on the background of some early games..

One thing that intrigues me though, Steve Wozniak declined to be interviewed for the book. I wish there was more detail on why he declined - who can't spare an hour to talk about themselves? :) Maybe he has a policy against interviews. I know this isn't a big deal but it just really got me wondering.

Wonderful book so far though!
4 people found this helpful
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