Book description
New York Times bestselling author and the gaming industry's preeminent investigative journalist Jason Schreier examines three decades of ups and downs at Blizzard Entertainment leading up to a hostile corporate takeover and a sexual misconduct scandal that put the legendary developer in a world of (Warcraft) trouble. For video game fans, the name Blizzard Entertainment was once synonymous with perfection. The renowned company behind classics like Diablo and World of Warcraft was known to celebrate the joy of gaming over all else. What was once two UCLA students' simple mission -- to make games they wanted to play -- launched an empire with thousands of employees, millions of fans, and billions of dollars. But when Blizzard cancelled a buzzy project in 2013, it gave Bobby Kotick, the infamous CEO of corporate parent Activision, the excuse he needed to start cracking down on Blizzard's proud autonomy. Led by executives from McKinsey and Procter & Gamble, Activision began invading Blizzard from the inside. Glitchy products, PR disasters, and mass layoffs followed, marring the company's once pristine image. Then, in 2021, a staggering sexual misconduct and discrimination lawsuit against the company triggered a widespread reckoning and a shocking $69 billion acquisition. Based on firsthand interviews with more than 300 current and former employees, PLAY NICE chronicles the creativity, frustration, beauty, and betrayal across the epic 33-year saga of Blizzard Entertainment. From previously unrevealed stories of Blizzard's early culture, including fist fights and a hotel ban, to the full story of Titan, Blizzard's most high-profile canceled project, and the behind-the-scenes saga of how Blizzard executives battled their Activision overlords tooth and nail, this book explores the delight and despair of what it really means to "bleed Blizzard blue." Full of colorful personalities and dramatic twists, PLAY NICE is The Social Network for the video game industry.
About the Author
Jason Schreier is the New York Times bestselling author of Press Reset and Blood, Sweat, and Pixels and a reporter at Bloomberg News, where he covers the video game industry. He lives in Westchester, New York with his wife and two children.
ZenZone
Supports extensive playlists and bookmarks. Very user-friendly. I've listened to hundreds of audiobooks and this narrator is now in my top 5. Their timing and inflection were masterful. Never a dull moment in the entire performance.
Petite Beauty
Automatic artwork and metadata extraction keep my audiobook library organized and visually appealing. Downloading over WiFi saves so much time. Very efficient.
Mercury Reborn
The ability to change playback speed and audio volume on ListenBook gives me full control over my listening experience. Audiobooks have become my constant companions, and this app's seamless functionality and diverse compatibility ensure that every tale is a captivating journey. ππ§
Delirious Supernova
ListenBook's support for a variety of audio formats makes it a versatile and essential app for audiobook enthusiasts. This app is a game-changer for anyone who's always on the go β it's like carrying a library in my pocket. The app's compatibility with CarPlay is a dream for road trips. It keeps me entertained. ListenBook has revolutionized how I consume content. It's like having a personal library in my pocket. This app is a must-have for audiobook enthusiasts. The ability to adjust skip intervals and playback speed is fantastic. I also love the auto-bookmark featureβit saves my place automatically, so I never lose track. Worth every penny!
Dr. Cocktail
ππ Rekindling my passion for books β this app has sparked a reading revolution in my daily life! π₯π Binaural audio processing reduces fatigue during long listening sessions. A fantastic feature!
Swedish Pixie
Audiobook pleasure simplified β this app's design is a true winner. This was a competent audiobook production with no major flaws. The narrator's voice was pleasant enough and the audio quality was acceptable, though not exceptional. While the performance didn't particularly stand out, it served its purpose adequately for my daily commute.
Handsome
ListenBook's commitment to excellence shines through in its user-friendly interface and smooth playback. ListenBook Pro's noise reduction feature enhances my immersion in every audiobook, regardless of surroundings. ListenBookβs support for Apple Watch is a great touch. I can control my audiobooks on the go. Decent audiobook but I think I would have enjoyed reading it more. Some of the more subtle humor didn't quite land in the audio format.
Spunky Sphinx
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Blizzard Vixen
ListenBook Pro's noise reduction feature has made my audio content much more enjoyable in noisy environments. With this app, I've discovered a new way to make my workouts and downtime more engaging and insightful. Finally, an app that lets me organize my audiobooks effortlessly. The library organization and book groups feature make navigation a breeze. Looping playback has revolutionized my language learning journey. I'm making rapid progress.
Light Despair
With this app, I can dive into captivating narratives while cooking, cleaning, or commuting β pure magic! Navigating my audiobook library is a breeze β thank you, app developers! Beautiful design and intuitive interface. Very pleased.
Pepper Legs
Thank you for making my reading goals more achievable and enjoyable. ListenBook's dedication to providing an excellent user experience sets a new standard in audiobook apps. I'm thrilled that ListenBook offers both basic and advanced features to cater to all types of users. ListenBook is my constant companion during workouts. The controls are so easy to use. ListenBook has elevated my learning experience. I'm retaining more information than ever.
Truth
The controls on ListenBook are intuitive and user-friendly, making it a joy to navigate through my audiobooks. No more worries about compatibility β ListenBook handles numerous formats flawlessly. ListenBook's intuitive controls and features have made it my preferred choice for audiobooks. I'm amazed by how this app effortlessly turns my daily routines into enjoyable learning sessions. I've recommended ListenBook to all my fellow bookworms. It's a true companion for audiobook lovers.
Scooby Did
I can finally tackle my reading list while stuck in traffic β what a win! ListenBook's versatility and user-friendly interface make it a must-have for audiobook lovers. Gone are the days of waiting for the right time to read β this app is always ready. I'm hooked on this app's ability to turn any moment into a reading opportunity. Kudos to ListenBook for the intuitive design and easy-to-use controls. It's evident that they've put a lot of thought into user experience.
Mustard Centaur
ListenBook makes my commute enjoyable. The audio filters really enhance the listening experience. The playback history is a great feature. I can easily revisit my favorite parts.
Knuckles
I've become a more attentive listener thanks to the engaging audiobooks. π§ Carrying a world of literature in my headphones β this app's convenience is truly remarkable. ππ« Sharing books with friends via AirDrop is so convenient. Thanks, ListenBook!
Mr. Gadget
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RedFisher
π Rekindling my love for reading β this app has reintroduced me to the joy of books in a whole new way. ππ₯ Automated artwork and metadata extraction keeps my audiobook library visually appealing. Automatic extraction of artwork and metadata adds a professional touch to my library.
Pink Nightmare
Bravo to the creators of this app β they've truly captured the essence of convenient audiobook enjoyment. The smooth playback and thoughtful design are a win. ππ The interface is sleek and modern. Itβs a joy to use. The app is perfect for people who love to multitask. I can listen while cooking.
Tweety Bun Bun
I appreciate how ListenBook offers various methods for downloading audio β it caters to different preferences. Navigating through chapters is a breeze. It's like the app knows what I need. Navigating chapters is a breeze with ListenBook. It's a user-friendly and seamless experience.
Tough Nut
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Playing a wide variety of audio formats
Works on all devices with iOS 13 and newer
Huge amount of features for a small price
Frequent updates to add new features and improve existing ones
Advanced playback controls
Live sound processing
Changing the timbre of the reader's voice and noise reduction
Translated into more than 20 languages
If you love listening to fiction audiobooks, ListenBook has features to make the process easier.
Edit book data: title, author, cover
Use equalizer to make the sound comfortable for you
Adjust the playback speed
Enjoy dark and light app themes
Supported formats: MP3, M4B, AWB, FLAC, OGG audio files and many more (must be DRM free)
Auto-Bookmarks make it easy to find your place
AirPlay support allows redirection of audio output.
VoiceOver support
Dark mode for night owls
Convenient bookmarking system helps you mark the most important places.
Unlimited bookmarks for each audiobook
Put your own cover on the wager
Share your audiobook with friends
Lock-screen control
Customise app with extensive options
Sleep timer with shake to reset, set custom notification sounds, and a few unique options
Auto rewind depending on paused time, customize rewind times to your liking
Removing background noise from recordings made in classrooms and meetings
Changing the timbre of the reader's voice for a better listening experience