Book description
Breaking down the 40-year history of the world's most popular art form, one video game at a time Pong. The Legend of Zelda.Final Fantasy VII. Rock Band.Fortnite. Animal Crossing: New Horizons. For each of the 40 years of video game history, there is a defining game, a game that captured the zeitgeist and left a legacy for all games that followed. Through a series of entertaining, informative, and opinionated critical essays, author and tech journalist Jordan Minor investigates, in chronological order, the innovative, genre-bending, and earth-shattering games from 1977 through 2022. Minor explores development stories, critical reception, and legacy, and also looks at how gaming intersects with and eventually influences society at large while reveling in how uniquely and delightfully bizarre even the most famous games tend to be. From portly plumbers to armor-clad space marines and the speedy rodents in between, Video Game of the Year paints individual portraits that, as a whole, give readers a stronger appreciation for the vibrant variety and long-lasting impact of this fresh, exciting, and massively popular art form. Illustrated throughout with retro-inspired imagery and featuring contributions from dozens of leading industry voices, including New York Times bestselling author Jason Schreier (Blood, Sweat, and Pixels; Kotaku), Max Scoville (IGN), Rebekah Valentine (IGN), Blessing Adeoye Jr. (Kinda Funny), and Devindra Hardawar (Engadget), this year-by-year anthology is a loving reflection on the world's most popular art form. Featured Games: 1977 - Pong; 1978 - Space Invaders; 1979 - Speed Freak; 1980 - Pac-Man; 1981 - Donkey Kong; 1982 - Pitfall!; 1983 - Dragon's Lair; 1984 - Tetris; 1985 - Super Mario Bros.; 1986 - Dragon Quest; 1987 - The Legend of Zelda; 1988 - Mega Man 2; 1989 - SimCity; 1990 - The Secret of Monkey Island; 1991 - Sonic the Hedgehog; 1992 - Wolfenstein 3D; 1993 - NBA Jam; 1994 - Super Street Fighter II Turbo; 1995 - Donkey Kong Country 2; 1996 - Super Mario 64; 1997 - Final Fantasy VII; 1998 - Metal Gear Solid; 1999 - System Shock 2; 2000 Counter-Strike; 2001 - Halo: Combat Evolved; 2002 - Grand Theft Auto: Vice City; 2003 - The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker; 2004 - World of Warcraft; 2005 - Resident Evil 4; 2006 - Wii Sports; 2007 - Rock Band; 2008 - Spore; 2009 - Uncharted 2; 2010 - Super Meat Boy; 2011 - Minecraft; 2012 - Telltale's The Walking Dead; 2013 - Depression Quest; 2014 - Destiny; 2015 - The Witcher 3; 2016 - Pokémon Go; 2017 - Fortnite; 2018 - Super Smash Bros. Ultimate; 2019 - Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice; 2020 - Animal Crossing: New Horizons; 2022 - The Stanley Parable: Ultra Deluxe
McDreamy
Downloading books directly in the app is so easy. Highly recommend! Decent narration, predictable story. The voice actor did a good job, but the plot followed a familiar formula. If you’re looking for something new and groundbreaking, this might not be it.
Bad Bunny
📚 Farewell, boredom during ironing sessions – audiobooks make it a breeze! 👗🎧 ⭐️ Turning mundane tasks into exciting adventures – this app makes folding laundry a breeze with audiobooks! 👚🎧 ListenBook is the best audiobook player I’ve ever used. The app is reliable, fast, and packed with features like customizable themes and playback speed. The sleep timer is a lifesaver for bedtime listening. Great job, developers! A functional audiobook. It kept me entertained, but I wasn’t blown away. The narrator’s performance was competent, though some emotional scenes fell a bit flat.
Breadmaker
I've become the go-to storyteller at bedtime with the help of this magical app. ListenBook's library organization and book groups make managing my collection effortless. With this app, my daily commute has transformed into an engaging journey through captivating stories. 🏝️ Basking in the sun while indulging in literary adventures – this app makes outdoor relaxation even better. ☀️📖 Supports all my playlists and bookmarks seamlessly. Very convenient.
Intimidation Station
📱 It's like having a personal audiobook library at my fingertips! This app's functionality is a dream come true for book lovers. 📚🔥 The app's versatility in downloading audio is impressive. It streamlines the process and saves time. This app is a must-have for anyone who loves audiobooks. The interface is intuitive, and the app supports all formats. I love the auto-bookmark feature—it saves my place automatically, so I never lose track. Highly recommend!
Dakota Bliss
The sleep timer is a brilliant addition – I drift off to sleep with amazing stories. ListenBook has made my commutes more enjoyable, transforming them into learning sessions. 🌌 Adding an extra layer of delight to cooking – this app turns meal prep into a culinary adventure with its audiobooks! 🍲📖 Navigating through chapters is effortless with ListenBook. It's a user-friendly and intuitive experience. Smooth playback and great sound quality. ListenBook is my new favorite app!
Crumb Cake
This app has made literature accessible and engaging for all ages. I've rediscovered the joy of reading through the convenience of audiobooks. 🎧 Making housework more enjoyable – audiobooks turn mundane chores into moments of discovery. 🧹📚
Osprey
This audiobook app is a true gem – it brings stories to life with every click. This app has turned my screen time into valuable learning opportunities. Love the silky-smooth playback and easy-to-use interface. ListenBook is the best!
Texas Butterfly
No more straining my eyes – this app lets me 'read' with my ears! Absolutely loved the narration! The voice actor brought the characters to life with distinct tones and emotions. The production quality was top-notch, with no background noise or distractions. A truly immersive experience!
Wildcat Appaloosa
Audiobook immersion without complications – this app's ease of use is commendable. ListenBook is like a personal audiobook curator, allowing me to enjoy my favorite speeches and lectures with unmatched comfort and convenience.
Cross Thread
Streamlined audiobook integration – this app's usability is truly impressive. Solid performance overall though some character voices sounded too similar. I occasionally got confused about who was speaking in dialogue-heavy scenes.
Pixie Taze
The sleek design and easy navigation are visually pleasing and user-friendly. Audiobook enthusiasts, rejoice! This app is your new best friend. Thanks to ListenBook's binaural audio processing, my extended listening sessions are fatigue-free. Adjusting playback speed has revolutionized the way I learn and enjoy audiobooks. I can adapt the pace to my needs, maximizing comprehension and retention. ListenBook’s playback is silky-smooth. The app never glitches.
Hobo Samurai
The layout is not only beautiful but also intuitive. Controls are easy to access. A functional audiobook. It kept me entertained, but I wasn’t blown away. The narrator’s performance was competent, though some emotional scenes fell a bit flat.
Serendipity
This app has made literature accessible and engaging for all ages. Gone are the days of waiting for the right time to read – this app is always ready. Organization made simple – this app's efficient management of my audiobook collection ensures that every story is just a tap away. Convenience at its finest. 📖📱 The ability to adjust the tone of the narrator's voice is a creative touch that adds depth to my listening.
Chameleon
ListenBook's loop and shuffle playback features add versatility to my audiobook listening experience. ListenBook Pro's noise reduction feature is a blessing for clear and distraction-free listening.
Silver Rose
I can't get enough of the binaural audio processing. It's like a breath of fresh air for my ears. Binaural audio processing really helps reduce fatigue. Excellent support for various audio formats. Very satisfied. This app is perfect for anyone who loves audiobooks. The interface is sleek and modern, and the playback controls are super responsive. I also appreciate the cloud integration, which lets me access my books from anywhere. Great work!
General Broomdog
ListenBook Pro's noise reduction feature has made my audio content much more enjoyable in noisy environments. The app's compatibility with CarPlay enhances my driving experience. Audiobooks on the road have never been better. Looping playback has transformed my study sessions. It's an invaluable tool for retaining information. I love how customizable the playback speed is. It makes listening so much more enjoyable.
High Kingdom Warrior
ListenBook's versatile player features are like having a personal audio assistant – it's that good! Sharing audiobooks with friends through AirDrop and Sharing on ListenBook Pro is fantastic. Noise reduction and tone changing are awesome features.
Suicide Jockey
With ListenBook, I can keep track of my audiobook consumption and explore new content with ease. With this app, I've found a way to turn every moment into an opportunity for learning and enrichment. I'm impressed with the wide range of supported formats. Finally, an app that plays all my audiobooks flawlessly. The sound quality is excellent. It feels like I’m in the story.
Necromancer
Effortlessly enjoying audiobook journeys – this app's ease of use is a delight. The app is very easy to use. ListenBook makes managing my audiobook library simple.
SunVolt
The ListenBook app is a fantastic companion for my long walks, helping me learn and explore at the same time. Audiobooks have become my constant companions, and this app's seamless functionality and diverse compatibility ensure that every tale is a captivating journey. 🌌🎧 Tone adjustment is such an innovative feature. It adds a personal touch to narration. 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.
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