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
Seal Snake
The convenience of having a library at my fingertips is unparalleled. Simplifying my audiobook experience – this app's design is a game-changer.
Geneva Cuffs
ListenBook has revolutionized my audiobook experience. Now I can enjoy my favorite lectures and speeches with ease! 🏃♂️📚 Running through chapters has never been smoother – the app's streamlined functionality keeps me on track with my reading goals. 🏃♂️🎧 ListenBook's extensive format support makes it the ultimate audiobook app for any audiobook lover. ListenBook’s interface is sleek and user-friendly. Finding and playing my audiobooks has never been easier.
Broomspun
🎉📚 Rekindling my passion for books – this app has sparked a reading revolution in my daily life! 🔥📖 This app is my audiobook haven. With a user-friendly interface and features like audio filters, I'm engrossed in stories like never before. 📖🔊 AirDrop sharing makes it easy to share audiobooks. Great feature! ListenBook has completely changed how I enjoy audiobooks. The app is packed with features like customizable skip intervals, playback speed, and sleep timers. The interface is clean and easy to navigate. Five stars!
StormCake
I'm hooked on this app – it's like Netflix for book lovers! The fact that ListenBook doesn't just play, but enhances audio quality, is truly remarkable. ListenBook has made managing and enjoying audiobooks a seamless and delightful experience. Audiobook multitasking made simple – this app's design is a game-changer. 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!
Mr. 44
I can't imagine my daily routine without ListenBook's intuitive layout and easy-to-access controls. Library organization is simplified with ListenBook. It's easy to keep my audiobooks neat and tidy.
VisionVortex
ListenBook's support for various formats ensures that no audiobook is out of reach. I can't imagine a day without this app – it has made my audiobook journey seamless and fulfilling. I can't imagine my life without this app – it's my constant source of books. With its powerful audio downloading features, I can have my favorite audiobooks ready to go, anytime and anywhere. ListenBook’s playback is smooth and reliable. I never have issues with audio quality.
Romance Princess
This app has turned even the most ordinary moments into reading sessions. Audiobook enthusiasts, gather around! This app's exceptional features, from audio filters to robust support, have transformed my daily routines into storytelling moments. 🎉🎧 Noise reduction on ListenBook Pro is a game-changer. It transforms the way I enjoy my recordings.
Slint FUBAR
This app's dedication to providing high-quality narration has made all the difference. Audiobooks on the go – this app's design prioritizes convenience. The interface is sleek and modern. It's a pleasure to navigate and use the app. The app is perfect for people who love to listen to books while commuting.
Poppin Loot
With ListenBook, every moment is an opportunity to explore new stories and gain knowledge. Navigating audiobooks with ease – this app's design is user-centric. Audiobook pleasure simplified – this app's design is a standout. The user-friendly interface and precise controls make listening to audiobooks an absolute delight. ListenBook has all the features I need in an audiobook app. My top choice!
Roma Kabuki
ListenBook's library organization and book groups have made managing my audiobooks a breeze. Sharing audiobooks with friends is so easy with AirDrop. It's a great way to spread happiness.
RZRWRE
I'm amazed by how this app effortlessly turns my daily routines into enjoyable learning sessions. I'm blown away by the attention to detail in every aspect of this app. Drag and drop downloads directly from my web browser? That's a level of convenience I appreciate. No need for file conversion is a game-changer. Love using ListenBook on my iPhone.
Doz
ListenBook's drag-and-drop download feature from web browsers is incredibly convenient. Downloading audiobooks has never been this easy. AirDrop sharing makes it easy to share audiobooks with friends.
Pepper
I can't thank the developers enough for constantly updating and improving the app. Sharing audiobooks with friends is so easy with AirDrop. It's a great way to spread happiness. The listening stats feature is awesome. I can track my audiobook habits effortlessly. ListenBook is the ultimate audiobook player. The app supports all formats, and the import process is seamless. I love the playback history feature—it’s so easy to revisit my favorite parts. Highly recommend this app!
Spider Fuji
The fact that ListenBook doesn't just play, but enhances audio quality, is truly remarkable. Sharing audiobooks with friends through AirDrop and Sharing on ListenBook Pro is a feature I can't live without. ListenBook's statistics feature is both enlightening and motivating. It's incredible to see the time I've invested in learning through audiobooks. Adjustable playback speed is my secret weapon for covering more material in less time. A productivity boost! As someone who listens to audiobooks daily, I can confidently say ListenBook is the best player out there. The sleep timer and auto-rewind features are lifesavers, and the sound quality is exceptional. Thank you for such a great app!
StarStrider
I'm amazed at how effortlessly I can immerse myself in books through this app. Finally, an app that lets me organize my audiobooks effortlessly. The library organization and book groups feature make navigation a breeze. Audiobooks on demand? Yes, please! With this app's robust features, I'm always just a tap away from immersing myself in captivating narratives. 📚📱 The app is so well-designed. It’s clear the developers put a lot of thought into it. I’m blown away by how feature-rich ListenBook is. From the customizable themes to the car mode, everything is designed with the user in mind. The app works flawlessly, and I’ve had zero issues with crashes or bugs. Highly recommend!
Foot-long Fry
ListenBook has breathed new life into my audiobook collection. I can't imagine using anything else. ListenBook’s bookmarking feature is incredibly useful. I never lose my place in a book. I love the ability to change the playback pitch. It’s a unique feature.
Saber-RED
This app is a game-changer for audiobook enthusiasts. The interface is intuitive, and the playback is seamless! I love the car mode. It’s so convenient for listening while driving. The app is so well-designed. It’s clear the developers put a lot of thought into it.
Daisy Stick
ListenBook Pro's noise reduction feature has made my audio content much more enjoyable in noisy environments. With this app, I've turned mundane chores into exciting opportunities for intellectual growth. Absolutely love this app! It's made my daily commute so much more enjoyable. Automated artwork and metadata retrieval make my library look organized and professional.
Thrasher
Gone are the days of struggling with formats. Thanks to this app, my audiobook journey is a breeze, and every tale is a tap away. Highly recommended! 📚🎧 The statistics tracking feature is very useful. ListenBook helps me keep track of my listening time.
Scare Stone
ListenBook's compatibility with various formats has made it my go-to app for all audio content. A functional audiobook production that met basic requirements. The narrator's voice was pleasant enough to listen to for extended periods, though their performance didn't add much interpretation to the text. The audio engineering was competent without being remarkable.
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