The Ultimate History of Video Games, Volume 2

Nintendo, Sony, Microsoft, and the Billion-Dollar Battle to Shape Modern Gaming

By: Steven L. Kent

Narrated by: Dan Woren

The definitive behind-the-scenes history of video games’ explosion into the twenty-first century and the war for industry power

“A zippy read through a truly deep research job. You won’t want to put this one down.”—Eddie Adlum, publisher, RePlay Magazine

As video games evolve, only the fittest companies survive. Making a blockbuster once cost millions of dollars; now it can cost hundreds of millions, but with a $160 billion market worldwide, the biggest players are willing to bet the bank.

Steven L. Kent has been playing video games since Pong and writing about the industry since the Nintendo Entertainment System. In volume 1 of The Ultimate History of Video Games, he chronicled the industry’s first thirty years. In volume 2, he narrates gaming’s entrance into the twenty-first century, as Nintendo, Sega, Sony, and Microsoft battle to capture the global market.

The home console boom of the ’90s turned hobby companies like Nintendo and Sega into Hollywood-studio-sized business titans. But by the end of the decade, they would face new, more powerful competitors. In boardrooms on both sides of the Pacific, engineers and executives began, with enormous budgets and total secrecy, to plan the next evolution of home consoles. The PlayStation 2, Nintendo GameCube, and Sega Dreamcast all made radically different bets on what gamers would want. And then, to the shock of the world, Bill Gates announced the development of the one console to beat them all—even if Microsoft had to burn a few billion dollars to do it. In this book, you will learn about:

• The cutthroat environment at Microsoft as rival teams created console systems
• The day the head of Sega of America told the creator of Sonic the Hedgehog to “f**k off”
• How “lateral thinking with withered technology” put Nintendo back on top
• And much more!

Gripping and comprehensive, The Ultimate History of Video Games: Volume 2 explores the origins of modern consoles and of the franchises—from Grand Theft Auto and Halo to Call of Duty and Guitar Hero—that would define gaming in the new millennium.

©2021 Steven L. Kent (P)2021 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

“Video game geeks, and anyone else who finds the history of electronic games fascinating, will drool over the pages of Steven Kent’s latest history of who did what and why in that magical world. It’s a zippy read through a truly deep research job. You won’t want to put this one down until you reach the back cover.”—Eddie Adlum, publisher, RePlay Magazine

“Steven Kent knows video game history better than anyone, and once again provides a thorough and fascinating look into the stories that shaped a generation.”—Andrew Reiner, editor in chief, Game Informer

“A wonderful chronicle of so many games that have shaped our industry and a must-read for both fans and aspiring developers.”—Ted Price, founder and president, Insomniac Games

Well Done

I really enjoyed this volume of the history of video games. The author did a good job keeping me entertained while sharing information I've never known about companies like Sega, Nintendo and Sony. The narrator also does a great job. Looking forward to the 3rd book.

Very good book

Good coverage of video games, and good narration. Would definitely recommend to video game fans.

A worthy follow up!

It came as a shock when I found this audiobook recommended to me. The first volume had been absolutely stellar, and covered the game industry very well. I can happily state volume 2 its a perfect continuation, and covers even a few of the milestones in gaming that I had forgotten. Movie based video games, the original launch of the xbox, and the official death of the dreamcast. An amazing follow up that makes for an essential listen!

Really good follow-up

I highly suggest listening to part 1 first since it covers a lot more ground and I found the content more interesting - it that doesn’t mean this book isn’t also great, I guess I just already knew a lot of this so it wasn’t quite as compelling to me. However for the overwhelming vast majority of people I think they’ll learn a ton (to clarify, a lot of the book was still new info to me - it’s not all rehashed stuff). The book is really well written and the reader is fantastic.

The only con is that it can get a little to stuck in the weeds on a few issues and occasionally can get gossipy. For example - I don’t care what a wife of some lazy millennial thinks their husbands job is hard. Go tar a roof in Florida during the summer, that’s a hard job. Thankfully even the parts I didn’t care for went pretty quickly and it was only a minor annoyance.

Overall highly recommended.

Fantastic!

mind boggling. Excellent narration. And numerous quotes from the actors in the field. Great work.

I agree

I recommend this book. It is very informative and fun. I do wish they had 8th and 9th gen consoles like Xbox 1 & series X|S, ps4 & ps5, and pc gaming and VR.

Great until the final 2 chapters *spoilers*

Like the first one, Volume 2 is a must-read. My biggest issue, however, is that the final two chapters, talking about how scummy EA is and movie games, are great topics but not worth putting at the end. It should have ended with the Seventh generation. Otherwise, its fantastic.

not as good as part 1 but still very good

Book 1 was incredible, so I had high expectations for part 2, but it's just a very good story and not an exceptional one. If you can only get one of these books get Part 1.

awesome history lesson

wonderful gaming on history of gaming. I highly recommend this collection volume 1 and 2.

Engaging and informative

I thoroughly enjoyed the second volume in this series! As someone a little more invested in the gaming industry from the late ‘90s onward, the subject matter in this volume particularly interested me. I loved the narration and felt there was a great mix of informative data, engaging anecdotes, and reflections on the nature of the gaming industry. I’d recommend this book to anyone who enjoys learning about the industry (and especially anyone who read and enjoyed Volume 1!).