Console Wars: Sega, Nintendo, and the Battle That Defined a Generation - Softcover

Harris, Blake J

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0062276700 ISBN 13: 9780062276704

Publisher: Dey Street Books, 2015

Synopsis

A BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR: NPR, Slate, Publishers Weekly, Goodreads

Following the success of The Accidental Billionaires and Moneyball comes Console Wars--a mesmerizing, behind-the-scenes business thriller that chronicles how Sega, a small, scrappy gaming company led by an unlikely visionary and a team of rebels, took on the juggernaut Nintendo and revolutionized the video game industry.

In 1990, Nintendo had a virtual monopoly on the video game industry. Sega, on the other hand, was just a faltering arcade company with big aspirations and even bigger personalities. But that would all change with the arrival of Tom Kalinske, a man who knew nothing about videogames and everything about fighting uphill battles. His unconventional tactics, combined with the blood, sweat and bold ideas of his renegade employees, transformed Sega and eventually led to a ruthless David-and-Goliath showdown with rival Nintendo.

The battle was vicious, relentless, and highly profitable, eventually sparking a global corporate war that would be fought on several fronts: from living rooms and schoolyards to boardrooms and Congress. It was a once-in-a-lifetime, no-holds-barred conflict that pitted brother against brother, kid against adult, Sonic against Mario, and the US against Japan.

Based on over two hundred interviews with former Sega and Nintendo employees, Console Wars is the underdog tale of how Kalinske miraculously turned an industry punchline into a market leader. It's the story of how a humble family man, with an extraordinary imagination and a gift for turning problems into competitive advantages, inspired a team of underdogs to slay a giant and, as a result, birth a $60 billion dollar industry.

About this title

Review:

Like the pixels that together create a larger picture, Harris presents the various elements of the business in vivid color...remarkably detailed and fast paced.--Booklist

Fast, fluid, and startingly accessible.--Entertainment Weekly

A must-read. Period.--IGN

It's far and away one of the best non-fiction books I've ever read.--Forbes

A fast-paced page-turner...it's exciting to finally get a no-holds-barred account of a history that has largely been kept secret from the public eye.--Wired

A riveting story full of colorful characters... a fascinating, illuminating history... an essential read.--Publishers Weekly (starred review)

A highly entertaining behind-the-scenes thriller.--Kirkus Reviews

Book Description:

Sonic versus Super Mario. This gripping behind-the-scenes business thriller describes how small scrappy Sega took on the giant Nintendo and won, in the process revolutionizing the video game industry. It is a must-read for anyone who loved Ben Mezrich's Accidental Millionaires and Michael Lewis's Moneyball.

About this edition

• Publisher: Dey Street Books
• Publication date: 2015
• ISBN 10: 0062276700
• ISBN 13: 9780062276704
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 576