A hilarious history of the golden period of computer games from the creator of Dara O'Briain's GO 8 BIT. It is fair to say Steve McNeil likes video games. He took a Nintendo Wii with him on his honeymoon (obviously), and spent so much time playing smartphone games in bed in the dark that he got eye strain and had to wear an eye patch. The locals nicknamed him 'the pale pirate'. Steve's obsession with video games can be traced back to the golden period from the early 70s to the late 90s. In this book he will delve into these games - from the appallingly bad to the breathtakingly good. He will also take us through the nerdy geniuses who created them, their fierce rivalries and risks often leading to some of the most farcical moments in the history of entertainment. This is a story of obsession, full of tales of Space Invaders, Donkey Kong, Mario, Sonic, Wolfenstein 3D, Worms and many more. It will also answer important questions about the golden age. Questions like: Why did Namco feel they had to change the name of Puck-Man to Pac-Man because they were worried about graffiti, when Nintendo were more than happy to bring out Duck Hunt? Joysticks at the ready. Let's Play!

Author Biography

Steve McNeil is a stand-up comedian and creator of Dara O'Briain's Go 8 Bit, the most successful videogaming TV show of the last 15 years. He has appeared on more video gaming shows than anyone else in the UK. He has written for Time Out, Shortlist, Den of Geek and more. His live show 'WiFi Wars' has a residency at the Royal Insititution in Mayfair. He is a Twitch streaming partner, and in 2018 was nominated for streamer of the year at the UK ESPORTS awards.