{"title":"Alex Rubens","description":"\u003cp\u003eDiscover the compelling world of computing history with the works of Alex Rubens, an acclaimed author who expertly delves into the intersections of technology and culture. Rubens specialises in narrating the rich and complex histories surrounding iconic technological milestones and has a knack for making these tales accessible and engaging for all readers.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIn his fascinating books, such as \u003cem\u003e8-Bit Apocalypse\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003e8-Bit Apocalypse: The Untold Story of Atari's Missile Command\u003c\/em\u003e, Rubens explores the golden age of video games through the lens of one of the most influential games of its time. These narratives not only chronicle the innovations and cultural impact of Atari's Missile Command but also offer an in-depth look into the creative minds behind the legacy.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eBelonging to categories such as Science \u0026amp; Nature and Computing \u0026amp; Technology, Rubens' works provide an invaluable look at the digital revolution. His storytelling captures the imagination of both technology enthusiasts and those new to the genre, making complex histories accessible and delightful to explore.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eEmbark on a journey through the tumultuous yet exciting early days of the gaming industry with Alex Rubens' insightful and thoroughly researched books. Whether you're a tech aficionado or simply curious about the vibrant history of video games, his works are sure to delight and inform.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"8-bit-apocalypse-the-untold-story-of-ataris-missile-command-by-alex-rubens-9781419738937","title":"8-Bit Apocalypse: The Untold Story of Atari's Missile Command","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe untold story of Atari's \u003cem\u003eMissile Command\u003c\/em\u003e. With the advent of the arcade, Atari Inc. and its iconic game, \u003cem\u003eMissile Command\u003c\/em\u003e, were at the forefront of the industry's explosion, helping usher in both the age of the video game and the gamer lifestyle.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIn \u003cem\u003e8-Bit Apocalypse\u003c\/em\u003e, tech insider Alex Rubens delves into electronic history to tell of an era when arcade games were designed, written, and coded by individual designers. He interviews major figures, including Atari founder Nolan Bushnell and \u003cem\u003eMissile Command\u003c\/em\u003e creator David Theurer, who suffered from frequent nightmares of nuclear holocaust as he worked on the game.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe first in-depth, personal history of the era, \u003cem\u003e8-Bit Apocalypse\u003c\/em\u003e combines Rubens's tech industry knowledge and experience as a gaming journalist to conjure the wild silicon frontier of the '80s.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Thames and Hudson (Australia) Pty Ltd","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46816651706604,"sku":"9781419738937","price":29.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/13156903482693.jpg?v=1757843340"},{"product_id":"8-bit-apocalypse-by-alex-rubens-9781468316445","title":"8-Bit Apocalypse","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBefore \u003cem\u003eCall of Duty\u003c\/em\u003e, before \u003cem\u003eWorld of Warcraft\u003c\/em\u003e, before even \u003cem\u003eSuper Mario Bros.\u003c\/em\u003e, the video game industry exploded in the late 1970s with the advent of the video arcade. Leading the charge was Atari Inc., the creator of, among others, the iconic game \u003cem\u003eMissile Command\u003c\/em\u003e. The first game to double as a commentary on culture, \u003cem\u003eMissile Command\u003c\/em\u003e put the players' fingers on \"the button,\" making them responsible for the fate of civilisation in a no-win scenario, all for the price of a quarter.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe game was a marvel of modern culture, helping usher in both the age of the video game and the video game lifestyle. Its groundbreaking implications inspired a fanatical culture that persists to this day.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAs fascinating as the cultural reaction to \u003cem\u003eMissile Command\u003c\/em\u003e were the programmers behind it. Before the era of massive development teams and worship of figures like Steve Jobs, Atari was manufacturing arcade machines designed, written, and coded by individual designers. As earnings from their games entered the millions, these creators were celebrated as geniuses in their time; once dismissed as nerds and fanatics, they were now being interviewed for major publications, and partied like Wall Street traders.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eHowever, the toll on these programmers was high: developers worked 120-hour weeks, often opting to stay in the office for days on end while under a deadline. \u003cem\u003eMissile Command\u003c\/em\u003e creator David Theurer threw himself particularly fervently into his work, prompting not only declining health and a suffering relationship with his family, but frequent nightmares about nuclear annihilation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eTo truly tell the story from the inside, tech insider and writer Alex Rubens has interviewed numerous major figures from this time: Nolan Bushnell, founder of Atari; David Theurer, the creator of \u003cem\u003eMissile Command\u003c\/em\u003e; and Phil Klemmer, writer for the NBC series \u003cem\u003eChuck\u003c\/em\u003e, who wrote an entire episode for the show about \u003cem\u003eMissile Command\u003c\/em\u003e and its mythical \"kill screen.\"\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eTaking readers back to the days of TaB cola, dot matrix printers, and digging through the couch for just one more quarter, Alex Rubens combines his knowledge of the tech industry and experience as a gaming journalist to conjure the wild silicon frontier of the 8-bit '80s. \u003cem\u003e8-Bit Apocalypse: The Untold Story of Atari's Missile Command\u003c\/em\u003e offers the first in-depth, personal history of an era for which fans have a lot of nostalgia.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Allen \u0026 Unwin","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46853910626540,"sku":"9781468316445","price":45.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/21473553482710.jpg?v=1759225105"}],"url":"https:\/\/bookhero.pro\/collections\/alex-rubens.oembed","provider":"Book Hero","version":"1.0","type":"link"}