Welcome to Coffee Talk! Let’s start off the day by discussing whatever is on your (nerd chic) mind. Every morning I’ll kick off a discussion and I’m counting on you to participate in it. If you’re not feelin’ my topic, feel free to start a chat with your fellow readers and see where it takes you. Whether you’re talking about videogames, MacBook Pro refresh rumors, the NY Knicks finally landing Carmelo Anthony, or the myth that the Knicks are now a playoff threat, Coffee Talk is the place to do it.
I need to read more. That is to say, I need to read more books. I devour thousands of Internet words every day, with comic-book sessions thrown in a few times a week. Reading some books would be good for my writing and sanity. I have a bunch of biographies, political books, and sports books on my Kindle, but I feel like reading a videogame book. That’s where you come in! I’d love to hear your videogame book recommendations, as well as any videogame books that you’re interested in.
As a BioWare and R.A. Salvatore nerd, I really enjoyed the Dragon Age books. I’ve heard good things about the Halo books and Mass Effect books too, but I’m not in a sci-fi mood at the moment.
Have you enjoyed any videogame books? Are you even interested in videogame books? Do you find it odd that there are works of linear entertainment based off of interactive entertainment? I’m looking forward to any book recommendations you have!
I believe the only video game books I've ever read had to deal with Star Wars Rogue Squadron, and I did enjoy the couple I read
Wedge is cool.
I'm REALLY trying to hold out for a Sandy Bridge iMac…but it's so difficult. I seriously considered punching my laptop during this morning's video editing session. The sixth reboot made me want to scream.
Anyone want to write me a pitch for Kickstarter for a fundraising campaign? I suck at business writing and I'd be curious to see if I could actually get anything. http://www.kickstarter.com/
Wait for the SB. It's worth it since you do video. However if you do go with the "old" i7 model I can attest to how awesome it is. If I'm not mistaken the video card is 1gig now which would benefit you even more so.
Long and short, I'd stick it out a bit longer to see what goes on. If anything you can get the 15inch MBP and video out when you need bigger real estate. In case the iMacs are further down the road.
Oh yeah, there are <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/redirect.html?ie=UTF8&location=http%3A%2F%2 Fwww.amazon.com%2Fgp%2Fgoldbox%3Fie%3DUTF8%26ref_%3Dcs_top_nav_gb27&tag=rt0b3-20&linkCode=ur2&camp=1789&creative=390957″ target=”_blank”>Amazon Gold Box Deals<img src="https://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=rt0b3-20&l=ur2&o=1" width="1" height="1" border="0" alt="" style="border:none !important; margin:0px !important;" /> all day today.
All-day deal is Michael Jackson for Wii.
6AM deal is Plants vs. Zombies for DS.
Medal of Honor is the 7AM deal for $19.99.
I have read all 5 Halo books and loved them. The 2nd I kinda of skimmed over because it was essentially the game (or so I though, I was told differently by a friend that read it)
Other than those I had no idea any other video game book existed.
I would also recommend "Fall of Reach", "The Flood" and "Ghosts of Onyx" since I have read them all as well. But if you're not in a sci-fi mood, then don't bother because they are really heavy on the sci-fi.
It also helps if you've played Halo(s) 1-3 since the books flesh out a lot of the universe and "behind the scenes" situations that take place in the world of the first three games.
"Fall of Reach" (the book) was way better than the game, in my opinion. Eric Nylund is a good author and did a great job with the novelizations.
-M
I've really enjoyed the Mass Effect books. Also, the Star Wars: Darth Bane books also by Drew Karpayshyn are pretty good as well.
I liked the Halo books, but i don't remember how many of them I read since it has been a while.
What I would really recommend, especially if the goal is to read better things to help your writing, then I suggest the book I am reading right now called "Pikachu's Global Adventure: The Rise and Fall of Pokemon" which is a collection of published work through Duke University by Joseph Tobin. It is all academic research dealing with Pokemon, it probably isn't on Kindle though. Still it is a great read. I also have read some other academic research that has been published on Pokemon that I still have saved. I think you might really find some of the work that is out there interesting, and at the same time written very well.
http://www.amazon.com/Pikachus-Global-Adventure-R…
@ topic shift
There was another 3 hour update for DCU I endured last night. The only thing I noticed was a new PvP event in Gotham that wasn't there before and the type chat took up less of the screen. There might be more though, I really didn't look around a whole lot.
It probably fixed a few bugs too.
Don't you think it would be a bit too embarrassing to lose a PvP match to a guy named "Gene Lotrimin?"
That's just cruel and unusual punishment… you know, like Steelers losing a Super Bowl to some random NFC West team.
-M
Aside from the aforementioned Halo books I can't offer any advice on a book based on the medium.
Here is a list I recommend though:
The Briar King (Kingdom of Thorn and Bone Trilogy Book 1, so there are 2 more if you like it)
iWoz (interesting to say the least)
Shit my Dad Says (good read)
Dark Tower series
Last but not least…I have read all of Anne Rice's stuff with the exception of the porn. She creates a good mythology for her characters. Similar in a way that King did. I'd recommend them if you want about 20 books to read.
the dark tower series is REALLY good, but its an investment
I liked it a lot. Very gratifying series.
actually whats really good is the "night angel trilogy" by brent weeks
very very good, but the books are huge, round 700 pages
So if anyone can answer this that would be great:
I'm streaming Dances With Wolves at least twice per day to boost my data consumption. My goal is for ATT to release me from my contract since I'm a hog. Will they do this?
That's hilarious. I would pick a crappier movie just to make it funnier. Perhaps Good Burger is available?
I've never heard of anyone getting release from an AT&T contract. That would be cool if you could pull it off.
It's a 3 hour movie is why I chose it. If only I could make it autoplay a whole season of something.
There's gotta be some crap movie that over three hours.
I wonder if there's a way to make a playlist of all my video content….
If all of your video content was one continuous podcast, I'd let it play while I slept. No offense.
I found a replacement though. That 4 hour Cleopatra movie that Liz Taylor did.
ishtar
LOL, I read that description. It sounds like crap. Unfortunately Netflix doesn't have the license to stream that Hollywood masterpiece.
Oddly enough someone got it from them and never returned it since it said DVD availability unknown.
It's actually available through iTunes. I wonder what it would count as if you looped it.
I'd prefer to stream it for the price of my Netflix sub or on the house.
ishtar was never actually released on dvd, so nevermind
sad. such is the same with "The Vagrant"
I'm not sure what you mean. My stuff on iTunes doesn't cost anything.
Perhaps we are talking about 2 separate things? I was under t he impression you meant rent.
Nah, it's free, like subscribing to a podcast.
How do I sub on iTunes? The only podcasts I utilize I don't sub, I just click them whenever I miss a segment and that is from the specific website.
Here's the magic link itpc://rpadtv.blip.tv/rss/itunes/
@Smartguy- I actually read 'The Briar King' several years ago…didn't read the rest of the trilogy though. It wasn't my cup of tea for some reason. Have you ever read any Terry Brooks? He's my favorite fantasy author. What about Glen Cook's 'Black Company' books? Read any of those?
@Ray- I own (but haven't read yet) the Resistance novel and the two Dead Space novels. Well, one's a paperback and one's a graphic novel, but you know what I mean.
@Red
No I have not read any Terry Brooks. I wrote his name down though for when I'm looking for something new to read in the fantasy genre. Lately I've been on a big Robert Ludlum kick. Cook sounds familiar. I need to look up his books to see.
Kingdom of Thorn and Bone trilogy was pretty good when viewed from how it all went down. I was pleased to be honest. Skasloi was a big twist. Loved it.
@Ray
Just grab some Forgotten Realms books. Not "video" game related but always good reads.
I recommend the The Scions of Arrabar Trilogy by Thomas M. Reid. Read them years ago, but still remember most of the story, which is good right?
The Sapphire Crescent http://www.amazon.com/Sapphire-Crescent-Arrabar-T…
The Ruby Guardian http://www.amazon.com/Ruby-Guardian-Arrabar-Trilo…
The Emerald Scepter http://www.amazon.com/Emerald-Scepter-Arrabar-Tri…