Pop Culture

If you've ever wondered about the pixelated roots of today's digital entertainment, "Once Upon Atari" is your time machine. Howard Scott Warshaw, a genuine pioneer in the industry, offers more than a mere retelling of events; he brings you along for a ride filled with ambition, turmoil, and humanity. For anyone who values the intersection of personal memoir and tech history, this book is a treasure trove, unveiling the human spirit behind the 8-bit graphics we came to love.

The Musicians Guide to Home Recording is a must-read for any musician looking to record their own music from home. This book offers expert advice on how to create great sounding demos, as well as tips on how to use different types of recording equipment. The book's most unique feature is its comprehensive buyer's guide which helps users navigate the vast selection of recording equipment available. With hints from studio musicians, this book is an excellent resource for anyone looking to improve their home recording skills.

Recommendation: - If you've been longing to preserve your precious collection of vinyl, cassettes, and digital tunes in crystal-clear audio CDs, look no further - "Burn, Baby, Burn!" is the ultimate guide you need. With step-by-step instructions, insightful tips, and a touch of irreverence, authors Josh McDaniel and Bob Starrett empower you to effortlessly convert LPs, cassettes, and MP3s into compilation CDs. Discover the best software, restore worn-out albums, capture audio streams, and create your personalized music collection. Enjoy both the learning process and the exceptional listening experience that awaits you!

"Make Your Own Music Video" provides practical techniques and advice on creating professional-level music videos. With hundreds of color illustrations, this book covers everything from choosing and using equipment to dealing with showbiz egos while rehearsing a band. It is the go-to book for moviemakers, musicians, audio technicians, designers, and media students who want to create cool and entertaining music videos with high-quality image and audio.

This book could be a good read for someone who is interested in the world of digital art and animation. It showcases the work of over forty innovative artists who utilize the software program Flash, ranging from well-known veterans to exciting cult heroes. Get inspired by the creative potential of Flash and explore the diverse styles and techniques that these artists bring to the table. Dive into the vibrant and dynamic world of Flash art through this comprehensive and visually captivating compilation.

Multi-Track Recording is an excellent resource for both beginner and experienced musicians looking to create high-quality music from their home studio. The book covers a range of topics from equipment setup to advanced techniques, providing practical tips and expert advice. Whether you're new to home recording or looking to improve your skills, this book is an invaluable guide to achieving professional results.

If you've ever been intrigued by the gripping tale of how a video game giant climbed to the top, "Game Over" is your must-read. Sheff gives an intense, insider account of how Nintendo not only took over the gaming world but also how this juggernaut's strategies reshaped entertainment. It's a real-life corporate drama, filled with strategic genius and contentious power plays that might just change how you view the playful exterior of video game companies.

This book is a thrilling journey that takes you deep into the dark underbelly of the music industry, where obsession, crime, and innovation collide. Through vivid storytelling and meticulous research, Stephen Witt uncovers the untold story of how digital music piracy changed the course of the internet. It's a must-read for anyone intrigued by the intersection of technology and music, offering a captivating glimpse into a world of greed, cunning, genius, and deceit. Get ready to be immersed in a gripping narrative that reveals the true revolutionaries behind a digital artform.

If you've ever been fascinated or baffled by the audacity of internet scams and the widespread allure they seem to have, "Hype" could be the eye-opener you need. Gabrielle Bluestone combines investigative journalism with a touch of psychology, unraveling the fabric of modern-day cons. She doesn't just recount the scandals; she digs into the 'why' behind our collective gullibility. This insightful read might just change the way you look at the next viral sensation.

Console Wars would be a great read for video game enthusiasts interested in the history and business aspect of the industry. The book provides an in-depth look at how Sega challenged Nintendo's video game monopoly, the unconventional tactics used by Tom Kalinske and his team to transform Sega, and the corporate war that followed. It is unique in its focus on the business side of the video game industry and provides insights into the strategies of market leaders.

From YouTube's Head of Culture and Trends, a rousing and illuminating behind-the-scenes exploration of internet video's massive impact on our world.Whether your favorite YouTube video is a cat on a Roomba, “Gangnam Style,” the “Bed Intruder” song, an ASAPscience explainer, Rebecca Black's “Friday,” or the “Evolution of Dance,” Kevin Allocca's Videocracy reveals how these beloved videos and famous trends--and many more--came to be and why they mean more than you might think.YouTube is the biggest pool of cultural data since the beginning of recorded communication, with four hundred hours of video uploaded every minute. (It would take you more than sixty-five years just to watch to watch the vlogs, music videos, tutorials, and other content posted in a single day!) This activity reflects who we are, in all our glory and ignominy. As Allocca says, if aliens wanted to understand our planet, he'd give them Google. If they wanted to understand us, he'd give them YouTube.In Videocracy, Allocca lays bare what YouTube videos say about our society and how our actions online--watching, sharing, commenting on, and remixing the people and clips that captivate us--are changing the face of entertainment, advertising, politics, and more. Via YouTube, we are fueling social movements, enforcing human rights, and redefining art--a lot more than you'd expect from a bunch of viral clips.

"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 videogame industry--in development as a feature film from Sony PicturesIn 1990, Nintendo had a virtual monopoly on the videogame industry. Sega, on the other hand, was just a faltering arcade company with big aspirations and even bigger personalities. But all that would change with the arrival of Tom Kalinske, a former Mattel executive 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, completely transformed Sega and led to a ruthless, David-and-Goliath showdown with Nintendo. Little did he realize that Sega's success would create many new enemies and, most important, make Nintendo stronger than ever.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 school yards 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 United States against Japan.Based on more than two hundred interviews with former Sega and Nintendo employees, Console Wars is the tale of how Tom Kalinske miraculously turned an industry punch line into a market leader. Blake J. Harris brings into focus the warriors, the strategies, and the battles and explores how they transformed popular culture forever. Ultimately, Console Wars is 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, give birth to a sixty-billion-dollar industry"--

Music Entrepreneurship is an extremely useful book for anyone who's looking to build a successful music business. It covers a wide range of topics and provides valuable insights into various sectors of the music industry, including recorded music, live events, branding, artist management, and digital distribution. The book also features case studies of successful entrepreneurs, which can be inspiring and helpful for those who are just starting out. Overall, if you're looking to start, grow, or sustain your music business, this book is definitely worth checking out.