You by Austin Grossman

O.K… To say that I’m not a big gaming person is an understatement…  In fact I’d say that I the opposite…  In fact I really want to put this in perspective, I’m an ex-Arcade Junkie that, now, really just loathes the way video games and the industry have evolved.  The whole reality vs. fantasy line blurring that goes on…  The consumers demand visual reality.  The producers are producing the products in demand…  They also steer the production which increases the demand.  Unlawful and even worse immoral violence and murder are at the core of several of these games.  One of the hardest things to do is kill another human.  Shoot or don't shoot video “scenarios”, cant call them games, are used to aid military and law enforcement agencies in making the decision to kill.  Most of these personnel are vetted for their mental stability. Therefore the argument still exist about how these games will affect “off centered individuals”. Damned if ya do…  Damned if ya don’t…  Where do you draw the line who can get what?  Can you say Fantasy Games only are O.K….  Alright define Fantasy then…  After that then try to define what’s a stable individual on a scale that includes all people that would purchase a game.  Can't be done... The Cat’s Outta The Bag.  Still doesn’t mean I have to like "Gaming" much less be interested in reading even a fictional about the industry.

Hmm…  this one is looonnnggg and drawn out book.  Austin Grossman is at times effective in getting me into descriptions.  Then at times I begin to tune him out… Sometimes he’s just a bit over the top in describing a setting or feeling.  This is a book where nuance kind of becomes entwined with the nuisance.  Perhaps it’s opinion I have entered the book with but I don't think so.  I will say that the book has had an effect to change some of my personal opinion of high-end graphic video games.  There are tidbits of how the gaming industries problem solving has affected and contributed to the world of computing and information.
Anyways back to the book it’s exploration growing up in a “real world” only to find satisfaction (with some frustration) in a world of what has been an adolescent industry.  Growth of a company along with growth of an individual… Plus there is always the office politics is only made interesting because of their connection as youth.  I could have done without all the story line inside the game.  But it’s not my book and Austin wrote it the way he wanted.  So Grossman only gets a small kudos from me for developing this into the plot.