Book
Review: Bill Kunkel's Confessions of the Game Doctor
Anyone who grew up during
the golden age of video games back in the 1980's is likely to have fond
memories of "Electronic Games" magazine, the seminal
publications which set the standards for gaming journalism that few have
reached. Now, one of the original troika behind the magazine, Bill Kunkel
has published his long-awaited memoirs with "Confessions of the Game
Doctor", an entertaining look back on his distinguished career
covering the rise of electronic gaming. The book is filled with lively
stories about some of the most influential people and characters, making
this one of the best insider views of the industry to date.
While many books have covered the
history of electronic gaming through the prism of large companies and
publishers, there's been little discussion on the origins of electronic
gaming journalism. The story, as told by legendary journalist Bill Kunkel
is a fascinating one, filled with zigs and zags, ups and downs and
unexpected turns of events. For example, the origin of Electronic Games
shows the humble beginnings that didn't exactly portent great things.
Along with long-time co-editor Arnie Katz, Kunkel became one of the first
journalists to cover the field. Before the age of blogs and websites,
electronic games were considered such a backwater that they could barely
fill a single column in Video magazine in the late 1970's. While Atari's
2600 releases dominated the field, there was little for them to report
back then until a little company known as Activision began releasing
third-party software for the VCS. As the industry began to explode and
grow, Katz and Kunkel began to realize that the industry would become
something much larger, and convinced Video's publisher, Reese
Communications to start what would become the seminal publication known as
Electronic Games.
Now, nearly a quarter-century later,
Kunkel has published his long-awaited memoir, Confessions of the Game
Doctor, which not only explores Electronic Games, the magazine, but the
industry of electronic games as well. Beginning with his early stints at
Harvey and Marvel Comics, the book traces the almost accidental meeting of
fate between just another writer and a burgeoning industry about to
explode. The book itself follows a somewhat linear form as we meet some of
the major players in the industry, including several luminaries like
Activision's Jim Levy to name just one figure. There are many interesting
passages throughout the book that detail the carnal, depraved atmosphere
of the industry at the time, as well as a behind the scenes look at the
functioning of a hot magazine at its peak. The best parts of Confessions
lie in these anecdotes, which bring a human face to what could have been a
dry recitation of numbers and corporate maneuvers. Many of the stories are
funny and entertaining, though there are a few that are somewhat tragic
but the book is more optimistic than pessimistic, overall.
Fans of the classic gaming era can get
an insider's look at EG, which follows the ascent and fall of the video
game industry from its founding in 1981, to the sorry end three years
later. However, the book doesn't dwell on what's known as the "Great
Crash", and the stories about the Nintendo and Genesis era are quite
interesting, including Kunkel's participation in several trials, which can
become a bit tedious, but aren't dull. The trial coverage is probably the
most unexpected aspect of Confessions, but gamers interested in the nuts
and bolts of the industry will probably find it fascinating to see how
these battles over Intellectual Property unfolded. While the famous KC
Munchkin decision may seem to be ancient news, some of the law decided in
these trials is still applied and very much relevant today. This means
that even modern gamers will find something interesting to see how these
verdicts and settlements were ultimately handed down. (We're expressly
leaving out many of the specifics so as not to ruin your enjoyment of the
book.) There are also plenty of other lighter interludes that aren't quite
as intellectually taxing, which gives the book a good balance between
these aspects.
The
writing in Confessions is typically Kunkel with his trademark style very
much in evidence throughout. The copy is consistently interesting,
straightforward and breezy, personable but not self-indulgent. While those
who didn't grow up with the original EG might feel left out of all the
fuss, there was a time when the arrival of a print magazine was still a
big deal. While EG spawned may imitators, the fact remains that few of the
others came close to capturing its majestic art design, intelligent yet
passionate writing style or the genuine excitement and thrill that the
magazine conveyed. Confessions offers an excellent viewpoint into what
things were actually like back then - though those who remember the more
'innocent' covers will probably be quite surprised what went into making
those pages. Without giving too much away, let's just say that there are
more than a few 'surprises' that will probably make your head spin. Of
course, the EG portions take up just a few sections of the book, and there
are interesting anecdotes about Bill's career as a game designer. One
incendiary chapter about the development of a Batman PC game should be
required reading for any fan who's ever wondered how a spectacular comic
or movie gets lost in translation from celluloid to silicon. This also
makes great reading for aspiring game developers looking to discover some
of the many pitfalls that can await them. However, this isn't a cautionary
tale, since the reader never feels like they're listening to a bitter
diatribe. Even in some of Confessions' more unhappy chapters, there always
seems to be some humor, and this levity makes the book even more enjoyable
to read.
To enhance its witty and interesting
text, Confessions of the Game Doctor also includes a number of behind the
scenes photos and documents throughout. Some of these include personal
photos of Kunkel with celebrities and gaming legends, while others are
personal notes, all of which serves to complete a picture of the life of a
high-profile gaming journalist. While the book includes several
significant events in gaming history, it's a personal memoir, not a
scholarly recitation of facts, though it definitely serves an important
purpose, since it gives readers an exciting glimpse into what things were
like at the dawn of electronic gaming journalism. It's definitely one of
the more enjoyable, and personally interesting, books on gaming that's
been released and it's accessible tone allows you to get a sense of the
author and his friends without succumbing to gossip and innuendo for cheap
thrills. Overall, this is a superb book by one of gaming's most
accomplished and entertaining writers and is a must-read for anyone who
loves video games.
Disclosure: The author of this review
spent several happy years in the mid-90's working for the grea KKW
collective, writing reviews for several web-sites including Escapade and
Inside Games. It was quite an honor and I found them to be honest,
straightforward, and generous. They inspired me to write about games in
the first place, and the opportunity to work with them was an experience
never to be forgotten. Their excellence, knowledge and experience remains
unquestioned, and these attributes continue to set the standards that I'm
still trying to live up to.
> For more
information, including ordering instructions, visit www.rolentapress.com
- Michael Palisano
