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Summary:

Drawing on extensive research, this book explores the techniques that old computer games used to run on tightly-constrained platforms. Retrogame developers faced incredible challenges of limited space, computing power, rudimentary tools, and the lack of homogeneous environments. Using examples from over 100 retrogames, this book examines the clever implementation tricks that game designers employed to make their creations possible, documenting these techniques that are being lost. However, these retrogame techniques have modern analogues and applications in general computer systems, not just games, and this book makes these contemporary connections. It also uses retrogames' implementation to introduce a wide variety of topics in computer systems including memory management, interpretation, data compression, procedural content generation, and software protection. Retrogame Archeology targets professionals and advanced-level students in computer science, engineering, and mathematics but would also be of interest to retrogame enthusiasts, computer historians, and game studies researchers in the humanities"--Provided by publisher.

Table of Contents:

• Introduction
• Memory Management
• Slow, Wildly Incompatible I/O
• Interpreters
• Data Compression
• Procedural Content Generation
• Protection
• Obfuscation and Optimization
• Endgame.

Author/Creator:

Aycock, John Daniel, 1970- , author

Languages:

English

Language Notes:

Item content: English

Main Work:

Retrogame archeology: exploring old computer games [by Aycock, J.D.]

Other Related Resources:

Print version: Retrogame archeology [by Aycock, J.] (Springer, c2016 — ISBN 3319300024; OCLC Number 935185871)

Subjects:

Video games

Video games — History

Computer games

Genres:

History

General Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.
Description based on: Print version record.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (xix, 222 pages) : illustrations (some color)

Digital Characteristics:

text file

Call Numbers:

GV1469.15 .A936 2016eb

ISBNs:

9783319300047 (electronic book)
3319300040 (electronic book)
9783319300023 (cloth) [Invalid]
3319300024 (cloth) [Invalid]

OCLC Numbers:

949365283