From Sun Tzu to Xbox
 | |
| Author | Ed Halter |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Publisher | PublicAffairs |
| Publication date | 31 May 2006 |
| ISBN | 978-1560256816 |
| Website | www |
From Sun Tzu to Xbox: War and Video Games is a book of video game history written by the journalist and film critic Ed Halter, published in 2006.
Description
The book describes the evolution of video games from military-related technologies and contemporary video game related projects by the American military such as America's Army and Full Spectrum Warrior. The book also relates pre-video game relationship between war and games, such as the evolution of chess into kriegspiel.
Reviews
David Fear of the magazine Time Out found that Ed Halter provided a thorough analysis of the topic, but also attached some personal point of views to the story, which sometimes makes it off-topic.[1] Avi Klein of Washington Monthly called the book an interesting if unfocused survey and praised its historical discussion. The review by Klein also noted numerous spelling and punctuation errors.[2] Bernard Dy from Historynet found the book’s history of war-gaming and its discussion of the social links between gaming and war compelling.[3]
Quotes
The technologies that shape our culture have always been pushed forward by war.[4]
Video games were not created directly for military purposes, [they] arose out of an intellectual environment whose existence was entirely predicated on defense research.[4]
A more realistic form of America's Army, for example, would be one in which your soldier might lose a limb or get brain-damaged in combat, then come home to a Sims-style scenario in which you have to manage the rest of your life that way. Or maybe a game where you don't get into combat at all–you just camp out in the desert, running exercises.[5]
See also
References
- ↑ David Fear (6 July 2006). "From Sun Tzu to Xbox: War and Video Games". Timeout.com. Archived from the original on 26 August 2019. Retrieved 26 August 2019.
- ↑ Klein, Avi (2006-10-01). "Couch Warriors". Washington Monthly. Retrieved 2026-08-02.
- ↑ Chan, Amy (2020-03-03). "Military History Review: From Sun Tzu to Xbox". HistoryNet. Retrieved 2026-08-02.
- 1 2 Corey Mead (19 September 2013). "Shall we play a game?: The rise of the military-entertainment complex". Salon.com.
- ↑ Christopher Grant (6 June 2006). "From Sun Tzu to Xbox; a new book on war and videogames". Engadget.com.
External links