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The first is a 448-page hardback called The Book of Games Volume 1. The pages are glossy and filled with gorgeous pictures and interesting articles and game details. Electric Playground complemented the "surprising amount of data: The world size, the number of hours of gameplay it provides, if it's an online game or not. The information is helpful for painting a broad picture of a game if you don't have one, and it even has stuff that isn't covered by a lot of game review/information sites."
Book two is the 224-page Encyclopedia of Game Machines, which provides an in-depth look at the history of consoles and handhelds from 1972 through 2005. Remember the Magnovox Odyssey? Neither do I, but it's in here along with bits of my own personal gamer history: the Trash-80, the Commodore PET/64, Atari 2600/800, Colecovision, N64 and many, many more. There are 500 machines covered here with 600 pictures plus history and technical data.
Good stuff for someone who just can't unplug that 'Net cable but is forced to anyway. (We feel for you...) Here's how to enter:
Simply post a comment on this page. Say whatever is on your mind as long as it's not an ad or profane. Be sure to read the Sweepstakes Rules to ensure you are eligible to win and don't get disqualified by double-posting or forgetting to provide an e-mail address.
You may also want to white list this domain; we've had several would-be winners lose out because they never responded to their prize notification! If you use TypeKey/TypePad, be sure your e-mail address will be shared. No e-mail address, no prize. (Don't worry, no one else will see it - and we'll only use it to contact you if you win.)
Note that unless you're an authenticated poster who has been active on the site and marked as trusted, your comment will NOT appear immediately. It will go into a queue for me to approve, which I'll do several times a day (except the first weekend, where comments may not be approved until sometime late on Sunday). Do NOT double-post. We'll extend the entry period for this until 5:01 p.m. Pacific Time on Thursday, July 9 to ensure you have plenty of time to enter and verify your entry was posted.
We also sometimes give away unannounced Instant Win prizes. Here are a few tips since this can happen at any time. 1) Follow Gamewatcher on Twitter. Before we post the next Free Stuff Bonus - Instant Win, we'll give you a fair warning tweet. 2) Subscribe to our RSS feed and set it to check for updates frequently.
We continue to stock up on cool goodies for Free Stuff Friday (just picked up some cool games yesterday!) - and will keep doing so as long as there's enough response, even if we continue to lose money on the site. So tell your friends about this! Hey, if we get bigger, so will the prizes that YOU could win!
While you're at it, post comments wherever you see something interesting. Also, if you get a game code you don't need or have some other cool game-related prize you want to donate, we'd be grateful (we pay for most of this stuff ourselves).
Check back each Friday to see what's next.
Comments (40)
Looks like a good read. I've been reading a lot of books lately. These seem interesting.
Posted by Dayna | July 3, 2009 10:04 AM
Posted on July 3, 2009 10:04
Both look like nice referance books.
Posted by Onyxprimal | July 3, 2009 10:05 AM
Posted on July 3, 2009 10:05
never been this early today. books look interesting maybe i can use it to get my nephews to read something.
Posted by Wolfkin | July 3, 2009 10:14 AM
Posted on July 3, 2009 10:14
Awesome site, I've not been here until today - found you through CAG! Thanks for the opportunity and I look forward to reading! =P
Posted by Mark Draper | July 3, 2009 10:20 AM
Posted on July 3, 2009 10:20
I've always liked a good book. So sign me up for a chance to win! But if they're not good so help me God....
Posted by Jared R | July 3, 2009 10:31 AM
Posted on July 3, 2009 10:31
Reading? How 21st century! Just hook it to my veeeiinnss!
Posted by g-man | July 3, 2009 10:40 AM
Posted on July 3, 2009 10:40
Oh I have a couple of gaming books, but not any of these. Great Contest!
Posted by Nick | July 3, 2009 10:43 AM
Posted on July 3, 2009 10:43
sure why not, i'll throw my hat in the ring this time around
Posted by Daniel | July 3, 2009 11:25 AM
Posted on July 3, 2009 11:25
looks like a good read
Posted by Kyle | July 3, 2009 11:56 AM
Posted on July 3, 2009 11:56
definitely a good read
Posted by CrunchbiteNuva | July 3, 2009 2:26 PM
Posted on July 3, 2009 14:26
Oh, I would love to read these.
Posted by Steven S. | July 3, 2009 2:39 PM
Posted on July 3, 2009 14:39
Never heard of these books, might as well as grab a good read in my free time.
Posted by Hien N | July 3, 2009 8:20 PM
Posted on July 3, 2009 20:20
I love reading
Posted by Larry Perlman | July 3, 2009 9:00 PM
Posted on July 3, 2009 21:00
hope i win this since its the only thing i will ever enjoy reading :)
Posted by dwb6
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July 4, 2009 12:05 AM
Posted on July 4, 2009 00:05
I love informational reading, especially if they're about games.
Posted by sixxv0lt
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July 4, 2009 9:39 AM
Posted on July 4, 2009 09:39
I can't remember the last good book I read, so if I won these books at least I'd have an answer everytime someone asked me "read any good books lately?"
Posted by happy1046 | July 4, 2009 3:43 PM
Posted on July 4, 2009 15:43
reading.....its fundamental!
Posted by TheRobReport | July 4, 2009 9:03 PM
Posted on July 4, 2009 21:03
Books? I remember books, and if I recall correctly, I used to like them. Would love these ones!
Posted by Whip-smart Banky | July 4, 2009 9:09 PM
Posted on July 4, 2009 21:09
Cool, I need some books (I'm so poor!)
Posted by Ghostcri | July 4, 2009 10:04 PM
Posted on July 4, 2009 22:04
I will absorb those books via osmosis
Posted by garchiver | July 4, 2009 10:19 PM
Posted on July 4, 2009 22:19
This could be interesting reading for some less video game-inclined friends.
Posted by Bigandtasty | July 5, 2009 12:34 AM
Posted on July 5, 2009 00:34
Those books sound really cool!
Thanks for the opportunity! :)
Posted by Silvercube | July 5, 2009 2:34 AM
Posted on July 5, 2009 02:34
good luck everyone and happy 4th
Posted by koruwa | July 5, 2009 4:15 AM
Posted on July 5, 2009 04:15
Sweet! This looks cool!
Posted by Jrittmayer | July 5, 2009 8:41 AM
Posted on July 5, 2009 08:41
Looks interesting.
Posted by Darklighter | July 5, 2009 1:22 PM
Posted on July 5, 2009 13:22
Both books look pretty interesting.
Posted by sabanoo | July 5, 2009 2:13 PM
Posted on July 5, 2009 14:13
me me pick me snuh
Posted by floormat | July 5, 2009 5:21 PM
Posted on July 5, 2009 17:21
I love the cover on the first book.
Posted by juvo | July 5, 2009 7:27 PM
Posted on July 5, 2009 19:27
I am not sure I know how to read something that is not on the computer.
Posted by Fatmanosu | July 6, 2009 6:54 AM
Posted on July 6, 2009 06:54
I like to read.
Posted by Kyle | July 6, 2009 10:22 AM
Posted on July 6, 2009 10:22
I love reference books and I love gaming; therefore, I'd love to win either of these books.
Posted by NDK | July 6, 2009 12:48 PM
Posted on July 6, 2009 12:48
these books seem like actual good reads
Posted by jason | July 6, 2009 2:27 PM
Posted on July 6, 2009 14:27
I love reading and these books look like good reads!
Posted by mr.me | July 6, 2009 7:59 PM
Posted on July 6, 2009 19:59
These look like a couple of good books.
Posted by TimB | July 7, 2009 2:38 PM
Posted on July 7, 2009 14:38
Cool contest :)
Posted by Marcus G | July 7, 2009 9:50 PM
Posted on July 7, 2009 21:50
If I win, these will be going up on my porcelain mantel.
Posted by tivo | July 8, 2009 8:55 AM
Posted on July 8, 2009 08:55
The Book of Games looks like a great coffee-table book for a gamer
Posted by Danhoo | July 8, 2009 9:46 PM
Posted on July 8, 2009 21:46
Looks like some good books with which to bring back some memories.
Posted by eugaet | July 9, 2009 11:07 AM
Posted on July 9, 2009 11:07
Arcade Mania by Brian Ashcraft is also great video game reading. Lots of great pictures of Japan's arcades.
Posted by chakan | July 9, 2009 2:24 PM
Posted on July 9, 2009 14:24
And the winner is:
37. Danhoo
The next giveaway will be a chance to win a classic game on your choice of either the PC or DS.
Posted by Gamewatcher | July 9, 2009 10:02 PM
Posted on July 9, 2009 22:02