Gamers

Mar 22, 2013 Frank Errington rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Review Copy

Some time ago, I was contacted by the author of Gamers, Thomas K. Carpenter, and was asked to read his book and provide a fair and honest review. I tend to worry when that happens. A few times it's lead to bad experiences and I'm not fond of giving any book a poor review. The good news is, I liked the story and will likely, at some point, get around to reading the other books in the trilogy, Frags and Coders.

It did take me a while to find the time to read this, things just kept gettin...more Review Copy

Some time ago, I was contacted by the author of Gamers, Thomas K. Carpenter, and was asked to read his book and provide a fair and honest review. I tend to worry when that happens. A few times it's lead to bad experiences and I'm not fond of giving any book a poor review. The good news is, I liked the story and will likely, at some point, get around to reading the other books in the trilogy, Frags and Coders.

It did take me a while to find the time to read this, things just kept getting in the way, but I'm very happy I finally squeezed it in.

In the not to distant future, LifeGame has become an all inclusive competition where scores separate those who will earn their Life Class and get into University and those who would get lesser, meaningless jobs. Jobs that don't have as much responsibility, a title, or many benefits within LifeGame.

Some explanation about LifeGame from the text of the story...

"Why was LifeGame introduced? Because the Greater States of America was losing it's competitive edge. The first rule is what can be gamed can be improved. The second rule is that everything can be a game and the last rule is to never look backwards because the past is a game that's already been decided."

Gabby and Zaela are best friends and are getting ready for the upcoming Final Raid which will go a long way in determining who gets to go on to University. There are a lot of very imaginative peaks into the future in Gamers. For example, you don't drive, but there are "FunCar lots with hundreds of bubble shaped cars with four puffy tires." The cars would drive themselves while the occupants played games.

Of course we soon learn, from a subversive group called the Frags, that there may be more sinister intentions behind the LifeGame and our heroine Gabby winds up right in the middle of the action.

Gamers is what it is, a YA dystopian thriller that may not be as good as say, the Harry Potter series or The Hunger Games books, but it's certainly a completely entertaining entry into this particlar market and I would highly recommend the book for the younger audience or for any adult who enjoys this type of story.

All three books in the trilogy are currently available in paperback and e-book from a number of online retailers. Gamers is actually available for FREE from Amazon.com, so you can check this one out before deciding to spend money on the other two books.(less)

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Jan 17, 2013 Kacunnin rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: self-published-best-bets

Thomas K. Carpenter’s GAMERS is a YA novel set in a dystopian future where virtual reality and constant game-playing are the norms. High school student Gabby DeCorte is great at playing LifeGame, which is the only reality she has ever known. She has been amassing points for years, and if she can score big at the Final Raid (the most dangerous LifeGame of all), she might make it into University . . . or even to a cushy job at the mysterious LGIE (the organization behind the LifeGames). But when G...more Thomas K. Carpenter’s GAMERS is a YA novel set in a dystopian future where virtual reality and constant game-playing are the norms. High school student Gabby DeCorte is great at playing LifeGame, which is the only reality she has ever known. She has been amassing points for years, and if she can score big at the Final Raid (the most dangerous LifeGame of all), she might make it into University . . . or even to a cushy job at the mysterious LGIE (the organization behind the LifeGames). But when Gabby meets Michael, a Frag (or outcast) living outside society, she discovers that everything she knows has been a lie. Now she has a choice – either cooperate with the LGIE and turn in Michael and his friends, or try to do something on her own to change the world.

GAMERS reminded me a lot of Scott Westerfield’s UGLIES novels – Gabby’s world is a lot like Tally’s, complete with its own lingo (“Holy Mario!”). The novel also reminded me of M. T. Anderson’s FEED – in both novels technology has merged with humanity in a way that is both frightening and believable. Gabby’s world is manipulated by virtual reality programs that create clothing, design buildings, and even define the environment. If all you know is what exists within the Game, how can you ever know what’s real and what isn’t?

I liked the first part of GAMERS very much. I liked Gabby – she’s a recognizable teen, with recognizable friends. The dialogue is clever, and the conflict that develops when Gabby meets Michael and his friends has great potential. There’s a hint of romance between Gabby and Michael, and I understood her confusion over who to trust and what to believe.

Then, at about the half-way point, the novel shifts to an extensive sequence on the so-called Final Raid, which is sort of like a final exam for Gabby and her high school friends. The rest of the novel – the remaining 180 pages – is about the Final Raid, which becomes sort of a video game version of HUNGER GAMES, where teens are forced to unravel puzzles, fight monsters, and kill each other (virtually . . . or not). If Gabby can “win” the Final Raid, she can go to University. If she loses . . . well, I won’t give that part away. I didn’t find this section of the novel anywhere near as interesting or engaging as the first half. Part of the problem may be that I’m not much of a video game fan, so it was hard for me to feel engaged during all the “gaming.” I was very interested in what might happen between Gabby and the Frags, but Carpenter never really gets back to that. I guess he leaves that for the sequel.

Which brings me to my biggest complaint here. GAMERS ends with a cliff-hanger. There is no resolution, not even a temporary one. This is the first of a trilogy, and as such Carpenter is using the book to lure readers in to buying the other two. I get that – it’s a huge trend right now. But it’s also infuriating. Book series need to at least offer enough resolution to make the experience satisfying to readers. There’s nothing more annoying than getting to the end of a novel and finding out you have to buy the next one (or the next two) just to find out what happens in the final chapter.

GAMERS isn’t a bad novel. It’s well-written (although Carpenter would benefit from a careful editor to catch the typos and word use problems scattered through the book). Readers who are heavy into video games will probably like it a lot more than I did. Just know from the beginning that this is the first of a trilogy and you won’t get anything close to a satisfying ending. If you like YA dystopian fiction, and you’re up on your video game lingo, give this one a try.

[Please note: I was provided a copy of this novel for review; the opinions expressed here are my own.]
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Dec 26, 2012 John Nevola rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The Virtual World of the Future

All is not what it appears to be in Gamers. A future world where all the feelings and sensations one experiences is the product of high technology virtual interfaces. Web skin simulates the sensation of feel and touch. Internally generated holograms control what one sees and controls all their experiences. These and other virtual tools are used to equip the youngsters to play LifeGame where every problem to be solved is a game of sorts. Riddles, puzzles, simulation...more The Virtual World of the Future

All is not what it appears to be in Gamers. A future world where all the feelings and sensations one experiences is the product of high technology virtual interfaces. Web skin simulates the sensation of feel and touch. Internally generated holograms control what one sees and controls all their experiences. These and other virtual tools are used to equip the youngsters to play LifeGame where every problem to be solved is a game of sorts. Riddles, puzzles, simulations and game theory are continually thrown at high school students so they can rack up points. They spend all their young lives compiling enough points to get into University. And those that fail, well, that remains somewhat of a mystery.

As the story unfolds, a group of teenagers are thrown together on a team to participate in the Final Raid. It's The Breakfast Club meets Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Each with their own skills, tools and perceived enemies, they fight there way through a complex maze, solving problems and advancing with the hope of beating the other teams and scoring enough points to win LifeGame.

Only one, however, is suspicious that the Coder may have rigged the game and the outcome had already been determined. All the while, a sub-culture of hackers called Frags, who had previously failed at LifeGame, intentionally try to sabotage and expose LifeGame for the fraud they believe it is.

Carpenter moves the narrative along at a decent pace though it slows at times. The characters are mostly uniquely identifiable but only Gabby is reasonably well developed. The futuristic technical terms and adolescent jargon (am I the only one who didn't know what debuffed meant?) sometimes confuse, especially for those with little scientific inclination who may struggle to follow the descriptions and capabilities commonly available in the fictional future.

I'm sure current Gamers would relate better to the jargon and the story than those not into game-playing or game-theory but for everyone else it's simply a decent yarn about a future world that is, at times, difficult to comprehend or imagine. Fairly well written and edited, Gamers had an ending that did not satisfy me and appears to be leaving some unanswered questions to the sequel.

Not a bad read for the price and the right audience.

John E. Nevola - Author of the Last Jump - A Novel of World War II
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Dec 20, 2012 Sabrina Riley rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

First of all, I want to say that I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and will be reading the next in the series in the near future. I'd want to play LifeGame, although maybe not for the stakes.

This story is about a future in which success and one's future is based on scores in a virtual reality game system. Being a long-time gamer myself, I imagined it like the Sims mixed with World of Warcraft, with little elements from a few different classics added in.

The main character, Gabby, is preparing for...more

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Dec 02, 2012 Melissa rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: advanced-readers-copy, dystopian, young-adult

**This book was received as a Free Advanced Reader's Copy**

Gamers is a book about, well, Gamers. Running with the dystopian theme that is so popular right now, Gamers provides a look at a future where people have shifted over to a very technological reality. I actually enjoyed this book quite a bit, and thought that it offered an interesting approach to the genre. I'd probably give it 3.5 stars because of some things I'd like to see improved, but even so, it had a way of drawing you into the sto...more **This book was received as a Free Advanced Reader's Copy**

Gamers is a book about, well, Gamers. Running with the dystopian theme that is so popular right now, Gamers provides a look at a future where people have shifted over to a very technological reality. I actually enjoyed this book quite a bit, and thought that it offered an interesting approach to the genre. I'd probably give it 3.5 stars because of some things I'd like to see improved, but even so, it had a way of drawing you into the story.

Gabby is a somewhat hacker and gifted student that is preparing for her Final Raid. In Gabby's world, people are ranked by points that will tell whether they get into a job by university or be regulated into the lower class jobs offered to those who don't score high enough. These points are built up by performing regular tasks, playing games at school, and in general succeeding at life. When Gabby's reality is disrupted by a group dubbing themselves the Frags, she learns that her world is not quite what it seems. LifeGame is more real than one could imagine, and the consequences for not scoring high are dire. Especially in the Final Raid, which will determine her and her classmates fates.

Gabby is an ok character. She seems to genuinely care for her friend. Her parents are a different story but we don't see much of them so it doesn't seem to matter if Gabby likes them or not. The Frags as a group were interesting, but we only had a limited time with them so I couldn't really feel connected to them or their plight. I would have liked to know more about this and why Gabby trusted them so much, but I suspect that is reserved for the next book in the series. Gabby's friend also had a limited time in the book but Zaela is a character I connected with. She's an artist, and while that's not highly valued in Gabby's worl, I value it. By contrast, Gabby spends more time with her arch-nemesis, the leader of a group called the Evil Dolls during the final raid. Which don't get me wrong, she was a complex character, I just don't think she should have had more time than Zaela since she's so integral to Gabby's life.

The plot was interesting. Being a past gamer myself I was able to appreciate the Dungeons and Dragons type setting of the last raid. In fact, it may have even brought back some memories for me. That being said, people who aren't gamers might not understand some of the lingo that was used, but I don't think it was greatly devastate their enjoyment of the book. I also didn't really understand the role of the government in the book and why precisely they were fighting a war. There were hints at it all over, but nothing was ever really explained about why such an entity came into the power it had. I also realize this could come in the later books, but it would have been nice to have a little more background to understand Gabby's world together. As it is, it's almost alien. The actual running of the games and the points system was well done. I could see the concept being used efficiently to rank people, and while I may not understand why the games are so important compared to reality type life skills, it made the book interesting to read about the different types of games. I also liked the descriptions of how they could change their rooms and appearances. It just added to the total effect of Gabby's world. The book is descriptive which helps because there is a lot of detail in it. It may end somewhat abruptly, but that just gives a good reason to read the next book in the series.

An interesting take on a dystopian book. I can definitely see myself reading the rest of the books in the series at some point.

Gamers
Copyright 2011
313 pages

Review by M. Reynard 2012

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Nov 04, 2012 Lisa rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Disclosure: Tom Carpenter contacted me and offered me a free copy of this book, requesting a review.

Pros: Characters are believable; plot is engaging and well-paced; the female protagonist is strong but flawed. All these are essential for a really great, immersive book. I liked it, but I didn't love it. If I could rate in half-stars, this would be 3.5, but I rounded up because I did enjoy the story and the characters.

Cons: There is a lot of gamer-specific language. I've been a gamer for years, s...more

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Sep 27, 2012 Usman rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Disclosure: I was given a free copy of the book by the author for review also Mild spoilers alert.

I am not rally a fan of Young Adult fiction as I am not really that young anymore and the genre unfortunately lends itself to simplified plot lines, one dimensional characters and pedestrian prose. Gamers is no exception to the rule but it is not as bad as some of the other books in the area which are a lot more prominent. I am looking at you hunger games.

The story follows a high school student na...more Disclosure: I was given a free copy of the book by the author for review also Mild spoilers alert.

I am not rally a fan of Young Adult fiction as I am not really that young anymore and the genre unfortunately lends itself to simplified plot lines, one dimensional characters and pedestrian prose. Gamers is no exception to the rule but it is not as bad as some of the other books in the area which are a lot more prominent. I am looking at you hunger games.

The story follows a high school student named Gabby who lives in a dystopian future where our entire lives are just a game. There are points to be won for showing, skill, intellect or any other characteristic deemed positive by the LGIE (Life Game Integrity Engineers) and points are taken away for going against their wishes. The game has real consequences as those with the highest scores will be accepted in University while the fate of those with lower scores is a little bit murky but they will presumable be relegated to more menial tasks, or worse. The gamers are immersed in the game which are basically augmented reality using ocular implants and connecters which fake input to nerves (called sense webs). However having this level of control over what people perceive is obviously open to abuse and that is where the story gets interesting.

First, the good; I find the premise really interesting, as a Computer Scientist and one working the gaming industry I have often thought that game theory could be applied to real world problems to lead to a better outcome. This books takes that hypothesis to its logical conclusion and explores the dangers inherent in such an approach. The recent announcement of Google's Project Glass adds a whole new level of menace to the story. The story moves at a fair clip and remains interesting, the main characters are well fleshed out by the end of the book and have some depth to them. They are not all clearly good or bad guys as is the case with many books in this genre. There is also a little bit of intrigue where the motives of some of the characters are called into question which keeps the story interesting.

I get the feeling the author is World of WarCarft fan and this comes across in the book, The school has a final "Raid" which you must perform with a guild of fellow class mates and most of the action takes place in what is essentially a dungeon. As a gamer I liked finding little references and nods to the gaming heritage of this book and its author. However, the jargon got a little obscure for me and I had to have the urban dictionary open. The use of gamer jargon was a nice touch but I feel it should be only used inside dialog. Having, the narrator use the same jargon detracts from the readability of the story I feel.

The not so good. I mentioned the book has depth to characters and intrigue but so far that has been fairly blunt and direct. I often make reference to the Game of Throne books as an example of how to do intrigue with the requisite subtlety. I feel this book was a little heavy handed on the intrigue and plot twists and also some felt a little contrived at times. *SPOILER* When Gabby is partnered with her arch enemies it would have been more believable if those arch enemies had been introduced prior to that point. Perhaps an anecdote earlier in the book or an antagonistic run in. There were some problems in the descriptions especially with regards to scale, at one point Unthar blocks a sword attach from a Sand Giant and a later stage that sand giant is described to be a 100ft tall. There is a similar problem with distances, the raid are supposed to happen inside school grounds but the students are shown wondering in the simulated world for days. Further there are some weird descriptions; "Baleful eyes like a million rotten galaxies", I am really not sure what rotten galaxies look like and why they are baleful.

I am giving a rating of 3 in relation to other works in this genre as the story was interesting and I will certainly read the next installment. However, against all the books I read it probably deserves a lower rating. If you are a more serious reader this is probably not the book for you. I wanted to like this book because I find the subject matter interesting and it has enough substance that I was able to overlook its short comings. However, I could have just as easily hated it if I was not making an effort to like it.

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Apr 01, 2012 Laura rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: books-reviewed-for-readers-favourit, recieved-to-review

When life is a game high school takes on a whole new purpose. Learning the skills needed to play LifeGame and earning points are the main aims. After all, only the top scoring 15 girls and boys from each high school will get to go to university, all the others will be placed in the jobs that nobody wants. Or will they? When top student Gabby DeCorte meets a group of people who call themselves Frags, she discovers what really happens to those who lose the game. Now the stakes have been raised, an...more

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Jan 29, 2012 Rachel rated it 1 of 5 stars

There are three rules to the LifeGame:
1) what can be gamed can be improved
2) everything can be a game
3) Never look backwards, because the past is a game that has already been decided

Gabby and her friend, Zaela, have lived their whole lives by these rules, in a virtual reality. Their lives are games. It's their whole purpose for being. Gabby, however is unique. She's one of the best-reality hackers alive. So when, she hacks the system to help Zaela, the Engineers want access to her personal fi...more

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Jan 25, 2012 J.C. Andrijeski rated it 5 of 5 stars

I loved this book...to me it was one of those books where you think it's going to be about the premise (which was cool in and of itself), but it really ends up being so much more than that, not only in terms of plot but in the people. The characters really got under my skin and felt very realistic to me, which isn't always the case in books of this kind. In terms of the premise, Gabby's world is pretty much of the logical extension of where we are heading now. It's a virtual reality type landsca...more I loved this book...to me it was one of those books where you think it's going to be about the premise (which was cool in and of itself), but it really ends up being so much more than that, not only in terms of plot but in the people. The characters really got under my skin and felt very realistic to me, which isn't always the case in books of this kind. In terms of the premise, Gabby's world is pretty much of the logical extension of where we are heading now. It's a virtual reality type landscape, where instead of attending school the way children do now, they essentially are playing one giant video game in order to earn point thresholds that might allow them to make it into university. Carpenter does a great job setting up the world in the first part of the book, and establishing the main character, Gabby, as one of the ambitious overachievers in her class...yet also hinting she's not above a little hacking and game manipulation to help out her friends...especially those who struggle to maintain the high scores that come so easily to her, due to her high thoughts per second (TPS) scores. But then the story goes into a totally different direction, with a mystery thrown Gabby's way about the true purpose of the game, and what's really at stake for those who don't make it to "university." Wrapped into all of this is a lot of action and quirky characters, especially the frags who live outside the society, and the surprising depth behind one of the "mean girl" characters who seems totally different when you first meet her in the book.

A really great read, and I'll definitely be looking for the sequel. There is still so much I want to know about the world. While it resolved well for a book one, a ton of mysteries remain as to who really runs the world and what will happen with the frags and the other kids who don't make it into university (and those who do). There are also a lot of great villains and potential villains...one character in particular who could go either way...so really left on a highly suspenseful note. (less)

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Jul 22, 2011 Alanna (The Flashlight Reader) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: arcs, review-requests

This synopsis from Amazon does NOTHING for the book. Nothing. About 30 pages in to the book I realized I was reading something that reminded me of Scott Westerfield's Pretties series. I don't mean the story sounded familiar (because it didn't), but the creepy "Big-Brother-is-out-to-get-you" aspect felt similar-- which is a good thing.

The idea of LifeGame is like a job placement test for aspiring University students. The highest scorers get the best jobs, while the others get lesser jobs. Except...more This synopsis from Amazon does NOTHING for the book. Nothing. About 30 pages in to the book I realized I was reading something that reminded me of Scott Westerfield's Pretties series. I don't mean the story sounded familiar (because it didn't), but the creepy "Big-Brother-is-out-to-get-you" aspect felt similar-- which is a good thing.

The idea of LifeGame is like a job placement test for aspiring University students. The highest scorers get the best jobs, while the others get lesser jobs. Except that's a complete lie. The winners do get top jobs, but the losers disappear forever. It's not certain whether or not they get killed or moved to some top secret facility, but they definitely disappear for good. Gabby didn't realize any of this was occurring until she meets a group of refugees/outcasts called Frags. This odd group of misfits teach her the truth about her altered reality, and the truth is haunting.

The majority of this book is fast paced action. It starts off with a nice world building aspect so you can understand LifeGame and Gabby, but then it quickly gets to the heart of the plot. I was engrossed with the story line. The characters felt a little flat, with the exception of Gabby. You could tell she was conflicted about her choices and current situation. But since so much of the book was built around this team aspect, I would have liked to have known the others more. Especially Mouse and the Frags. Of course, I have a feeling that I will get that opportunity in the next book.

One of my complaints with the book (and sci-fi in general) is some of the invented terminology. I still have no idea what "debuff" means. When I thought I had it figured out, I would see the word used in a different context that threw me for a loop. Of course, that's pretty minor in the grand scheme of a novel. There was also one scene with one of Gabby's dreams that seemed to pop out of nowhere. Again, this was probably just me. I read this book pretty late at night when my eyes wanted to close, but I refused to cooperate because I wanted to finish the book.

If you're a fan of science fiction, you'll love this book. Especially if you like Scott Westerfield's Pretties series. If you're like me, and not a big fan of sci-fi (but you liked the Pretties), then you will also like this book. The action keeps the story alive and makes it hard to put down. Plus, the concept behind life being a live or die game is highly original, which makes the book all that much better.

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Jan 14, 2012 Noor Jahangir rated it 3 of 5 stars

This is a story about a high school girl that wants to graduate with good results and get her best-friend in the the same University as her. The only difference between this girl and any other high school girl is that she lives in our future when everything is hidden behind layers of augmented reality. Even the world itself is edited and controlled by a government agency. Oh, and everything is a game and can be played. Welcome to LifeGame. Reality starts breaking down when Gabby learns that her...more This is a story about a high school girl that wants to graduate with good results and get her best-friend in the the same University as her. The only difference between this girl and any other high school girl is that she lives in our future when everything is hidden behind layers of augmented reality. Even the world itself is edited and controlled by a government agency. Oh, and everything is a game and can be played. Welcome to LifeGame. Reality starts breaking down when Gabby learns that her personal files, literally her identity has been hacked by dissidents calling themselves the Frags and that the government wants to check what they have altered. Gabby can't let them do this because then they would find out that she has been hacking LifeGame to help her friend improve her scores.
The cover art features the face of a young lady with her LifeScore superimposed beneath her left eye. Its quite catchy except for the typography which cheapens the overall impact. The blurb and the opening chapter is intriguing and had me reading the first three chapters even before I had considered reviewing it.
The concept isn't a new one, with Hollywood already having given the game world encroaching on reality the big screen treatment, e.g. Tron and the now retro-looking Running Man, amongst other more recent efforts. But Carpenter's take on it is refreshingly modern and applies the rules of Massive Multiplayer Online (MMOs) games like Second Life and Playstation Home, with mini-games adding to an overall score and customisable wardrobe and living spaces as standard. He also captures the obsessive behaviour of MMO players of squirrelling away every spare minute and immersing themeselves in marathon-length sorties into the game world through the addition of LifeScore, with the students seeking every opportunity from brushing their teeth to doing homework to get points. There even is a school league table to show whose currently on top and who is below the required level to qualify for university. The world of LifeGame has its own slang too, just like in the world of Harry Potter, which is a very nice touch, even though some readers may initially find themselves as at a loss to understanding what buffering is.
So why didn't this book get four stars? The occasional word mix-up or confusing sentences on their own don't overly take away from this story and the writing and language for most part is good, but the pacing of the narrative and the individual components of it don't quite sync. Also, I found the ending rather unsatisfactory, even though there is still plenty of story to carry on in a sequel, I think it could have been handled better and kept the reader more on edge for the next installment. Another issue of concern, though it doesn't affect how good this book is, is the use of the names of existing or former game developers for school names, especially considering how touchy corporations are about thier IP and branding.
Gamers scores a very good 3.75 and I do recommend that you read this book to experience the trippy world of LifeGame.(less)

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May 01, 2013 Laura Martinelli rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: ebook, young-adult, sci-fi-fantasy

Is there anything more disappointing as reading a book with an interesting premise and realizing in the first chunk how bland it is? There were several points while I was reading this and thinking back to Sword Art Online and that I should really ought to just find the translations of those books. Gamers isn’t as horrible that I was tempted to chuck my Kindle at the wall, but it’s so by the numbers.

Starting with the world-building, which is easily the worst part of the book. I feel like the whol...more Is there anything more disappointing as reading a book with an interesting premise and realizing in the first chunk how bland it is? There were several points while I was reading this and thinking back to Sword Art Online and that I should really ought to just find the translations of those books. Gamers isn’t as horrible that I was tempted to chuck my Kindle at the wall, but it’s so by the numbers.

Starting with the world-building, which is easily the worst part of the book. I feel like the whole mantra of “The real world isn’t real!” is just a lazy cop-out to avoid any real description of the setting. There is no clear distinction between the real world and what Gabby is seeing when she’s online. And for the record, how is the online overlaid onto the real world in here? I’m assuming ocular implants, but Carpenter never takes the time to make this distinction. Also, the time-frame of the world-building. If this form of society where gaming is your life and if you don’t have enough points, you literally lose…wouldn’t people start catching on that their children and loved ones are disappearing? Also, apparently there’s no medical advancement in this future, because if you get sick and miss one day of gaming, you’re screwed! I hate to be the cynic here, but it feels like the author read Extras and Ready Player One and decided he’s going to write a book just like those! And then missed the points of both.

The characters and plot are so boring and cookie-cutter. ‘Ordinary’ high school girl with a special talent sees mysterious boy at school. She wants to learn more about mysterious boy, and instead learns about grand conspiracy, which—DUN DUN!—she is a target of, despite being oh-so normal! It also doesn’t particularly help that half of the book is taken up by this “Final Raid” Gabby has to navigate. Apparently, there are high stakes involved, but I never got that she was playing for her life. Nor did I get any inkling that Gabby was willing to die for her friend Zaela, since the latter only appears for a handful of pages. The pacing is terrible, so much of the first half is info-dumping this grand conspiracy, and the second half is the Final Raid, which just reads like a transcript of WoW quest (with occasional interlude to remind you of the plot).

At best? This reads like a very, very early draft of a Nanowrimo book that just got a rough polish and then put online. (Speaking as an experienced Nano veteran who did self e-pub, that is a huge no-no.) The whole “Life as a game” has been done before, but it’s still an interesting concept that, in the right hands, could be really well-done. This is just feels like a rip-off of much better works, and I could find better things to recommend.
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Feb 01, 2013 Kimberly rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult

Rated 3.5 stars.

An interesting premise, I enjoyed the idea of a dystopian society where video games have been integrated into every day life. The main character, Gabby, is a top student who is always trying to keep her best friend from failing. Things are moving along like normal until one day she is told her life files have been hacked by the Frags, a group outside the control of the society. Suddenly Gabby’s life isn’t just about getting enough points each day and she’s pulled head first into...more

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Dec 17, 2012 Kelly rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

There’s something to be said about a book that can entertain. Does Gamers suffer from shotty world-building and weak characterization? Most definitely. But did I mind while I was reading it? Not really.

A gifted hacker, Gabby has been “grinding points” for her LifeScore by performing mundane tasks (like brushing her teeth) and playing games to ensure she gets in to University, something that would guarantee her a good job. This is referenced repeatedly throughout Gamers, but exactly what job Univ...more There’s something to be said about a book that can entertain. Does Gamers suffer from shotty world-building and weak characterization? Most definitely. But did I mind while I was reading it? Not really.

A gifted hacker, Gabby has been “grinding points” for her LifeScore by performing mundane tasks (like brushing her teeth) and playing games to ensure she gets in to University, something that would guarantee her a good job. This is referenced repeatedly throughout Gamers, but exactly what job University will get you, is never explained. Other than being a Coder – someone who designs LifeGame – and a few vague references to a military, no other jobs are ever mentioned. Considering the plot depends on Gabby’s rude awakening about the truth for those who don’t get in to University, one would think that the types of jobs available would be better explained. This hole was made even more glaringly obvious when Gabby was left answerless after being asked what she thought the minor jobs were. How can you be so desperate to avoid the non-University jobs when you don’t even know what they are?

There were many such questions that I wished Gabby had asked, or explored a little deeper, that were implied and then given no attention. Her lack of curiosity about the truths shown to her by the Frags was something I had a really hard time overcoming. After the leap of faith it took for her to trust the Frags enough to even listen to their side of the story, I was surprised by how few questions she asked and how quickly she believed their version of events. And then once it was apparent that she was going to believe what they had shown her, she kind of meandered through Gamers without the urgency I felt her situation demanded. While she did rush back, it was only because she realized they had started Final Raid early and she was falling behind in points. Not once did she consider telling her teammates the truth about what she had learned from the Frags, nor did she confide her secrets to her best friend, Zaela. Rather, she played Final Raid to the best of her abilities, and hoped that Zaela would earn enough points on her own to end up safe at University with her.

But, while I had all of these thoughts swimming around in my head, I was also enjoying reading Gamers. Gabby’s constant checking of her LifeScore added a lot of suspense, as you worried she wouldn’t be able to catch up, and I loved the Dungeons and Dragons style gameplay used for Final Raid. I did have a hard time with some of the gaming terms used, and found myself wikking many of them – which generally, didn’t provide much clarity if I’m honest. But the concept behind LifeGame and Final Raid was pretty neat – you controlled your future, depending on how invested you were at learning how to play better. And personally, I really liked how some popular gaming characters were used as slang.

“It’s so Bowser that they made the Raid worth so many points.”

“What in Mario’s name is that thing?”

But, I can also see how some of the slang used might put off others. It took a couple uses of the word “debuff” and “twinked” in context for me to slightly understand what they meant.

And then, of course, there’s the question of what playing games has to do with running a successful society…

But, my issues with Gamers aside, I really enjoyed reading it. There’s definitely room for improvement, and I think the ending was slightly rushed and anticlimactic, but it was entertaining. And sometimes, that’s enough.(less)

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Oct 22, 2012 Reena Jacobs rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: RPG-ers

Shelves: nook, 2012-reads

The style: Mr. Carpenter can be my Game Master any day. The novel mixed the futuristic world with the gaming world. Basically, Gabby’s life was a game of racking up points in order to reach the next level. Talk about your rat race.

It totally took me back to my EverQuest addicted days. The game talk, the leveling, the never-ending pursuit to acquire more, whether it be points, gear, etc… I was there. But it was a bit more, especially in the final raid. It took me out of online roleplaying and plu...more The style: Mr. Carpenter can be my Game Master any day. The novel mixed the futuristic world with the gaming world. Basically, Gabby’s life was a game of racking up points in order to reach the next level. Talk about your rat race.

It totally took me back to my EverQuest addicted days. The game talk, the leveling, the never-ending pursuit to acquire more, whether it be points, gear, etc… I was there. But it was a bit more, especially in the final raid. It took me out of online roleplaying and plunged me into paper DnD.

The plot: The story was well-paced. Once I got into it, I had a hard time putting it down, even going so far as taking it to the bathroom with me. Is that TMI? One thing I will say is Gamers seemed more like the beginning of something big. The major players were introduced but it didn’t have a sense of finality to it. It was more as if it set me up for the end of one adventure while opening the door for a whole new adventure. I haven’t read the full trilogy yet, but I definitely would say Gamers isn’t the book to stop on.

Okay… I really want to ruin this book for you with sentences that start with “like this one time…” But I know you’ll hate me for it. So… let’s talk about…

Characters: The novel was told from Gabby’s POV. She started out very much a part of the system, very focused on the end game, which in her case happened to be getting into the grand university. She reminded me a lot of the AP straight-A students I’d encountered while working in the high school. She knew what she wanted, how to do get it, and didn’t slack in reaching her goals. Yet she never acted like she was better than everyone else. She was just a regular kid (except for being a super genius) with typical problems…. well typical until the poo hit the fan. I liked her.

The other characters were rather fleeting. They didn’t take up much of my time, but each played important roles which pushed the plot forward or gave insight to an aspect of Gabby’s character of the total story. To be honest, if you quizzed me, I wouldn’t remember a single name. That doesn’t say a lot though. I’m horrible with names and even had to read the blurb to remember Gabby’s. Still, I love the cohesiveness the characters brought to the entire story. Each was rememberable (not so much the names for me but the personalities definitely). I’ve snapped a photograph of each of them in my mind’s eye.

Final thoughts: Gamers had a few loose ends which gave the first book a cliffhanger feel to it. You all know how much I hate cliffhangers. Yet at the same time, I was satisfied with the ending, especially knowing the next two books are already available.

My score? 4.5 – 5 out of 5 stars. HIGHLY recommended for RPG-ers.

I received my copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.(less)

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Jul 04, 2012 Penny rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: goodreads-first-reads, summer-reads-2012, reviewed

Initial reaction: That's it? It's over?

All cliffhangers (!) aside, Gamers was quite a ride. The premise of the book, though it's been thoroughly explored in other novels, seemed fresh, and though the mod slang caused a bit of confusion (Debuff? I can guess... But I wasn't sure) the author did a good job of making it seem like the reader was actually in the future, not in the present thinking about the future.

I couldn't have guessed the ending from the beginning, which I find rather refreshing in...more

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Mar 11, 2012 Literary rated it 4 of 5 stars

Gamers is a novel set in the distant future, but with enough relatability that the reader gets to know this new Earth and the people that inhabit it. Life on this future Earth is a game, LifeGame that is. People earn points for doing chores, going to the Library Museum, learning new subjects ... just about everything you do in normal life. The points are combined with a person's TPS (thoughts per second) to generate a LifeScore. The higher a person's LifeScore, the higher in ranks that person el...more Gamers is a novel set in the distant future, but with enough relatability that the reader gets to know this new Earth and the people that inhabit it. Life on this future Earth is a game, LifeGame that is. People earn points for doing chores, going to the Library Museum, learning new subjects ... just about everything you do in normal life. The points are combined with a person's TPS (thoughts per second) to generate a LifeScore. The higher a person's LifeScore, the higher in ranks that person elevates and the better their chances for entering into University (what I'm assuming is this new Earth's version of college).

Learning is presented in the forms of games. Playing games is no longer for fun and the thought that games were once utilized for fun is an outlandish thought for the students in this new Earth. Games are even played while going from one location to another inside of a FunCar.

FunCars are automated once the course is set. They are programmed to be silent while driving so as not to disrupt any persons playing games. Oh, and FunCars only fit two people. I'm curious as to why this is, but it was not discussed.

Before leaving high school, all students must participate in a Final Raid. This is the ultimate gaming experience utilizing the knowledge they've acquired over the years. Students must work in randomly-selected teams of five. There are only two results to the Final Raid: You win the game and earn enough LifeScore points to go to University or you die (in the game only) and are subjected to an unknown fate with no hope of going to University.

Gabby is one of the best hackers of the LifeGame system and she uses that to her advantage. If she doesn't clean her room or make her bed, she knows she can "adjust" the system to get her score back up to where it needs to be. Her TPS levels are insanely high and attract the attention of some people in high places ... it also attracts the attention of a group known as the Frags.

The Frags are a renegade group of intelligent and/or talented people who are trying to defeat the people behind the LifeGame system. A member of the Frags, Michael, comes in contact with Gabby to solicit her help. They know what happens to the people who don't make it into the University, but they want to confirm their knowledge with additional information ... Information Gabby can acquire. Will she decide to help them and risk her LifeScore? Or will she participate in Final Raid, forget about the Frags and go to University as her parents wish?

It's hard for me to tell you if this book is more fantasy or sci-fi. I think it can be categorized as either. Gamers is a great start to a new series and one I would recommend to all those that enjoy a young adult fantasy/sci-fi novel.(less)

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Apr 22, 2013 Mazmi rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2013-unread, dystopian, free-ebooks, childrens-and-ya

Rating 3.5

Gamers is a YA Dystopian, futuristic novel where everything is a game and to win means a place in university granted that you get enough points. To lose means you just get forgotten about and nobody remembers who you were or what happened to you, you just disappear.

Gabby is the heroine of this story, she's been hacking the system for years but only to help her best friend Zaela earn enough life points to stay in Lifegame. Gabby's view on Lifegame changes when a group called the Frags...more

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Nov 01, 2012 Caitlin (SmartFolksRead) added it

Shelves: on-kindle

By the time I was halfway through this novel I had already added the rest of the series to my wishlist. The minute I got done I decided that I needed to know what happened next and the books went from my wishlist to my shopping cart and onto my Kindle. Set in a future world where gaming has become the the premier method of not only entertainment, but also learning, Gamers is a fun, catchy novel that had me hooked from the very beginning.
As a fan of Tamora Pierce I can appreciate great world bui...more

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Feb 05, 2013 Trisha rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: read-in-2013

The premise of the story is what caused me to choose this book. Who wouldn't want to live in a world where your entire life is a video game? If you are running behind you can just play a few games to get your life points back up. That sounds pretty great to me.

But what if everything wasn't quite what it seems? Only the top fifteen (or was it thirty?) of the top students "level up" to University and the rest get stuck with lower level jobs and everyone pretty much forgets about them.

Gabby is the...more

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Dec 30, 2012 Sara Mccluskey rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The first rule is what can be gamed can be improved. The second rule is that everything can be a game, and the last rule is to never look backwards because the past is a game that's already been decided”

Imagine life being nothing but a game. You earn points and strive to rise above the rest; the higher the points the better your life will be. That's Gabby's life, and the book opens up with her working to help her friend grind some points. Her friend, unlike the hacker Gabby, is struggling in Li...more

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Oct 27, 2012 Valerie rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

LifeGame is more than a game; it’s a matter of life and death

In Thomas K. Carpenter first dystopian novel Gamers, in the Gamers Trilogy, he has created a futuristic society where LifeGame is all that matters. LifeGame is an ultra-realistic virtual reality video game where players score points for doing regular things, like brushing teeth and cleaning their room, to higher points for passing tests and solving complicated mathematical and physics problems. The top 15 boys and girls will make it to...more LifeGame is more than a game; it’s a matter of life and death

In Thomas K. Carpenter first dystopian novel Gamers, in the Gamers Trilogy, he has created a futuristic society where LifeGame is all that matters. LifeGame is an ultra-realistic virtual reality video game where players score points for doing regular things, like brushing teeth and cleaning their room, to higher points for passing tests and solving complicated mathematical and physics problems. The top 15 boys and girls will make it to the University and get good jobs, but those whose scores fall below the line must settle for the jobs that no one wants.

Gabby DeCorte is a naturally skilled gamer. Her life revolves around trying to keep her LifeGame score up to guarantee her place at the University and dealing with typical high school drama. Everything from mean girls, controlling parents, and boys, to insuring her best friend Zaela makes University with her. Unfortunately, Zaela lacks the natural ability of her best friend, so Gabby must constantly use her natural gaming talent as well as her extraordinary hacking skills and to insure her best friend’s success.

In this re-envisioned society, the Greater States of America (GSA) is competing to stay a prominent world power, and the future of society depends upon developing the best students, the LifeGame winners. Gabby soon finds herself paired with a group known as the Frags. A group determined to undermine the GSA, and prove that those who don’t make it to University, don’t get undesirable jobs, but permanently disappear. The Frags need Gabby’s help, but will all the new revelations, Gabby is not so sure what is the truth and what is virtual reality, or who to trust.

Carpenter does a great job of setting the stage and creating characters that readers can relate to. Gamers is a fast read, with a creative plot, and intriguing premise. Readers not familiar with phrases such as noob, and DoT, may miss some of the humor, but it does not distract from the storyline. Overall, Gamers was a surprising good read, despite the bland cover art.

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Oct 07, 2012 Deb rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Gamers by Thomas K Carpenter is a book that truly catches your interest. I am both a gamer and into science fiction books so this was a perfect fit for me. The game is based in a future society where in order to get the good jobs and move up the ladder in life you have to gain points in the game that is life. Completing puzzles and games helps you along the path.

The book had me on the edge of my seat waiting to find out what was going to happen next. The only thing that keeps me from giving this...more

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Sep 03, 2012 Maria Violante rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: reviewed-for-mariaviolante-com

If you’ve never played a video-game, you might not get some of the references in the book. So that’s your warning, and the only one I’m going to give you about this book. It opens with a bang, the action is well-paced, the characters are sufficiently interesting to make you care. The storytelling, while a bit purple at times, is compelling, and the world-building is great–fantastically original, and yet grounded and understandable. Overall, the novel is incredibly well-written. I put ALL of my d...more

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Dec 02, 2012 Mandy Sickle rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: ebooks, first-in-series, fiction, futuristic, new2you-author, young-adult, read2review, reading-diaries-reviews, 2012

I received Gamers in return for an honest review as part of a giveaway from Librarything. Gabby lives in a world where her whole future hinges on her LifeScore. Society has advanced to the point that everyone can manipulate what the world looks like, example what they wear, what happens like falling pigs. Students who score high in the LifeGame move on to the University where they get the best jobs. While those who don't are sent to lesser jobs, but are really never heard from again. Gabby is a...more I received Gamers in return for an honest review as part of a giveaway from Librarything. Gabby lives in a world where her whole future hinges on her LifeScore. Society has advanced to the point that everyone can manipulate what the world looks like, example what they wear, what happens like falling pigs. Students who score high in the LifeGame move on to the University where they get the best jobs. While those who don't are sent to lesser jobs, but are really never heard from again. Gabby is a wiz when it comes to hacking into the system she helps boost her friend's score so she can hopefully move on to University.

When Gabby learns that the Frags a rogue group who don't support the ways of the LifeGame. Gabby also learns that her TPS (thoughts per second) are ranked among the highest in the LifeGame. When she is confronted by the Frags who tell her they know what's really happening to those who don't pass the LifeGame and it's not lesser jobs. When Gabby is sent off on a final Raid teaming up with her former friend and now archenemy as well as three other students. The five of them head off into the cyber world to compete with the other teams and defeat the final raid boss. The challenges that her team faces will test every member as well as cause Gabby to question her loyalties. Will she defeat the raid boss and move on to the University or will be doomed to the life the Frags have hinted about.

Gamers is a fast paced, cyber adventure in a world unlike any other I've read about. I found the concept for LifeGame exciting and reminded me of my World of Warcraft raiding days. I really liked the idea of being able to change the way objects like by using a different skin, it's very futuristic which I really enjoyed. Gabby is a great character she's easy to connect with and her friendship with Zaela brings out the humanity in here that many of her fellow students don't seem to have which makes it easy to like her. I found Gamers well written the story-line flows smooth making it an easy read for anyone teen to adult to enjoy. I overall really love the concept of the story, it's something I could see happening as more and more people are getting into computers, games who knows maybe one day I'll be able to change the skin on my fun car anytime soon. I had a hard time putting the book down it's such an interesting story and I'm still new to the whole Sci Fi genre so I stayed up super late reading just to know how it would end. I can't wait to read the next one because I really want to know what happens next to Gabby.
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Nov 19, 2012 Ramplo rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: arc-review

Quick & Dirty:

-Interesting story about life turning into a large computer game.

-With the wide variety of YA dystopian novels available now this one falls in the middle of the pack.

-A few annoying bits of...’borrowed’ slang don’t destroy the book but aren't an asset.

Long & Wordy:

To read my full review and check out my blog:
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http://ramsrevs.blogspot.com/2012/11/...
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***I received this book as an ARC. This in no way effected my review.***

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Feb 20, 2012 Zoe's Book rated it 5 of 5 stars

I loved the ideas that school and life were one big game that to survive you had to keep your life score up. My favorite character was probaly Zaela because I can relate to her a little bit.

Gabby is top student and she is wonderful at hacking. She and her best friend Zaela must work hard to stay at the top but, when she gets in a hacked fun car she meets the Frags. Gabby must choose between the university or the frags.

If you like science fiction this is a really good book to read. Thomas has a...more

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May 28, 2011 Ziaria rated it 4 of 5 stars

This was a strong 3.5 book.(wish I could put half stars on here)

I thought this was a quick, fun read. In the beginning, I wasn't so sure how I would enjoy it, but by the end I found that I really liked it.

It reads very much like a dystopian kind of book but set in and written in a gaming world. I will say that if you are not a gamer of some sort, you might find this book difficult to get through. Not because the story isn't good, but the language and such might be a bit confusing.

I enjoyed the...more

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Aug 02, 2012 Richard rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: nook, science-fiction, young-adult

I won the second book in this series “Frags” in a Goodreads giveaway so I went ahead and purchased this book.

Life is a game, no REALLY it is. The concept of this book is fascinating; everyone is constantly plugged into a computer game known as LifeGames. You can earn points by doing chores, playing computer games that have been designed to give you life skills or by doing well in tests at school. Points can be used to purchase the latest fashions or designing your home. Only the top scoring game...more I won the second book in this series “Frags” in a Goodreads giveaway so I went ahead and purchased this book.

Life is a game, no REALLY it is. The concept of this book is fascinating; everyone is constantly plugged into a computer game known as LifeGames. You can earn points by doing chores, playing computer games that have been designed to give you life skills or by doing well in tests at school. Points can be used to purchase the latest fashions or designing your home. Only the top scoring gamers get to go on to university and the best jobs, everyone else gets reassigned. It reminded me somewhat of what life would be like to be in “The Sims”. The story soon starts to unfold and a government conspiracy is discovered. The last part of the book has the characters running around inside a computer game on an adventure where they have to battle against giants, specters and a dragon and solve puzzles in order to complete their quest, now that’s a final exam I would have loved to have participated in!

There is a huge amount of world building in this book especially at the start. The first part of the book there was so much world building going on that I was just getting my head around one concept when another one was introduced, it settles down after a while and gets on with the story. I did enjoy all the world building, it just seemed so crammed together at the start it could get confusing.

Being a fan of computer games certainly helps to understand and enjoy this book but I don’t think it is essential. It was fun to see references to some classic games such as Mario, Monkey Island and Leisure Suit Larry.

Sometimes the story itself was confusing, mostly it was due to the world language, they have a number of words that the use that aren’t used in the real world. But some sequences were just not well written and hard to follow.

The main character is very well written, she’s your typical YA heroine. Strong willed, talented, kind to her friends but fierce to her enemies. The other characters are good as well, with their own personalities, although most of them only appeared in small parts of the book and didn’t really get much time to be developed before they left the story and a new group of characters came in.

I read the Nook version of this book, and there were a couple of problems with it. Firstly the page count was messed up, whenever I turned a page the page number went up 2-4 pages, it wasn’t skipping pages, but the count was not correct. Also the index doesn’t recognize the chapters so you couldn’t find them easily or know how many pages were left in a chapter.

An excellent and original book that is suitable for fans of fantasy and/or dystopian novels.
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