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Attack! Boss! Cheat Code!: A Gamer's Alphabet
Bone up on your gaming knowledge with this gently ironic yet thoroughly informative guide to video game terminology, presented as a picture book for all ages. "Attack! Boss! Cheat Code! A Gamer's ABC "is an indispensable guide, a lively look at the language of video games that might actually bridge the gap between game-obsessed kids and their often-perplexed parents.
If you can decipher the following sentence, you don't need this book:
"This open beta game is in third-person but first-person is unlockable if you know the cheat code or install your own mod, but either way, for the best attack on the boss on this level, try to grab that power-up!"
Almost any 9-year old could translate for you but if you don't have access to one, try this book instead.
Video games are the dominant form of pop culture today, a $75 billion industry worldwide, and an inescapable part of modern living. Don't be left out! A quick perusal of "Attack! Boss! Cheat Code!" is all you need to get in the game. Brilliantly colorful illustrations by video game artist Joey Spiotto vividly embody the terminology of video games, bringing the world of video games to life. Lucid definitions make terms clear and understandable, even for non-players.
Presented as an alphabet, "Attack! Boss! Cheat Code! "is also an entertaining visual history and glossary of gaming, providing a solid understanding of terms that have made their way into everyday language, from to "mod" to "RPG."
If you can decipher the following sentence, you don't need this book:
"This open beta game is in third-person but first-person is unlockable if you know the cheat code or install your own mod, but either way, for the best attack on the boss on this level, try to grab that power-up!"
Almost any 9-year old could translate for you but if you don't have access to one, try this book instead.
Video games are the dominant form of pop culture today, a $75 billion industry worldwide, and an inescapable part of modern living. Don't be left out! A quick perusal of "Attack! Boss! Cheat Code!" is all you need to get in the game. Brilliantly colorful illustrations by video game artist Joey Spiotto vividly embody the terminology of video games, bringing the world of video games to life. Lucid definitions make terms clear and understandable, even for non-players.
Presented as an alphabet, "Attack! Boss! Cheat Code! "is also an entertaining visual history and glossary of gaming, providing a solid understanding of terms that have made their way into everyday language, from to "mod" to "RPG."
32 pages, Hardcover
First published October 21, 2014
48 people want to read
About the author
Chris Barton
28 books96 followersI'm the author of picture books including WE MATCH! (2025), bestseller SHARK VS. TRAIN, Sibert Honor-winning THE DAY-GLO BROTHERS, and WHOOSH! LONNIE JOHNSON'S SUPER-SOAKING STREAM OF INVENTIONS, which has been celebrated on 21 state reading lists.
Other well-known titles of mine include 88 INSTRUMENTS, HOW TO MAKE A BOOK (ABOUT MY DOG), FIRE TRUCK VS. DRAGON, DAZZLE SHIPS, THE AMAZING AGE OF JOHN ROY LYNCH, and WHAT DO YOU DO WITH A VOICE LIKE THAT?
My newest books include GLITTER EVERYWHERE! WHERE IT CAME FROM, WHERE IT'S FOUND & WHERE IT'S GOING (one of National Public Radio's "Books We Love" for 2023) and MOVING FORWARD: FROM SPACE-AGE RIDES TO CIVIL RIGHTS SIT-INS WITH AIRMAN ALTON YATES (a School Library Journal Best Book of 2022).
I visit schools by the score and also love speaking to professional gatherings of librarians, educators, and fellow writers.
I'm married to middle-grade/YA novelist Jennifer Ziegler (WORSER, HOW NOT TO BE POPULAR). Jennifer and I have four adult children and one dog, and we co-host the children’s literature video series “This One’s Dedicated to…” in which we talk with other authors and illustrators about the dedications they’ve written for their books.
Jennifer and I live in Austin, where I serve as vice president of the Texas Institute of Letters, a 501(c)(3) non-profit honor society founded in 1936 to celebrate Texas literature and to recognize distinctive literary achievement.
For more information about me, please visit www.chrisbarton.info or linktr.ee/bartography.
Other well-known titles of mine include 88 INSTRUMENTS, HOW TO MAKE A BOOK (ABOUT MY DOG), FIRE TRUCK VS. DRAGON, DAZZLE SHIPS, THE AMAZING AGE OF JOHN ROY LYNCH, and WHAT DO YOU DO WITH A VOICE LIKE THAT?
My newest books include GLITTER EVERYWHERE! WHERE IT CAME FROM, WHERE IT'S FOUND & WHERE IT'S GOING (one of National Public Radio's "Books We Love" for 2023) and MOVING FORWARD: FROM SPACE-AGE RIDES TO CIVIL RIGHTS SIT-INS WITH AIRMAN ALTON YATES (a School Library Journal Best Book of 2022).
I visit schools by the score and also love speaking to professional gatherings of librarians, educators, and fellow writers.
I'm married to middle-grade/YA novelist Jennifer Ziegler (WORSER, HOW NOT TO BE POPULAR). Jennifer and I have four adult children and one dog, and we co-host the children’s literature video series “This One’s Dedicated to…” in which we talk with other authors and illustrators about the dedications they’ve written for their books.
Jennifer and I live in Austin, where I serve as vice president of the Texas Institute of Letters, a 501(c)(3) non-profit honor society founded in 1936 to celebrate Texas literature and to recognize distinctive literary achievement.
For more information about me, please visit www.chrisbarton.info or linktr.ee/bartography.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
September 25, 2014
What a fun idea for a book! I definitely learned quite a bit about gaming from it. I guess I really am a n00b. The pictures are way cool, too. My video game obsessed 7 year old son was pretty excited to read it.
August 28, 2018
Alright. This is a kids' book, which is generally not in my reading list, but it was pretty darn cute. I don't know that I learned any new terms, having been a gamer most of my childhood and adult life. It was validating how much I recognized.
All in all, cute book. Would read again.
All in all, cute book. Would read again.
November 11, 2014
Okay, I know I’m showing my geeky gamer girl side, but I love, love, love this book, and I think today’s young (and not-so-young) readers will, too!
It’s an alphabet book, of course, which means the information is organized by letter. Within that constraint, Barton somehow manages to work in a whole bunch of key concepts necessary to understanding video games. Some are expected, such as “boss.” Others are more surprising, like “instance.” In either case, readers will love seeing the terms they’re more familiar with from the games they love playing, as well as the terms they’re less familiar with but may have run across in conversations with friends. I’ve played a fair amount of video games in my lifetime, and I was still very pleasantly surprised to learn a few new terms myself!
The artwork is bright and fun and helps illustrate the concepts well. The illustrator tips a nostalgic hat to older games that more grownup readers will appreciate, while at the same time referencing enough current faves to delight younger gamers.
Check this one out!
It’s an alphabet book, of course, which means the information is organized by letter. Within that constraint, Barton somehow manages to work in a whole bunch of key concepts necessary to understanding video games. Some are expected, such as “boss.” Others are more surprising, like “instance.” In either case, readers will love seeing the terms they’re more familiar with from the games they love playing, as well as the terms they’re less familiar with but may have run across in conversations with friends. I’ve played a fair amount of video games in my lifetime, and I was still very pleasantly surprised to learn a few new terms myself!
The artwork is bright and fun and helps illustrate the concepts well. The illustrator tips a nostalgic hat to older games that more grownup readers will appreciate, while at the same time referencing enough current faves to delight younger gamers.
Check this one out!
December 15, 2014
Games, video games, can foster creativity, problem solving skills, desire to increase knowledge about a specific subject, healthy competition, and connections with like-minded people. Attack! Boss! Cheat Code! A Gamer's Alphabet (POW!, October 14, 2014) written by Chris Barton with illustrations by Joey Spiotto is a guide every gamer will enjoy. It's a starting point to promote understanding of the basics.
My full recommendation: http://librariansquest.blogspot.com/2...
My full recommendation: http://librariansquest.blogspot.com/2...
November 11, 2014
I saw this on the cart this morning and KNEW I would love it.
This is NOT an ABC concept book so you probably don't want to buy it for that pre-reader. But if you have an elementary school gamer in your life, then this would make a fantastic gift (or a new geek parent).
Also, I love and adore Joey Spiotto's artwork. Always have. His style is so easy to spot.
This is NOT an ABC concept book so you probably don't want to buy it for that pre-reader. But if you have an elementary school gamer in your life, then this would make a fantastic gift (or a new geek parent).
Also, I love and adore Joey Spiotto's artwork. Always have. His style is so easy to spot.
December 8, 2014
some of this might be new information to a reader, but other sections of it feel like you're being talked down to. Of course people know what a "level" is, or at least the people who are picking up this book would probably know.
December 6, 2015
This is a treasure to pass on to readers - a book that is all about gaming? Written as an ABC book, this is a perfect concept book to draw in readers of all ages and abilities. For gaming, that is!
Thrilled to find this book and pass it on to readers.
Thrilled to find this book and pass it on to readers.
April 26, 2015
Attack! Boss! Cheat code! A Gamer’s Alphabet by Chris Barton, illustrated by Joey Spiotto – Picture book – What a fantastic book. My son loved reading this gamer’s alphabet…. can’t wait to share it with my students who are obsessed with gaming. Fantastic book. Enjoyed the illustrations as well.
July 13, 2015
This is such a clever book--not a simple ABC but a primer on gaming for avid young aficionados. As such, it appeals to a wide age range from early geek wanna-be's to high-interest/low-reading techies.
February 2, 2017
Big hit with my younger students.
November 26, 2014
Awesome and perfect for my brother-in-law and nephew to read together.
March 23, 2015
This is a fun look at gaming for kids. It would be a great coffee table book too.
January 8, 2019
Interesting & fun approach to gaming - I learned a lot as I am not a gamer! Should run it by my nephew who graduated recently with a degree in game design.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews