ABANDONED. YA Sci fi/Fantasy. Teenage hacker works in computer (or video game) store. He has to follow a bunch of clues, plays a video game to save people?

[K]

I wish I remembered more. But I remember it’s a kid who was I think a hacker, big geek. Worked at either a video game or computer store. Didn’t realize who he actually was, gets sucked into having to follow a bunch of clues, I think to a video game he has to play to save people. I think his boss at the store knew who the kid really was and helps him? Anything ring a bell??

[Kris]

K, around what year did you read this book? A range of years is fine.

[Pam]

Could it be Armada by Ernest Cline? The main character works in a video game store and when aliens attack Earth, he, his boss (who's been watching over him for years), and some of his gaming buddies worldwide who play Armada are tasked with defending Earth.

[Bargle]

Link for Pam's suggestion.

Armada by Ernest Cline.

[Kris]

Here are two Google Books previews of Armada by Ernest Cline - Pam's suggestion. There are different cover images.

1) https://books.google.com/books?id=3k-... This versions contains a "chronology" of video games, etc. written by a character's father (page 20): "1962 - Spacewar! first videogame... 1966 - Star Trek... 1968 - 2001: A Space Odyssey..."

2) https://books.google.com/books?id=_PW...

[Kris]

No response, moving to Abandoned folder.

K (OP) last posted in the group in December 2020.