Ready Player One

[SlammedNiss]

Anybody else looking forward to this movie? IMDB info ---> http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1677720/

Anyway, you can play a few classics for free on the official RPO website. http://arcade.readyplayeronemovie.com/

[Vigo]

I am someone who dropped the book after a few chapters because I felt the 80's references were so forced it was nauseating. I actually am holding out better hope for the movie. Seems to have some talent backing the production.

[yotsuya]

I am someone who dropped the book after a few chapters because I felt the 80's references were so forced it was nauseating. I actually am holding out better hope for the movie. Seems to have some talent backing the production.

My hope is that Spielberg’s team re-wrote/eliminated the weak parts and made a strong story.

[Osirus23]

Getting tired of everything having to lean so heavily on nostalgia and pop culture references instead of standing on its own.

In related news, Wreck it Ralph 2 looks absolutely awful.

[Slippyblade]

In related news, Wreck it Ralph 2 looks absolutely awful.

Gonna disagree with this one.  Each to their own though.  I'm excited For Ready Player One and Wreck it Ralph 2, both.  Then again, I'm looking for entertainment, not cinema.

[pbj]

I feel like the only person in the world that disliked Wreck it Ralph and liked Pixels.  I felt like Wreck it Ralph was good for about 20 minutes.  And I say this as someone with two framed Pixar posters.... the emotions from Inside Out watch in horror as I occasionally bone my wife.

Anyway, there’s an interesting story buried in Ready Player One.  Maybe Spielberg will deliver.

[Titchgamer]

I feel like the only person in the world that disliked Wreck it Ralph and liked Pixels.  I felt like Wreck it Ralph was good for about 20 minutes.  And I say this as someone with two framed Pixar posters.... the emotions from Inside Out watch in horror as I occasionally bone my wife.

Anyway, there’s an interesting story buried in Ready Player One.  Maybe Spielberg will deliver.

Nah theres at least 2 of us!!

[yotsuya]

I feel like the only person in the world that disliked Wreck it Ralph and liked Pixels.  I felt like Wreck it Ralph was good for about 20 minutes.  And I say this as someone with two framed Pixar posters.... the emotions from Inside Out watch in horror as I occasionally bone my wife.

Anyway, there’s an interesting story buried in Ready Player One.  Maybe Spielberg will deliver.

Nah theres at least 2 of us!!

You watch too as he bones his wife?

[Titchgamer]

I feel like the only person in the world that disliked Wreck it Ralph and liked Pixels.  I felt like Wreck it Ralph was good for about 20 minutes.  And I say this as someone with two framed Pixar posters.... the emotions from Inside Out watch in horror as I occasionally bone my wife.

Anyway, there’s an interesting story buried in Ready Player One.  Maybe Spielberg will deliver.

Nah theres at least 2 of us!!

You watch too as he bones his wife?

Aint he supposed to watch me??

[yotsuya]

I feel like the only person in the world that disliked Wreck it Ralph and liked Pixels.  I felt like Wreck it Ralph was good for about 20 minutes.  And I say this as someone with two framed Pixar posters.... the emotions from Inside Out watch in horror as I occasionally bone my wife.

Anyway, there’s an interesting story buried in Ready Player One.  Maybe Spielberg will deliver.

Nah theres at least 2 of us!!

You watch too as he bones his wife?

Aint he supposed to watch me??

[shaolindrunkard]

I am someone who dropped the book after a few chapters because I felt the 80's references were so forced it was nauseating. I actually am holding out better hope for the movie. Seems to have some talent backing the production.

Funny I had the same reaction, my buddy had me listen to the audiobook on a long ride up to the funspot arcade in NH. I was really turned off by it, we did get past that part and it wasn't as bad after a couple hour into the audiobook. It was a lot more interesting after that. I'd like to finish it at some point probably before I see the movie.

Funny thing is I'm all for 80's nostalgia, but the author just kinda hit you over the head with it in a very haphazard way, and far to much of it.

[yotsuya]

I am someone who dropped the book after a few chapters because I felt the 80's references were so forced it was nauseating. I actually am holding out better hope for the movie. Seems to have some talent backing the production.

Funny I had the same reaction, my buddy had me listen to the audiobook on a long ride up to the funspot arcade in NH. I was really turned off by it, we did get past that part and it wasn't as bad after a couple hour into the audiobook. It was a lot more interesting after that. I'd like to finish it at some point probably before I see the movie.

Funny thing is I'm all for 80's nostalgia, but the author just kinda hit you over the head with it in a very haphazard way, and far to much of it.

Yeah, I agree with the haphazard comment - it was very much what Ernest Cline liked about the 80s, too, which got tiresome after a while.

[Vigo]

Doesn't seem that haphazard to me. 

[mrclean]

I'm waiting for "Ready Player Two: The Search For More Money".

[Ahigh]

Anybody else looking forward to this movie? IMDB info ---> http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1677720/

Anyway, you can play a few classics for free on the official RPO website. http://arcade.readyplayeronemovie.com/

I'm looking forward to the book.  I suspect from your link that they are sticking with Joust for the 80's arcade game section.  Not sure if they have the perfect game of Pac-Man required for the special quarter.

It's not been since Jurassic Park that I actually read a book and looked so much forward to Steven's big-screen version.

[wp34]

Vigo's post nailed it.  I read the book when it came out and decided to listen to the audiobook prior to seeing the movie.  I got to the passage he posted last night and had to smile. 

The story is actually pretty good---I really enjoy it.  When the author goes on a hyper-reference spasm like the one below it is really tough to muscle through. And he does it way too often.  When I read the book I could skim over this stuff but with the audiobook it just drones on and on.

If the movie shows us the 80's pop-culture items quickly and focuses instead on the story it should be a good time.  My fear is that the main character does a voice-over narration and we still get the passages like the one below.

Doesn't seem that haphazard to me. 

[80sarcadegames]

I found that book through this forum!!!
I have read it twice in ebook form and just finished the audiobook.
I have been part of two different Facebook groups dedicated to the book/movie
for a long time now (2 years I think) but I removed myself from the groups
temporarily because I didn't want spoilers for the movie.

This book should be required reading for anyone truly dedicated to arcade cabinets.   

Can one name a book more involved in arcade games than Ready Player One?
If so, please post them here so I can read them!!!!

[Mike A]

Dude. Settle down.

[Osirus23]

This book should be required reading for anyone truly dedicated to arcade cabinets.   

Not really. One need not be beaten over the head with such hackneyed 80's nostalgia pulp so much in order to enjoy a hobby.

[shaolindrunkard]

Dude. Settle down.

 

[yotsuya]

Dude. Settle down.

 

I always felt the book was perfect for people who don’t like to read. I have a feeling the movie will be perfect for people who don’t like to read as well.

I’ll take a well-crafted story over shout-outs to Rush and BTTF any day.

Having said that, I do plan to see the movie.

[nitrogen_widget]

I feel like the only person in the world that disliked Wreck it Ralph and liked Pixels.  I felt like Wreck it Ralph was good for about 20 minutes.  And I say this as someone with two framed Pixar posters.... the emotions from Inside Out watch in horror as I occasionally bone my wife.

Anyway, there’s an interesting story buried in Ready Player One.  Maybe Spielberg will deliver.

every time my boy talks about call of duty I laugh and say "you said dootie" it never gets old.

[80sarcadegames]

Dude. Settle down.

Cheers!  Can you tell I have 0% enthusiasm for this hobby? Absolute zero enthusiasm and energy level for it.
 

[Malenko]

I lived through the 80s once. That was enough.

[pbj]

Well, if King of Kong was anything to go by, in that it took 11 years for it to almost die on our forums, we've got a good 4 years left to go before Ready Player One is buried.

I'll just comment that though I felt like I disliked it when I read it, I also read it very quickly.  So it was at least entertaining.  Plus all the ridiculous quotes from it don't seem so lame in context.

 

https://mobile.twitter.com/electrolemon/status/971208968323280896/video/1

[wp34]

I'm a little past the halfway point.  There is a lot less "hyper-referencing" than I remembered as you get further into the book.  To PBJ's point there is a good story buried in here and hopefully the movie can pull it out.

The author makes a a point to note that the arcade cabinets on the Arcade Planet have CRT's in them. 

[jasonbar]

Skip Ready Player One & just read Snow Crash instead.

Wreck-It Ralph & Ready Player One are best suited for people who don't regularly play classic games, so it's entertaining to see references & say "Oh yeah, I remember that!"

When the references are something that you experience on a regular basis, where's the fun & surprise in that? It's like watching a movie/reading a book about air--no surprises or nostalgia in something you use every day.

-Jason

[wp34]

Thanks for the heads-up on Snow Crash.  I'm going to pick that up.

Skip Ready Player One & just read Snow Crash instead.

Wreck-It Ralph & Ready Player One are best suited for people who don't regularly play classic games, so it's entertaining to see references & say "Oh yeah, I remember that!"

When the references are something that you experience on a regular basis, where's the fun & surprise in that? It's like watching a movie/reading a book about air--no surprises or nostalgia in something you use every day.

-Jason

[EssexMame]

Finally got round to seeing it at the weekend and enjoyed it too. I enjoyed the book a lot and unlike the consensus here did feel the nostalgic references were needed. The quest was based on the knowledge and application of that knowledge to solve the clues so they highlighted that knowledge and it's application. Perhaps, almost definitely, a little too much.

The film differed from the book a lot, but then it probably had to. I expect rival film companies wouldn't let them use references to their 80's films for a start. It also needed more action and less researching information. The quests in the film differed from the book for that reason.

Both are good, and that they differ (aside from the main scope of the plot) means you can (and IMHO should) read the book and watch the film. Probably in that order. I'd happily read the book and watch the film again and for me that is rare.

[DeeDub76]

I too, have read the book and seen the movie. I found them both enjoyable and entertaining.

Has anyone read Ernest Clines other book, Armada?  This book is in the works to be made into a movie as well.  I found this book much better than RPO. Without giving too much away, it has a The Last Starfighter feel to it.

[pbj]

I couldn't make it past the first chapter of Armada, and I've tried twice.

[yotsuya]

The general consensus is that Armada is a pretty bad book.

I saw the movie last week. It left out some stuff in the book that I liked, and fixed some of the book’s weaknesses. It’s worth seeing. I’m actually glad it dialed down the 80s nostalgia, that would’ve gotten tiresome really quickly.

[nitrogen_widget]

ordered up HBO Go to catch up on last season of GOT before the final season premier and saw this movie on there.
I enjoyed it. hada few laughs over things.
I actually recognized the buckaroo banzai suit because I watched it just last month.

Will watch again with the kids this weekend.
never read the book. btw.