The Walkthrough offers a rare peek behind the curtain of the secretive video game industry from an unlikely perspective, that of a career strategy guide writer. For eighteen years, Doug Walsh was one of the most prolific authors of officially licensed video game strategy guides.

One part memoir and one part industry tell-all, The Walkthrough takes players on an entertaining march through gaming's recent history, from the dawn of the PlayStation to the Xbox 360 and Nintendo Switch. Follow along as Walsh retraces his career and reveals how the books were made, what it was like writing guides to some of the industry's most celebrated -- and derided -- titles, and why the biggest publishers of guidebooks are no longer around.

Walsh devotes entire chapters to many of gaming's most popular franchises, including Tony Hawk's Pro Skater, Gears of War, and Diablo, among others. From inauspicious beginnings with Daikatana to authoring the books for the entire Bioshock trilogy, with plenty of highs, lows, and Warp Pipes along the way, Walsh delivers a rare treat to twenty-first century gamers. The Walkthrough is sure to satisfy the curiosity of anyone who grew up with the works of BradyGames and Prima Games sprawled across their laps.

With over one hundred books to his credit, and countless weeks spent at many of the most famous studios in North America, he is uniquely qualified to give an insider's perspective of a little-known niche within the multi-billion-dollar industry.

Author: Doug Walsh
Binding Type: Paperback
Publisher: Doug Walsh
Published: 05/16/2019
Pages: 148
Weight: 0.37lbs
Size: 8.00h x 5.00w x 0.34d
ISBN: 9781732746763

About the Author
Walsh, Doug: - Doug Walsh is an award-winning author whose books have earned consistent praise from Kirkus Reviews, Writer's Digest judges, and readers around the world. Through his stories, Walsh combines his passion for adventure travel with a fascination for discovering how romantic relationships respond to the improbable. Though now dedicated to fiction, Walsh's writing career began in 2000, in the world of video game strategy guides. Or, as he likes to call them, travel guides to fictitious places. Shortly after a horrific bicycle crash brought his triathlon season to an end, Walsh signed a contract with former Penguin imprint BradyGames. Over the ensuing fifteen years, Walsh proved himself as one of the most prolific authors in the space, with over one hundred official guidebooks to his credit. His Amazon Bestselling memoir, The Walkthrough: Insider Tales from a Life in Strategy Guides, offers a behind-the-scenes look at the secretive multi-billion dollar industry. Originally from New Jersey, Walsh moved to the mountains of the Pacific Northwest in 2002, several years after marrying his college sweetheart. He's since traveled to over 30 countries and nearly all 50 states, acquiring the inspiration and richness he imparts on his novels. As comfortable in the wilds as in the lodge, Walsh set down his game controller in 2014 and, together with his wife, embarked on a multi-year around-the-world bicycle tour. Their journey became the inspiration behind his debut novel, the time travel romance Tailwinds Past Florence, of which Kirkus Reviews credited him for imbuing his romance with as much action as any game he's ever peeled back the secrets of. Walsh's readers rave about the transportive nature of his stories, and the characters that they love to laugh and cry alongside. Walsh's upcoming novel, Shadows of Kalalau, is a coming-of-age romantic thriller set in a majestic, untouched corner of Hawaii. Learn more by joining the Doug Walsh Readers List and receive twice-monthly updates and special offers, as well as the exclusive Annotated Guide to Tailwinds Past Florence as a thank you.