Dungeons & Desktops: Pre-order your copy today!I have great news for everyone who enjoys CRPGs (computer role-playing games): Dungeons & Desktops is now available for pre-order on Amazon.com, and, as a bonus, if you pre-order now you'll get 5% off the $34.95 price tag. As you all know, I've worked very hard on this project and think the end result is truly worth your attention. I know of no other book (or website, for that matter) that has attempted to cover the subject in this level of detail and accuracy--much less in a form that's fun to read and thought provoking. Although we've talked about the book a lot here at AA, I'll recap some of the main features so you'll know what you're getting:

• History: Unlike what you may expect from books like this, I really do provide a comprehensive history of the genre, starting with wargames and tabletop D&D, mainframe classics, and of course the pioneering games on 8-bit computers. There's none of that "Ultima is the first CRPG" nonsense here. Indeed, I can almost guarantee there are games here that you've never heard of, but that actually played an important role in the genre. Beyond games, I also spend time talking about the evolution of personal computers and how that affected CRPG development.
• Console Gaming: Those of you familiar with my articles on Gamasutra may be surprised to know that I've also covered console RPGs in the book. All the big franchises (some controversially) are here, such as Zelda, Phantasy Star, Final Fantasy, and of course Chrono Trigger.
• Illustrations: Almost every game mentioned in the book has a screenshot, many of them taken by myself (some are from official shots or free databases). There is a color insert in the book as well! the cover art is by noted fantasy illustrative Clyde Caldwell, who did the covers for Pool of Radiance and Curse of the Azure Bonds.
• Original Interviews: I interviewed dozens of developers and programmers for this book, and their quotations are sprinkled throughout. Some of the people I interviewed include Chris Taylor (Dungeon Siege), Richard Bartle (father of MUD), Jeff McCord (Sword of Fargoal), Brian Fargo (Bard's Tale), and Keith Brors (Pool of Radiance)--just to name a few!
• Emulation Information: In addition to the story of these great games, I also frequently discuss how to play them on current hardware. After all, after reading about so many excellent games you're going to be dying to play them for yourself!

In short, I'm really proud of this book and hope you will enjoy reading it. Please consider pre-ordering a copy and get the word out. After all, if this book sells well, it will open up possibilities for more books like it. Don't wait--pre-order your copy right now!