About this Event
Celebrate the release of Play Nice: The Rise, Fall, and Future of Blizzard Entertainment with two titans of video game journalism, and discover The Social Network for the video game industry, a riveting examination of Blizzard Entertainment's rise and shocking downfall.
New York Times–bestselling author and investigative journalist Jason Schreier (Kotaku, Bloomberg) will be joined by veteran journalist Stephen Tolito (Kotaku, Game File) for this reading, conversation, reception, and signing.
Preorder your copy today!
About the book
For video game fans, the name Blizzard Entertainment was once synonymous with perfection. The renowned company behind classics like Diablo and World of Warcraft was known to celebrate the joy of gaming over all else. What was once two UCLA students' simple mission — to make games they wanted to play — launched an empire with thousands of employees, millions of fans, and billions of dollars.
But when Blizzard cancelled a buzzy project in 2013, it gave Bobby Kotick, the infamous CEO of corporate parent Activision, the excuse he needed to start cracking down on Blizzard's proud autonomy. Activision began invading Blizzard from the inside. Glitchy products, PR disasters, mass layoffs, and a staggering lawsuit marred the company's reputation and led to its ultimate reckoning.
Based on firsthand interviews with more than 300 current and former employees, Play Nice chronicles the creativity, frustration, beauty, and betrayal across the epic 33-year saga of Blizzard Entertainment, showing us what it really means to "bleed Blizzard blue." Full of colorful personalities and dramatic twists, this is the story of what happens when the ruthless pursuit of profit meets artistic idealism.
Advance Praise for Play Nice
“Here’s a thrilling adventure story from the untamed, online wilderness of modern capitalism. Think Barbarians at the Gate, but with digital dragons and blood-thirsty trolls. Gaming is now a more powerful and influential business than Hollywood, and Jason Schreier has delivered a masterful narrative that shows how the industry really works.” —Christopher Leonard, New York Times–bestselling author of Kochland and The Lords of Easy Money
“A fast paced thrill ride, perfect for anyone who has ever played a video game. Jason Schreier’s comprehensive history of Blizzard Entertainment offers a completely enthralling look at the company’s founding and the bitter battle for its future. A must read!” —Ben Mezrich, New York Times bestselling author of The Accidental Billionaires, Dumb Money, and The Midnight Ride.
"Jason Schreier's Play Nice is a riveting chronicle of one of gaming's most iconic companies. With gripping detail and unmatched access, Schreier pulls back the curtain on Blizzard Entertainment's meteoric rise, turbulent history, and struggle to balance uncompromising creativity with corporate America's unyielding pursuit of profit.Play Niceis a must-read exposé of the passion, ambition and dysfunction behind some of the most beloved games of all time." —Bradley Hope, co-author of the New York Times bestseller Billion Dollar Whale
About Jason Schreier
Jason Schreier is the New York Times bestselling author of Press Reset and Blood, Sweat, and Pixels and a reporter at Bloomberg News, where he covers the video game industry. He lives in Westchester, New York with his wife and two children.
About Stephen Totilo
Stephen Totilo runs the gaming newsletter Game File and has nearly two decades of experience covering the video game beat as a reporter and editor. His previous roles includ launching video game coverage at MTV News and Axios as well as a decade-long stint running Kotaku. For some reason, he once got the idea to hire Jason Schreier. It kind of worked out.
Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Lofty Pigeon Books, Church Avenue, Brooklyn, NY, USA, United States
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