Rusel DeMaria, Johnny L. Wilson

Rusel DeMaria and Johnny L. Wilson are gaming historians and journalists who collaborated to document the evolution of electronic games. DeMaria worked as a game designer and writer in the video game industry, while Wilson served as editor-in-chief of Computer Gaming World magazine for over a decade. Their partnership produced comprehensive historical accounts of gaming culture and industry development. Wilson brought editorial experience from his tenure at one of the most influential gaming publications of the 1990s and early 2000s. The authors focused their collaborative work on chronicling the technological and cultural shifts that shaped electronic gaming. Their writing draws from industry connections and firsthand observations of gaming's transformation from arcade novelty to mainstream entertainment. Their documentation efforts captured interviews with key industry figures and traced the business decisions that influenced game development. The collaboration combined Wilson's journalistic background with DeMaria's insider perspective on game creation and industry operations.

Readers praise "High Score!" for its thorough documentation of gaming history and comprehensive coverage of industry evolution. Many appreciate the book's chronological approach and the inclusion of interviews with industry pioneers and developers. The visual elements, including screenshots and photographs, receive positive mentions for helping illustrate the technological progression of games. Readers value the authors' insider knowledge and access to industry figures, noting that this provides perspectives not found in other gaming histories. The book's coverage of both mainstream and obscure titles appeals to gaming enthusiasts who want detailed historical context. Some readers criticize the book's organization, finding certain sections disjointed or difficult to follow. Others mention that the writing style can be dry and academic, making it less engaging for casual readers. A few reviews note that the book's focus on American gaming history leaves gaps in coverage of international developments, particularly regarding Japanese gaming culture and companies.