Blake J. Harris

Blake J. Harris is an American author and journalist known for writing about the technology and gaming industries. His most notable works include "Console Wars: Sega, Nintendo and the Battle That Defined a Generation" (2014) and "The History of the Future" (2019). "Console Wars" chronicles the fierce business rivalry between Sega and Nintendo in the 1990s, focusing on Sega of America CEO Tom Kalinske's efforts to challenge Nintendo's market dominance. The book was adapted into a CBS All Access documentary film in 2020, with Harris serving as an executive producer alongside Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg. Harris's second book, "The History of the Future," examines the founding and early years of virtual reality company Oculus, including its acquisition by Facebook and subsequent controversies. His work has also appeared in numerous publications including ESPN, IGN, Fast Company, and The Daily Beast. The author's research process typically involves extensive interviews with industry figures and access to previously unreleased documents and materials. Harris continues to write about technology, gaming, and business while serving as a consulting producer for film and television adaptations of his work.

Readers praise Harris's detailed research and narrative storytelling style in both "Console Wars" and "History of the Future." Many reviewers note his ability to make complex business stories read like page-turning dramas. Common praise points: - Makes tech history accessible and engaging - Captures personalities and corporate dynamics - Well-documented with extensive sources Common criticisms: - Reconstructed dialogue feels artificial - Too much dramatization of events - Some factual inaccuracies noted by industry insiders - Writing can be repetitive Review scores: Console Wars - Goodreads: 4.1/5 (14,000+ ratings) - Amazon: 4.4/5 (1,200+ reviews) History of the Future - Goodreads: 3.9/5 (2,000+ ratings) - Amazon: 4.3/5 (300+ reviews) Several readers note that while Harris takes creative liberties with dialogue and scene recreation, his books serve as solid introductions to gaming and VR industry history for general audiences.

Console Wars: Sega, Nintendo and the Battle That Defined a Generation A detailed account of the 1990s rivalry between Sega and Nintendo, focusing on Sega of America CEO Tom Kalinske's strategy to challenge Nintendo's market dominance.

The History of the Future: Oculus, Facebook, and the Revolution That Swept Virtual Reality A chronicle of Oculus VR's journey from its Kickstarter campaign through its Facebook acquisition, documenting the company's impact on virtual reality technology.

David Kushner wrote "Masters of Doom" about id Software's founders and the creation of landmark video games like Doom and Quake. His narrative approach to tech history matches Harris's style of blending business drama with cultural transformation.

Steven Levy documented the early days of computing in "Hackers" and the creation of Mac in "Insanely Great," focusing on corporate battles and industry pioneers. His books uncover the human stories behind technological revolutions through extensive primary source research and interviews.

Brad Stone chronicles the rise of digital companies in works like "The Everything Store" about Amazon and "The Upstarts" about Uber and Airbnb. His reporting relies on insider accounts and corporate documents to reveal the power struggles that shape tech industry transformation.

Nick Bilton wrote "Hatching Twitter" about the founding of Twitter and the conflicts between its creators. His work examines modern tech companies through detailed reporting and reconstructed scenes based on interviews with key participants.

Dean Takahashi authored "Opening the Xbox" about Microsoft's entry into the gaming console market and the internal battles involved. His coverage of the gaming industry combines technical detail with behind-the-scenes business narratives derived from extensive source access.