Significant Zero Audiobook By Walt Williams cover art

Significant Zero

Heroes, Villains, and the Fight for Art and Soul in Video Games

Preview
Try for $0.00
Access a growing selection of included Audible Originals, audiobooks, and podcasts.
You will get an email reminder before your trial ends.
Audible Plus auto-renews for $7.95/mo after 30 days. Upgrade or cancel anytime.

Significant Zero

By: Walt Williams
Narrated by: Kevin T. Collins
Try for $0.00

$7.95 a month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $15.47

Buy for $15.47

Confirm purchase
Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use, License, and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.
Cancel

About this listen

When his satirical musings in a college newspaper got him discharged from the Air Force, it became clear to Walt Williams that his destiny in life was to be a writer - he just never thought he'd end up writing video games, let alone working on some of the most successful franchises in the industry - Bioshock, Civilization, Borderlands, and Mafia, among others.

Williams pulls back the curtain on an astonishingly profitable industry that has put its stamp on pop culture and yet is little known to those outside its walls. In his reflective yet comically-observant voice, Williams walks you through his unlikely and at times inglorious rise within one of the world's top gaming companies, exposing an industry abundant in brain power and out-sized egos, but struggling to stay innovative.

Significant Zero also provides clear-eyed criticism of the industry's addiction to violence and explains how the role of the narrative designer - the poor soul responsible for harmonizing gameplay with storylines - is crucial for expanding the scope of video games into more immersive and emotional experiences.

©2017 Walter Williams (P)2017 Tantor
Art Entertainment & Celebrities Celebrity Inspiring Thought-Provoking Witty
adbl_web_global_use_to_activate_T1_webcro805_stickypopup

Critic reviews

"An entertaining and provocative look inside big-time video game development." ( Kirkus)
Captivating Journey • Honest Assessment • Adjustable Narration Speed • Personal Account • Intense Storytelling
Highly rated for:
Most relevant  
Highly reccomended if you're interested in video games. However, I think the book should come with a spoiler warning. Major plot spoilers for games such as Bioshock, The Last of Us, Dishonored and Spec Ops The Line are casually dropped throughout the book.

Revealing insight into the games industry

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

A story not only about games but about the people who make them and the potential within them.

compelling

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

if you love video games, you're probably always wondering what happens behind the scenes. what was left out? what was development like? one of the industry's best writers takes you through his own journey in a very personal way.

great insight into the industry

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

Being a writer myself, this is a solid look@ the industry but suffers from a lack of empathy.

good look at the industry

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

Walt Williams’ chronicle of his unusual rise through the video game industry from quality assurance to lead writer is not only captivating as his friends and foils (the illusive “Fox” and his own abrasive ego) get in the way of his often reckless ambition. It’s a typical games industry tale, but that actually what makes it so appealing. He’s not the first person the game industry has gobbled up and spit out like used Skoal, but his best for beat account is so intense and personal, it provides the kind of detail we don’t even see in the industry. An important and essential read (or listen) for anyone interested what goes on behind the scenes of the video game industry.

Great insight on an intense, elusive industry

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

it was a good insight into what it takes to create games in this industry. Thank You

It was a good insight

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

At some points it loses focus but overall an interesting story. Oh, and a bit spoilery for some games.

Overall great book

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

A fairly poignant look at one writers somewhat tumultuous journey through video game development. I appreciate his viewpoint regarding a different approach to video game storytelling and modus operandi. My only concern with this book is in regards to its spoilers. The book is laden with huge spoilers to some big name games; Bioshock, The Last of Us, and SpecOps: The Line. Assuming the reader has played those or doesn't mind the story being spoiled, its a good read.

Interesting and Insightful. But Spoiler heavy!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

This book is my favorite book on game development/ writing it talks about the toll on your life that writing video games takes but he talks about games like Bioshock and borderlands and Spec Ops: The Line and last of us If you have not played those games go play them they are very good games and Bioshock is a work of art just play them before listen to this because he goes into spoilers

Very good book but if you haven’t played the games he talks about don’t listen to it

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

One of the best books I've read relating to video games.You won't regret picking up this masterpiece

What a Fantastic book

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

See more reviews