I've just finished Blake Harris' Console Wars: Sega vs Nintendo - and the Battle that Defined a Generation. And it was *really* good. Some thoughts below while trying not to give away spoilers.

The focus was mainly on the late 80s through to the mid 90s, with a big emphasis on Sega and Nintendo (it's in the title, after all). It's written primarily from the perspective of Sega America's president, Tom Kalinske - also responsible for/involved in Barbie, Hot Wheels, He Man and the Masters of the Universe and Leapfrog. But there are some other appearances from some other surprising (at least to me) key industry players and companies.

I knew some of the back story (I was a kid through obnoxious teen in this era, though my formative gaming experiences were on the Amiga, and later, PC), and obviously knew how it ended, but the book was so engaging that you find yourself rooting for the underdog, even though you know they lose in the end. I was also amazed at just how close it was to all turning out differently.

My only slight quibble was that the author laid it on a bit thick about who the bad guys in the story were. I am sure there are two sides to every tale, and petty jealously probably wasn't quite enough to bring the entire thing crumbling down. But could be, I guess.

Hefty book at near 600 pages. I did the audiobook - the narrator did it really well - and it clocked in at nearly 21 hours.

It's already been optioned as a movie - Seth Rogan and Evan Goldberg are attached.