About The Minds Behind the Games: Interviews With Cult and Classic Video Game Developers

Featuring interviews with the creators of 36 popular video games–including Deus Ex, Night Trap, Mortal Kombat, Wasteland and NBA Jam–this book gives a behind-the-scenes look at the creation of some of the most influential and iconic (and sometimes forgotten) games of all time. Recounting endless hours of painstaking development, the challenges of working with mega-publishers and the uncertainties of public reception, the interviewees reveal the creative processes that produced some of gaming’s classic titles.

Now Available!

About The Minds Behind Adventure Games: Interviews With Cult and Classic Video Game Developers:

From the earliest days of the video game industry, games that place a paramount on adventure have reigned supreme. From the days of Pitfall on the Atari 2600 to the epics of today, the sense of adventure has spawned a myriad of sub-genres and created a bevy of characters whose tales of wonder will be remembered alongside the Greek myths.

Interviewing over 50 developers across 31 games the likes of Grand Theft Auto, Conker’s Bad Fur Day, Strider, Double Dragon and many more, award-winning journalist and college professor Patrick Hickey Jr. gets the greatest and up and coming minds in video game history to tell the stories that inspired some of their most talked-about adventures.

Now Available!

About The Minds Behind Sports Games: Interviews With Cult and Classic Video Game Developers

Featuring interviews with the creators of 35 popular video games—including John Madden Football, Tony Hawk Pro Skater 3, WCW/nWO Revenge, and RBI Baseball—this book gives a behind-the-scenes look at the creation of some of the most influential and iconic (and sometimes forgotten) sports video games of all time. Recounting endless hours of painstaking development, the challenges of working with mega-publishers and the uncertainties of public reception, the interviewees reveal the creative processes that produced some of gaming’s classic titles.

Now Available!

About The Minds Behind Shooter Games: Interviews With Cult and Classic Video Game Developers

Featuring interviews with the creators of 39 popular video games—including Halo 3, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare, Medal of Honor and Metroid Prime—this book gives a behind-the-scenes look at the origins of some of the most iconic shooter games. Interviewees recount endless hours of painstaking development, the challenges of working with mega-publishers, the growth of the genre and the creative processes that produced some of the industry’s biggest hits, cult classics and indie successes.

Now Available!

Click the Link Below to Pre-Order:

About The Minds Behind Sega Genesis Games: Interviews With Cult and Classic Video Game Developers

Featuring interviews with the creators of 43 popular video games—including Altered Beast, Sonic the Hedgehog 2, NHL 95 and Vectorman—this book gives a behind-the-scenes look at the origins of some of the most iconic shooter games. Interviewees recount endless hours of painstaking development, the challenges of working with mega-publishers, the growth of the genre and the creative processes that produced some of the industry’s biggest hits, cult classics and indie successes.

Click the Link Below to Pre- Order: Expected Publication Date: Summer 2002

The Minds Behind PlayStation Games: Interviews with Creators and Developers

Featuring interviews with the creators of 43 popular video games–including Spyro the Dragon, Syphon Filter, NFL GameDay 98 and Final Fantasy VII this book gives a behind-the-scenes look at the creation of some of the most influential and iconic (and sometimes forgotten) games of the original PlayStation era. Recounting endless hours of painstaking development, the challenges of working with mega publishers and the uncertainties of public reception, the interviewees reveal the creative processes that produced some of gaming’s classic titles.

Click the Link Below to Pre- Order: Expected Publication Date: Winter 2022

Comics by Patrick Hickey Jr.

Condrey #0

One man’s journey against the system that robbed him of his childhood and the men that erased his family from existence.

Written by Patrick Hickey Jr.

Illustrated by KX Quinn.

Letters by Wes Locher.

Click the image to read and head to LegacyComix.com for more info.

Condrey #1

A man on a mission to find his father’s killer. But he’s gotta eat, too. That secondary journey leads him toa chance encounter he’ll never forget.

Written by Patrick Hickey Jr.

Illustrated by KX Quinn.

Letters by Wes Locher.

Head to LegacyComix.com for more info.

Praise for Condrey:

“Hickey and Quinn’s Condrey is a dark slice of the inner city, as viewed through the eyes of a very angry vigilante. As powerful as it sounds, with art that more than does it justice.”

-Peter Hogan, Writer, Resident Alien, Dark Horse Comics

“Condrey jumps into the deep end of the pool
of the dark, lost corners in a violent big city, with an intriguing introduction to a troubled anti-hero that you will want to root for and see redeemed.

Whether that character gets his redemption or not, is the hook that will bring you back for more.

Hickey Jr. pulls you in with a great character set up story, and Quinn’s art has a beautiful Sam Kieth style of art gives you amazing details with minimal design.”

-Stephan Nilson, Creator, The Pound, Husk, IDW Comics,

Writer, Justice League Unlimited, The Batman Strikes!, DC Comics

Condrey captures the feeling of hopelessness of a kid growing up in rougher parts of South Brooklyn, and has the energy of that Indy comic you loved reading in the early 90s.

-Sean Von Gorman, illustrator and writer, co-creator, Toe Tag Riot (Black Mask Studios), Secret Adventures of Houdini (Alterna) and Pawn Shop (Z2 Comics).

Lifetime New Yorker Patrick Hickey Jr. opens a vein and pours himself into this gritty and taut tale set in the Big Apple and introducing Condrey, a tough guy seeking vengeance against those who made him an orphan. Artist Kieran X. Quinn’s sketchy, atmospheric style is a good match for Hickey’s dark storyline, which mixes in a little social commentary. I’m looking forward to reading the next issue to find out more about and follow the path of this angry character.

-Brett Weiss, former owner of Fantastic Comics & Cards, former Comics Buyer’s Guide Review Crew member, author of The NES Omnibus and other pop culture books

About the Author:

Patrick Hickey Jr. is a full-time Assistant Professor of Communication & Performing Arts and Director of the Journalism program at Kingsborough Community College and is the Chairman of the City University of New York Journalism Council. He is the Founder and Editor-In-Chief of ReviewFix.com. He’s also a former News Editor at NBC Local Integrated Media and National Video Games Writer at Examiner.com.

Hickey was also the Editor-In-Chief of two College Newspapers before he received his BA in Journalism from Brooklyn College. Hickey’s work has been published in The New York Daily News, The New York Times, Complex, The Hockey Writers, Yahoo!, Broadway World, Examiner, NYSportScene Magazine, ProHockeyNews.com, GothamBaseball.com, The Syracuse Post-Standard, Scout.com and the official sites of the Brooklyn Aces and New York Islanders.

His first book, The Minds Behind the Games: Interviews With Cult And Classic Video Game Developers was released in April 2018. His second book in the series, The Minds Behind Adventures Games, was released in December 2019. His third book, The Minds Behind Sports Games, was released in September 2020. His fourth book, The Minds Behind Shooter Games, was released in March 2021. The Minds Behind Sega Genesis Games and The Minds Behind PlayStation Games were released in 2022 and The Minds Behind PlayStation 2 was published in January 2023.

Hickey is also a contracted comic book writer, currently penning his original series, “Condrey,” as well as “The Job,” “Brooklyn Bleeds” “Dem Gulls” and “KROOM” for Legacy Comix, where he serves as founder, owner and Editor-in-Chief.

Hickey Jr. is also a voice actor, having starred in the 2018 indie hit and 2019 Switch, PS4 and Xbox One release, The Padre (also serving as English language Story Editor), from Shotgun With Glitters. The sequel, The Padre: One Shell Straight to Hell was released in February 2021- Hickey also served as a Story Editor and Lead Voiceover performer. He has also done narration and trailers for several other titles including The Kaiju Offensive, Relentless Rex and Roniu’s Tale.

Hickey is also the lead voiceover performer on Mega Cat Studios’ upcoming title WrestleQuest, responsible for nearly 90 characters in the game, as well as Skybound’s Renfield: Bring Your Own Blood, where he voices both Dracula and Renfield: Bring Your Own Blood, as well as several other characters. He also stars in Ziggurat Interactive’s World Championship Boxing Manager 2, where he performs the VO of nearly every male character in the game. He also worked on the Atari VCS’s BPM Boy.

Editorial Reviews:

“Fantastic. One part serious journalism and the other a love letter to the history of gaming.”–Anthony Frisina, author of The Regulator

“NHLPA 93 was the first game I owned for the Sega Genesis and I played it nonstop for a month. I truly believe my favorite player as a kid was Jeremy Roenick simply because of this game. Patrick does a terrific job encapsulating the history, emotion and drama of the early days of this series.” –Arda Ocal, MSG Networks

“The Minds Behind the Games” reads like personal voiceover for a 30-for-30 documentary on every classic video game discussed in the book. This is a must-read for classic gaming fans and anyone interested in learning about the thought process of gaming developers..- Brian Mazique, Forbes

“From arcade rats to indie developers, Hickey gives an intimate look at the personalities behind gaming with the passion of a fanboy and the attention of a scholar.”–Cesar R. Bustamante, Jr., New York Daily News

“I love the ‘WWF WrestleMania: The Arcade Game’ chapter, which perfectly captures the aura surrounding that title—its development and release during such a transitionary phase for Wrestling—and how it smartly serves as a fun and exemplary reminder of the game’s uniqueness in being a fighting game at heart, hybridized…and stylized with mystical, whimsical gimmick-specific elements effectively creating a ‘game for everyone,’ during a time when that was an impossible task.”— Joel Gertner, Extreme Championship Wrestling Legend

“Hickey’s discussions of the NHL Faceoff brought back huge memories for me. Being able to play a season, insert yourself in the lineup and play to hoist the Stanley Cup made the dreams of my youth come alive on the television. Thanks for allowing me to re-live my past with the telling of these stories.”—Gary Harding, 1240 SportsTalk Radio.

“This book will make your inner gamer do the time warp again and again.” –Chris Butera, founder, Bonesaw webzine.