From Bedrooms to Billions

If you're reading this, you're a kindred spirit. A fan of classic games, and game history. A passionate soul, and as such will not need too much in the way of description. Just simply know if you are of that ilk, this Documentary is one of the best of the topic of gaming history, and just unmatched in terms of the UK industry. It just covers just about all you would want it to and all you can reasonably expect it to unless it was to become a TV series. From the games to the people behind them, to those magazines you loved of the time, it's superbly done. There are slight omissions there, but very few and to bring those up would be very nit picky indeed. It is just a stunning labour of love. And opt for the special edition, and you will get another disc featuring interviews and extended interviews with many of those on the first disc, covering some of those old favourites like Elite and Sentinel. There aren't many Documentaries that cover the UK market, although there are a couple that do the US one quite well. This well and truly fixes that, and goes on to be probably the best one ever done in my opinion. I was so close to giving this 10/10. If you have a passion for this subject you have to have this. Enough said.

Just finished viewing this,and it made the hair on my back stand up.Apart from a few glaring omissions (probably from people saying no to participate in this documentary rather than the makers not asking) it is a thorough analysis of the emergence of the gaming industry,and takes us through it's ups and downs and rebirth of gaming as we now know it.Conspicuously it rather glazes over the Amiga days,but that is most likely due to the up coming new documentary from the creators of this.

Can't praise this enough.Having lived through the 8-bit days,and later the 16-bit (read Amiga),it really is like revisiting the glory days.

One last thing:The ending is one of the best I've seen in a documentary.

Go on,give this one a try.

This for me has to be one of the greatest, well made documentaries I've ever seen. For the best part of 2·5 hours I was glued to the TV. There are some great interviews with key people from the birth of the games industry in the UK, combined with game footage and a great soundtrack. For a retro gamer like me it took me back to my childhood and great memories. However, you don't need to be a gamer to enjoy this, it is simply an excellent documentary. Check out the bonus disc too, some extended interviews and insights not in the main film! The highlight for me was seeing the great Matthew Smith, most famous as the man behind Manic Miner.

I have to say that I absolutely loved 'From Bedrooms to Billions' – it's marvellous! I discovered it on Netflix and watching it bought back so many great childhood memories – a truly wonderful 2.5hr's of time-travelled viewing with Pong and Dizzy =)

I'm no film critic or games industry professional but as someone who enjoys documentaries, in my opinion, it is not only the best documentary in the gaming genre but probably the best narrative/account of an industry/market development 'end-to-end, or at least from beginning to the present day' – I can't think of another documentary that captures/frames an industrial/business movement/growth in as concise or interesting way.

I think it's recommended viewing for anyone interested in technology or business, let alone gaming.

It has earned a place in my select DVD collection, amongst acclaimed viewing like The Wire and Fight Club, and true greats like Carl Sagan's Cosmos and Black Sky (the brilliant documentary about Burt Rutan's development of SpaceShipOne, now known as Virgin Galactic).

From Bedrooms To Billions is one I'll certainly show, discuss and leave to my grandchildren =)

What can I say about this film that has not already been said ?

I was lucky enough to grow up through this age, playing the games, becoming a computer geek, even being an Amiga 'scene' demo programmer in my late teens which led to a career as a computer programmer.

This film documented my childhood into my 20's, and any computer kid of the 70's included, as such I can't recommend it enough to people of our generation - but more importantly to those of the younger generation to see where it all began as to move forward you must always look back first.

Looking forward to the new 'Amiga years' film A lot.