From Bedrooms to Billions

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 =)

This is an excellent documentary film featuring many of the pioneers from the UK computer games industry, which started at the end of the 1970s. The film contains interviews with people filmed in the present day reflecting back on their careers, many of whom are still in the games industry. I recognised many of the personalities featured but for some I knew the game but not the person behind it, so it was good to put faces and names to the games that I loved playing and to hear how the games came about.

I found the film fascinating because it gives insight into what went on behind the scenes at these companies and how they were started on a shoestring but became incredibly successful, with each one having a different story to tell. As a child growing up I typed in computer listings into my ZX Spectrum and Amiga and played many of the games featured, so this film was of great interest to me. I'd recommend this film to anyone interested in the history of the UK games industry or who remembers playing games on early computers as this is a really well put together production. The Special Edition is worth getting for the extended interviews.

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.

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.

I love this film. Not only for its in-depth and fascinating recap on the UK game industry starting in the 80's, but because its edited as a true story.

The flow of the film starts at the introduction of computers in the home and works its way through the home programmer, the initial reselling and publishing of games into the more serious side of struggling business and eventually where we're going today. Its a fantastic journey that touches on a bit of everything and its one I can relate to having grown up in that whole era.

If you want one of the best documentaries about the early games industry, then this is the one you seriously should be watching. Immensely enjoyable and very much re-watchable... :)