Lucky That Way - Softcover

Fregger, Brad

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0977353532 ISBN 13: 9780977353538

Publisher: Groundbreaking Press, 2009

Synopsis

Ever wonder how computer games get developed? How computer solitaire was born? How things get done in the consumer software industry? Lucky That Way by Brad Fregger is a rare, inside look at the stories behind the creation of some of the most successful computer games in the world. It's a book about seizing the moment; about coincidence, serendipity and miracles. It's about people, their initial failures and their ultimate successes. Companies may fall and products may fail, but the individuals these stories are about ultimately find their personal truths and go on to succeed in the best possible way, as effective, confident, contributing human beings. It's also about creativity, about how the human spirit given a respite from the drudgery of finding food and shelter, will find a way to create. If our creations are seen and appreciated by a few others, we receive a great blessing. If they're seen and appreciated by millions, we receive a bonus that is almost beyond belief. Lucky That Way speaks directly to the fast pace and ever changing environment of modern American business. Brad's easy to read, conversational style, plus his humorous, sometimes unbelievable "interludes" add a flavor to the book that puts it into the same category as "Surely You Must be Joking," Mr. Feynman and other successful "life story" books that have been well received by the reading public over the years. This deeply personal memoir deals with some of the more interesting times Brad experienced while creating the training organization at Atari during the time the company went from 300 million to two billion in annual sales. Then he shares how it all ended, how the fastest growing company in history crashed and brought the video game industry down. Brad leaves Atari and training to begin a new career as a producer. These are the early years in this industry and they are highly creative ones. Nobody knows its limits. Brad takes advantage of the situation and leads the development of many new and wonderful products. Brad's stories of this time speak to us all, including the "World's Greatest Easter Egg" and "I Loved the Movie, Let's Do the Game!." We meet Brodie Lockard, a programmer with the same physical handicap as Chris Reeves, who refused to accept defeat and developed Shanghai, one of the most successful computer games of all time. Learn how computer card solitaire was created and became the most played computer game in the world. And learn of many other wonderful products, not as well known, that brought joy and entertainment to the lucky few who discovered them. You will learn how to seize the moment; how to practice spontaneity, take advantage of synchronicity and serendipity; and how to make the creative spirit a way of life, not something you turn on when you have a problem to solve. When you remain open to new and unexpected developments, you find you can get the most difficult things done and accomplish the seemingly impossible in your business and your personal life. Brad's openness when he talks about his own mistakes, the challenges he must overcome, and the courage he exhibits as he starts over, again and again, is thought provoking and inspirational in its own way. In the end we find out just how lucky Brad is and discover that we, too, can be Lucky That Way.

About this title

From the Author

I started writing this book in the middle of June, 1998. I had thought about it for years, even written some preliminary chapters. I wanted it to be a selection of stories from my life. I had discovered that personal stories can be very impactual and I had a lot of them. Prior to this writing stint, I would have judged myself to be a fairly average writer. I've always been a good storyteller, but I knew I was better orally than in writing.

Something happened this time. The writing came easy, seemed almost inspired. I was working full time. Yet I would wake up at four in the morning with a whole chapter in my head, come to my computer, and have it written before seven. The first draft of Lucky That Way was completed by the middle of August.

After finishing, I passed it around to a number of different people; this was my "beta test." I discovered just telling stories left some people confused. They needed something to hold it all together. Then it dawned on me that I could add to the book my philosophy of "seizing the moment." This would let me share just how seizing the moment has worked in my life and my work, and it would be the golden thread that held it all together.

It's very interesting how consciously involving yourself in this type of thinking causes things to happen. Since this was my first book, I was concerned about finding a publisher. I know of many people who have finished books and never found a publisher.

I was preparing a media blitz designed to find the right publisher (one who liked my style of writing, was big enough to have books in all of the major retailers, yet small enough so my book would be important), when my fiance, Barbara Foley, told me that she wanted me to go to Iowa with her to visit family and friends.

I was too busy; I had a book to get published! I told her I would go, but I had to work while we traveled. She mentioned that she knew a publisher in Iowa who might be interested in my book.

This publisher was in a small town we were going to be visiting, so Barbara called and made an appointment for me to meet with the managing editor, Rodney Charles. I sent him my book and checked him out on the Web. It looked like a waste of time; the Website's url was newagepage.com. This didn't feel right for a book on the computer games industry. I was in for a surprise!

Rodney and I met a few days after we arrived in town. The first thing he did was show me one of his current books, The Official Video Game & Pinball Book of World Records. He said the book was getting lots of press and that most of it was around a small section in the book that talked about the history of video games.

He was excited about the possibility of publishing my book. We talked further and I discovered that he liked my style of writing, had published about fifty books, and had distribution in all of the major retailers. This was truly serendipity! I set off for one destination and arrived someplace totally unexpected, someplace more wonderful than I could have dreamed of. Within a half hour, we had made a deal and I had my publisher.

Now I had to find someone to write the forward. I put together a list of possibilities with my dream candidate at the top. This was Orson Scott Card, my favorite science fiction/fantasy writer. I knew he was interested in computer games, wrote the Gameplay Column in Compute! magazine, but I hesitated to ask him. I figured he must be terribly busy. It would take four to five weeks for him to answer, and then he'd probably say no. And I'd be right back where I started.

Barbara entered the picture again, "I thought you were writing a book about seizing the moment..." I went right to my computer and sent a message to his Website. Then I prepared myself to wait patiently. The next morning I got the answer, "OSC will definitely write the forward...please send your book."

So the miracles keep coming, and coincidence, synchronicity, and serendipity keep playing a big role in my life. Believe me when I tell you they can play a role in your's too. All you have to do is learn to seize the moment!

From the Back Cover

Brad Fregger is the "old man" of computer games, involved since the early days at Atari. He shares fascinating stories from the industry mixed with gems of humor and wisdom. His easy conversational style makes this book a joy to read and hard to put down.

- Learn how seizing the moment and depending on miracles can help you when things are tough or you've got the impossible to accomplish.

- Read the story of how computer card solitaire was created and became the most played computer game in the world.

- Meet a young Stanford gymnast who created Shanghai, one of the most popular computer games of all time, after a tragic accident left him a quadriplegic.

- Read the real story of how Atari, the fastest growing company in American business history, crashed and took down the entire video game industry.

- Read the Silicon Valley legend of how Bill Gates got MS-DOS for Microsoft, enabling him to become America's richest man.

- Read the inside story of the biggest Easter Egg in the history of video and computer games.

- Read how Tetris was passed by Broderbund, picked up by a small publisher and became a huge success.

About this edition

• Publisher: Groundbreaking Press
• Publication date: 2009
• ISBN 10: 0977353532
• ISBN 13: 9780977353538
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 242