Smoke and Mirrors by Mike James - Book Review

"You fool! You fell victim to one of the classic blunders! The most famous is to never get involved in a land war in Asia!"

Vizzini - The Princess Bride

"Another is never launch retro gaming hardware using early US-based consoles as an inspiration!"

Andrew the Tekkie - Just now

There are countless more in the realm of video games, but alongside whatever the hell is going on with Intellivision (the last update email was received 14th February 2024), the Coleco Chameleon epitomises what happens when an idea takes flight and no-one has the ability/forethought to shoot it down before it goes too far. However, Smoke and Mirrors by Mike James is much more than just a recitation of that particular shindig. Oh no, this is the kit and caboodle tell all centred on the individual responsible. 

The subtitle says it best: "The rise and fall of a serial antipreneur" and it's completely accurate. More than just a history of the Retro VGS/Coleco Chameleon, Smoke and Mirrors is a character study into the man behind those projects and his other attempts at making his love of video games earn him a living. From e-Bay analogues to podcasts and publications, Mike Kennedy's' approach to money making ideas could almost make Del Boy blush, such is the rapidity of directional changes he made within the period covered by this book. It's mesmerising how he switched between schemes without focus, how his desire to sell his vision (well, whichever one was his priority that particular day) led to the creation of his last "big" idea.

This is a complex tale, with many of the threads of the overarching story running concurrently, and that could have been the downfall of this book, but the author navigates the trials and tribulations rather well. Given its size (over 660 pages and there is little wasted space) and the running order of events, there is some repetition between chapters, but this should be seen more in the light of "remember when this happened 120 pages ago? You probably don't because of al of the drama since then. Well, as it turns out..." The ill-fated console doesn't really make an appearance until you've clocked over 200 pages, but such is the wild ride to get to that point, you hardly notice. Indeed, the personalities that pepper this tale reveal the highs and the lows of the retro gaming community, and although there is a conscious effort not to malign individuals, where there is fault, it is apportioned in a fair manner. It also helps that the events covered in the book are easily researched online, so readers can take their research even further if they so wish. 

Any real flaws? There could have been some tighter editing, especially at the very beginning - the very first chapter drags a little, but once you're in the story proper, there is a steady flow that doesn't falter thereafter. There is also the recognition that the author, being directly involved with events, is writing about himself in the third person (Andrew is unsure about this technique), and at times the tense seems to switch mid-sentence, but these are minor niggles. There is some imagery, clear enough in the mono copy I have, and it's a well put together tome. 

All in all, Smoke and Mirrors is well worth a read, and sheds illumination on how someone with a passion for video games can get it so wrong, be it by design or by mis-adventure. You may take it as a cautionary tale of how not to do things, or as an expose on one of the more bizarre hardware reveals in gaming history. Either way, it's one hell of a ride. 

I picked up my copy of Smoke and Mirrors from the North West Computer Museum (which I heartily recommend you visit if you can), but you can also find out more about the author, the book and shopping options here.