Literary Glance: Ready Player One by Ernest Cline
The movie Ready Player One came out this weekend, but I haven’t seen it yet. I’m not going to pay attention to what the critics say about it. I expect the movie to be loud with lots of action sequences and little characterization. Other critics can argue about whether or not the movie relies too much on 1980s references.
I’m ignoring all that hype and all that criticism. I have only one question about Ready Player One.
Is Robotron in the movie?
Ready Player One by Ernest Cline is probably the first book I’ve ever read that makes a reference to Robotron, my favorite arcade video game from the 1980s. In fact, Ready Player One makes references to a bunch of stuff from the 1980s. The first couple chapters of Ready Player One have already made references to a bunch of 80s pop culture like, Oingo Boingo, Family Ties, John Hughes movies, and, of course… video games like Robotron.
As somebody who grew up in the 80s, I appreciate seeing all these references. It’s part of what makes Ready Player One fun to read.
I could be biased. Maybe I appreciate this book so much because I’ve finally discovered somebody who loves Robotron as much as I did. Back when we’d play arcade games in the mall or at the pool hall, and everybody else was obsessed with crap like Frogger or…
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Dysfunctional Literacy 
Your Robotron reference highlights the problem with the book and movie. If you “get” the references and loved the things mentioned in the book/movie, then you’ll be into it. If you don’t, then it’s a whole lot of sound and fury signifying nothing. That’s why they had to replace a lot of the references from the book (including probably Robotron) because they’re just not mainstream enough, especially with the intended audience of…young adults who weren’t alive when most of this stuff came out? I’m going to see it next weekend. I have low expectations, but the Dolorean in the trailer was enough to entice me.
The trailer was really loud and cliche, so you’re probably right.
Even so, would you please let me know if Robotron was in the movie?