For consumers who grew up on fire flowers and severe cases of "NES thumb," platform games began with Super Mario and his colorful cohort of deranged turtles, pink princesses, and cowardly brothers. But the roots of running and jumping over obstacles, arguably the most prolific mechanics in video games, extend far back from Nintendo's 8-bit Control Deck. Bottomless Pit: Running and Jumping Through Platform Games explores the evolution of "run-and-jump" games in rough chronological order of release—from their humble beginnings in arcades through their starring role in the modern industry's explosion of unique and captivating indie titles such as Shovel Knight. Run, jump, climb, dig, and swing with Stay Awhile and Listen author David L. Craddock as he charts a course through Volume 1's many pitfalls, mischievous apes, and webs of ledges and ladders.