Video Games
Format: Hardback
Pages: 224
ISBN: 9781399055185
Pub Date: 30 Mar 2025
Format: Hardback
Pub Date: 30 Mar 2025
Pages: 224
ISBN: 9781399055185
Description:
Video games can be truly rewarding experiences whether you’re knocking Bowser into a fiery inferno, scrapping seconds off a lap time around Silverstone to turn it into a record breaker, or solving a head-scratching Picross puzzle after a quiet and focused half hour. When that accomplishment happens to involve besting a friend sitting on the very same couch or a stranger (or ninety-nine for that matter) halfway round the world it's made all the more sweeter. Knowing you’ve bested not just the video game, but another hungry competitor too.
So put on your meanest game face as The Best Competitive Multiplayer Games guides you through sixty of the best multiplayer titles around. From burning rubber across Rainbow Road to deceiving and hunting your friends aboard a space ship, there’s plenty of ways to flex your gaming skills (not to mention ample chance to celebrate with your favourite victory dance). Featuring games released over the past thirty years and covering all sorts of genres including online shooters, face kicking fighters, score-chasing puzzlers and a few unexpected surprises too, this fully illustrated guide includes detailed explanations of every entry, fascinating facts and what makes them a top candidate to settle a score with friends or rivals.
Format: Hardback
Pages: 152
ISBN: 9781036108632
Pub Date: 30 Mar 2025
Format: Hardback
Pub Date: 30 Mar 2025
Pages: 152
ISBN: 9781036108632
Description:
Embark on a fascinating journey with The History of Handheld Game Consoles, a thorough exploration of the history, impact and legacy of handheld gaming. Featuring consoles that revolutionised the way we play, this book not only charts the evolution of iconic devices from the humble Game Boy to modern technical marvels such as the Steam Deck, but it also offers a deep dive into the technical workings that made each system a beacon of innovation in portable gaming.
The book includes a unique collection of photographs, contributed by a passionate global community of passionate gamers. These real, unseen images provide an authentic glimpse into the world of handheld gaming, capturing moments of joy, competition, and the sheer love of gaming. Explore detailed examinations of classic games for each handheld console, offering insights into their development, impact, and legacy.
From the pixelated adventures of Mario on the Game Boy to the immersive experiences on the Nintendo Switch and the innovative ground-breaking capabilities of the Steam Deck, The History of Handheld Game Consoles delves into how these portable powerhouses have shaped the gaming landscape. Join us on this journey through gaming's portable evolution and celebrate the handheld consoles that have brought endless hours of entertainment into the palms of our hands.
Format: Hardback
Pages: 224
ISBN: 9781036125868
Pub Date: 28 Feb 2025
Format: Hardback
Pub Date: 28 Feb 2025
Pages: 224
ISBN: 9781036125868
Description:
There’s no such thing as a quiet year in video games, and 2024 has been no different.
For players, a steady stream of high-profile game releases has meant there’s always been something new to play regardless of what console, handheld, PC or mobile device they were using. Meanwhile, behind the scenes 2024 has been one of the most turbulent years in the history of the games industry, with widespread job losses, studio cuts, acquisitions and other controversies.
Video Games Chronicle, the expert source for video game news, has covered 2024’s goings-on every step of the way, and this book summarises the entire year in one handy volume. Designed like an old-school games magazine, this book presents the VGC website’s best coverage of 2024 in a more traditional format.
Our News section takes you through all the major stories that took place throughout the year, allowing you to relive every moment (for better or worse). Our Reviews section contains every notable VGC game review from 2024, ‘remastered’ and presented to you in physical form (we’re big on preservation, you see). Our Features section offers some of our best long-form articles from the past year. Finally, our Previews section takes a look at some of the games coming in 2025.
The world of online games media is a fast-moving one, and news and reviews usually arrive at breakneck speed then disappear from our consciousness to be replaced with the latest stories. With this book, we hope to provide a more permanent summary of the year, while also harking back to the days of the games magazines we loved so much.
Format: Hardback
Pages: 320
ISBN: 9781399096775
Pub Date: 11 Sep 2024
Format: Hardback
Pub Date: 11 Sep 2024
Pages: 320
ISBN: 9781399096775
Description:
The Game Boy Encyclopedia is the sixth book in Scottish author and journalist Chris Scullion’s critically-acclaimed series of video game encyclopedias. There are few video game systems as iconic and important as the Nintendo Game Boy. Released in 1989, the handheld’s humble green-tinted display allowed for a low-cost portable console that won over players where it mattered most: the quality of its games. From huge early successes like the iconic Tetris and Super Mario Land to its revival years later with the groundbreaking Pokémon games, the Game Boy stands proudly as one of the greatest gaming systems ever. Its 1998 successor, the Game Boy Color, addressed the one main weak spot in the Game Boy’s armour and offered full-colour games. Combined, nearly 120 million Game Boy and Game Boy Color handhelds were sold worldwide, with both models playing a huge role in so many childhoods (and adulthoods). This book contains every game released in the west for both handhelds: around 580 on the Game Boy and around 560 on the Game Boy Color. With around 1,150 games covered in total, screenshots and trivia factoids for every single title and a light-hearted writing style designed for an informative but entertaining read, The Game Boy Encyclopedia is the definitive guide to a legendary gaming platform.
Format: Paperback
Pages: 256
ISBN: 9781526772220
Pub Date: 11 Sep 2024
Format: Paperback
Pub Date: 11 Sep 2024
Pages: 256
ISBN: 9781526772220
Description:
The fourth book in Chris Scullion’s critically acclaimed series of video game encyclopedias, The N64 Encyclopedia is dedicated to the Nintendo 64, one of the most well-loved games consoles ever released. Although the Nintendo 64 didn’t sell as well as some of Nintendo’s other systems, and although it struggled in the shadow of the bold newcomer that was the Sony PlayStation, everyone who owned an N64 was in love with it and the four-player multiplayer it provided as standard. Despite its relatively small library, the Nintendo 64 had a healthy number of groundbreaking titles that would revolutionise the way we played video games. The likes of Super Mario 64, GoldenEye 007, Mario Kart 64 and The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remain iconic in the eyes of video game fans 25 years down the line. This book naturally contains those games, but it also contains every other game released for the system, no matter how obscure. It also covers every game released in Japan, including those for the ill-fated Nintendo 64DD add-on which never left the country. With over 400 games covered, screenshots for every title and a light-hearted writing style designed to make reading it a fun experience, the N64 Encyclopedia is the definitive guide to a truly revolutionary gaming system.
Format: Hardback
Pages: 184
ISBN: 9781399013574
Pub Date: 20 Jun 2024
Format: Hardback
Pub Date: 20 Jun 2024
Pages: 184
ISBN: 9781399013574
Description:
50 Years of Boss Fights celebrates a fading art in modern games. Author Daryl Baxter has written about 51 bosses that have made the greatest impact, ever since the first boss debuted in 1974.
Full of interviews and insights from the developers who helped made the bosses as memorable as they are, includes those who have worked on Mario 64, DOOM, Bioshock, Star Wars, Half Life and many more. Some explained how they came to be, what was scrapped, and, ultimately, if they were happy with them, looking back.
The book goes into detail about the first ever boss from the start, called the Golden Dragon in dnd, which first debuted in 1974. Heralded as the first ever boss in a video game, Daryl spoke to its creators about how it came to be, and how they feel about creating a standard in games.
The book sheds light on what was scrapped in other bosses, and how some bosses were so illegal, they had to be updated in rapid fashion to avoid a potential lawsuit.
Full of photos that showcase how the bosses work and how to beat them, it’s a 50-year record of the best, the most challenging, and the most memorable that you may or may not have beaten so far.
It’s 70,000 words that celebrate the past 50 years of bosses, while giving insight by the developers who helped make them possible.
Format: Hardback
Pages: 272
ISBN: 9781399048255
Pub Date: 10 Jun 2024
Format: Hardback
Pub Date: 10 Jun 2024
Pages: 272
ISBN: 9781399048255
Description:
Play Along with the Film!
When gaming moved from the 16-bit era and into the exciting realm of 3D gameplay, Hollywood properties continued their journey into the interactive medium. Popular home and handheld consoles played host to ambitious titles that sought to bridge the gap between movies and video games, providing fans with scenarios that both replicated and went beyond their favourite stories.
Gathered in this book are some of the biggest video games that originated from movies; some being direct adaptations and others that expanded existing universes. With 20 chapters covering over 450 games - including every Lego movie video game and franchises such as Star Wars, Aliens, Disney, Pixar and The Lord of the Rings - A Guide to Movie Based Video Games: 2001-2023 gives readers a chance to revisit and discover the ups and downs of licenced titles across two action-packed decades.
Load up the reels, press start, and immerse yourself in timeless adventures!
Format: Hardback
Pages: 152
ISBN: 9781399050722
Pub Date: 10 Jun 2024
Format: Hardback
Pub Date: 10 Jun 2024
Pages: 152
ISBN: 9781399050722
Description:
Star Trek video games have been around almost as long as Star Trek itself. From humble beginnings as an unofficial text-based game playable on mainframe computers to modern multi-million dollar spectacles, Star Trek video games span the history of gaming itself.
In Star Trek Video Games: An Unofficial Guide to the Final Frontier, author Mat Bradley-Tschirgi dives into notable Star Trek games across a variety of genres in his fun, humorous style with loads of aplomb. Whether they are based on the live-action or animated TV series, movies, or crossover scenarios, dozens of games (some memorable, some not so memorable) are covered in rich detail with proper historical context along the way.
Aside from its sometimes snarky text, this book features over 100 color photos showing off the wide variety of Star Trek video games covered within. There's also interviews with game designers, writers, producers, and gaming journalists on select titles offering a behind the scenes look or color commentary on such fan favorites as Star Trek: Starfleet Command, Star Trek: Judgment Rites, Star Trek: Legacy, Star Trek: Resurgence, and more!
Relive memories of playing Star Trek games on Mac, PCs, consoles, handhelds, and mobile phones or discover new favorites to add to your collection. Whether you've played all the Star Trek games or are curious as to what the world of Trek gaming holds, Star Trek Video Games: An Unofficial Guide to the Final Frontier will make a fun addition to your home library.
Format: Hardback
Pages: 168
ISBN: 9781399069687
Pub Date: 10 Jun 2024
Format: Hardback
Pub Date: 10 Jun 2024
Pages: 168
ISBN: 9781399069687
Description:
Step into a world of darkness!
Towering castles…magical spells…demonic creatures…certain DEATH. The gothic video game has crossed generations, from 8-bit computers to the most powerful 4K PCs and consoles, to deliver dark thrills filled with atmosphere and peril.
Gathered in this book are some of the most prominent and enduring games to be developed under a veil of gothic presentation, from their gloomy settings to spine-chilling audio design. Follow the histories of some of gaming’s most popular franchises, such as the decade-spanning Castlevania series and FromSoftware’s “Soulsborne” titles (Dark Souls, Bloodborne, Elden Ring).
Packed with over a hundred screenshots that encompass all generations of gaming - with home console, handheld and PC gaming included - and featuring trivia and recommendations across a variety of genres such as strategy games, hack-and-slashers and first-person shooters, The History of the Gothic Video Game is an essential book for fans of all things macabre.
The shadows await…
Format: Hardback
Pages: 208
ISBN: 9781399041805
Pub Date: 05 Mar 2024
Format: Hardback
Pub Date: 05 Mar 2024
Pages: 208
ISBN: 9781399041805
Description:
Video games are so much more than just full throttle blasts of gunfights, violence and white-knuckle competition. They can also be beautiful, cosy and even emotionally uplifting journeys too. The ideal escapism after a day you’d sooner forget or the perfect sedative following a particularly stress-filled afternoon.
The Most Relaxing Video Games will walk you through a selection of gaming experiences sure to help you unwind. From the familiar warmth of sitting down with a good classic board game (51 of them to be exact) through to the solving of hundreds of puzzles on a mysterious island using nothing but lines, there’s a world of delightfully comforting video games just waiting to sooth your gaming soul.
Covering over 50 video games and spanning nearly thirty years, this comprehensive guide includes detailed explanations of every peaceful entry along with full-colour screenshots, standout moments, fascinating facts and of course what it is that makes them such a relaxing alternative. Whether you’re a fan of racers, management sims, puzzles or platformers, there’s something here for everyone.
So trade in your firearms for farming gear and punching fists for puzzles. Sit back, get comfy and discover the relaxing side that video games have to offer.
Format: Hardback
Pages: 192
ISBN: 9781399040464
Pub Date: 21 Feb 2024
Format: Hardback
Pub Date: 21 Feb 2024
Pages: 192
ISBN: 9781399040464
Description:
THE CON50LE is a comprehensive yet conversational account of 50 years of home video gaming history, leaving no rarely sighted system unturned and providing a chronological account of the evolution of the biggest entertainment medium in the world. From the earliest consoles of the 1970s to the cutting-edge machines of the here and now, a line is drawn from one man’s eureka moment to the multi-billion-dollar global industry of today. All the well-known names and massive-selling consoles are here: the Nintendo Entertainment System, the SEGA Mega Drive, the Atari 2600, the Xbox 360, the PlayStation 2. But there’s plenty of room for hardware that many a gamer won’t have heard of before, from Japan-only releases and home computer conversions to ill-advised experiments with VHS and all manner of micro-console magic. Learn about the creators and their inspirations, the games that made the biggest consoles’ eternal reputations, and the failures and flops along the way. Even the consoles that came and went without notable commercial success left a mark, an imprint, on this compelling history – and THE CON50LE unravels it, explains it, one fascinating machine at a time.
Format: Hardback
Pages: 240
ISBN: 9781399073776
Pub Date: 02 Nov 2023
Format: Hardback
Pub Date: 02 Nov 2023
Pages: 240
ISBN: 9781399073776
Description:
The story of video games is often told as the successive rise of computers and consoles from famous names like Atari, Commodore, Nintendo, Sega, Sony and Microsoft. But beyond this familiar tale, there’s a whole world of weird and wonderful gaming machines that seldom get talked about.
Curious Video Game Machines reveals the fascinating stories behind a bevy of rare and unusual consoles, computers and coin-ops – like Kimtanktics, a 1970s wargame computer made out of calculator parts, or the suite of Korea-exclusive consoles made by car manufacturer Daewoo. Then there’s the Casio Loopy, a 1990s console that doubled up as a sticker printer, the RDI Halcyon, a 1985 LaserDisc-based machine that could recognise your voice, and the Interton VC 4000, a German console made by a hearing-aid company, as well as a range of bizarre arcade machines, from early attempts at virtual reality to pedal-powered flying contraptions.
There are tales of missed opportunities, like the astonishingly powerful Enterprise 64 computer, which got caught in development hell and arrived too late to make an impact on the British microcomputer market. And there are tales of little-known triumphs, like the Galaksija DIY computer kit that introduced a whole generation of Yugoslavians to computing before the country became engulfed by war.
Featuring exclusive interviews with creators, developers and collectors, Curious Video Game Machines finally shines a light on the forgotten corners of video-game history.
Format: Hardback
Pages: 280
ISBN: 9781526772237
Pub Date: 04 Sep 2023
Format: Hardback
Pub Date: 04 Sep 2023
Pages: 280
ISBN: 9781526772237
Description:
The Dreamcast Encyclopedia is the fifth book in Scottish author and games journalist Chris Scullion’s critically-acclaimed series of video game encyclopedias. The Sega Dreamcast is fondly remembered by players as a games console that was ahead of its time, almost to a fault. Its incredible graphics offered a level of detail that hadn’t been seen on home systems to that point, and its built-in modem brought online multiplayer to many console players for the first time ever. Ultimately though, the release of the PS2 (and later the GameCube and Xbox) led to struggling sales and Sega would eventually pull the plug on the Dreamcast just two years into its life, bowing out of the console manufacturing business altogether. On paper the Dreamcast was a commercial failure, but those who owned one remember it so fondly that for many it remains one of the greatest games consoles of all time, with a small but well-formed library of high-quality games. This book contains every one of those games, including not only the entire western library of around 270 titles, but also the 340 or so games that were exclusively released in Japan. With over 600 games covered in total, screenshots for every title and a light-hearted writing style designed for an entertaining read, The Dreamcast Encyclopedia is the definitive guide to one of the most underrated gaming systems of all time.
Format: Hardback
Pages: 152
ISBN: 9781399088473
Pub Date: 04 Sep 2023
Format: Hardback
Pub Date: 04 Sep 2023
Pages: 152
ISBN: 9781399088473
Description:
Get ready for the adventure of a lifetime!
Adventure video games have provided players with epic and hilarious storytelling for over fifty years. What started from the humble beginnings of text adventures led to a blast of point-and-click and graphic adventure games throughout the ‘80s and ‘90s. Trailblazers like Roberta and Ken Williams, Ron Gilbert, Tim Schaffer and Dave Grossman brought timeless characters, stories and puzzles to life, lighting the imaginations and wracking the brains of gamers around the world.
This book showcases the companies, games and creators that have made the adventure video game one of the most passionately-adored genres in the medium. In these pages you’ll find histories on influential companies such as Sierra On-Line, LucasArts and Telltale Games, as well as some of the most revered games in the genre.
With a bright future emerging as veterans and newcomers forge ahead with new ideas and visual flourishes for adventure games, there’s never been a better time to become acquainted (or reacquainted!) with a colourful and exciting part of gaming history.
So point your cursor over the start button and click that mouse!
Format: Hardback
Pages: 160
ISBN: 9781399084925
Pub Date: 02 Aug 2023
Format: Hardback
Pub Date: 02 Aug 2023
Pages: 160
ISBN: 9781399084925
Description:
What if there were video games that weren’t about killing things?
The world’s biggest entertainment medium has come under decades of scrutiny because of its violent content. But here’s a little known fact: from the very beginning, non-violent video games have done as much, if not more, to shape the industry than violent ones.
The Best Non-Violent Video Games is the first ever guide to the full breath of interactive entertainment. Discover the true variety the medium has to offer and learn how developers constantly find new ways to engage people by challenging their minds, testing their reflexes, and even tugging at the heartstrings.
Take a journey through more than three hundred video games, stretching back to the very dawn of the industry and extending right up to modern day indie hits. You’ll learn more about the origins of some of gaming’s biggest franchises, discover underrated gems from developers of all sizes, and perhaps even find some new favourites.
Written by a journalist with over 15 years of industry experience and more than 30 years of gaming experience, this guide is for anyone seeking something truly different from the video games space without dealing with guns and gore, or those simply looking for a change of pace.
Format: Hardback
Pages: 200
ISBN: 9781399085953
Pub Date: 07 Jul 2023
Format: Hardback
Pub Date: 07 Jul 2023
Pages: 200
ISBN: 9781399085953
Description:
You’ve seen the movie, now PLAY the movie!
Long before gaming came to the big screen, cinema arrived in the homes of millions in the form of licensed video games; playable merchandise that tied in to some of the major tentpoles of cinematic history. Many of these games followed the storylines of the movies on which they were based, as well as providing supplementary adventures to major franchises. Collected in this book are some of the biggest games to come from Hollywood adventures during the '80s and '90s.
In this comprehensive book, you’ll find over 300 games across 18 chapters, with sections dedicated to major movie franchises such as Star Wars, Jurassic Park, Top Gun, Pixar, Aliens and Indiana Jones, along with nearly 200 full-colour screenshots of major releases. Showcasing the highs and lows of early computer gaming through the 16-bit era and onto the advent of 3D console gaming, A Guide to Movie Based Video Games: 1982 - 2000 covers two decades of video games with trivia, analysis and recommendations.
Grab your controller, step into the silver screen and get ready to play!
Format: Hardback
Pages: 168
ISBN: 9781399072649
Pub Date: 04 Apr 2023
Format: Hardback
Pub Date: 04 Apr 2023
Pages: 168
ISBN: 9781399072649
Description:
The games industry moves fast, with release schedules flying by in a blur and hardware constantly changing and updating. But outside the official world of licences and publishing deals, hundreds of games every year find a new home on consoles which have since been abandoned by their manufacturers. This is the hobbyist’s playground of homebrew gaming.
The first book by freelance journalist and game developer Robin Wilde, Homebrew Game Development and The Extra Lives of Consoles is the first comprehensive history of the unlicensed and unofficial world of homebrew video games. It explores the methods, enthusiasm and motivations behind the developers who are defying technical limitations and turning nostalgia into brand new gaming experiences for retro consoles.
Featuring exclusive interviews with developers behind homebrew hits and Kickstarter successes, as well as others working in the industry, the book dives into what makes the homebrew world tick, and explores some of the best, most innovative, and strangest titles gracing long-retired consoles.
As well as providing unique insight into obscure titles, Homebrew Game Development and The Extra Lives of Consoles explores the ongoing developments in this cottage industry, which are opening it up to more and more aspiring developers. Homebrew is an exciting new frontier for game development, and this book opens the door both for readers who were already interested but didn’t know where to start, and gamers who never knew this world existed.
Format: Hardback
Pages: 208
ISBN: 9781399016179
Pub Date: 02 Feb 2023
Format: Hardback
Pub Date: 02 Feb 2023
Pages: 208
ISBN: 9781399016179
Description:
Did you grow up playing video games when you had to wait online to get them? Do you remember the bad, weird, or otherwise underrated video games of your youth? Did you like a few of them more than your friends did? A Selective History of ‘Bad’ Video Games will walk you down memory lane and perform unholy excavations of games you remember, games you’ve forgotten, and games you never knew you wanted to read about during your lunch break. From a seemingly nude Atari 2600 karate referee to a basketball star doing martial arts to a tiger that speaks broken English and walks through walls, the book will try to uncover what the developers were thinking — and occasionally succeed. While there’s been some recent coverage of the most famously “bad” video game — E.T. — this book starts there and continues on to 40 other curiously (or unsurprisingly) unsuccessful video games during the first few decades of the industry’s lifespan. Written by a modern day video game developer, the book explores why these games failed, whether or not they truly deserved it, and what could have made them better. The covered games include screen shots that capture awkward moments, irreverent captions, and pages of tongue-in-cheek psychoanalysis.
Format: Hardback
Pages: 264
ISBN: 9781399070898
Pub Date: 07 Oct 2022
Format: Hardback
Pub Date: 07 Oct 2022
Pages: 264
ISBN: 9781399070898
Description:
Did you know the Nintendo Wii had a medical condition named after it? Or that the Sega Saturn almost had the Nintendo 64's graphics chip? Did you realise the Atari Jaguar contained five different processors? Are you aware that a fake website about beekeeping was used to promote an Xbox game? Learn about all of this and more in this unique trivia book about the history of video game consoles that gives you the complete stories in detail!
These facts cover a wide range of subjects, such as which console introduced certain technology and features, esoteric hardware oddities, marketing fails and successes, stories behind key games, how certain indispensable people shaped the whole industry, development history, court cases, peculiar events, weird relationships between companies and technical explanations. Plenty of these would be obscure facts that you may not know, but even if you are familiar with them, do you know the full story? 31 video game consoles stretching from 1972 to 2017 are covered, containing more than 235 in-depth facts, numerous other pieces of trivia and over 350 images to create a single package unlike any other that gamers of all ages will find interesting!
If you want to fill your head with plenty of knowledge about your favourite video game consoles to amaze your friends with, then this is for you!
Format: Hardback
Pages: 152
ISBN: 9781399096911
Pub Date: 04 Oct 2022
Format: Hardback
Pub Date: 04 Oct 2022
Pages: 152
ISBN: 9781399096911
Description:
For many, video games are like magic. They hide in the dark and then appear from nowhere, fully formed. Based on over a dozen firsthand interviews that cover genre-defining games and the titles that inspired them — Metal Gear Solid, Thief, Deus Ex, Dishonored, Assassin’s Creed, Hitman, Splinter Cell, Prey, The Last of Us Part II, and more — this book shines a flashlight into the shadowy corners of game development history, uncovering the untold stories behind these formative titles.
These insider interviews cover development struggles, internal conflicts, changes in direction, and insight into the reasoning and challenges behind specific mechanics and development decisions.
There’s the story of how Thief was developed, in part, by an indie band. It covers Metal Gear Solid’s localisation issues and the Americanisation of Hideo Kojima’s seminal stealth series, along with a page from the original Metal Gear Solid design document. Elsewhere, one of IO Interactive’s founders explains why Hitman’s Agent 47 is inspired by Coca-Cola, the creator of Assassin’s Creed tells us his vision for the future of the series, and there are plenty of surprises besides. Rather than looking back at the genre as a whole, it traces a line through and connects the dots via personal stories and anecdotes from the people who were there.
Foreword written by Arkane’s Harvey Smith.
Format: Hardback
Pages: 168
ISBN: 9781526790132
Pub Date: 28 Jul 2022
Format: Hardback
Pub Date: 28 Jul 2022
Pages: 168
ISBN: 9781526790132
Description:
The platformer is one of the most well-loved video game genres ever, having entertained players for over 40 years. Jumping For Joy is a celebration of everything platform games have to offer, spanning their entire history. The first part of the book is a complete guide to every platform game starring Mario, Nintendo’s mascot and the most popular video game character of all time. With nearly 80 games featured in this section, it’s the definitive history of a true gaming hero. There are always two sides to every story, though, so the second part of the book focuses on every one of the 50+ platformers starring Sonic the Hedgehog, Mario’s former rival. After this it’s the book’s main course: a huge 100-page section detailing 50 other iconic and notable platform games covering the entire history of gaming, from the days of the Atari 2600 and ZX Spectrum all the way up to the Nintendo Switch, PS5 and Xbox Series X/S. Whether you’re a long-time veteran of platform gaming or a newcomer who wants to learn more about one of the most entertaining genres in video games, this is the perfect book for you. And there are some bad jokes in there too, if that’s your thing.
Format: Hardback
Pages: 192
ISBN: 9781399092173
Pub Date: 16 Feb 2022
Format: Hardback
Pub Date: 16 Feb 2022
Pages: 192
ISBN: 9781399092173
Description:
Have you ever wondered if that game you love was made into a movie? Flip this book open and find out!
Explore the fascinating journey of your favourite video games as they make their way to the silver screen! This comprehensive guide contains information on over forty big-screen adaptations of popular video games, including the histories of the series that inspired them.
Covering four decades of movies, readers can learn about some of the most infamous movies in video game history, with genres such as horror, martial arts, comedy and children’s animation ensuring there’s plenty of trivia and analysis to keep gamers hooked.
With nearly two-hundred full colour stills, posters and screenshots, the book is a go-to guide to discovering facts about some of the biggest box office hits and the most disappointing critical bombs in history.
From bizarre science fiction like Super Mario Bros. to the latest big budget releases like Monster Hunter, and dozens in between, A Guide to Video Game Movies should please film buffs and die-hard game fans alike. Whether you’re looking for rousing blockbuster action, family-friendly entertainment or a late-night B-movie to laugh at with your friends, you’re bound to find a movie to fit your taste.
Put down your controller and grab your popcorn!
Format: Hardback
Pages: 144
ISBN: 9781399002059
Pub Date: 29 Oct 2021
Format: Hardback
Pub Date: 29 Oct 2021
Pages: 144
ISBN: 9781399002059
Description:
Back in 1994 at the game company ‘CORE Design’ in Derby, Lara Croft was born. Through eighteen months of pure hard work from the team, Tomb Raider was released in 1996 and became the success that we see today; taking part in the mid-nineties celebrations of Brit-Pop and Girl Power.
This is the story of the team who were involved in creating the first two games, then leaving the series to a new team in 1998.
Lara Croft brought class, comedy, and a James Bondian role to the game, dreamt up by Toby Gard and helped to become a pitch with Paul Douglas. The game was a gamble, but because everyone at the company believed in it, it led to huge success for everyone, except for Toby and Paul.
‘The Making of Tomb Raider’ goes into detail of how Lara and the games were born, alongside why Toby Gard and Paul Douglas left before the sequel was released.
Throughout eleven chapters of countless interviews, this book will tell you who was responsible for creating the first two games; from its levels, its music, the many voices of Lara Croft, and much more. The team also reveals all about the star of the second game; Winston the Butler, and how he came to be by Joss Charmet.
Over twenty people were interviewed for this story; from the pitch for what would be Tomb Raider, alongside the challenges along the way, up until the release of Tomb Raider 2 in 1997…
Format: Hardback
Pages: 288
ISBN: 9781526746597
Pub Date: 29 Oct 2021
Format: Hardback
Pub Date: 29 Oct 2021
Pages: 288
ISBN: 9781526746597
Description:
The third book in Chris Scullion’s series of video game encyclopaedias, the Sega Mega Drive and Genesis Encyclopedia is dedicated to Sega’s legendary 16-bit video game console. The book contains detailed information on every single game released for the Sega Mega Drive and Genesis in the west, as well as similarly thorough bonus sections covering every game released for its add-ons, the Mega CD and 32X. With nearly a thousand screenshots, generous helpings of bonus trivia and charmingly bad jokes, the Sega Mega Drive and Genesis Encyclopedia is the definitive guide to a legendary gaming system.
Format: Hardback
Pages: 120
ISBN: 9781526778970
Pub Date: 28 May 2021
Format: Hardback
Pub Date: 28 May 2021
Pages: 120
ISBN: 9781526778970
Description:
This book is a potted history of video games, telling all the rollercoaster stories of this fascinating young industry that’s now twice as big globally than the film and music industries combined. Each chapter explores the history of video games through a different lens, giving a uniquely well-rounded overview.
Packed with pictures and stats, this book is for video gamers nostalgic for the good old days of gaming, and young gamers curious about how it all began. If you’ve ever enjoyed a video game, or you just want to see what all the fuss is about, this book is for you.
There are stories about the experimental games of the 1950s and 1960s; the advent of home gaming in the 1970s; the explosion – and implosion – of arcade gaming in the 1980s; the console wars of the 1990s; the growth of online and mobile games in the 2000s; and we get right up to date with the 2010s, including such cultural phenomena as twitch.tv, the Gamergate scandal, and Fortnite.
But rather than telling the whole story from beginning to end, each chapter covers the history of video games from a different angle: platforms and technology, people and personalities, companies and capitalism, gender and representation, culture, community, and finally the games themselves.
Format: Hardback
Pages: 264
ISBN: 9781526737830
Pub Date: 13 Oct 2020
Format: Hardback
Pub Date: 13 Oct 2020
Pages: 264
ISBN: 9781526737830
Description:
Following on from the previously released NES Encyclopedia, the SNES Encyclopedia is the ultimate resource for fans of Nintendo's second home video game console, the Super Nintendo Entertainment System. Containing detailed information on all 780 games released for the SNES in the west, this enormous book is full of screenshots, trivia and charmingly bad jokes. It also includes a bonus section covering the entire 22-game library of the Virtual Boy, Nintendo's ill-fated 3D system which was released at the end of the SNES's life.
Format: Hardback
Pages: 272
ISBN: 9781526737793
Pub Date: 16 Apr 2019
Format: Hardback
Pub Date: 16 Apr 2019
Pages: 272
ISBN: 9781526737793
Description:
The NES is one of the most iconic video game systems of all time, and is often credited with saving the American video games industry in the early 80s when it looked likely to collapse.
The NES Encyclopedia is a complete reference guide to every game released on the Nintendo Entertainment System, Nintendo’s first industry-defining video game system. As well as covering all 714 officially licensed NES games, the book also includes more than 160 unlicensed games released during the system's lifespan, giving for the first time a definitive history of this important console’s full library.
The NES continues to enjoy a strong cult following among Nintendo fans and gamers in general, with games like Super Mario Bros, The Legend Of Zelda and Metroid remaining well-loved to this day: both for older fans who remember them the first time around, and younger gamers discovering the system for the first time through Nintendo’s regular re-releases of its older games.
Nintendo’s most recent console, the Switch, is the fastest selling video game console of all time in the United States and Japan. With Nintendo recently launching an ever-growing library of classic NES games for download on the Switch, a new audience of gamers is discovering the NES for the first time.
