So I was thinking of starting to read books on the history of Video games, and also books that might deal with the importance of video games as a medium of artistic expression and their social significance.

Hence it would be great if fellow GOGLins can suggest a few books on these topics.

I am thinking of buying The Ultimate History of Video Games by Kent, as I saw it on sale.
Suggestions of other books are most welcome.

The ones by Bitmap Books focus on the art side, look gorgeous and include interviews with game development legends.

Any opinion on
Power Play by Burak and Parker
Comic Book Story of Video Games by Hennessey and McGowan? Yes I have heard about Bitmap Books, and seen a few positive reviews.
However, I don't think those books are available here in my country. I have never seen one for sale online.
So, sadly, I might not be able to consider them. Thank you for your suggestion, nonetheless.

Yeah, that particular book is quite good. My recommendations:

Atari: Business is Fun
Service Games Enhanced (SEGA)
Game Over (Nintendo)


There are also two books that I don't recommend. First off, "Console Wars" is not very factual and feels much like how a car salesman would write. All style, little substance. "Revolutionaries at Sony" has some detail, but it lacks charisma and I get the impression that it is deliberately close-lipped about anything that would affect Sony's reputation.

As a general rule, books covering the post-90's tend to lack information or are biased, probably because the corporate suits have become more ingrained in the gaming world.


By the way, I would like to recommend a Youtube channel. While obviously not a book, the contents are very focused on the business aspect of ye olde "Micro" computers like the Acorn or the Spectrum.

The Dragon 32/64 Story

A few, more indepth and focused history books:

Masters of Doom (David Kushner) - history of id Software
Jacked (David Kushner) - history of rockstar games and controversy surrounding GTA
Service Games (Sam Pettus) - history of SEGA
Console Wars (Blake Harris) - history of the 80s console wars

And a great FREE book on the history of Computer RPG: The CRPG Book Project

A blog, not a book, but you can download it in compiled ebook form:
The Digital Antiquarian

HG 101 has plenty of books to read.

Legends of Localization is a fine series I can suggest too.

There is the CRPG-Book. I don`t know if there still exists the online PDF version, but I know that they also print it and sell it. Somewhere on this forum must be a thread about it.
Very interesting, it deals with the history of computer gaming, especially the history of RPGs. I already own the free PDF version, so I don`t have to buy it. :-D

I do have the CRPG book. And yes it is a great project.

According to the website, they ship worldwide. Shipping costs will vary, of course.

Oh yes, they have lots of good books. I ordered their CRPG Book, for example, and I can’t wait to finally hold it in my hands next month. The huge PDF is already quite awesome, and it now contains all the stuff that got added to the final physical version of the book.

Not a book, but you might want to check out the Computer Gaming World Museum, which has the entire run of CGW magazine archived for free: http://www.cgwmuseum.org/

On one hand, you won't get a neatly arranged and concisely written history of PC gaming like you would from a book. However, it does give a great sense of perspective on how the industry started and developed as it went along (e.g., reading the early years issues will reinforce how much computer gaming truly owes to table-top wargaming).

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Stay Awhile & Listen is a pretty good book on the development of Diablo