The Games of a Lifetime

by Julian “Jaz” Rignall

Across its 420 pages, The Games of a Lifetime is a video game time machine that takes you on an incredible journey from the very dawn of the industry, through the decades to the present day. It's essentially video game history from the inside, seen through the eyes of Jaz Rignall, a hardcore gamer who cut his teeth racking up ludicrously large scores in his local arcades, won the 1983 UK National Arcade Championships, and ended up becoming a journalist/influencer who launched iconic game magazines like ZZAP!64, CVG and Mean Machines, which he wrote for and edited with his customary flair and humour.

This was at a time when games magazines had huge influence and importance, which helped put Jaz at the very heart of the nascent UK game business during its most humble beginnings, and continued as the industry exploded into a massive, worldwide entertainment juggernaut. Jaz was also key factor in bringing Japanese games to Western gamers, reporting on import consoles and games when no-one else was doing that. He would go on to work as a game developer in the US for Virgin Interactive, and then step up as editorial director of IGN, growing the site into a world leader. Today, Jaz works as a game analyst, helping to refine and shape games with vast global audiences.

Genres: Nonfiction, Gaming, Video Games

420 pages, Hardcover

Published February 10, 2025

Reviews

[Sus · Rating 4 out of 5]

That was a fun read, the author's autobiography & experiences through decades of gaming. Loved hearing about the old arcade games I don't know anything about. It could've been a bit more polished, with slightly less detail about public transport, & less use of the words "piqued" & "eponymous", but it was nevertheless a good read.

[.W. · Rating 4 out of 5]

a chatty, colloquial, warts-and-all memoir of sorts, published by the always reliable Bitmap Books in the UK. lavish full color hardcover collector's items, the lot, for a somewhat niche audience of nostalgic gamers (maybe not so niche actually). Jaz is an entertaining guide through the 80's to now as he discusses his favorite games at some length and with great ebullience - seriously this guy is really sunny about most of the games. a serious lack of coverage for nearly every RPG from every era is felt by its absence; Jaz is a run and gun lad first and foremost. a fun trip nonetheless and the layout is incredible. starts to get somewhat redundant at the very end but then again, so has the gaming industry and Jaz has been part of it since the very beginning.

refreshingly optimistic, bright and with a delightful UK sensibility. if you grew up gaming in the 90's you will especially love this.

[Jeff · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely amazing look back at Julian Jaz Rignall's career and gaming choices. Probably means nothing to you unless you're middle aged and a reader of some of those legendary magazines of the 80's and 90's (Zapp, CVG, Mean Machines), but I enjoyed every moment reading this.