Encyclopedia of Game Machines

by Winnie Forster

Updated to include discussion of the newest gadgets such as the Nintendo Wii, the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and Apple’s iPhone, this comprehensive reference covers almost 40 years of video game history. Close to 500 machines from Europe, Japan, and the United States are described in an encyclopedic format that analyzes the technology and rates the level of success of each device. From sought-after dream machines such as the Intellivision to million-dollar sellers such as the Commodore 64, this guide for gamers also includes the most bizarre variants and failed experiments of the industry. Facts, figures, and technical information about each machine are complemented by full-color photos that display the authentic, pixilated glory of classic software and the sharp HD imaging of the most recent devices.

Genres: Games, Video Games, Gaming

240 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2005

Reviews

[Jeffrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you grew up in the Seventies or Eighties and played video games, this book will take you straight down memory lane. While it runs all the way up through the Playstation 2 era, the really interesting stuff is all from the early years of video gaming, with all the strange concepts that never took off and the little-known competitors that died out over time. Note that the author is European so you'll see a lot more focus on niche consoles and computers that hit the European market vs. those that might have only been in the US or Japan. It's a pretty brief read, but well illustrated and well worth the purchase for anyone with an interest in video game history.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

I could read this twice a year and never get bored of it.
-m