"The Game Console: A Photographic History from Atari to Xbox" Review
Release: Date: November 6, 2018
Publisher: No Starch Press
Price: $24.95
There have been many books on video games released in the past few years. Many of these, I have reviewed right here. With so many books coming out, it’s hard to publish a new book and make it stand out. But that is exactly what Evan Amos has done with The Game Console. This book is more than just a visual history of gaming consoles from the past 46 years, it is a look literally inside some of the most beloved consoles of all time.
At first glance, the hardcover book pops with it’s bright yellow cover with the NES controller on it. But when you pick it up, you realize the picture of the controller is textured, just like in real life. What sets this book apart from other gaming books is the pictures of many of the systems and controllers are in 3D showing the insides so you can see the “guts” of the system and controller. It gives you a perspective like no other book on the inner workings of the systems.
The book is 251 pages and spans all 8 generations of gaming consoles. From the Magnavox Odyssey to the Nintendo Switch. It gives you specs on every system from launch price to systems sold along with a short description of the console and some of its accessories. The pictures are vivid and pop off the pages. This book is the perfect reference guide for the collector, as well as someone interested in gaming history.
Overall, I can't recommend this book enough. Not only does it have consoles everyone knows and loves, but it has many obscure ones you may have never known existed. There are some that were left out for various reasons, but maybe they can be included in another book. With game preservation so important, books like these are a great resource to see where gaming came from. This book is a worthy addition to any gamers’ bookshelf.
Thanks to Evan Amos and No Starch Press for providing a copy for review.