“You have to know the past to understand the present.” A memorable quote by the American Astronomer Carl Sagan defines the goal of today’s article, and that is to rediscover the history of video gaming from videogame books, from the people who were actually there, and the authors who took the extra mile to get their accounts and analyze their thoughts. Only then, we can know how to move forward into a better future.
The videogame books included in the list are not listed only for gamers, but they can be enjoyed by a variety of people from all backgrounds. Anyone who is struggling with a creative slump, or unable to see the path forward, can learn from the minds of one of the most creative industries to ever exist, and maybe acquire a new found passion to join them and be the next advocate for change and evolution.
Videogame books from around the world
Blood, Sweat, and Pixels
By Jason Schreier
Blood, Sweat, and Pixels is not just intended for developers, but for the general reader as well. For me personally it fills a lot of gaps in how modern gaming has turned out to be. More often these days, video games from big publishers are revealed to be a train wreck of technical bugs and unfinished visions, but it’s never quite explained why these disasters and unfulfilled promises had to happen. This book has all the answers.
It doesn’t only contain painful stories though, on the contrary, you will find charming stories of success and inspiration from passionate developers such as the story of Eric Barone, the sole developer of Stardew Valley, and the trials and tribulations he had gone through to deliver this game perfectly. Reading this book has re-enacted my belief that with enough passion, you can overcome anything that comes in your way.
Amazon Link: Blood, Sweat, and Pixels, also check the author’s other book for more detailed insights on that subject: Press Reset: Ruin and Recovery
The Creative Gene
By Hideo Kojima
The Creative Gene is not also intended specifically for gamers, as it can be digested by anyone who is struggling with inspiration and creativity. Millions of us consume movies and books on a daily basis, yet we keep getting surprised by how everyone of us looks at things differently, and some of us can get pretty passionate about certain works and transform that passion into real projects. The question is, how does passion work?
The definite answer lies in this book, written by one of the brightest minds of the gaming industry. It actually refrains a bit from talking about the development process of games, and it’s more about how Kojima sees the world and translates the information he absorbs into his creative process. Reading this book has made me feel glad just to be alive, because we always have limitless potential for success around us, we just need love to see it.
Amazon Link: The Creative Gene
Ask Iwata: Words of Wisdom from Satoru Iwata
By Hobonichi (Editor), Sam Bett (Translator)
“On my business card, I am a corporate president. In my mind, I am a game developer. But in my heart, I am a gamer.” —Satoru Iwata
There are diverse video games and consoles for all tastes and age groups, but it’s always Nintendo that accompanies the childhood of many, and It needs a person with a heart of gold to be able to touch the pure hearts of young children. Satoru Iwata is a key person behind this, as someone who contributed a lot to Nintendo’s personal brand of creativity, and shaped it into the Nintendo we know today.
The book can also be considered a motivational text, but this time with real implications and concrete proof on how good leadership and passionate design philosophies can’t just impact the development of games, but it can leave a heritage of lessons and heartfelt feelings for many generations, weather they are gamers or not. Satoru Iwata is the person I would love to become, I hold that much respect for him.
Amazon Link: Ask Iwata
The Psychology of Video Games
By Celia Hodent
We have already established that passion and success stems from looking at things in a different way, in our discussion about The Creative Gene. Celia Hodent, a writer with a PhD in Psychology and 10 years of experience working with game studios, offers an extensive analysis on the psychological aspect of video games, and explains how the impact of these pixelated moving pictures, encourages players to strive to greater emotional heights.
On her Official Website, readers can find a detailed insight on the goal of the book and the author, which can be summed into “Making games a fun experience for everyone.” by analyzing the positives, and avoiding the negatives, games can carry out the potential they are created to be. Celia has also written another gem called The Gamer’s Brain, which covers the psychological and physiological aspects of gaming in much greater detail.
Amazon Link: The Psychology of Video Games
Power-Up: How Japanese Video Games Gave the World an Extra Life
By Chris Kohler (Author), Shuhei Yoshida (Foreword)
This is a part-book, part-master thesis on video games, because a lot of material in this book is actually taken from the author’s real thesis on video games, that’s why I picked up this book particularly to inform the players about the history of Japanese video game development, as it was very clear how much effort was made into exploring the topics with much detailed research has went into writing every chapter.
Despite being published in 2005, the book withstands the test of time well, and it also contains a very good insight on the rise of Nintendo’s Shigure Miyamoto in his career, and how did it influence all of the Japanese industry later on. I am trying to pick videogame books that informative and fun to read, instead of just being an information overload, and this book is definitely one of them, and might be the best from videogame books in introducing players to a more serious layer of gaming, instead of just the superficial look it always gets.
Amazon Link: Power-Up: How Japanese Video Games Gave the World an Extra Life
The Comic Book Story of Video Games
by Jonathan Hennessey (Author), Jack McGowan (Illustrator)
This pick is for people who don’t like to read, or get tired of long theoretical texts from videogame books. The Comic book story is a very well made illustrated guide that highlights the entire history of video games in a graphic novel format with chronological order to the development and rise of the business, until the advent of very recent app based games like Angry birds and Pokemon Go. Even children might find it a really accessible experience.
The idea is revolutionary in its presentation, and allow for much better interactivity with history and the industry in general. It might be my first recommendation in this list just because of how its immersive and full of fascinating stories that does not only act as inspirational material, but analyzes the factors and context that led to these legendary achievements in clear and concise ways.
Amazon Link: The Comic Book Story of Video Games
Gamer Girls: 25 Women Who Built the Video Game Industry
by Mary Kenney (Author)
A much needed breath of fresh air and a letter of acknowledgement to all women in the video game industry. I was personally influenced by the work of Yoko Shimomura when I was young, so I was really happy to see her name on the list, but I was also surprised to find out about a lot of other intellectual minds that paved the way for entire genres and musical experiences.
The book includes 25 of the most inspiring stories from women developers and creators around the world, and all of them are illustrated in beautiful artworks and easy to read profiles. The author also has a lot of experience under her belt, from working on the most recent successful Insomniac Games like Spiderman and Ratchet & Clank, in addition to teaching narrative design master’s program at New York University.
Amazon Link: Gamer Girls: 25 Women Who Built the Video Game Industry
Video Games Have Always Been Queer
by Bonnie Ruberg (Author)
I am personally a big fan of the game The Missing: JJ Macfield and the Island of Memories, because it doesn’t include queer representation as a choice, but instead it creates the story from the ground up around that topic. I was really happy later to find a written work that encourages us to look at the potential of diversity in the medium of video games, and what it can offer for LGBTQ character concepts.
The book argues against the pre-conceived norms in written game stories, and for queer game studies, it’s an essential read. Again, its a book not about finding new things, but about thinking differently about the things we already have. Happiness and untapped potential can be materialized into proper form if we change the way we perceive things and abolish the hidden limitations of what we think video games truly represent.
Amazon Link: Video Games Have Always Been Queer.