An Illustrated History of 151 Video Games
Price: $24.58 | Rating: 4.6 ⭐ (404 reviews)
If gaming history books usually feel like dry manuals, then An Illustrated History of 151 Video Games flips the script. Simon Parkin delivers a sharp, witty chronicle that marches from the dawn of Computer Space (1971) to the console battleground of 2012, all packed into a sleek 8.5″×11″, 250-page volume. Moreover, with dev quotes, juicy trivia, and “where to play now” callouts, this isn’t just a coffee-table book—it’s a weaponized nostalgia trip. As a result, it’s perfect for flexing at your next LAN party or settling arcade debates with receipts.
Key Specs
- Size: 8.5″×11″, ~250 pages of content (plus dust jacket)
- Chronological deep dive from Computer Space (1971) through 2012 releases
- Includes dev quotes, trivia, and “where to play now” pointers (MAME, PSN, emulators)
- Author: Simon Parkin – known for sharp writing that doesn’t suck up to the industry
Why SkepticalGamer Caught Feels
Flip through this at your next LAN party to school the “PC Master Race” hipsters on arcade lore. Indeed, it’s like pulling a perfectly timed combo in Street Fighter II: you know the impact’s coming, and you savor every byte.
High Score Highlights
- Nostalgia Overdrive: From Pong paddle swings to that first 3D nightmarish corridor in Wolfenstein 3D.
- Dev Dish: Read how the Woz got 10 grand for Breakout while Jobs palmed the bonus—plot twist worthy of Espionage Ops.
- Quick-Flips: Clean layout means you can hop to any entry faster than a speedrunner blitzing Super Mario Bros.
- Strategy Tip: Check the Defender page before button-mashing your arcade stick—learn why those three-tiered buttons broke more cabs than a bank robber in Grand Theft Auto.
Where It Fumbles
- Modern Drought: No PS4/Xbox One or any of those live-service wonders you swear you’ll quit tomorrow.
- Screenshot Overkill: Screens look sharp, but promotional art and dev sketches are rarer than a perfect RNG drop.
- “Where to Play” Woes: Listing “MAME” as the solution for everything is basically preaching piracy—nice try.
- Layout Quirks: Random captions float next to unrelated screenshots, like playing Rock Band with power chords in a jazz set.
Final Verdict
If you’ve ever argued over whether Pac-Man is truly “foundational” mid-raid, this book is your ammo. It isn’t the freshest roster—games post-2012 are MIA—but for twenty bucks and some couch-side flexing, it’s a solid critical hit. Recommended for anyone who wants a history lesson that’s less dry textbook, more power-up capsule.
