Video Games: From Pong to the PS5 (A Visual History of Video Games and Consoles)

Video Games: From Pong to the PS5 (A Visual History of Video Games and Consoles)

Celebrate five decades of gaming with this beautifully illustrated tribute to the consoles, culture, and creativity of video games―from Pong to the PlayStation 5. A must-have coffee table book for anyone who loves video games, pop culture, or digital history―created by a passionate gamer (and founder of a video game museum) for his fellow fans. Packed with vibrant color photography and rare retro images, this book takes readers on a nostalgic journey through every generation of gaming. From the arcade classics of the 1970s to the modern multiplayer worlds of today, it highlights iconic titles, game-changing hardware, and the stories behind the screens. With chapters covering every console generation, plus features on legendary games, developers, and subcultures, this is the perfect gift for gamers of all ages―whether you grew up with Atari, mastered Mario, or are just joining the world of Twitch and the PS5. "[T]his compendium celebrates half a century of play, from the early consoles (Magnavox Odyssey, Atari 2600) that brought gaming from the arcade to the living room, through Angry Birds , e-sports, and the future of VR. The real joy(stick) here for folks of a certain age, aside from the memory-jogging photos, is the gameplay refreshers, such as the individual characteristics of Pac-Man’s ghosts (Clyde, you sweet summer child)." ― Publishers Weekly Nicolò Mulas Marcello , a passionate historian of gaming, has assembled a 2,000-piece collection of vintage consoles, computers, video games, and memorabilia. He is president of the Insert Coin Association, which operated the Videogame Art Museum in Bologna. Alberto Bertolazzi is the author of numerous books on sports, technology, and other subjects.