The Wizwords Christmas 2023 Retrogaming Reading Roundup

Hello! As I write, we are well into December - Christmas 2023 is coming fast, folks! I always find buying presents stressful, but if you’ve got a retrogaming fan in your family and are stuck for something to put under the tree, then here’s a little bit of help with the Wizwords list of reading recommendations for 2023. I’m a huge reader and like to support my fellow authors wherever I can. This list of books is my personal selection for the best retrogaming reading that’s available this Christmas.

Revolution: The Quest For Game Development Greatness

Tony Warriner & Martin Mulrooney

This is an excellent and lengthy tome that charts Tony’s rise from bedroom coder to his key role at the groundbreaking development house Revolution and beyond. It’s full of amusing anecdotes (Tony has a very dry sense of humour), and while there’s a smattering of technical detail, the human side of Tony’s journey is wonderfully told.

Purchase direct from Tony’s website: https://tonywarriner.gumroad.com/

Life Is A Game

Mev Dinc

Mev’s story is an incredible tale, beginning in rural northern Turkey before embracing the rising computer game industry in the UK. Throughout the book, Mev tells stories of his early dabblings with the ZX Spectrum, to success at Activision and starting up his own company, Vivid Image. Amusing, breezy but informative, Life Is A Game is a brilliant snapshot of the UK games industry, charting its ups and downs from a creative viewpoint.

Buy Life Is A Game from Fusion Retro Books: https://fusionretrobooks.com/collections/retro-books/products/life-is-a-game-the-inspirational-success-story-of-a-legendary-game-developer?variant=39477173813342

The Games That Weren’t

Frank Gasking

Frank has been running the excellent website, Games That Weren’t, for a number of years, and this magnificent tome is a collection of stories about unreleased games across a variety of formats. For an in-depth look at an alternative side of the industry I highly recommend it, although it’s a little depressing hearing about how and why so many games don’t get released!

Available from Bitmap Books: https://www.bitmapbooks.com/collections/all-books/products/the-games-that-werent

Itchy Tasty: An Unofficial History Of Resident Evil

Alex Aniel

This is a fantastic book dedicated to the early years of Resident Evil, including many exclusive interviews with various developers behind the games. An essential purchase (or gift) for any Resi fan.

Available from Waterstones: https://www.waterstones.com/book/itchy-tasty/alex-aniel/9781800182127

A Gremlin In The Works

Mark Hardisty

With its two volumes - housed within a bespoke slipcase - full of interviews and images, this is a true passion project from Gremlin and Sheffield superfan, Mark Hardisty. It’s also a must-read for anyone who grew up in the Eighties with a ZX Spectrum, C64 or Amstrad CPC.

Buy from Bitmap Books: https://www.bitmapbooks.com/collections/all-books/products/a-gremlin-in-the-works

Game Not Over

Craig Turner

This is the recent first book by Craig Turner, and an informative read that covers lesser known systems. Well-written and presented, this is a great book for those wishing to deep a little further into the world of retrogaming.

Buy from Fusion Retro Books: https://fusionretrobooks.com/collections/frontpage/products/game-not-over?variant=40213643722846

Speccy Nation 1 & 2

Dan Whitehead

If you’re a ZX Spectrum fan, this pair of loving books are a vital purchase. Full of amusing comment on the industry and the games themselves, both Speccy Nations are a highly entertaining read.

Link to author Dan Whitehead on Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Books-Dan-Whitehead/s?rh=n%3A266239%2Cp_27%3ADan+Whitehead

Virtual Cities: An Atlas & Exploration Of Video Game Cities

Konstantinos Dimopoulos & Maria Kallikaki

Author Dimopoulos puts his urban planning and city geography PhD to good use here, detailing the virtual worlds inside a range of videogames, both old and new. Beautifully written and designed, there are some lovely images and city plans to go with Dimopolous’s words.

Buy on Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Virtual-Cities-Atlas-Exploration-Video/dp/1682686094

Thanks for checking out my list - happy shopping and have a great Christmas!