"Games of a Lifetime" by Jaz Rignall > Book Review By Rich 📚📖 @JazRignall @bitmap_books

Growing up in the '80s and '90s and reading various video game magazines from the period meant that Jaz Rignall has always been a hero of mine. 

My first experience of Jaz's brand of video game journalism came through the much-thumbed pages of the Mean Machines monthly video game magazine in the early '90s. I remember my first purchase of Mean Machines magazine vividly. I bought Issue 7 of Mean Machines from local Happy Shopper branded newsagents with The Simpsons, complete with Homer strangling Bart, on the front cover as the headline stars of that month's magazine. 

Whilst reading the magazine from cover to cover I remember feeling like I had just become a part of a cool club of video games-loving pals. Jaz's writing and the rest of the Mean Machines staff writing (including Richard Leadbetter from Digital Foundry fame for example) was perfectly in sync with its audience. 

You knew you could trust the reviews from Mean Machines as they knew their onions and Jaz and the gang were independent. In a future issue, there would be a cover giveaway of a miniature Jaz Figure which I cherished for many years and in some ways added to Jaz's legendary status in my own video gaming world.

It's now 2025 and Jaz has put virtual pen to paper to chronicle his lifetime in gaming by writing this wonderful book called "Games of a Lifetime" by Jaz Rignall.

Straight off the bat, a special mention must go out to the pixel art cover which has been lovingly created by Army Of Trolls who has defined a scene that mimics a retro gamer poster that I have adorned in my office from the same talented artist. You could spend a good 30 minutes gazing at that front cover on its own without reading a single word of the book as it has many an easter egg to uncover with references to gaming's illustrious past.

The book is clearly a passionate retrospective of the games that have defined and shaped Julian Rignall's life. It spans several decades of mirth and mischief in video games. This beautifully meandering memoir offers a rare glimpse into the history of video games through the eyes of someone who has experienced its evolution firsthand from the journalism coal face. 

Jaz has worn many hats over the years—journalist, magazine editor, and game designer. This essential book, published by those wonderful people at Bitmap Books is a heartfelt tribute to the games that have left an indelible mark on Jaz's life. Through a series of essays, readers are asked to buckle up and take a lovely ride on a nostalgic journey, reflecting on the games that have not only entertained him but also influenced his career and personal life.

The book is structured chronologically, each chapter dedicated to a different game or era in Jaz's life. This is a clever approach as it allows you to follow the evolution of video games through 5 and a bit decades alongside Rignall's own growth and development. As always, his writing style is engaging and accessible, with a conversational tone that makes it feel like you're sitting down with a mate sharing their fondest memories. Jaz's raw enthusiasm and love for video games as a medium and an art form are truly palpable on every page which makes it an enjoyable read for both veteran gamers like myself and newcomers to this wonderful hobby of ours.

Throughout the book, Jaz talks about a wide variety of video games, from early arcade classics to modern masterpieces. Some of the notable titles he discusses include:

• Pac-Man: Rignall's introduction to the world of gaming and the beginning of his lifelong passion.
• The Legend of Zelda: A game that captivated him with its sense of adventure and exploration.
• Street Fighter II: A pivotal title in the fighting game genre that left a lasting impression on him.
• Grand Theft Auto V: A modern classic that showcases the incredible advancements in game design and storytelling.

Jaz is not a gamer or a professional who has stood still in the retro gaming past, he is the kind of guy who has just as much love for PONG as he does for Horizon Forbidden West and that love shines on every page.

Some of the finest moments in the book are his own personal reflections which add a deeply human element to the book. Jaz shares warts 'n' all stories about the highs and lows of his career, the struggles he faced, and the lessons he learned along the way. His honesty and vulnerability make the book more than just a collection of game reviews; it's a memoir that offers readers a glimpse into the life of someone who has dedicated themselves to their passion.

SUMMARY

I'm so glad that this 424-page tome of video game passion turned out to be a delightfully entertaining and insightful view into one of my hero's lives in gaming. It takes a certain kind of individual to have the talent to write such an engaging chronicle of a life in video games and as always Jaz Rignall is THE MAN.

Head over to Bitmap Books to snaffle up a copy today before Mean Yob knocks on your door!

Right, I'm off to fondle my Issue 7 of Mean Machines.

PURCHASE LINK: 

The Games of a Lifetime – Game history with Jaz Rignall | Bitmap Books