Bitmap Books – A Tale of Two Halves: The History Of Football Video Games | Britt's Review ⚽️📘 @bitmap_books #RetroGaming

Image Credit: www.BitmapBooks.com

We have covered many of Bitmap Books’ fine releases here at Games Freezer, with the most recent being Dave Cook’s rather wonderful Run ‘n’ Gun tome. This, their latest, is a very different beast, tackling a genre that has existed since the early ‘80s and was very much been twisting and morphing for decades before settling into (mostly) more sedate, incremental releases in recent years.

The book covers the football (or ‘soccer’ depending on your geographic location) genre from its nascency in the early ‘80s - when the games were effectively variations on the Pong theme - right up through the modern generations where the majority of the releases are ultra realistic and pretty – but perhaps lack the character and individuality that previously made the football genre a more interesting beast, with some incredible goals, some near misses...and some that deserved a red card, and a kicking in the car park.

Replay: Memoir of an Uprooted Family by Jordan Mechner | Review By Rich 📚📖 @jmechner #bookreviews #BookoftheDay

Reading a book is generally a personal journey that people take and the journey varies from reader to reader. I've recently been listening to a lot of audiobooks as it's a great way to read books whilst doing something else. In the last year I must have read in excess of 10 books but the years preceding that it was taking me a year to finish one physical book.

Recently though, this changed again as I was sent a digital PDF copy of  the Jordan Mechner Visual Novel/memoir, REPLAY, to read and it has reignited my love for two things, 1. Visual Novels 2. Jordan Mechner and his attitude to making video games. Obviously as it was a PDF copy it was almost reigniting my instinct to read a physical book even though I was using my tablet to read the book.

Replay: Memoir of an Uprooted Family by Jordan Mechner is a poignant and vibrant graphic novel that attempts and succeeds in weaving together the stories of three generations of the Mechner family. 

GEORGE'S GAMING GRIMOIRE IS NOW ON SALE WITH 20% OFF! 😍 @Funkyspectrum

GEORGE'S GAMING GRIMOIRE. Is a collection of borderline insanity that's been put together by George at Funky Spectrum with the much-appreciated help of some of his long-term collaborators. 

It's a book very much designed for adults who either remember the heyday of the home micro scene OR who want to get a glimpse of what it might have been like had the world taken a very different turn in the 1980s. 

Bitmap Books: Run ‘N’ Gun - A History of On-Foot Shooters 📖📚 @bitmap_books #RetroGaming

Bitmap Books Purchase Link

From Dave Cook - the mind behind the awesome Go Straight: The Ultimate Guide to Side-Scrolling Beat-’em-Ups - comes this history of run ‘n’ gun shooters (think Contra, Metal Slug etc. and definitely think about Mercs and Rambo III on the Mega Drive, which are a couple of my personal faves), a genre of videogames that – to me at least – almost feels like the very essence of gaming itself.

The requirements of concentration, quick reflexes and (usually) saucy multiplayer action are timeless, and these quintessential essential ingredients allow for quick dip in ‘n’ out gameplay for blasts of fun, whilst requiring the players to lose themselves in the flow and design of the game to really get the most out of it…and the most 10p’s out of your pocket, natch!

The Unofficial Sega Saturn Collection Author – David Cameron (not that one) 📘 #BookReview #Retrogaming

The Sega Saturn is a console that I very much have a personal history with. A unique library of games that was bursting with originality, and is very much a system I often play to this day. David Cameron’s Unofficial Sega Saturn Collection is designed as a coffee table book to be leafed through and enjoyed as the reader picks up some titbits on favourite games – and perhaps even discovers some new gaming gold as they peruse.

Bitmap Books – The Unofficial N64: A Visual Compendium Review By Britt 📚📖 @bitmap_books #Retrogaming #N64

The last Bitmap Book release that we covered here at Games Freezer was the incredible From Ants to Zombies: Six Decades of Video Game Horror, a book that could very well be – and indeed is - one of the best gaming-related pieces of literature that I’ve ever had the pleasure of inhaling.

It’s a slight change of pace here, from the many forked branches of horror through to a visual compendium focused on the much beloved fan favourite Nintendo 64, whether through many a blistering, thumb-stick breaking multiplayer session of Goldeneye, marvelling at Mario in 3D, or zooming across Hyrule Fields in Zelda, there are millions of memories out there that began with that trusty trident controller in-hand.

C64: Polish Pixels in Video Games – a must-have book for all retro gaming enthusiasts 📘 #Retrogaming

 

C64: Polish Pixels in Video Games – a must-have book for all retro gaming enthusiasts C64 - Polish Pixels in Video Games: Book Let's dive into the retro stage of gaming with C64: Polish Pixels in Video Games, a book about the miracle that is games created for the Commodore 64 computer. Back the project now on Indiegogo and get a game published by Movie Games! Back the project now on Indiegogo C64: Polish Pixels in Video Games is a coffee-table style book where the author, Krzysiek Augustyn, invites readers on an extraordinary visual journey through Polish games developed for the Commodore 64 computer, spanning from the 1980s to today. Yes, the C64 is still alive thanks to its creators! The descriptions of these productions are adorned with exclusive interviews, photographs, trivia, and stories from the developers. Jump into the rad world of the Commodore 64. It's way more than a look-back – it's a lively story that high-fives the trailblazing Polish C64 game makers and the awesome demoscene crew. Get ready for a deep dive into the cool and creative world that popped up during some pretty intense times. You'll get to check out the Polish games that rocked the world's best-selling computer. Plus, we're digging into the C64 demoscene – those art and coding wizards who are now a proud part of Poland's cultural scene, thanks to UNESCO. We're talking about the hurdles faced by legends like California Dreams, and giving you the scoop on epic games like Blockout and Street Rod. Each page is crammed with eye-popping visuals and stories. And it's not just about the games. We're sharing the real-deal stories from the peeps who were there, showing how these adventures shaped their lives. "I'm proud that Movie Games can support such brilliant initiatives. The preservation of video games is a topic very close to my heart, as it should be for all gamers and video game fans," says Piotr Gnyp, Movie Games CMO. And who is the author? Let him introduce himself! Hey there! I'm Krzysiek, but you can call me Chris. I'm stoked to bring you along on my C64 journey with this book. Born in the late 70s in Gliwice, Poland, my love for computers kicked off early and just never stopped. Been in the C64 scene since the early 90s. It wasn't just about playing games; it was about being part of a crew that was all about pushing what these cool 8-bit machines could do. I didn't just play games; I made them. Yep, I coded six games for the C64 and even founded the Inflexion Development team, known for some top-notch Polish games in the 90s. Coding's not just a job for me; it's what gets me up in the morning. This led me to run one of Poland's biggest electronic entertainment websites, Virtual Poland / Games Empire, from 2006 to 2010. Got to really dive into the gaming world there. I also started PolishPixels, a site all about retro gaming, and co-created the GameStory TV series, bringing classic video game stories to life. It's been a wild ride, reliving and sharing these epic game tales that have shaped so much of our culture. This book? It's my way of taking you back to the golden days of the C64, shining a light on the awesome Polish side of the story that not everyone knows about. Preorder the book by backing it up and get a free Movie Games title with your pledge! Back the project now on Indiegogo About Movie Games Movie Games is a Polish game developer and publisher, listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange. The company was founded by game enthusiasts with experience in the financial, gaming, and media sectors. It consists of new talents and industry veterans, including Maciej Miąsik, the key developer behind The Witcher, and David Jaffe, the creator of God of War, Piotr Gnyp, a longtime video game journalist and the creator of Polygamia.pl, and Tobiasz Piątkowski, one of Poland’s most acclaimed art directors and comic book writers. Movie Games’ portfolio includes adventure games (the Lust series) and simulators (Drug Dealer Simulator, Gas Station Simulator, MythBusters: The Game, and Alaskan Road Truckers).

40 Best Machine Code Routines For The ZX Spectrum 4th Edition 🕮 @huey_games #ZxSpectrum

Today I received the latest expanded and remastered 4th Edition of 40 Best Machine Code Routines for the ZX Spectrum book.

The book features the full original text from the original 1983 release that was written by John Hardman and Andrew Hewson. 

As an added bonus there are now new forewords from both original authors which does a great job of putting the book into context.

There’s also all-new content from legendary programmer and Spectrum Next founding member Jim Bagley.

As an added bonus there’s new cover art by Mike Berry of Old Skool Pixels fame.

And at the end of the book there’s a great appendix full of ZX Spectrum Memories which is a delight to read!

If you like what you see then Head over to huey games.com to grab your copy for £18.99.

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The GAMEBOOK | Nintendo Gameboy Unofficial Companion Book "The Best Gameboy Book Ever?" 📕 @NintyMedia @PMurphy1978 #Retrogaming #GameBoy

Rich gets to grips with the GAMEBOOK from Ninty Media. This Kickstarted funded Gameboy book is a beautifully made book and Rich shows you a sneak peek of the one he was sent by the lovely folks at Ninty Media.

ZX Dreams The Follow Up To ZX Nightmares Is Coming Soon... SPRING 2024 🕹️ @Wizwords #Retrogaming

You’ve read about the ZX Nightmares – now sit back and re-discover your ZX Dreams, those brilliant gems we played back in the Eighties. 

From glorious 16K wonders such as Deathchase and Jet Pac to extreme-value budget releases like Booty and Rebelstar and the beautiful games of Pete Cooke and Raffaele Cecco, ZX Dreams celebrates all those games we played – and loved.

FROM ANTS TO ZOMBIES: SIX DECADES OF VIDEO GAME HORROR Book Review "The Gaming Necronomicon" 🧛‍♂️ @BitmapBooks #Retrogaming

Sam Dyer – the brain behind Bitmap Books – is someone that I imagine laughing wildly in a vast, ever-growing library somewhere, surrounded by mad monks engrossed in ever-more-perfect drafts of upcoming books through which they will eventually devour the gaming world. Each time I read a book by the publisher, it always feel definitive and individually voiced. I’ve commented before on how each release doesn’t feel like a run-through of the topic at hand, moving from genre-to-genre with a  vanilla, ‘one-size-fits-all’ sensibility. From the all-encompassing JRPG book to the laser-focused CRPG tome – and the surprisingly moving release on Gremlin Graphics – these books really do each have their own approach and style. 

From the moment that I caught wind of From Ants to Zombies, the fact that it was covering video game horror – a genre incredibly dear to me – I was desperate to discover what approach this book would take - and as it turns out, it’s possibly the boldest move by Bitmap Books yet, and one that absolutely lives up to the lofty heights that author Alexander Chatziioannou sets out in the first few pages.

Fusion Retro Book: The Book of the Game of the Film Author – Jerry Ellis "The Review of the Book of the Game of the Film" 🎞️🎮📕 @Retro_Fusion #Retrogaming #Retrogames

This is the second book published by Fusion Retro Books that I have covered this year, and I own several others by them that I’ve picked up over the years and it’s all been very good stuff. This 300-page hardback continues the trend of high quality releases, and celebrates those oh-so-often movie, TV, and product tie-ins that were released so freely across the cluttered 8-bit landscape. Author Jerry Ellis crams as much gold as he can in those 300 pages, covering a huge amount of movie, TV, comic, product and even board-game tie-ins in a style that blends humour, insight, research and approachability.

Graeme Mason Interview "It was a pleasure to learn more about ZX Nightmares and also to find out where Graeme’s pixelated quill will take us next" 📖 @Wizwords @Retro_Fusion #Retrogaming

I recently thoroughly enjoyed Graeme Mason’s new book, ZX Nightmares, published by Fusion Books, and found that reading the book was such a fun experience that I wanted to know more about the background of its creation.

I have a little bit of personal history with Graeme, in that it was through his contacting me through Retro Gamer magazine for a ‘Collectors Corner’ article that my now evil editor endgame boss, Rich, caught wind of my existence and asked me to begin writing for The Mighty Games Freezer waaay back in 2017 –I definitely owe Graeme a pint at some point!

It was a pleasure to learn more about ZX Nightmares and also to find out where Graeme’s pixelated quill will take us next. 

I hope you enjoy this article about one of the most active writers in the retro gaming scene today. 📖

THE CRPG BOOK: A GUIDE TO COMPUTER ROLE-PLAYING GAMES (EXPANDED EDITION) REVIEW ⚔️ @BitmapBooks #CRPG

The release of a new Bitmap Book is always a good thing, and this expanded edition of The CRPG Book: A Guide to Computer Role-Playing Games weighs in at a mammoth 684 pages and is the perfect sibling to their A Guide to Japanese Role-Paying Games – released back in 2021.

Each of these tomes is beautifully designed, and can be used to fend off burglars, so thick are they with glorious information and imagery. This book, in particular, took me a lot longer than usual to review purely because I was poring over each page, devouring the words and constantly getting side-tracked in marking where I was and then watching YouTube videos on the releases covered therein, because the passion of the text drew me in so much that I yearned to find out as much as I could about the games covered.

I’d had my eye on the CRPG Book since a reprint was announced several months ago, and I vividly recall spending a few moments on the Bitmap Books website genuinely getting lost in the cover art alone.

I’ve said this before, I’m not a student of art, and the visual arts are very much not my forte, so when something grabs me in that aspect, I really enjoy the sensation, a sensation which was spiked upon seeing the cover of this book. The richness of the illustration here absolutely captures the feeling of RPG gaming, where the imagination takes over and boundaries between game and gamer bleed into each other, the sense of dynamism and kineticism in the characters bursting forth from the screen is ‘framed-poster-worthy’ (definitely a term, don’t look it up) in how it almost hypnotises the reader into opening the book and getting lost in the pages. Awesome stuff, thank you Jan Pospíšil!

ZX Nightmares by Graeme Mason – Book Review "The funniest, most quotable book about gaming that I’ve ever encountered" 📖 @Retro_Fusion #Retrogaming

As someone who spent far more time with the C64 and Amstrad computers during the 8-bit wave, I’ve always voyeuristically enjoyed the love that others have for the ZX Spectrum and its idiosyncratic sound and visuals. I do actually own a ZX Spectrum, but – whilst I have amassed a few dozen games for it – I’ve yet to sit down and really get hips deep, my only knowledge of it mainly comes from the many incredible Kim Justice videos that I’ve watched over the years, and game reviews in magazines that I’ve read through– in terms of actual hands-on action, I’ve probably spent less than an hour actually playing one myself in my entire life, not for any reason other than I simply wasn’t around any when I grew up.

📔 Ben Dever Interview "Lone Wolf is the life’s work of my father - Joe Dever - and sits in a very particular place in gaming history right between the tabletop, and the computer." 📔 @Holmgard_Press @ARLoneWolf

Fantasy gaming pioneer Joe Dever’s epic gamebook series is back in paperback for the first time in over 30 years.

Originally published to huge acclaim and popularity in 1984, with over 12 million copies sold, Joe Dever’s classic Lone Wolf gamebook series have been fan favourites ever since but not widely available.

Author Joe Dever passed away from cancer in 2016. It was his final wish that his son, Ben, complete the remaining unfinished books in the series and bring all of the books back into print for a new audience.

I was lucky enough to get to share a few emails with Ben, talking about the rich history of Lone Wolf, as well as what the future holds for this incredible, long-lasting series.

Bitmap Books – PC Engine - The Box Art Collection Review 🕮 @bitmap_books

Having previously covered Bitmap Books’ Game Boy - The Box Art Collection, my expectations were pretty high for this collection of PC Engine art, as their releases tend to be of extremely high quality in terms of the physical products themselves, as well as the work that goes into the design, research, information, and editing. 

I have to spend a second just high-fiving the packaging that Bitmap Books use. As someone who gets vinyl in the post – a notoriously delicate product - there have been occasions when I’ve actually been nervous when opening parcels due to the condition in which they’ve turned up.

I’m not a snob, but the thought of a warped or bent record sends shivers up my spine! With Bitmap Books, though – this is never an issue, as the packaging is generous, tightly bound and could probably stop a close-range shotgun blast. Good.

Flight From The Dark | Book Review | Author: Joe Dever | Publisher: Magmanund "Timeless Adventures For All -You Are Lone Wolf!" 🐺⚔️ #GameBook

When I had the opportunity to cover Magnamund’s Flight in the Dark gamebook, it dawned on me that I used to adore the gamebooks of my childhood and teens, but then they seemed to fall by the wayside - for some reason - for decades.

A couple of years ago, I was in a charity shop in my home town of Cardiff and saw a good number of Fighting Fantasy books for sale and grabbed them all. After reading a couple, the fun of the experience set back in and it sparked some conversations with friends – especially my GF colleague Max – as the design of the books is timeless, and there’s universal accessibility in them that I’ll touch upon later.

In short, the chance to write about Joe Dever’s Flight in the Dark could not have been more timely.

Lone Wolf The Classic Fantasy Gamebook Series By Joe Dever 📖

Fantasy gaming pioneer Joe Dever’s epic gamebook series is back in paperback for the first time in over 30 years

Originally published to huge acclaim and popularity in 1984, with over 12 million copies sold, Joe Dever’s classic Lone Wolf gamebook series have been fan favourites ever since but not widely available.

Author Joe Dever passed away from cancer in 2016. It was his final wish that his son, Ben, complete the remaining unfinished books in the series and bring all of the books back into print for a new audience.

I’m Too Young to Die: The Ultimate Guide to First-Person Shooters Review 💥 @bitmap_books @BrittRecluseuk

We’ve covered several Bitmap Book releases here at GF, and each has been cause for celebration, from the sheer scope of 'A Guide to Japanese Role-Playing Games' through to the oddly enchanting 'A Gremlin in the Works', their books always get hips deep into their subject matter and yank my trousers off, regardless of how firmly I’ve initially buckled them. 

In the case of I’m Too Young to Die: The Ultimate Guide to First-Person Shooters, it was the sections on oddities and ultimately unsuccessful titles that had grazes with greatness that really caught my attention.

It was eye-opening to find out just how much experimentation was going on, especially in the world of PC gaming in the mid-’90s, and I found myself marking a page to watch some gameplay footage of these games - that had somehow passed me by in my formative years – before continuing my reading and inevitably repeating the process a few pages later, always a good sign when reading a book such as this.