Bitmap Books to release arcade video game history book

Bitmap Books has announced the release of ‘The Arcade 1971–1999: The Stories Behind Classic Coin-Ops, Told by Their Creators’ by Paul Drury. The 408-page book is scheduled for release on October 1st, with a pre-order window expected to open a few days prior.

The publication profiles 120 essential arcade video games, tracing the evolution of the medium from its commercial beginnings in 1971 through 1999. The book features historical documentation, design sketches, coding notes, and personal photos. It includes firsthand accounts and interviews with industry figures, such as Atari co-founder Nolan Bushnell and Eugene Jarvis, who contributed the foreword and afterword.

Content highlights include the origins of titles like Donkey Kong, Q*bert, Pong, and Ms. Pac-Man. The book is being sold via the Bitmap Books website for $48, and purchasers will receive a digital PDF copy alongside the physical lithographic print.