Bitmap Books' latest release, The Arcade 1971–1999: The Stories Behind Classic Coin-Ops, has earned a perfect 5/5 verdict from Daily Express Gaming Editor Liam Martin, who calls it a potential new favourite from the publisher.
The book focuses exclusively on arcade games released between 1971 and 1999, starting with titles like Computer Space and Pong and ending with Silent Scope. It covers the stories behind 120 vintage games, from iconic releases such as Space Invaders and Pac-Man to more obscure gems like Battle Garegga, Cannon Dancer and NARC.
A deep dive into game creation
Rather than a simple list of the best arcade games, the book details how the games were made by the people responsible. Author Paul Drury told Daily Express the biggest consideration "was whether we could talk to someone who was actually involved in making the game".
"We didn't want this to be a book which just relied on the nostalgia of seeing a picture of game you remember playing in the chip shop when you were a kid. Every single entry has the story behind its creation in the words of someone directly involved and that gives the reader a unique insight into the creative process," Drury said.
Notable revelations include Primal Rage producer Dennis Harper revealing that the dinosaur puppets used in the game cost $50,000 each, with the stop motion process taking nearly two years due to hundreds of frames of animation per character. The book also covers the creation of Street Fighter II, the story behind Mortal Kombat's Fatalities, and why there was a near eight-year gap between Dragon's Lair and its sequel.
Special features and future plans
The book includes a foreword by Atari co-founder Nolan Bushnell, featuring his personal top five favourite arcade games, and an afterword by Defender and Robotron: 2084 creator Eugene Jarvis. There is also a section on unreleased arcade games by The Games That Weren't author Frank Gasking.
Martin's only criticism is that the book left him wanting more, though not due to lack of content. Drury is keen to revisit the idea and has plans for a second volume if the book proves successful, potentially covering games like Golden Axe, Omega Race, Gyruss and Ridge Racer.
