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Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →The Arcade 1971–1999: The Stories Behind Classic Coin-Ops, Told by Their Creators is a 408-page, interview-led history by Paul Drury, published by Bitmap Books. It covers 120 selected arcade games through accounts from the people who made them, alongside archival material and artwork. The selection is shaped by creator access, so this is not a complete catalogue of every beloved arcade classic.
What makes this arcade history different?
Its organizing idea is firsthand testimony. Bitmap Books says Drury spent more than twenty years interviewing arcade programmers, designers, artists and musicians. Rather than treating games only as finished hits, the book focuses on how they were made, using creators’ recollections with personal photographs, design sketches, coding notes and licensed concept art. See the book at Bitmap Books.
That approach gives the volume a human-scale angle on an era often remembered through machines and marquee titles. In a Creative Bloq interview published on 1 October 2026, Drury said: “These were made by human beings who were fallible… They didn’t plan things out meticulously first, and were working out as they went along.”
Which games and creators are included?
Bitmap Books lists 120 titles spanning the period in the book’s name. The selection reaches from early games such as Computer Space, Pong and Space Invaders to later releases including Dance Dance Revolution, SoulCalibur and House of the Dead. These examples indicate the chronological breadth; they should not be read as a promise that every major game is represented.
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The book also includes concept art licensed from The Strong National Museum of Play. Bitmap Books names Atari artwork for Star Wars, Paperboy and Gauntlet. Atari co-founder Nolan Bushnell wrote the foreword, while Eugene Jarvis, creator of Defender and Robotron, wrote the afterword.
Why are some famous games missing?
The selection depends on access to original creators: Bitmap Books says a game was included when Drury could locate and interview at least one person involved in making it. Its FAQ acknowledges that some much-loved classics could not be featured. That constraint makes the book an interview-led selection rather than an exhaustive ranking or encyclopaedia of arcade games.
Rank #2
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How substantial is the physical edition?
The publisher specifies a 250 × 250 mm hardback with a gold-foil-blocked cover, edge-to-edge lithographic printing and sewn binding. It also lists a free PDF and a volumetric weight of 2.5 kg. Those are publisher specifications; the book’s dimensions and weight suggest a large-format reference volume rather than a compact paperback.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Where and when can you buy it?
At the listing snapshot dated 3 October 2026, Bitmap Books showed the book as a preorder at $48 USD, with shipping from 7 October 2026. Regional prices differ: Wallpaper* listed £34.99, $48 and €41.95, while Creative Bloq reported a £34.99 Amazon UK price on 1 October 2026. Prices and availability can change, so check the seller’s current listing for your region before ordering.
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Creative Bloq reported contributions from more than 90 programmers, designers, artists and musicians; that figure is its reporting, rather than a contributor count stated in Bitmap Books’ product specifications.
Quick Recap
Best Value
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