Arcade Books...

Gonzo22

New member
Joined
Apr 29, 2009
Messages
188
Reaction score
0
Location
Pennsylvania
Just wondering if you guys can recommend any good books about the Arcade.
Anything with info about when the arcade became popular and even the fall of the arcade.

Just post the titles and I'll do the rest, I need a few references for a paper I need to write and I don't want to use all websites.

Anything arcade relevant will do.

Thanks all.
 
Here are a couple arcade specific titles I've read:

Arcade Mania! the Turbo-Charged World of Japan's Game Centers, by Brian Ashcraft and Jean Snow -- my favorite arcade related book so far.

arcade fever, by John Sellers -- another fun read, minor inaccuracies here and there.
 
Supercade: A Visual History of the Videogame Age 1971-1984 by Van Burnham

The Encyclopedia of Arcade Video Games by Bill Kurtz
 
hi score. is pretty good too. i also have a few old books, like mastering pac man by ken uston, and a couple others. still looking for the steve sanders DK book, though.
 
Supercade: A Visual History of the Videogame Age 1971-1984 by Van Burnham

+1984.... Van is a cool gamer chick and a good friend. She took her time and did it right with 'Supercade". It's a hip coffee table book that features tidbits and stories unlike anything you'll find with the other arcade books.
 
+1984.... Van is a cool gamer chick and a good friend. She took her time and did it right with 'Supercade". It's a hip coffee table book that features tidbits and stories unlike anything you'll find with the other arcade books.

It should also win an award for being one of the heaviest arcade books I own, too. :]

Supercade is a good one, totally forgot to add that to my post.
 
Definitely my favorite of all my arcade related books. I just wish she put actual pictures of the cabs, instead of Mame screen shots. Still well worth the purchase!
 
The Encyclopedia of Arcade Video Games by Bill Kurtz

A good book, not great. I've noticed a handful of inaccuracies in there, particularly concerning years that certain titles were released. And, I will agree that the price guide is way off kilter.
 
the ultimate history of video games by steven l. kent ..... enough said!
I bought my old Rampart machine from that guy! We talked for hours, he had lots of good stories, and gave me a copy of his book and signed it for me. Damn I loves me some Rampart, but I can't keep 'em all... still have the book, and its a pretty good read!
 
Dang, thanks for posting these titles. I just grabbed a copy of Supercade off of eBay for like $18... :D
 
I was actually thinking of making this thread a couple days ago! I have a decent console book collection, but I really want some good arcade books. :)

EDIT/UPDATE: I pulled out my copy of high score, and I guess I've never looked at it since I got into arcade games. I thought it was just about console and at home games with just mentioning a few pages of the arcade games but it actually talks about arcade games from day 1 til present day when the book was covered, as well as covering the at home games. :D Looks like I'll finally have to sit down and read it word for word instead of just looking at the random data tidbits.
 
Last edited:
There is a Pinball book that has some arcade shots. It's a pretty good read with lots of pics. I forogt the name of it. I have it somehwere back in AR.
 
Back
Top Bottom