The Game Console History Book

Product Description

The Game Console is a tour through the evolution of video game hardware, with gorgeous full-color photos of 86 consoles. You’ll start your journey with legendary consoles like the Magnavox Odyssey, Atari 2600, Nintendo Entertainment System, and the Commodore 64. The visual nostalgia trip continues with systems from the 1990s and 2000s, and ends on modern consoles like the Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and Wii U.

Throughout the book, you’ll also discover many consoles you never knew existed, and even find a rare peek at the hardware inside several of history’s most iconic video game systems.

Top Reviews

Expected more, and for it to be less negative
by Biscuit Face (2 out of 5 stars)
March 9, 2019

As a long time console gamer and big time fan of the industry, I was really looking forward to this. And I definitely saw some excellent pictures and learned a thing or two about some obscure consoles.

But by and large, this is a fairly vapid compilation that has little to say, but what little it does have to say is typically negative about every game system apart from the Playstation models, NES and SNES. The writer's viewpoint is sales totals heavy, and that is fine and not a point of contention. But due to this and what little is said of many other beloved consoles, it makes it hard to enjoy. I don't even mind occasionally pointing out that some things are notably bad (such as the Atari 5200 controllers, universally detested). But to clamor on and on about how quickly some of the weird older consoles were abandoned and their flaws really takes the joy out of looking at them and getting interested in them.

In addition to this issue, the format changes on every page. Instead of each game system listing sales totals, # of games released for it, etc it changes with each item. I can only surmise that the writer either didn't research the information on sales totals or whatnot, or had the information and simply withheld it as they weren't personally interested and assumed the reader wouldn't be either.

In all, this just felt like a poorly composed, half-researched photo book made by a subjective pseudo-fan, that is devoid of passion, juicy details, intrigue, or valuable stats. I'm going to have to go to a Retro Game Con of some sort to cleanse my palette from this bland take on my favorite hobby.
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For any video game enthusiast!
by Dr. De (5 out of 5 stars)
November 7, 2018

This beautiful full color high resolution book is a must have for any video game enthusiast. You'll see systems you know in a new light and discover some that are just plain weird.
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A fantastic photographic look at the history of video game consoles
by Kevin P (5 out of 5 stars)
November 7, 2018

The Game Console guides the reader through a photographic journey of each generation of gaming history. Amos's photos provide great visuals throughout this book (especially the detailed internal breakdowns), and the short excerpts provide info on what makes each console notable and interesting. There isn't too much text (as the title says, this is "a photographic history"), but all the important details are there and the photos are where the book really shines. The popular consoles are covered, but the real treat is seeing and learning about all the not-so-famous consoles that you may have never seen. It's great to be able to progress through each generation, seeing the various designs and how things progress over the years.
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Interesting content, but mediocre Kindle version
by Oblomov (3 out of 5 stars)
November 25, 2018

In retrospect, this would have been better as a physical book purchase. Kindle version is basically a scan of the actual book, so majority of Kindle oriented features are not available. That's quite unfortunate, and I would have skipped this book or bought a physical version if I knew.

Content itself is quite cool and I love full color illustrations.
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Very well manufactured with quality images & facts!
by Davide (5 out of 5 stars)
November 11, 2018

I pre-ordered this book years ago & honestly after it had been delayed for so long, I never actually expected it would be released. But lo & behold, it showed up at my front door!

This book is a very interesting piece for any video game fan or collector. The images are all produced with clarity & beautiful color reproduction. The facts that accompany every page add to the wealth of information this book preserves. It will sit proudly next to my copy of Encyclopedia of Arcade Video Games.

I want to thank the author Evan Amos for all his work in photographing and preserving video game history. As a manager of a small game store, I will be able to utilize this book to help pass on historical info to new generations of gamers. Amazing book, keep up the great work!
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A beautiful labor of love...
by D. Halfacre (5 out of 5 stars)
November 6, 2018

Very high quality photos that were well thought out. Maybe it isn't a perfect reference, but it more than makes up for that with the nostalgia it provides.
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OMG What a book
by A. Kim (5 out of 5 stars)
November 16, 2018

Encyclopedia of console game history. Anyone of certain age group who have had exposure playing some of the games are bound to be interested in reading this excellent picture history of some well known and not so well known console system.

The size of hardback book is perfect; not too big, not too small (for me). Papers are not the glossy kind that will leave fingerprints all over. Layout is chronological with many of console system's innards neatly laid out which is something most of us probably never tried (at least not in the way it was photographed here.

This book is really a labor of love. It may be niche but I can say it sure bring back memories of fun time I've had playing the games.
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Great history book for gaming consoles
by Shadez82 (5 out of 5 stars)
August 31, 2019

This books is a great collector piece. The book itself is a nice hard cover with a rough feel around the console controller which is interesting. I really enjoy all the pictures of the past game consoles in order. It shows a picture of the device as well as a physical break down of the console. There is also a break down of the components as well as a history of the product. One thing I like about this is that it provides several consoles I did not even know existed so that was definitely a plus. The history is pretty detailed. It is not like text book deep detail but it gives you the highlights such as who created the console and some fun small facts which is interesting. The picture details is also very nice. Overall I think this book is a great collector piece to really show how much gaming consoles have changed to what we have now.
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Awesome coffee table book for old school geeky video gamers!
by VZ (5 out of 5 stars)
September 24, 2019

Awesome & fun book for anyone who loves technology and has any appreciation for video games along the decades. I grew up to my first console, the NES during the 1980s. I also had some older cousins that had the Atari 2600 & Commodore systems! I loved it all! Now this book doesn't describe any games but has a nice breakdown of all the consoles throughout the years. Breaks down some hardware specs and has pretty good brief breakdowns. They aren't super through but enough. Those expecting the true break-it-downs with labels of each component would be disappointed. I don't think that was the goal of the book though! Good balance of pics & info! I was surprised it even had a section with the Steamlink as I didn't really think of it as a console since it streams games with your PC but nice to have it all! We recently upgraded our coffee table and my wife started having some home/design books. This sits in the middle! I'm glad she approved! We already had several guests find this book facinating and chose this over some of the other ones! I dig it!!
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Great read!
by The Fonz (5 out of 5 stars)
March 19, 2019

I thought this would be a fun coffee table book to flip through occasionally, but I ended up reading it cover-to-cover. Surprisingly thorough with its selection of systems, including many that were never released in the US. It does a good job of linking one generation of consoles to the next, with interesting stories, sales figures and tech specs.

There are some minor typos and mistakes in the first edition... the title "Atari to Xbox" changes to "Xbox to Atari" depending on the page, but it's a minor gripe. A great read for anyone who grew up playing video game consoles.

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