Video games are a huge industry and millions of people across the world play them on a regular basis. I grew up in a gaming household, first with a Commodore 64 before progressing onto an Amiga 1200, Amiga CD-32, SEGA Game Gear and then a PC. Over the years I’ve also owned a PS3, a PS4, Xbox 360, PSP, Nintendo DS and Nintendo Wii. Video games have always been a part of my life and the continue to be so. That’s why I was intrigued to take a look at Erwan Cario’s ‘Press Start: The History of Video Gaming’, which was originally published in French in 2023.
This new English-language edition has been fully updated and it really is a must-have for any video game fans. The hefty hardback book contains almost 300 pages and it takes you from the early 70s through to the modern world of gaming. There is no stone left unturned when it comes to gaming history and the book is packed with interesting insights, and screenshots of the games mentioned. Opening with ‘Before 1972 The Prehistory of Video Games’, the book delves into the origin of gaming before getting to all the good stuff you’ll likely have picked up this book to read about.
‘The Pong Era’ takes about the period from 1972 to 1976 when games were incredibly simple and ‘Pong’ was the first video game to be released. It touches upon the beginnings of video games before jumping into ‘The Cartridge Era’, covering 1976 to 1983. This is when games really began to find their feet with titles like ‘Donkey Kong’ and ‘Pac-Man’ gaining plenty of attention and traction. Of course, that led to ‘The Nintendo Age’, where ‘Super Mario Bros’ arrived in 1985 and changed the face of gaming. This chapter also covers the Amiga and the Atari, and the incredibly popular ‘SimCity’ game, that brought strategy into the mix.
The book continues working through video games history with highlights including ‘The Age of Genres’, spanning 1989 to 1994 when games started to become a little more sophisticated. Out went simple platform games, and in came more complex games with proper narratives and more expansive worlds. ‘Doom’ is highlighted here, and I remember spending many hours playing it when I was a kid! The 1994 to 1999 period is dedicated to ‘The PlayStation Age’, which once again revolutionised gaming. ‘Wipeout’, ‘Tomb Raider’ and ‘Gran Turismo’ are just some of the absolute classic games mentioned here.
The later parts of the book explore the more recent video game landscape. Online games switched things up in the late 90s and early 00s, as did the arrival of classics such as ‘Grand Theft Auto’ and ‘World of Warcraft’. 2004 to 2012 shines a spotlight on the advancement of games to include movement from the player with the arrival of ‘Guitar Hero’ and the Nintendo Wii. The book’s final chapter, ‘The Age of Excess’, looks at more recent advancements with the release of the PS5 and the Xbox Series, and it really is quite remarkable to see just how far gaming has come.
The book comes to a close with thoughts on what might be coming next and a list of 350 games that you must have played (if you’re a true gamer that is). I was surprised at just how many of the games I’d actually managed to play during my life so far.
‘Press Start: The History of Video Gaming’ is an absolute must-have for any video game fans. It’s the perfect stocking filler this Christmas and it’s a visually stunning book. Packing a lot into its contents, ‘Press Start: The History of Video Gaming’ is both a trip down memory lane and a celebration of gaming. It will remind you of some of the most glorious games ever made and make you nostalgic for the times when games were simpler.
Publisher: Ilex Press Release date: 25th September 2025 Buy ‘Press Start: The History of Video Gaming’ now
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