Game Machines Encyclopedia - English Version

[Flack]

Gameplan is now offering the acclaimed retro gaming book "Game Machines 1972 - 2005" in North America. It is a 244 page, full color encyclopedia of about every home gaming system released over the last 33 years.

Further information and several sample pages in PDF format are available on our web site: www.gameplan-books.com

Anyone picked this up yet?

[poloplayr]

Looks pretty sweet but looking at the Index of software titles I am a bit curious as to how they chose those particular ones to be included?

[rbudrick]

Wow! This looks a lot like that German history of joysticks book. I've gotta get this...looks very interesting.

-Rob

[digitalpress]

Wow! This looks a lot like that German history of joysticks book. I've gotta get this...looks very interesting.

-Rob

That's because it's by the same team!

I have the book, and it is OUTSTANDING. Full color, loads of great pictures and very good information - and it includes all of those obscure systems that we put in our online guide that no one ever talks about. I haven't gone through the book in detail but it is very impressive at first glance!

[rbudrick]

AHA! :D

That's great...I can't even read German much, but that joystick book is awesome.

Amazon lists this book, but it isn't for sale. How new is this book? Do you think it will be available anywhere other than the publisher's site? $40 with shipping seems a bit much for me...

-Rob

[rolenta]

Do you think it will be available anywhere other than the publisher's site? $40 with shipping seems a bit much for me...

I was in discussions with the publisher to distribute the book through Rolenta Press. Unfortunately I had to back out. However if I went with it I would have had to charge approximately $35 for each book with shipping.

[Windy Miller]

Wow! This looks a lot like that German history of joysticks book. I've gotta get this...looks very interesting.

-Rob

That's because it's by the same team!

I have the book, and it is OUTSTANDING. Full color, loads of great pictures and very good information - and it includes all of those obscure systems that we put in our online guide that no one ever talks about. I haven't gone through the book in detail but it is very impressive at first glance!

That's good to hear - I've just ordered it. So far I've got 29 books on videogames. Fingers crossed this book arrives quickly. :-P

[shai hulud]

looks pretty cool, i think the PC Engine page sold it for me.

[RevQuixo]

That's quite a slick looking presentation...i think I'll have to order :)

[Stark]

I just purchased it with air mail shipping it cost a total of $42.80. Looks like its well worth the price. I'll update when I get it. Thanks Flack for the heads up! 8-)

[Gameplan]

Wow! This looks a lot like that German history of joysticks book. I've gotta get this...looks very interesting.
-Rob

...and please let me know, what you think of the encyclopedia, should you get your copy of it! :-)

As the author of the book I want to thank Rob and the others who show their interest. After the German issue did quite well here, it was still a lot of work translating it and bring a few hundreds copies over, from old Europe into the "new world".

I am really looking forward to some feedback and comments, after the first Digit Press gamers had the chance to take a deeper look and dive into 33 years of electronic action and game hardware. Right now, not too many people have seen it within the US. Digit Press' Joe Santulli was one of the first, as was Albert of Atari Age.

Thanks to the guys who helped, please enjoy this book & let me know whether it is any good.

Regards from Bavaria,
Winnie Forster

www.gameplan-books.com
www.gameplan.de

PS: As far as I know, there is one English text on Gameplan and Game Machines published, so far. It's an interview with one of the translators of the new book and me on the UK site www.mbdrecords.com. You might have a look if you are interested in the motivation behind the book and its new edition.

[rbudrick]

First, let me thank YOU, Gameplan for making that great book on that Joystick History.

Second, any chance of an English version of that?

-Rob

[Windy Miller]

Nice little interview to read. :) Are the books in stock & ready to be shipped yet ? I ordered mine (UK address) a couple of days ago, but I want it now DAMMIT !! LOL

[rolenta]

Just to let everyone konw that I worked it out with Gameplan and the Encyclopedia will be available from www.rolentapress.com very soon.

[rolenta]

Here's a quick followup. The Encyclopedia is now available from www.rolentapress.com .

[k8track]

I received my book a week and a half ago and I just wanted to let Winnie Forster and the rest of you know how incredibly outstanding it is. It's gorgeously presented with lots of full-color photographs and useful charts and historical information. I have devoured its contents and I clamor for more. Please add my voice to the chorus who are begging for the second Gameplan book, Joysticks, to be translated into English. And there was a third book on software mentioned as well--again, I hope it is released in English soon! You will find that there is a great demand for it.

Once again, well done!

[hydr0x]

heh, i've yet to get the German version, i have the joysticks book twice though LOL

great work @Winnie (i've read through the whole 1st edition of the german edition, i just had no money yet to buy it)

are you (and Gameplan) attending this years Games Convention in Leipzig?? i'm probably there on press day and i'd love to check out your boot if you have one

thx again for the great books and keep up the good work :)

and on a sidenote, thx for founding Maniac! back then :D

[robotriot]

Yea, the books are excellent, I've got 1, 1.5 and 2 ^^ Great content and nice presentation, can't wait for the 3rd book =)

[Gameplan]

I received my book a week and a half ago and I just wanted to let Winnie Forster and the rest of you know how incredibly outstanding it is. It's gorgeously presented with lots of full-color photographs and useful charts and historical information. I have devoured its contents and I clamor for more. Please add my voice to the chorus (...) You will find that there is a great demand for it.
Once again, well done!

Thanks for your kind words :-)

As the encyclopedia of Game Machines is Gameplan's first step outside continental Europe, maybe early readers might help me with the following:

Gameplan isn't attending this year's VGXPOs (expos in Dallas, Washington and Philadelphia), nor CommVEx
or the Vintage Computer Festival Midwest 1.0 (both taking place this month), but would still like to get some books there. Karen@gameplan-books.com and me are looking for honest, game or retro minded traders, who are planning to attend one of those exhibition and events.

If you know a game retailer or dealer who might go to one of the shows and who might represent Gameplan (= bring some encyclopedias there and show them ;-), please let me know or help me to make the contact :-)

Apart from that, we will post our first batch of "Updates & Errata" at www.gameplan-books.com, .co.uk and www.gameplan.de soon. So if you did spot any mistake or error within our 224 pages, let me know.

Hope to hear (feedback, tips and criticism) from you soon,
Winnie

www.gameplan.de