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The Games of a Lifetime

5.0
Rated 5.0 out of 5 stars
62 Reviews
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Regular price $ 789.00 MXN
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Description

I’m Julian “Jaz” Rignall. I’m a lifelong super-hardcore gamer. I’ve worked in the games industry for decades, a time during which I’ve launched and run some of the most beloved and successful video game magazines and websites, worked in video game development and marketing, and most recently become a video game analyst.

Point being, I’ve witnessed many of the most important video game events and history first-hand, from a kid discovering Pong, gaming my way through the Golden Age of arcades as a national champion, and then entering the video game industry as a teenager and spending decades attending events and visiting developers as both journalist and influencer.

This book is about that journey. But it’s not an autobiography, and neither is it an encyclopaedia of the best games. It’s basically a nigh-on five-decade-long journey through what were to me the most important gaming events and experiences during that period, starting from the previously mentioned Pong through the 8- and 16-bit computer revolutions and the European console renaissance, across the millennium, and all the way to the modern age.

Think of this tome as video game time travel. I’m going to take you back to specific times and places and explain what it felt like to be there. A personal take on history through the eyes of one person who watched it all play out.

Of course, there are plenty of behind-the-scenes titbits, facts, and surprises about what was going on both in my life and in general – and also expect to discover a few little Easter Eggs and some pretty funny anecdotes. But ultimately, this is all about the games.

And holy crap are there some good ones in here. Loads of them. You really don’t want to miss it.

About the book
Across its 420 pages, The Games of a Lifetime is a video game time machine that takes you on an incredible journey from the very dawn of the industry, through the decades to the present day. It’s essentially video game history from the inside, seen through the eyes of Jaz Rignall, a hardcore gamer who cut his teeth racking up ludicrously large scores in his local arcades, won the 1983 UK National Arcade Championships, and ended up becoming a journalist/influencer who launched iconic game magazines like ZZAP!64, CVG and Mean Machines, which he wrote for and edited with his customary flair and humour.

This was at a time when games magazines had huge influence and importance, which helped put Jaz at the very heart of the nascent UK game business during its most humble beginnings, and continued as the industry exploded into a massive, worldwide entertainment juggernaut. Jaz was also key factor in bringing Japanese games to Western gamers, reporting on import consoles and games when no-one else was doing that. He would go on to work as a game developer in the US for Virgin Interactive, and then step up as editorial director of IGN, growing the site into a world leader. Today, Jaz works as a game analyst, helping to refine and shape games with vast global audiences. 

The Games of a Lifetime kicks off with a foreword from the man behind the remarkable Digital Foundry, Richard Leadbetter, who sets out the context of his former colleague’s extraordinary career. Then it’s Jaz’s story all the way, copiously illustrated with hundreds of game screenshots meticulously captured on a multitude of systems, from the Atari 400 to the PlayStation 5, and including pretty much every system you can think of. The ZX Spectrum, Commodore 64, NES, PC Engine, arcade machines galore, Amiga, Super Nintendo and many, many more are all here.

The Games of a Lifetime also includes a bounty of archival photos, amazing box art, vintage arcade flyers, and beautiful hardware and magazine shots. Also featured are specially commissioned illustrations by beloved, prolific game illustrator Wil Overton (Rare, Super Play magazine), who has reimagined classic Mean Machines artworks from Jaz’s era in his own instantly recognisable style. 

Of course, Bitmap’s exacting standards are evident on every page, whether in the vivid visual design or the sumptuous production quality. The cover, for example, is printed using special Pantone inks, and features a bespoke illustration by pixel-art specialists Army of Trolls, which is packed with numerous references to Jaz's illustrious career in games – and the history of the medium itself. Simply put, The Games of a Lifetime looks and feels entirely as fabulous as its text demands.

Book Specifications

420 pages. 250mm × 250mm. Hardback cover with special Pantone ink. Edge-to-edge high quality lithographic print. Sewn binding for enduring quality and the ability to lay flat for ideal double-page image viewing. Shrink-wrapped. Free PDF for viewing on the go. Volumetric weight: 2.5kg.

Games featured

Ant Attack / Asheron’s Call / Asteroids / Atic Atac / Ballblazer / Barbarian II / Battlezone / Bomb Jack / Bruce Lee / Bubble Bobble / Burnout 2 / California Games / Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare / Call of Duty: Modern Warfare / Carnival / Castelian / Commando / Crystal Castles / Cyberpunk 2077 / Defender / Defender of the Crown / Desert Strike / Destiny 2 / Diablo III: Ultimate Evil Edition / Donkey Kong / DOOM / Double Dragon / Dragon’s Lair / Eidolon, The / Elite / Entombed / Everybody’s Gone to the Rapture / F-Zero / FIFA International Soccer / Final Fantasy XIV / Firewatch / Flashback / Fort Apocalypse / Forza Horizon 4 / Frankie Goes to Hollywood / Galaga / Galaxian / Games / Gauntlet / Ghouls ’n Ghosts / Gone Home / Gorf / Gradius / Gran Turismo / Gran Turismo 7 / Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas / Grand Theft Auto: Vice City / Gyruss / Head Over Heels / Hearthstone / Horizon Zero Dawn / I, Robot / Impossible Mission / Inside / International Karate / Jet-Boot Jack / John Madden Football / Journey / Karate Champ / Kick Off 2 / KING OF FIGHTERS '94, THE / Koronis Rift / Kung-Fu Master / Kyorochan Land / Leaderboard / Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, The / Little Computer People / LittleBigPlanet / Lunar Jetman / Maniac Mansion / Marble Madness / Match Day / Mercenary / Missile Command / Monty on the Run / Mortal Kombat / Nebulus / Need for Speed, The / Nemesis / Night Mission / Onimusha Warlords / Out Run / Pac-Man / Paperboy / Paradroid / PGA Tour Golf / Pilotwings / Pole Position / Pong / Populous / R-Type / Raid on Bungeling Bay / Railroad Tycoon / Red Dead Redemption / Red Dead Redemption 2 / Rescue on Fractalus! / Revs / Road Rash / Robotron: 2084 / Rock Band / Sabre Wulf / Secret of Monkey Island, The / Sentinel, The / Sonic the Hedgehog / SoulCalibur / Space Invaders / Spy vs. Spy / Star Fire / Star Raiders / Star Wars / Street Fighter II / Streets of Rage / Subline / Summer Games II / Super Mario 64 / Super Mario Bros. / Super Mario Bros. 2 / Super Mario Kart / Super Mario World / Super Metroid / Super Pipeline / Tetris / Tetris Effect / Thing on a Spring / Tornado Low Level / Tower Toppler / Track and Field / Trashman / Underwurlde / Unreal Tournament / Winter Games / Wipeout / World Games / World of Warcraft

Shipping

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Reprint Updates

This edition may have received minor updates when reprinted. If not specified here, these changes will not be significant, and likely be small text amends.

5.0
Rated 5.0 out of 5 stars
Based on 62 reviews
Total 5 star reviews: 59 Total 4 star reviews: 3 Total 3 star reviews: 0 Total 2 star reviews: 0 Total 1 star reviews: 0
100%would recommend this product
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62 reviews
  • MS
    Mick S.
    Verified Buyer
    4 days ago
    Rated 5 out of 5 stars
    A wonderful and valuable tome on how we got here

    I was fortunate enough to be in my early teens when Crash and Zzap!! 64 were the pinnacle of games publishing. It became the bible for games players in the early 8-bit era and the writing was exceptional shaping the way the likes IGN and Eurogamer write today and Jaz Rignal appeared to be the leader of the revolution in the space doing for early home computer writing what Charlie Brooker did for PC. The book is a really interesting piece of history. It is clear that passion sits at the heart of the book, and that no one expected games to have the global impact they have today, which allows a freedom and pioneer spirit in the writing, you just would not get in modern, ad supported games journalism. The book is really interesting and accessible in a number of ways. If you want to read about the most important games that changed the world - it's here. If you want to read about how popular journalism rebelled against the traditionalists and created the punk underground loved and trusted by those in the know - it's here. If you want to read about a chancer who saw the importance of games becoming the voice of a generation and changing the world - it's here. An amazing book which after reading you will be astounded even exists at all, as superstar Journo's seem to be impossible in the current climate. A pice form a time when a good review coul dmake a bedroom coder a titan of industry and a bad one sink companies, this is an amazing piece of history which sadly we will never see…

  • AL
    Adrian Lopez A.
    Verified Buyer
    5 days ago
    Rated 5 out of 5 stars
    The Games of a Lifetime

    I adore every book from Bitmap Books. I like the quality of the print and the story of Julian "Jaz" Rignall. It really resonate with my own. The fact that video games shaped his life. It is fun and great to read about him and his journey in life with video games as its core. It really is adequately named "The Games of a Lifetime" since this creative and artistic media shaped our own. I am very happy with the purchase, congrats to Bitmap Books team! It is the third book from this company that I own. The first two I got through Amazon, one was a gift; then I found your webpage and I have to say that the packaging is excellent. I will keep ordering directly from your webpage from now on!

  • DL Profile picture for Dave L.
    Dave L.
    Verified Buyer
    5 days ago
    Rated 5 out of 5 stars
    One of the best!

    What an absolute joy this was to read! Jaz has had a fascinating history in the world of gaming, and getting it all down in print was a stroke of genius 👍

    Superb presentation and top quality for the actual book, monster 400+ pages and a great addition to anyone interested in gaming as a whole.

    Excellent service and delivery from Bitmap Books, the packaging I would say is the best I've ever come across, no chance your book will arrived damaged!

    10/10 highly recommended

  • JS
    Julian S.
    Verified Buyer
    6 days ago
    Rated 5 out of 5 stars
    Jaz and the Mullet

    What an absolute treat this book is. A portal into the youth and subsequent career of someone who played a part during my childhood. I treasure gaming magazines as much as the games and consoles and this book gives us an insight to both. This takes pride in my gaming room and was delivered super quickly and was beautifully presented, the packaging was amazing. Well done Jaz and Bitmap Books!

  • KG
    Kai G.
    Verified Buyer
    1 week ago
    Rated 5 out of 5 stars
    Superb

    Compared to many of the other titles published so far, this one was definitely unexpected. Not knowing what to expect, I was hesitant to order it at first. However, it is such a treat, triggering lots of nostalgic memories. Highly recommended!