best arcade coffee table book?

[Donkbaca]

Now that my cab is (mostly) complete, I was wondering if anyone could recommend a book about arcades that has a bunch of pictures, like a coffee table book that I can put on the table next to my cab.  I know that Bill Kurtz has his Encyclopedia of arcade games, but the reviews of it are pretty bad.  i was wondering if there was maybe something like this with better pictures.  Do any of you have one?  Can any of you recommend one?

Thanks!

[Rando]

Now that my cab is (mostly) complete, I was wondering if anyone could recommend a book about arcades that has a bunch of pictures, like a coffee table book that I can put on the table next to my cab.  I know that Bill Kurtz has his Encyclopedia of arcade games, but the reviews of it are pretty bad.  i was wondering if there was maybe something like this with better pictures.  Do any of you have one?  Can any of you recommend one?

If the games played on your cab are mostly from the 80's, put an 80's Nostalgia book.  If from the 90's, put a 90's one.  Or if your cab theme is based on something like space, or aliens, or a rock band, put a campy book that goes into that theme.

Or make your own book and document the different controls that are needed for each game, and then send me a copy!

[Hoopz]

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=111150.0

How about this?

[Donkbaca]

Haha, yeah that would be sweet.  I'll just umm... "Borrow" everything from http://www.arcade-museum.com/ and combine it with controls.dat.  Have the arcade museum page on the left with a picture of the cabinet, marquee, flyer cp  and title screen, then on the right I'll have the controls.

I'll start taking pre-orders next week!

Seriously though, I want a good book with lots of pictures about arcade games so guests can leaf through it while waiting to play.  Any suggestions?

[Donkbaca]

The bits sticks and buttons one is good, but I want something a little more comprehensive, and I don't want pictures of random dudes posing next to each machine 

[wp34]

The bits sticks and buttons one is good, but I want something a little more comprehensive, and I don't want pictures of random dudes posing next to each machine 

I picked up this book and I do like it except for the pictures of KLOV dudes next to their machines.  Could have done without that.  Otherwise it is pretty good.

I have this one as well.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0262524201

I'm not sure it is as comprehensive as you want but it is interesting to visitors that have been away from arcades for a long time.  Also gave me a few ideas of games to try that I had forgotten about.

[yotsuya]

Now that my cab is (mostly) complete, I was wondering if anyone could recommend a book about arcades that has a bunch of pictures, like a coffee table book that I can put on the table next to my cab.  I know that Bill Kurtz has his Encyclopedia of arcade games, but the reviews of it are pretty bad.  i was wondering if there was maybe something like this with better pictures.  Do any of you have one?  Can any of you recommend one?

If the games played on your cab are mostly from the 80's, put an 80's Nostalgia book.  If from the 90's, put a 90's one.  Or if your cab theme is based on something like space, or aliens, or a rock band, put a campy book that goes into that theme.

Or make your own book and document the different controls that are needed for each game, and then send me a copy!

I actually think that's a great idea, Rando! I might have to do that.

[Rando]

Now that my cab is (mostly) complete, I was wondering if anyone could recommend a book about arcades that has a bunch of pictures, like a coffee table book that I can put on the table next to my cab.  I know that Bill Kurtz has his Encyclopedia of arcade games, but the reviews of it are pretty bad.  i was wondering if there was maybe something like this with better pictures.  Do any of you have one?  Can any of you recommend one?

If the games played on your cab are mostly from the 80's, put an 80's Nostalgia book.  If from the 90's, put a 90's one.  Or if your cab theme is based on something like space, or aliens, or a rock band, put a campy book that goes into that theme.

Or make your own book and document the different controls that are needed for each game, and then send me a copy!

I actually think that's a great idea, Rando! I might have to do that.

Good,
Emphasis added!!

[yotsuya]

Now that my cab is (mostly) complete, I was wondering if anyone could recommend a book about arcades that has a bunch of pictures, like a coffee table book that I can put on the table next to my cab.  I know that Bill Kurtz has his Encyclopedia of arcade games, but the reviews of it are pretty bad.  i was wondering if there was maybe something like this with better pictures.  Do any of you have one?  Can any of you recommend one?

If the games played on your cab are mostly from the 80's, put an 80's Nostalgia book.  If from the 90's, put a 90's one.  Or if your cab theme is based on something like space, or aliens, or a rock band, put a campy book that goes into that theme.

Or make your own book and document the different controls that are needed for each game, and then send me a copy!

I actually think that's a great idea, Rando! I might have to do that.

Good,
Emphasis added!!

I hope you like 80s classics!

[scofthe7seas]

Hahaha Guests don't actually ever look at coffee table books. You could probably get away with a book cover and blank pages. The one that notices it is blank will have to be quickly dealt with before alarm is raised with the others, but a handy bottle of chloroform should take care of that.
>_>
<_<

[yotsuya]

Hahaha Guests don't actually ever look at coffee table books. You could probably get away with a book cover and blank pages. The one that notices it is blank will have to be quickly dealt with before alarm is raised with the others, but a handy bottle of chloroform should take care of that.
>_>
<_<

I should make a coffee table book of all the arcade pictures my daughter has drawn for me over the past year. My Father's Day card was a hand-drawn picture of she and I standing hand in hand next to a Donkey Kong machine.

[Vigo]

Get books from that era.  



Then you can tell everyone how to master the video games.

http://www.amazon.com/How-Master-Video-Games-Hirschfeld/dp/0553201646

[scofthe7seas]

Hottest tips on PacMan:
Eat all of the pellets.
When a ghost is on your ass, eat a power pellet, and eat the ghost.
If the fruit is appears while you are near it, eat the fruit. Don't take unnecessary risks to get the fruit.

[yotsuya]

Get books from that era.  



Then you can tell everyone how to master the video games.

http://www.amazon.com/How-Master-Video-Games-Hirschfeld/dp/0553201646

I actually have that book... I remember reading it as a kid many times, then finding it last year at a book sale. When I set up my Mame cab, I hunted down all the games in that book that were emulated so I could finally play them after almost 30 years.

[TheShanMan]

The bits sticks and buttons one is good, but I want something a little more comprehensive, and I don't want pictures of random dudes posing next to each machine 

Random dudes? I wouldn't quite say that. Mostly klov dudes, and in particular Portland area dudes, but there are some byoac dudes too (I'm the SF Rush dude, Friz is the spy hunter dude, etc). Great book though.

[Hoopz]

Get books from that era.  



Then you can tell everyone how to master the video games.

http://www.amazon.com/How-Master-Video-Games-Hirschfeld/dp/0553201646

I actually have that book... I remember reading it as a kid many times, then finding it last year at a book sale. When I set up my Mame cab, I hunted down all the games in that book that were emulated so I could finally play them after almost 30 years.

Were there any games in that book that aren't emulated now?

[yotsuya]

Get books from that era.  



Then you can tell everyone how to master the video games.

http://www.amazon.com/How-Master-Video-Games-Hirschfeld/dp/0553201646

I actually have that book... I remember reading it as a kid many times, then finding it last year at a book sale. When I set up my Mame cab, I hunted down all the games in that book that were emulated so I could finally play them after almost 30 years.

Were there any games in that book that aren't emulated now?

Monaco GP comes to mind, but it was TTL-based. There were also 1 or 2 other games I couldn't find.

[GibsonRiddler]

Get books from that era.  



Then you can tell everyone how to master the video games.

http://www.amazon.com/How-Master-Video-Games-Hirschfeld/dp/0553201646

I just found my copy of the book while cleaning out the attic. Won't be getting rid of it now.

[Donkbaca]

I don't want a shrine to the 80's, I want a book about arcade games.

[Nephasth]

I don't want a shrine to the 80's, I want a book about arcade games.

 

[Donkbaca]

Already got the new project arcade book 

[Nephasth]

I know I'm not being very helpful, but this is what's on my coffee table...

[Donkbaca]

I guess I'll just have to make my own.....

[wp34]

I'm planning on making a book showing my build progress using Shutterfly to put next to my cabinets.  Of course I have a couple of projects to finish first.   

[Vigo]

Haven't ever seen this one before, but it looks like it might be good:

http://www.amazon.com/Arcade-Fever-Guide-Golden-Video/dp/0762409371/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1308702467&sr=1-2



Only the used copies are a reasonable price on amazon though.

[Nephasth]

There seems to be a few decent ones to have laying around from Amazon.

[Ond]

These two are on my Amazon wish list  

http://books.google.com/books/about/The_ultimate_history_of_video_games.html?id=PTrcTeAqeaEC

http://www.abebooks.com/9780764319259/Encyclopedia-Arcade-Video-Games-Kurtz-0764319256/plp

I flipped through the encyclopedia in a bookshop, really nice hardbound book but way too pricey (much cheaper on Amazon) Someone please purchase them for me.  

Oh, and I already have this weighty tome  which has some pretty good info and enjoyable reading...

http://www.retrogamingaus.com/61/review-1001-video-games-you-must-play-before-you-die

[Donkbaca]

I am leaning towards the encyclopedia now. But, I heard the pictures are crappy

[Ond]

I am leaning towards the encyclopedia now. But, I heard the pictures are crappy

See my edited post.  The pictures are OK, I wouldn't say crappy but not super clean hi-res either.  You did say coffee table book, the encyclopedia is mostly pictures, so nice to flip through.

[Nephasth]

Anyone own this one?

[DCsegaDH]

This one looks good:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/4770030789/ref=s9_simh_gw_p14_d0_i3?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_r=0ZQGH4XZPKE2C8B5E87C&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=470938631&pf_rd_i=507846

I'm more of a fan of 1990's arcade machines and candy cabinets.

[wp34]

Anyone own this one?

I own this book. I took a fresh look at it after making my earlier post. As the title says it is a history of video games and not just arcade games. The book starts off with Pong/Space War and works through early consoles up to arcade games. It is more comprehensive than I remembered.

There is a lot of good information in the book. For example there is a two-page spread on an obscure game called Warrior that I remember loving as a kid. The author gives a history of the development of the game as well as an interview with the developer Tim Skelly. He also designed Star Castle which I did not know.

Some of the pictures are a bit blurry but at over 400 pages it is worth the money. My only concern is the quality of the binding. The pages, while not quite loose, seem like they will fall out eventually.