From the history of gaming to working as a developer, critic or streamer, there’s always more to learn
Here’s a question: Do you remember the best holiday gift you ever received when you were a kid?
I do.
It was the mid-nineties and I was 10 years old. I came down the stairs to find a giftwrapped box with a huge bow beneath the tree. I eagerly tore at the paper and unwrapped a box containing what would become my new obsession. A Sega Genesis gaming system.
That winter break, I sunk countless hours into a variety of incredible games — games that were doors to new worlds I’d never even imagined. I could fly through the air as Sonic the Hedgehog, or display my martial arts prowess as Johnny Cage in Mortal Kombat (I still remember being too excited to sleep the night I finally defeated Goro).
If you’re like me, you probably have similar memories of those giddy days of gaming bliss. But now that you’re an adult, simply buying and beating the next big game might not be enough to scratch that itch. If you love gaming but don’t know how to take that love to the next level, there’s a host of careers that will actually pay you to engage with the vast world of gaming.
Maybe you have an interest in gaming, but aren’t sure how to take it to the next stage. Exploring the worlds of game development, gaming criticism and livestream video production takes a bit of initiative, but is here to help you take the first steps of that creative journey. Here are some titles to get you started.
Discover the World of Video Game Development
Few writers have captured the history of the gaming industry as well as Tristan Donovan and Richard Garriott. Their book, will give you the inspirational boost you’re looking for if you’ve ever considered a career in game development.
Discover just how the novelty hobby of gaming turned into a full-blown cultural phenomenon. A deep dissection of the industry, this title lays out just what it takes to make it in this world.
Replay tracks the games that changed the world, the geniuses who designed them and the culture of gamers that rose up as a result. Not only does Replay cover the history of gaming from the early days of arcade action through to the contemporary gaming empires created by Nintendo, Sony and EA, but Donovan and Garriott also interview hundreds of industry insiders who give their own perspectives on the meteoric rise of gaming culture.
Are you more business-minded than creative? Then check out , an exploration of the intersection between creative pursuits and commercial demand.
Like with any creative medium, behind the art of games, you’ll find the business. Console Wars sets aside the discussion of the actual work of designing games and focuses on how gaming went from being a fad to a full-blown commercial phenomenon. A study into the battles between the brands, Blake J. Harris explores the rise of gaming and how it has shaped today’s entertainment industry.
