The Video Games Textbook takes the history of video games to the next level. Coverage includes every major video game console, handheld system, and game-changing personal computer, as well as a look at the business, technology, and people behind the games.

Chapters feature objectives and key terms, illustrative timelines, color images and graphs, in addition to the technical specifications and key titles for each platform. Every chapter is a journey into a different segment of gaming, where readers emerge with a clear picture of how video games evolved, why the platforms succeeded or failed, and the impact they had on the industry and culture. Written to capture the attention and interest of students from around the world, this newly revised Third Edition also serves as a go-to handbook for any video game enthusiast.

This edition introduces new content in each chapter, including coverage of adaptive gaming technology, cloud gaming, influential industry professionals, hardware innovations, and significant gaming milestones—from classic systems to PlayStation 5 Pro, Nintendo Switch 2, and the latest Xbox platforms.

Key Features

• Explores the history, business, and technology of video games, including social, political, and economic motivations
• Facilitates learning with clear objectives, key terms, illustrative timelines, color images, tables, and graphs
• Highlights the technical specifications and key titles of all major game consoles, handhelds, personal computers, and mobile platforms
• Reinforces material with market summaries, reviews of breakthroughs and trends, as well as end-of-chapter activities and quizzes