read-only memory: videogames chronicles
by Luke Farrugia • 14 September 2020
"It feels like I've been hiding under a rock, how have I never come across this publisher before?" was the first thing I expressed with glee, upon seeing this site today. Usually, when community member Chris Lucas posts a link, it's worth pausing to take a look, but this one blew me away.
Read-Only Memory publishes high-quality books that document significant moments in videogame history—recognising the pioneers, milestones and titles that have shaped the industry. When browsing the catalogue, it is honestly tempting to buy everything as all of the content looks immaculate. As a gamer, I have always been fascinated with the elements beyond the gameplay. In particular, the lore, the HUD (heads-up display) and the way visuals, motion and sound are utilised to navigate and portray a story. This recourse ticks all of these boxes and more as it focuses on elements like typography, industrial design, game design, console specifications, concept art and sprite art. I feel like a kid in a candy store.
To see the full range of products, take a look at Read-Only Memory here.
Sega Mega Drive/Genesis: Collected Works is the ultimate retrospective of the console, featuring development and concept illustrations for Sega's best-loved game franchises, original developer interviews and previously unseen hardware production plans. Much of the visual material – drawn from the Sega of Japan archives – has never been released before.
Arcade Game Typography: The first book of its kind – a definitive and beautifully designed survey of '70s, '80s and early '90s arcade game pixel typography. Exhaustively researched by author Toshi Omagari (a celebrated typeface designer at Monotype UK) Arcade Game Typography gathers together 250 pixel typefaces, all carefully chosen, extracted, redrawn and categorised by style, and each with an accompanying commentary by Omagari.
Sega Dreamcast: Collected Works: A definitive history of the cult games console, produced in collaboration with Sega. This large format, deluxe hardback features a dazzling collection of never-before-published materials and specially commissioned editorial, offering unprecedented insight into the creation of Sega's last console and its celebrated library of games.
Sega Arcade: Pop-Up History: Six of the most iconic Sega Taiken' body sensation' videogame cabinets – Hang-On, Space Harrier, Out Run, After Burner, Thunder Blade and Power Drift – in an innovative form: as dazzling pop-up paper sculptures.
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