A Handheld History
A Handheld History
hardback
Published:
12 October, 2023
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Description
A Handheld History is a unique celebration of portable platforms and their iconic games.
Forty years ago, businessmen fiddling with calculators inspired Gunpei Yokoi to create the Game & Watch. Ever since then, handheld gaming has been hugely influential, spawning communities who trade Pokémon in the playground and share Miis on the subway. This introspective adventure will delve into decades of gaming memories and reconnect you to that long car journey full of discarded AA batteries before speeding ahead to the contemporary days of blockbusters in your backpack.
Handheld gaming is celebrated loudly, proudly, and across hundreds of beautifully assembled pages of art and essays. Featuring words from many incredible voices, this is an unmissable ode to the gaming device that you keep close to your heart – right in your jacket pocket.
Words and art by:
Alex Olney
Ashens
Bob Wulff
Brandon Saltalamacchia
Brian Crecente
Hannah Kwan Cosselmon
Janet Garcia
Jason Bradbury
Jeff Grubb
Jonathan Traynor
Kevin Kenson
Larry Bundy Jr.
Mike Diver
Raul Higuera
Stephen Maurice Graham
Plus many more!
Made in collaboration with Retro Dodo. This edition published in partnership with Expanse, an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers.
More Details
| Type | Book |
|---|---|
| ISBN13 | 9780008598174 |
| ISBN10 | 0008598177 |
| Number Of Pages | 272 |
| Item Weight | 1120 g |
| Product Dimensions | 195 x 252 x 34 mm |
| Publisher / Reseller | HarperCollins Publishers |
| Format | hardback |
Media Reviews
“It would make a welcome addition to any old-school handheld fan's bookshelf or coffee table.” – Gamespot
“The book offers plenty of visual stimuli. From vintage poster design and retro illustrations to satisfying breakdowns of console hardware, there is something inspiring for everyone.” – Creative Review
"Each piece encapsulates the feelings of joy and playfulness that come with portable gaming, whether it’s trading Pokémon with your mates on the school bus or exploring vast worlds on a tiny matrix screen from the sanctuary of your bed.” – Thumbsticks
"As someone who grew up near-exclusively on handheld gaming, seeing the personal stories, anecdotes and a timeline of the medium played out in one unique and weighty book was enough to bring a tear to my eye.” – GGRecon
“This book lays out a timeline of handheld gaming since the beginning, with vibrant displays showcasing each device and their impact. The release serves not only as a collection of history, but also a study of aesthetics over the years.” – Screenrant
“A Handheld History offers a new and personalised perspective on gaming history, and opens up significantly more space for intellectual conversations surrounding gaming in the traditional sphere.” – TheGamer
GoodReads Reviews
Author's Bio
Lost In Cult is an independent book publisher and design studio based in the United Kingdom dedicated to celebrating video games as a culturally significant art form. Lost In Cult puts the industry’s best writers and artists in conversation with the medium’s most important works and creators to examine their rich, often-overlooked history. With a dual emphasis on long-form prose and bespoke artwork, Lost In Cult challenges curiously-minded games enthusiasts to consider the field differently, exploring themes and ideas which conceptualise both perennial classics and overlooked gems through contemporary lenses.