The Video Gaming Manual

For Immediate Release

João Diniz Sanches

Publication: Out Now, Format: Hardback, RRP: £17.99, ISBN: 978 1 84425 809 2

Since the launch of the Sony PlayStation in 1995, video gaming has exploded in popularity and become a massive worldwide market. By 2012, forecasts predict that the global gaming industry will be worth over $50billion, when the music industry is predicted to account for half that at $25 billion. The development of the medium over the years has seen gaming turning from something enjoyed by children to a pastime that is now much broader in scope - the average age of a gamer is now in the early 30s. With the sales of the current crop of video consoles (Nintendo Wii, Xbox 360 and Sony PlayStation 3) bucking the effects of the credit crunch, video games are truly big business.

The reason for this success is simple - video games are one of the most exciting forms of entertainment ever conceived. Their presence is now integrated into many aspects of modern life, but it wasn't always so. From simple beeping monochrome blocks to full-scale productions that outclass the best Hollywood can conjure up, the games - and the gamers - have gone through a considerable evolution to get where they are today. The Video Gaming Manual celebrates this remarkable progression, reflecting on the full history of the industry by focusing on a selection of significant gaming hardware to have appeared over the decades, along with the associated experiences that no discerning player should miss out on.

The book represents an essential companion to this wonderful medium, acting as an introduction to new players looking to catch up on video gaming's advancements and rich backstory, a software and hardware guide for those thinking of venturing into the hugely rewarding retro gaming scene, or simply as a great nostalgic ride for the seasoned gamer. It highlights 20 key game computers and consoles, showcased in individual chapters detailing historical relevance, technical specifications and a selection of key software titles. It also lists over 240 recommended games ranging from the home gaming scene on the Atari 2600 to the latest release on the PlayStation 3. Illustrating the text are over 200 bespoke photographs of systems, peripherals and rare gaming items.

Author Joao Diniz Sanches is a freelance writer/journalist whose passion for all forms of video gaming dates back to 1978 and a life-changing encounter with his French cousins' Philips G7000. Joao has, since 1997, written extensively about video gaming and is a former editor of Edge, one of the world's leading gaming magazines. He was once nearly run over by Kazunori Yamauchi's Tommi Mäkinen- liveried Lancer Evo V and his likeness can be shot repeatedly in the classic game Perfect Dark.

For further information, to arrange an interview or request a review copy Please contact Chris at Eventageous PR Ltd on 01452 260063 or chris@eventspr.co.uk Press release content is available for download from http://www.haynes.co.uk/Press