Japansoft: An Oral History and A Guide to Japanese Role-Playing Games are available to preorder ahead of September 3 release.
By Steven PetiteTwitter and Jon BitnerTwitter on August 18, 2024 at 1:37PM PDT
Video games have a rich and intriguing history in Japan, with many of the best games from the first four console generations hailing from Japanese studios such as Nintendo, Sega, and Capcom. Those studios and others from the early days of the industry still create some of the biggest games today, which is a testament to the sturdy foundation built by the visionaries who put their game studios on the map. If you’re a big fan of Japanese games and are interested in learning more about your favorite studios and retro games, two notable books will receive fresh reprints on September 3. Japansoft: An Oral History and A Guide to Japanese Role-Playing Games have been out of print (and pricey) for a while, but now’s your chance to add these insightful and beautiful books to your personal library. A Guide to Japanese Role-Playing Games is just one of numerous books from Bitmap Books that will be reissued on September 3.
Let’s take a look at both books as well as the other upcoming reprints that should be on your radar.
Published by Thames & Hudson, Japansoft: An Oral History spans 348 pages full of insights from developers who were part of the burgeoning Japanese video game industry’s early studios. Developers from influential companies like Sega, Enix, Capcom, Nihon Falcom, and Hudson Soft share their experiences in this informative book. Authored by Alex Wiltshire, Japansoft was first released in 2022 and has since gone out of print.
Substantial portions of the content in Japansoft were initially featured in John Szczepaniak’s The Untold History of Japanese Game Developers, a comprehensive collection that offers a broad perspective on the early days of gaming in Japan. Though Szczepaniak’s work is extensive, Japansoft brings fresh insights through new interviews that Alex Wiltshire conducted with industry icons such as Nasir Gebelli (Final Fantasy, Red Racer), Manami Matsumae (Rockman or Mega Man), Harumi Fujita (Bionic Commando), Tomohiro Nishikado (Space Invaders), and Noritaka Funamizu (1943, Area 88).
In addition to these exclusive interviews, the book provides a sweeping view of the historical development of games in Japan, enriched with illustrations by the famed artist Yu Nagaba. The book also includes a diverse array of photographs, ads, and other visual material, featuring a total of 89 illustrations, 30 of which are presented in vibrant full color.
For those interested in securing a copy of Japansoft ahead of its re-release on September 3, considering Szczepaniak’s comprehensive work as a prelude is highly recommended. With its substantial length of 1,346 pages spread over three volumes, it offers a deep and broad insight into the Japanese gaming history, reminiscent of the expansive narratives found in JRPGs.
All three volumes are available on Amazon at the retail price of $30 each, and Amazon handles both the sale and shipment. The digital editions are much less expensive, and Kindle Unlimited members can access all three volumes at no extra cost. It’s worth noting that the page count increases in the ebook format due to differences in design.
The Untold History of Japanese Game Developers (Paperback)
The Untold History of Japanese Game Developers (Kindle)
First released in 2021, this stunning hardcover book is published by Bitmap Books and provides an extensive exploration of over 600 titles, featuring everything from Final Fantasy to Fire Emblem, and Persona to Etrian Odyssey, spanning 652 pages. It offers extensive coverage of some of the most endearing Japanese games.
Aside from covering the history of Japanese role-playing games, the book itself is a work of art. Bitmap clearly treats each book as a labor of love and thinks carefully about the layout of each page. Like most books published by Bitmap, A Guide to Japanese Role-Playing Games is very much a “face outward” on your shelf caliber book. As an added little flourish, you can save your spot with the attached ribbon bookmark.
The book’s initial run sold out fast, so the new printing could have the same fate. It’s been available to preorder for a few months alongside a handful of other Bitmap reprints slated to release the same day, but after Amazon fulfills preorders, it’s not uncommon for books (and Blu-rays) to disappear on launch day.
Related to that possibility: Based on number of reviews, A Guide to Japanese Role-Playing Games remains the most popular book from Bitmap’s catalog at Amazon.
As mentioned, Bitmap Books is reprinting several other volumes from its back catalog on September 3. The list includes a history of horror games, a book highlighting the artists who design cover art, and a comprehensive deep dive into side-scrolling beat-’em-ups.
The upcoming reprints don’t tell the full story of Bitmap Books–far from it. For the past decade, the publisher has steadily created a diverse library of beautiful books for retro gaming enthusiasts. From NES and Super Nintendo Visual Compendiums to gorgeous books on Game Boy box art and SNES pixel art, here’s a look at books that are currently in stock at Amazon for at or around list price.
More Gaming, Tech, and Entertainment Deals & Preorders
Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email news@gamespot.com
