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 is a 348-page book filled with insights from developers who worked at emerging studios in the early days of the Japanese video game industry. Developers from Sega, Enix, Capcom, Nihon Falcom, and Hudson Soft are featured in this insightful oral history. Written by Alex Wiltshire, Japansoft was originally published in 2022 but has been out of print for a while.
A good chunk of the content first appeared in John Szczepaniak's The Untold History of Japanese Game Developers, a truly massive book (well, books) that is worth checking out if you want an even wider look at the beginnings of the game industry in Japan. But even if you're familiar with Szczepaniak's books, Japansoft does have new reporting based on interviews Wiltshire conducted, including conversations with Nasir Gebelli (Final Fantasy, Red Racer), Manami Matsumae (Rockman, otherwise known as Mega Man), Harumi Fujita (Bionic Commando), Tomohiro Nishikado (Space Invaders), and Noritaka Funamizu (1943, Area 88).
Along with these exclusive interviews, the book takes an overarching look at the history of game development in Japan and features illustrations from popular artist Yu Nagaba. You'll also find a variety of photographs, ads, and other visuals scattered throughout. All told, there are 89 illustrations--30 of which are in full color.
If you're interested in preordering Japansoft ahead of its September 3 release, you should definitely check out Szczepaniak's book. When we referred to it as "massive," we weren't exaggerating. Clocking in at 1,346 pages across three volumes, this deep dive could keep you busy longer than a JRPG.
All three volumes are in stock at Amazon for list price ($30 each) and are sold and shipped directly from Amazon. The ebook versions are significantly cheaper, and Kindle Unlimited subscribers can actually read all three without spending another dime. Note that the page count expands drastically in ebook format due to design differences.
The Untold History of Japanese Game Developers (Paperback)
Originally released in 2021, this gorgeous hardcover volume from revered indie publisher Bitmap Books takes an in-depth look at over 600 titles, with everything from Final Fantasy and Fire Emblem to Persona and Etrian Odyssey covered across its 652 pages, so there's a good chance you'll find a bunch of your favorite Japanese games here.
Aside from covering the history of Japanese role-playing games, the book itself is a work of art. Designed by Bitmap Books, every page is painstakingly crafted for maximum visual appeal. 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.
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