Whether you're new to the world of gaming or a die-hard fan, there's no denying that the evolution of video games has been massive. It's surprising to think that this global market (currently valued at $170 billion) had humble beginnings. Before its current iteration, video games were initially used and created by academic computer scientists for research purposes and demonstrating computing power.

To this day, people still heavily contest the title of the first video game. Most experts say that it's either:

• Tennis for Two  by physicist William Higinbotham in 1958 for display at the Brookhaven National Laboratory's annual public exhibition 
• Nim by Edward U. Condon at the World's Fair in New York—a game pitting machine against human

Consequently there are a few games that could be considered the first video game. But, it wouldn't be until 1972 when Pong (inspired by Tennis for Two) became a commercial success that the foundation of the current video game industry was laid.  

There would be many notable moments in video game history after the release of Pong:

• The popularity of text-based games, such as Colossal Cave Adventure (1976)

• The release of Space Invaders in 1978

• The release of industry changing video game consoles [Atari (1972), Nintendo  (1985), Sega (1986), Playstation (1995), Xbox (2001)]

• Nintendo’s creation of Donkey Kong and introduction to everyone's favorite handyman, Mario

• The shocking gender reveal of the character Samus in Metroid 

• Introductions of VR and AR augmented gameplay like Pokemon Go! and Reality Clash

Since these defining moments, modern gaming continues to break new ground with stunning visuals, epic storylines, and immersive hardware. With the popularity of video games in all its format, books and movies that focuses on the world of gaming have surged in recent years. 

Here's a list to inspire you to keep leveling up this year. Let's all continue to learn, read, and game on in 2020!

Fiction 

Slay by Britteny Morris

Keira enjoys developing and playing Slay, a secret, multiplayer online role-playing game celebrating black culture, until  trolls and the media learn about the game.

Warcross by Marie Lu

Ready Player One by Ernest Cline

Immersing himself in a technological virtual utopia to escape an ugly real world of famine, poverty, and disease, Wade Watts joins an increasingly violent effort to solve a series of puzzles by the virtual world's creator.

Now a major motion picture.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Manga/Comics

 Final Fantasy: Lost Stranger by Hazuki Minase

Square Enix employee Shogo Sasaki has a big dream-to produce his very own Final Fantasy game with his sister, Yuko. But after the siblings are involved in a truck accident, they awaken to realize they've left their world behind...and fallen into the world of Final Fantasy! But when danger approaches, Shogo will discover that his encyclopedic knowledge of the games can only take him so far.

Final Fantasy is a long runnning game series that has branched into other media, including  films, anime, manga, and novels.

 

The Comic Book Story of Video Games: The Incredible History of the Electronic Gaming Revolution by Jonathan Hennessey

A complete, illustrated history of video games—highlighting the machines, games, and people who have made gaming a worldwide, billion-dollar industry/artform—told in a graphic novel format

 

 

 

 

 

Non-Fiction

A History of Videogames : In 14 Consoles, 5 Computers, 2 Arcade Cabinets...and an Ocarina of Time by Iain Simons

The fascinating story of the creation and development of videogames encompasses hardware, software, concept, equipment, and more. Now the curators of the award-winning National Videogame Arcade go on a journey through joysticks and microchips, Game Boys and guitars, exploring how videogames are made, played, and loved. This entertaining history ranges from The Age of Empires III Collectors’ Edition and Barcode Battler to Packman, Nintendo, Tamagotchi, and Virtual Reality Headsets.

 

A Brief History of Video Games by Richard Stanton

This Brief History provides a unique look at the history and culture of video games, starting with the 1960s classics like Pong to modern favorites such as Grand Theft Auto V and Bioshock. Focusing on creative and scientific advances between 1962 and today, A Brief History of Video Games offers a global perspective on gaming's past and its cutting-edge future with the evolution of virtual reality, 3D graphics, and thought-interface technology

 

 

 

 

 

Bit by Bit : How Video Games Transformed Our World by Andrew Ervin

Video games have seemingly taken over our lives. Whereas gamers once constituted a small and largely male subculture, today 67 percent of American households play video games. The average gamer is now thirty-four years old and spends eight hours each week playing—and there is a 40 percent chance this person is a woman.

 

 

 

 

 

Movies 

Pixels (2015)

In Pixels, when intergalactic aliens discover video feeds of classic arcade games and misinterpret them as a declaration of war, they attack the Earth, using the video games as the models for their assaults.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wreck-It Ralph (2013)

For decades, Ralph has played the bad guy in his popular video game.

In a bold move, he embarks on an action-packed adventure and sets out to prove to everyone that he is a true hero with a big heart. 

See also: Ralph Breaks the Internet 

Video Games:The Movie (2015)

From nerd niche to a multi-billion dollar industry, this is the story of video games from the minds of their greatest creators and super-players. Featuring your favorite industry, gamer and geek icons including Zach Braff, and Chris Hardwick.

You can find more library titles about video games in our catalog.

If you want more stories with a video game element, here is a short list of other tites that might interest you: Tron (1982), Wargames (1983) ,  Matrix (1999), Existenz (1999), Grandma's Boy (2006)"Insignia"  by S. J. Kincaid (ebook), "Otherworld"  by Jason Segel,  "Epic" by Conor Kostick (ebook), "In Real Life" by Cory Doctorow,& Jen Wang.

---

Book summaries provided via NYPL’s catalog, which draws from multiple sources. Click through to each book’s title for more.