The Dreamcast Encyclopedia is the fifth book in Scottish author and games journalist Chris Scullion's critically-acclaimed series of video game encyclopedias. The Sega Dreamcast is fondly remembered by players as a games console that was ahead of its time, almost to a fault. Its incredible graphics offered a level of detail that hadn't been seen on home systems to that point, and its built-in modem brought online multiplayer to many console players for the first time ever. Ultimately though, the release of the PS2 (and later the GameCube and Xbox) led to struggling sales and Sega would eventually pull the plug on the Dreamcast just two years into its life, bowing out of the console manufacturing business altogether. On paper the Dreamcast was a commercial failure, but those who owned one remember it so fondly that for many it remains one of the greatest games consoles of all time, with a small but well-formed library of high-quality games. This book contains every one of those games, including not only the entire western library of around 270 titles, but also the 340 or so games that were exclusively released in Japan. With over 600 games covered in total, screenshots for every title and a light-hearted writing style designed for an entertaining read, The Dreamcast Encyclopedia is the definitive guide to one of the most underrated gaming systems of all time.

The fourth book in Chris Scullion’s critically acclaimed series of video game encyclopedias, _The N64 Encyclopedia_ is dedicated to the Nintendo 64, one of the most well-loved games consoles ever released. Although the Nintendo 64 didn’t sell as well as some of Nintendo’s other systems, and although it struggled in the shadow of the bold newcomer that was the Sony PlayStation, everyone who owned an N64 was in love with it and the four-player multiplayer it provided as standard. Despite its relatively small library, the Nintendo 64 had a healthy number of groundbreaking titles that would revolutionise the way we played video games. The likes of Super Mario 64, GoldenEye 007, Mario Kart 64 and The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remain iconic in the eyes of video game fans 25 years down the line. This book naturally contains those games, but it also contains every other game released for the system, no matter how obscure. It also covers every game released in Japan, including those for the ill-fated Nintendo 64DD add-on which never left the country. With over 400 games covered, screenshots for every title and a light-hearted writing style designed to make reading it a fun experience, _The N64 Encyclopedia_ is the definitive guide to a truly revolutionary gaming system.

Stan Lee is not just another biography. It is a journey through twentieth century American history, seen through the life of a man who personifies the American Dream. This book shows how Stan's life reflects the evolution of American entertainment, society and popular culture throughout the 1900s and beyond. Along the way, bold questions will be asked. Was Stan Lee himself a superhuman creation, just a mask to protect his true, more complicated secret identity? Just like the vibrant panels of the comics he wrote, Stan's life, it seems, is never black and white. Sourced from Stan's own words, this book also includes brand new and exclusive interviews with Marvel comic book creators, for whom Stan's work proved an invaluable inspiration. Upbeat, accessible and fun, this book is told with a glint in the eye and a flair for the theatrical that would make Stan proud. This is a bold celebration of the power of storytelling and a fitting tribute to Stan Lee's enduring legacy. Excelsior!

Herge created only twenty-four Tintin books which have been translated into more than seventy languages and sold 230 million copies worldwide. The Real Herge: The Inspiration Behind Tintin takes an in-depth look at the man behind the cultural phenomenon and the history that helped shape these books. As well as focussing on the controversies that engulfed Herge, this biography will also look at his personal life, as well as the relationships and experiences that influenced him.

Following on from the previously released NES Encyclopedia, the SNES Encyclopedia is the ultimate resource for fans of Nintendo's second home video game console, the Super Nintendo Entertainment System. Containing detailed information on all 780 games released for the SNES in the west, this enormous book is full of screenshots, trivia and charmingly bad jokes. It also includes a bonus section covering the entire 22-game library of the Virtual Boy, Nintendo's ill-fated 3D system which was released at the end of the SNES's life.

The NES is one of the most iconic video game systems of all time, and is often credited with saving the American video games industry in the early 80s when it looked likely to collapse. The NES Encyclopedia is a complete reference guide to every game released on the Nintendo Entertainment System, Nintendo's first industry-defining video game system. As well as covering all 714 officially licensed NES games, the book also includes more than 160 unlicensed games released during the system's lifespan, giving for the first time a definitive history of this important console's full library. The NES continues to enjoy a strong cult following among Nintendo fans and gamers in general, with games like Super Mario Bros, The Legend Of Zelda and Metroid remaining well-loved to this day: both for older fans who remember them the first time around, and younger gamers discovering the system for the first time through Nintendo's regular re-releases of its older games. Nintendo's most recent console, the Switch, is the fastest selling video game console of all time in the United States and Japan. With Nintendo recently launching an ever-growing library of classic NES games for download on the Switch, a new audience of gamers is discovering the NES for the first time.

The third book in Chris Scullion's series of video game encyclopaedias, the Sega Mega Drive and Genesis Encyclopedia is dedicated to Sega's legendary 16-bit video game console. The book contains detailed information on every single game released for the Sega Mega Drive and Genesis in the west, as well as similarly thorough bonus sections covering every game released for its add-ons, the Mega CD and 32X. With nearly a thousand screenshots, generous helpings of bonus trivia and charmingly bad jokes, the Sega Mega Drive and Genesis Encyclopedia is the definitive guide to a legendary gaming system.

The NES is one of the most iconic video game systems of all time, and is often credited with saving the American video games industry in the early 80s when it looked likely to collapse. The NES Encyclopedia is the first ever complete reference guide to every game released on the Nintendo Entertainment System, Nintendo's first industry-defining video game system. As well as covering all 714 officially licensed NES games, the book also includes more than 160 unlicensed games released during its lifespan, giving for the first time a definitive history of this important console's full library. Written by a retro gaming expert with 30 years of gaming experience and a penchant for bad jokes, the NES Encyclopedia promises to be both informative and entertaining with masses of information, full-colour screenshots and little-known facts. The NES continues to enjoy a strong cult following among Nintendo fans and gamers in general with wide varieties of officially licensed merchandise proving ever popular: both for older fans who remember it the first time around, and younger gamers discovering the system for the first time through Nintendo's regular re-releases of its older games. Nintendo's most recent console, the Switch, is the fastest selling video game console of all time in the United States and Japan. Nintendo recently launched an ever-growing library of classic NES games for download on the Switch, meaning a new audience of gamers is discovering the NES for the first time.

_The Game Boy Encyclopedia_ is the sixth book in Scottish author and journalist Chris Scullion’s critically-acclaimed series of video game encyclopedias. There are few video game systems as iconic and important as the Nintendo Game Boy. Released in 1989, the handheld’s humble green-tinted display allowed for a low-cost portable console that won over players where it mattered most: the quality of its games. From huge early successes like the iconic Tetris and Super Mario Land to its revival years later with the groundbreaking Pokémon games, the Game Boy stands proudly as one of the greatest gaming systems ever. Its 1998 successor, the Game Boy Color, addressed the one main weak spot in the Game Boy’s armour and offered full-colour games. Combined, nearly 120 million Game Boy and Game Boy Color handhelds were sold worldwide, with both models playing a huge role in so many childhoods (and adulthoods). This book contains every game released in the west for both handhelds: around 580 on the Game Boy and around 560 on the Game Boy Color. With around 1,150 games covered in total, screenshots and trivia factoids for every single title and a light-hearted writing style designed for an informative but entertaining read, _The Game Boy Encyclopedia_ is the definitive guide to a legendary gaming platform.

Get ready for the adventure of a lifetime!Adventure video games have provided players with epic and hilarious storytelling for over fifty years. What started from the humble beginnings of text adventures led to a blast of point-and-click and graphic adventure games throughout the 80s and 90s. Trailblazers like Roberta and Ken Williams, Ron Gilbert, Tim Schaffer and Dave Grossman brought timeless characters, stories and puzzles to life, lighting the imaginations and wracking the brains of gamers around the world. This book showcases the companies, games and creators that have made the adventure video game one of the most passionately-adored genres in the medium. In these pages you'll find histories on influential companies such as Sierra On-Line, LucasArts and Telltale Games, as well as some of the most revered games in the genre. With a bright future emerging as veterans and newcomers forge ahead with new ideas and visual flourishes for adventure games, there's never been a better time to become acquainted (or reacquainted!) with a colourful and exciting part of gaming history. So point your cursor over the start button and click that mouse!

Featuring exclusive interviews with creators, developers and collectors, Curious Video Game Machines finally shines a light on the forgotten corners of video-game history. The story of video games is often told as the successive rise of computers and consoles from famous names like Atari, Commodore, Nintendo, Sega, Sony and Microsoft. But beyond this familiar tale, there’s a whole world of weird and wonderful gaming machines that seldom get talked about. Curious Video Game Machines reveals the fascinating stories behind a bevy of rare and unusual consoles, computers and coin-ops – like Kimtanktics, a 1970s wargame computer made out of calculator parts, or the suite of Korea-exclusive consoles made by car manufacturer Daewoo. Then there’s the Casio Loopy, a 1990s console that doubled up as a sticker printer, the RDI Halcyon, a 1985 LaserDisc-based machine that could recognise your voice, and the Interton VC 4000, a German console made by a hearing-aid company, as well as a range of bizarre arcade machines, from early attempts at virtual reality to pedal-powered flying contraptions. There are tales of missed opportunities, like the astonishingly powerful Enterprise 64 computer, which got caught in development hell and arrived too late to make an impact on the British microcomputer market. And there are tales of little-known triumphs, like the Galaksija DIY computer kit that introduced a whole generation of Yugoslavians to computing before the country became engulfed by war.

Star Trek video games have been around almost as long as Star Trek itself. From humble beginnings as an unofficial text-based game playable on mainframe computers to modern multi-million dollar spectacles, Star Trek video games span the history of gaming itself. In _Star Trek Video Games: An Unofficial Guide to the Final Frontier_, author Mat Bradley-Tschirgi dives into notable Star Trek games across a variety of genres in his fun, humorous style with loads of aplomb. Whether they are based on the live-action or animated TV series, movies, or crossover scenarios, dozens of games (some memorable, some not so memorable) are covered in rich detail with proper historical context along the way. Aside from its sometimes snarky text, this book features over 100 color photos showing off the wide variety of Star Trek video games covered within. There's also interviews with game designers, writers, producers, and gaming journalists on select titles offering a behind the scenes look or color commentary on such fan favorites as Star Trek: Starfleet Command, Star Trek: Judgment Rites, Star Trek: Legacy, Star Trek: Resurgence, and more! Relive memories of playing Star Trek games on Mac, PCs, consoles, handhelds, and mobile phones or discover new favorites to add to your collection. Whether you've played all the Star Trek games or are curious as to what the world of Trek gaming holds, _Star Trek Video Games: An Unofficial Guide to the Final Frontier_ will make a fun addition to your home library.

Explore over 50 of the most chilled and relaxing video games. Video games are so much more than just full throttle blasts of gunfights, violence and white-knuckle competition. They can also be beautiful, cosy and even emotionally uplifting journeys too. The ideal escapism after a day you’d sooner forget or the perfect sedative following a particularly stress-filled afternoon. The Most Relaxing Video Games will walk you through a selection of gaming experiences sure to help you unwind. From the familiar warmth of sitting down with a good classic board game (51 of them to be exact) through to the solving of hundreds of puzzles on a mysterious island using nothing but lines, there’s a world of delightfully comforting video games just waiting to sooth your gaming soul. Covering over 50 video games and spanning nearly thirty years, this comprehensive guide includes detailed explanations of every peaceful entry along with full-colour screenshots, standout moments, fascinating facts and of course what it is that makes them such a relaxing alternative. Whether you’re a fan of racers, management sims, puzzles or platformers, there’s something here for everyone. So trade in your firearms for farming gear and punching fists for puzzles. Sit back, get comfy and discover the relaxing side that video games have to offer.

An episode guide to the whole of Star Trek, starting with the original 1960s series, and going up to The Next Generation. How well do you know Star Trek? Lifelong science fiction fan, podcaster and author Tom Salinsky decided that the answer was “not well enough”, and so at the beginning of 2022, he embarked on a two-year mission to watch everything from the start of The Original Series to the end of Enterprise, at the rate of one episode per day. This book is the first part of that odyssey, covering the 79 television episodes which started it all, the animated series which briefly brought it back in the 1970s, the first six original movies and the full run of The Next Generation. As well as having fun saluting the show’s triumphs, cringing at its lapses in taste, and admiring its willingness to swing for the fences, there’s lots of fascinating behind-the-scenes information here. Why were salt-cellars unchanged in the 23rd century? Was Gene Roddenberry really not allowed to show a woman’s belly button? How many characters get killed during the run of The Animated Series? Who actually wrote the script for Wrath of Khan? How did Paramount get Next Generation on the air when no network would touch it? But you’ll also get the benefit of a complete overview of this landmark series, watching it unfold and familiar elements appear – often much later than you think. When’s the first mention of the Federation? Of Kirk’s time being the 23rd century? Of there being no money in the future? And some elements appear rather earlier than you might think – which episode is the first to feature a Holodeck? Whether you’re a die-hard fan, a casual viewer, or just someone interested in the history of television, you’ll adore coming on this daily journey though the highs and lows of one of the most significant and much-loved media properties in the world.

_Red Dwarf_ is virtually unique among British sitcoms. It began in 1988 and was still releasing new episodes in 2020, making it one of the longest running sitcoms of all time, but the core cast has remained largely unchanged. And its science fiction flavour contrasts strongly with the drawing rooms and sofas which were the norm when it launched, and the fast-cut mockumentary style which is popular today. And yet, this is a show which nobody wanted to make, and which only barely made it to our screens at all. In this work, Tom Salinsky will look at exactly how it came to be; who was considered for the cast but didn’t make it; how it was radically reinvented for the third, sixth, seventh, ninth and tenth seasons; how it survived the breakup of its key creative partnership, the loss of the original spaceship models, BBC strikes, the departure of a major cast member, and the seemingly self-defeating rules which the writers imposed on themselves. But this isn’t just a behind-the-scenes account. It’s also a detailed critical analysis, examining why the best episodes succeed and why the less impressive episodes struggle, while also finding time to ask just how a hologram made of light can smell burning camphor wood, why a creature evolved from a cat is familiar with Wilma Flintstone, or just how long Lister and Kochanski were dating for. How can all this possibly be contained in one book? It can’t! Volume I will cover the first six series and Volume II will conclude the story of _Red Dwarf_ on television as well as looking at the novels, comic strips, computer games and more.

Have you ever wanted to escape into a comic book and become your favorite superhero? Or run away into the world of Disney princesses? Well, who says you can’t? Maybe it’s time you get your cosplay on!Cosplay is a hobby that is sweeping the globe, you can see it at comic cons, book launches, movie screenings and even on popular TV shows such as The Big Bang Theory and Community. A mix of exciting craft skills, heady escapism and passion for pop culture, it’s easy to see why cosplay has become so popular with people no matter who they are, because now they can be anyone they want, and so can you.But how, why and where could you have a go at starting out in the wonderful world of cosplay?With a little bit of help from this handy, dandy guide to cosplay, you can get stuck in. Learn about the history of the hobby (it’s been around longer than you’d think!), get your head around picking your first costume, find out how about all the amazing skills people are using to make these costumes, and perhaps even try a few yourself. Who knows, you might be rocking out as Captain Marvel or Flynn Rider at the next big comic con! (And don’t worry, there’s a guide to comic con in here too.)