Now in its second edition, High Score is the ultimate coffee table book for gamers and geeks alike.

DeMaria and Wilson have produced an excellent resource on the history of electronic gaming, and cover various topics such as the first recorded primitive board games and early pinball machines. There are details of the world’s first digital electronic computer (not the ENIAC), creation of console systems (Magnavox Odyssey to Xbox), arcade systems, and the development of games from the 1970s through to the 1990s. Some of the earliest pioneers in the industry also give fantastic insights into how they devised their own vision of interactive entertainment.

Not content just with dealing with the history of electronic games, this book is given a slick look and feel with loads of photos, artwork and conceptual designs; it’s like walking down a gaming memory lane. The accompanying text is also engrossing, in which influential game designers and creators give first-hand accounts of how they invented gaming titles that would become iconic in the industry.

High Score! may not include all the games that ever have been produced, but the authors have done an excellent job of providing a snapshot of the gaming community. A great deal of time and effort went into this collaboration of history, people and images, and it makes for a comprehensive guide to electronic gaming.

This is an ideal gift for anyone who is a fan of games. It’s a superb visual journey that provides an interesting read on all things game-related. Two thumbs up!