The Console Chronicles will take you on a unique journey through the history of gaming platforms.

Fifty years ago, the home console was an anomaly that predated when everyone around the world knew the name Nintendo. With each passing generation, consoles evolved, their pixels exchanged for polygons. Over time, these machines gained popularity and brought the beginnings of a new artistic frontier. Consoles enabled split-screen chaos, late-night LAN parties, and interlinked online play - connecting friendships worldwide.

The Console Chronicles is the ultimate tribute to not only five decades of home console gaming, but to the incredible people, and their remarkable stories, which make our shared history special. Telling tales of sibling rivalries and disruptive ideas, personal resonance and technical triumph, this is a celebration of every system that you hold dear.

Words and art by:

Christian Donlan

Ashley Esqueda

Julian Rignall

Damien McFerran

Sara Heritage

Alex Olney

Alana Hagues

Mer Grazzini

Dan Adelman

Alicia Haddick

Stephen Maurice Graham

Adam Koralik

Raul Higuera

Brendan Hesse

Suhaila Karim

Plus many more!

Made in collaboration with Hookshot Media. This edition published in partnership with Expanse, an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers.

A comprehensive celebration of home consoles and their iconic games from indie journal publisher Lost In Cult

About the Author

Lost In Cult is an independent book publisher and design studio based in the United Kingdom dedicated to celebrating video games as a culturally significant art form. Lost In Cult puts the industry's best writers and artists in conversation with the medium's most important works and creators to examine their rich, often-overlooked history. With a dual emphasis on long-form prose and bespoke artwork, Lost In Cult challenges curiously-minded games enthusiasts to consider the field differently, exploring themes and ideas which conceptualise both perennial classics and overlooked gems through contemporary lenses.

Reviews

Praise for Lost in Cult's A Handheld History:

"It would make a welcome addition to any old-school handheld fan's bookshelf or coffee table." - Gamespot

"The book offers plenty of visual stimuli. From vintage poster design and retro illustrations to satisfying breakdowns of console hardware, there is something inspiring for everyone." - Creative Review

"Each piece encapsulates the feelings of joy and playfulness that come with portable gaming, whether it's trading Pokemon with your mates on the school bus or exploring vast worlds on a tiny matrix screen from the sanctuary of your bed." - Thumbsticks

"As someone who grew up near-exclusively on handheld gaming, seeing the personal stories, anecdotes and a timeline of the medium played out in one unique and weighty book was enough to bring a tear to my eye." - GGRecon

"This book lays out a timeline of handheld gaming since the beginning, with vibrant displays showcasing each device and their impact. The release serves not only as a collection of history, but also a study of aesthetics over the years." - Screenrant

"A Handheld History offers a new and personalised perspective on gaming history, and opens up significantly more space for intellectual conversations surrounding gaming in the traditional sphere." - TheGamer

Book Information
ISBN 9780008616588
Author Lost in Cult
Format Hardback
Page Count 384
Imprint Expanse
Publisher HarperCollins Publishers
Weight(grams) 270g
Dimensions(mm) 252mm * 195mm * 27mm