If you want a book centered on coin-op games and the people who made them, choose Paul Drury’s The Arcade 1971–1999. If you want arcade history as the opening chapter of a broader video-game-industry story, Steven L. Kent’s The Ultimate History of Video Games, Volume 1 is the better fit. Kent’s Volume 2 is a later-era companion, not the most direct choice for arcade history.
Start with the kind of history you want on your shelf
These books serve different collecting priorities rather than competing for a single, evidence-based “best” title. Compare their historical span, how directly they focus on arcade games, the place of creator testimony, and their documented physical editions.
- Choose a focused coin-op account: The Arcade 1971–1999 covers arcade games directly and brings together accounts from people who worked on them.
- Choose a broader industry narrative that begins in arcades: The Ultimate History of Video Games, Volume 1 places early arcade games within the development of the wider video-game industry.
- Add the later history: The Ultimate History of Video Games, Volume 2 follows the industry into the twenty-first century and is most useful alongside Volume 1.
Compare the documented editions and scope
| Book | Best fit | Documented scope and format |
|---|---|---|
| The Arcade 1971–1999: The Stories Behind Classic Coin-Ops, Told by Their Creators, Paul Drury | Collectors who prioritize arcade games and creator accounts | Creative Bloq describes a 408-page hardback covering 120 games from Pong and Space Invaders through Mortal Kombat, with contributions from more than 90 programmers, designers, artists, and musicians. Bitmap Books is identified as the publisher. Source: Creative Bloq, 1 October 2026. |
| The Ultimate History of Video Games, Volume 1, Steven L. Kent | Readers who want arcade history within a wider account of the early video-game industry | Penguin Random House lists a 624-page paperback, ISBN 9780761536437, first published 2 October 2001. Its description begins the story in arcades and names Space Invaders, Centipede, Pac-Man, and arcade culture. Source: Penguin Random House. |
| The Ultimate History of Video Games, Volume 2, Steven L. Kent | Readers extending the Kent history into the later industry | Penguin Random House lists a 592-page paperback, ISBN 9781984825438, published 24 August 2021. Its description covers the industry’s twenty-first-century expansion and competition among Nintendo, Sega, Sony, and Microsoft. Source: Penguin Random House. |
Choose The Arcade 1971–1999 for creator-centered coin-op history
Drury’s book is the clearest match if arcade machines and the games made for them are the point of the purchase, rather than one part of a larger industry survey. Its stated 1971–1999 span, 120-game scope, hardback format, and contributions from more than 90 people across programming, design, art, and music give a collector concrete ways to judge whether it fits their shelf.
Creative Bloq’s Ian Dean reports that Drury had interviewed people behind coin-op classics for more than 20 years. That supports treating creator testimony as a central attraction, but it does not establish a formal audit of the book’s interview methodology or prove that it is comprehensive. Drury’s quoted observation—“These were made by human beings who were fallible… They didn’t plan things out meticulously first, and were working out as they went along”—illustrates the kind of development perspective such testimony can offer; it should not be generalized to every arcade project.
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Choose Kent Volume 1 for arcade history within a wider story
Volume 1 suits readers who want the arcade era connected to the broader rise of video games and their later platforms. The publisher description starts in arcades and specifically mentions Space Invaders, Centipede, Pac-Man, and arcade culture, while the book’s larger scope makes it less narrowly focused on coin-op games than Drury’s title.
The edition details help identify the physical book when searching or comparing listings: the Penguin Random House listing gives the paperback’s 624 pages and ISBN 9780761536437. Publication date and format identify that listing; they do not establish current stock or price.
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Treat Volume 2 as a later-era companion
Volume 2 is the relevant addition for a collector who wants Kent’s account to continue into the twenty-first century, including the competition among Nintendo, Sega, Sony, and Microsoft. Its publisher description is centered on that later industry expansion, so it is not the primary pick when the specific goal is a book focused on arcade history.
For identification, Penguin Random House lists a 592-page paperback with ISBN 9781984825438, published 24 August 2021. The listing’s edition details can help distinguish it from Volume 1 when building a set.
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Check the edition before buying
- Match the scope to your collection. Prioritize Drury for direct coin-op coverage and creator accounts; choose Kent Volume 1 for a broader early-industry narrative that begins in arcades.
- Confirm the exact title and format. Drury’s documented edition is a hardback. The cited Kent listings are paperbacks; use the ISBNs above to identify the relevant volumes.
- Check live availability and price with the seller. Publisher and editorial listings establish the described editions, not current retail stock, condition, or resale value.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
