Duncan Harris

The definitive illustrated history of the cult videogame – a heart-thumping fusion of groundbreaking graphic design, architectural futurism, electronic music and high-speed racing. WipEout crashed onto the scene in 1995, shifting games into the cultural fast lane with its unique 3D visual designs. It propelled a wondrous hit of anti-gravity, hyperspeed racing into the heart of the freshly released PlayStation console and, over time, the series – developed by Psygnosis, later known as Studio Liverpool – grew into a cult phenomenon amongst graphic designers and gamers alike. With its club-land branding – devised by cutting-edge Sheffield agency The Designers Republic, and its on-the-pulse collaborations with electronic artists, from The Chemical Brothers to Kraftwerk, WipEout was not only a racing game – it was a vehicle for art. WipEout Futurism chronicles the iconic game’s vision, struggles and achievements – from first conception to future plans, in a distinctive union of trailblazing artwork and graphic design. The extraordinary, and rarely seen, concept art created for the game is beautifully reproduced throughout the book, while The Designers Republic’s peerless vision for an alternative future – with its roots planted in the rich earth of sci-fi iconography – weaves its way throughout the pages, making this publication a densely packed expansion to the beloved series.

An in-depth visual guide presenting the captivating creative journeys behind the world's leading videogames. Making Videogames is an unprecedented snapshot of modern interactive entertainment, with insight from true pioneers about the most important games in the world. Illustrated with some of the most arresting in-game images ever seen in print, the book explores the unique alchemy of technical and artistic endeavour that constitutes the magic of videogames, striking a captivating balance between insight and accessibility. Across eleven chapters, each focusing on a specific game from AAA blockbusters such as Tom Clancey's The Division, Control and Gran Turismo to cult breakthrough games including No Man's Sky and Fortnite, the book will document the incredible craft of videogame worldbuilding and visual storytelling via the world's most popular, but seldom fully understood, entertainment medium. The book's text orbits breathtaking, specially created imagery 'photographed' in-engine by the author, demonstrating the magic and method behind each studio's work. A book not only for die-hard videogame fanatics, but also for designer-creatives and the visually curious, Making Videogames is a thrilling showcase of the boundless creativity of this amazing industry.