The lockdown experience has been challenging for all of us and we have found solace and escape in a variety of ways. We asked the team at Headlines to share the things that made their lockdowns more bearable and made them smile in 2020.

No.1 Japansoft: An Oral History

Selected by Peter Handford – Creative Director

Why do you like it? What does it mean to you?

This book tells the story of the beginnings of the Japanese video game industry through interviews with the developers that were working there at the time; from familiar stories about companies like Sega (who made Sonic the Hedgehog, among MANY others) to lesser-known developers that I'd never heard of before.

It was really interesting to read about the beginnings of a multi-billion pound industry from a Japanese perspective, as the country is so important to games and yet I'd never read a book on this subject before.

What are your favourite aspects of the book?

I love the design; a mixture of a very minimalist approach combined with the use of bold, colourful vintage vide- game box art to create variety throughout and break up the significant amount of text on the page. 

I also love the fact that it is a quality book about gaming, there aren't many of these (unlike, say, movies where there are hundreds) and it was refreshing to read such a beautifully designed and interesting book about an important part of modern history.

How did it help you get through lockdown?

In a very chaotic time for myself and my family, the Japansoft book was great because I could disappear briefly into another world and read about a simpler time when making games took weeks not years and was done by about four people in a tiny office. It creates a great sense of nostalgia and yearning for something that I never experienced, which is the sign of a good book I believe.

In one sentence, why is it your lockdown love?

Learn how the Japanese videogame industry began with this beautiful coffee table book.

Learn more or buy the buy book at Read Online Memory