HEAVYWEIGHT READING
A selection of books to delight your eyes and your brain
THE ART AND 01 MAKING OF CONTROL £49.99
Loaded up with concept art and developer interviews, this 300-plus-page monster dives deep into The Oldest House. Offering behind-the-scenes insight on everything from creature and environment design (we love the building’s brutalist look) to so much more besides, this beast deserves space on the bookshelf of any Control fan.
waterstones.com THE GAMES THAT 02 WEREN’T £29.99
Talk about alternate history! This tome by Frank Gasking collects together illustrated snapshots of videogames that were in development between 1975 and 2015 yet unfortunately never made it over the finish line to be released. Some nearly made it, others barely got started, but there’s a story behind every one. Endlessly fascinating, over 600-plus pages this book goes into whats and whys of this vapourware.
waterstones.com
MARVEL’S 03 SPIDER-MAN: MILES MORALES – THE ART OF THE GAME £29.99
Featuring nearly 200 pages of concept art, artist interviews, and developer insight, this art book shows how Miles Morales’ web-slinging adventure was brought from the pages of comics to swinging life on our consoles. There’s a lot of detail to soak in, and reading how the devs did it might just blow away any cobwebs clinging to your own creativity. This is a must-have for webheads and PlayStation fans alike.
waterstones.com
TEN THINGS VIDEO 04 GAMES CAN TEACH US (ABOUT LIFE, PHILOSOPHY, AND EVERYTHING) £9.99
Okay, this one isn’t a hardback but the subject matter certainly isn’t lightweight. This volume by Jordan Erica Webber and Daniel Griliopoulos introduces and explores a number of key philosophical concepts through the lens of games. Beyond this novel framing, it’s an enriching read for both the young, wide-eyed philosopher and the wisened know-it-all in your life.
waterstones.com