I wrote a thing! Video Game Maps: SNES is available now
My foreword covers an unexpected childhood adventure in Hollywood and the joys of getting lost.
Get lost
A few months ago, Retro Game Books publisher Brian Riggsbee reached out to ask if I'd be interested in writing a foreword to his upcoming book, Video Game Maps: SNES - Volume 1, and I don't think I've responded more enthusiastically to an email in my life. RGB's books are always beautiful, and it's no surprise to regular Astrolabe readers that the SNES is the bread and butter of my beat as a games journalist and fan.
Retro Game Books
Accompanied by a map of Hyrule from The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, my foreword explores the joys of being lost, the wonders of a map, and the time my dad misplaced me and my brother in downtown Hollywood while he hung out with Will Sasso. It's a journey.
Video Game Maps: SNES - Volume 1 covers over 50 games, and pulls together quotes from more than 30 writers, artists, and other industry folk, including Anthony John Agnello, Chris Kohler, Josh Fairhurst, Kurt Kalata, Marc Duddleson, Sebastian Deken, and SNESdrunk. From my fav Chrono Trigger to Donkey Kong Country, Final Fantasy IV, V, and VI, Dracula X, Dragon Quest, DOOM, and E.V.O., it's packed with all the hits.
And, boy is it beautiful.
Here's the official blurb:
In video games, maps serve as guide, world builder, and interactive element. A single image can add incredible depth to the story and lore of a digital universe.
With Video Game Maps: SNES - Volume 1, experience the beauty, creativity, and wonder of some of the most iconic Super Nintendo Entertainment System and Super Famicom maps in this curated art gallery. From the changing landscapes of Chrono Trigger to the transformed worlds of Final Fantasy VI, this book showcases the stunning artwork that captured the imagination of gamers around the world. Discover hidden secrets and intricate details within the maps, and marvel at the art styles and design choices that brought these virtual worlds to life.
Video Game Maps: SNES is available now.
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