The Video Games Textbook

The Video Games Textbook takes the history of video games to the next level. Coverage includes every major video game console, handheld system, and game-changing personal computer, as well as a look at the business, technology, and people behind the games.

Chapters feature objectives and key terms, illustrative timelines, color images and graphs, in addition to the technical specifications and key titles for each platform. Every chapter is a journey into a different segment of gaming, where readers emerge with a clear picture of how video games evolved, why the platforms succeeded or failed, and the impact they had on the industry and culture. Written to capture the attention and interest of students from around the world, this newly revised Third Edition also serves as a go-to handbook for any video game enthusiast.

This edition introduces new content in each chapter, including coverage of adaptive gaming technology, cloud gaming, influential industry professionals, hardware innovations, and significant gaming milestones—from classic systems to PlayStation 5 Pro, Nintendo Switch 2, and the latest Xbox platforms. Also included is a practical document providing directions and links to play many of the video games mentioned throughout the textbook.

Comprehensive Instructor Resources

Educators will benefit from an extensive suite of teaching materials, including:

A customizable syllabus template with a curated list of supplementary videos to enhance classroom instruction
A completely updated test bank specifically designed for this third edition, featuring new questions that reflect the latest content
These instructor resources ensure seamless integration of the textbook into any gaming curriculum while providing students with engaging, hands-on learning experiences.

Author Biography

Dr. Brian J. Wardyga brings over four decades of gaming passion to The Video Games Textbook, having begun his journey in the early 1980s with the Atari VCS. His personal collection spans nearly every major gaming system since, giving him firsthand insight into the medium’s evolution. That experience, combined with more than 20 years in media production and higher education, helped shape this comprehensive and visually rich textbook—highlighting the consoles, accessories, advertisements, and box art that defined each gaming generation.

A full-time faculty member at Lasell University since 2004, Dr. Wardyga pioneered courses specifically focused on gaming, including Understanding Video Games, Video Games & Culture, and Life Skills & Video Games. His long-standing role as advisor to the Lasell University Video Games Club has further deepened his connection to gaming culture and education. His unique combination of gaming enthusiasm, academic rigor, and media production expertise enables him to present video game history and culture in a way that resonates with both students and fellow gaming enthusiasts.