Read Only Memory specialise in publishing lavish books about arcade history – previous volumes have covered the story of Sensible Software and the life and times of the mighty Sega Mega Drive. Launched and funded via Kickstarter, they’ve all been distinguished by their clean, stylish design and in-depth interviews and writing.
The publisher’s next project, meanwhile, is something a bit different. Sega Arcade: Pop-Up History looks back at some of the most iconic arcade machines of the 1980s – developed by Yu Suzuki, games like Space Harrier and OutRun provided a unique “full body experience” that threw the player around in time to the onscreen action.
Inevitably, only a handful of those complex, expensive-to-maintain cabinets still remain, but Sega Arcade ingeniously recreates them – in pop-up form.
Five of Sega’s most famous coin-ops – Hang On, Space Harrier, OutRun, After Burner and Thunder Blade – are lovingly recreated from ink and paper, and spring to life at the turn of a page.
As presented in Read Only Memory’s Kickstarter video, they look spectacular. And between the pop-up models, you’ll also find an introduction and commentary from videogame critic Keith Stuart.
It’s a great-looking book, and we suspect it won’t take long for the Kickstarter campaign to reach its £40,000 minimum goal. “Early bird” editions of the book are already gone at the time of writing, but you can secure a copy by pledging £35.
Most of us will almost certainly never own a Space Harrier cabinet, but Sega Arcade provides a cleverly-designed alternative.
