Out now from Bitmap Books is The CRPG Book. This is subtitled “A Guide to Computer Role Playing Games” and further subtitled “Expanded Edition.”
Let’s be honest, it looks absolutely gorgeous.
This is a reprint of an earlier volume, and features an incredible 684 pages. These are populated with reviews of over 450 games from 1975 to 2019. It sports cover artwork by fantasy artist Jan Pospíšil and features contributions from industry personnel. Notable, author Felipe Pepe’s profits from the book will support the Vocação charity in Brazil.
That seems a pretty good cause to support!
Featuring 450 RPGs!
There are so many games in this, it’s hard to pick some favourites to focus on. However, Omikron: The Nomad Soul (which features the incomparable David Bowie) and Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic are two I will be looking out for.
Here’s the official description:
Spread over 684 pages, The CRPG Book: A Guide to Computer Role-Playing Games (Expanded Edition) reviews over 450 games from 1975 to 2019, covering the role-playing classics we all know and love, such as Ultima, Wizardry, Fallout and Mass Effect – all brought to life with vibrant and engaging in-game images.
The CRPG Book: A Guide to Computer Role-Playing Games (Expanded Edition) includes articles on the genre, and each game entry also shares mod suggestions and hints on how to run the games on modern hardware. The book was written entirely by fans, AAA developers, indies, journalists, modders and industry personalities, such as Chris Avellone, Ian Frazier, Scorpia, Ferhegón, Richard Cobbett, Brian ‘Psychochild’ Green, Durante, George Weidman and Tim Cain, to name but a few.
The CRPG Book: A Guide to Computer Role-Playing Games (Expanded Edition) comes as a hardback as standard, produced using thread sewn binding for extra durability, then shrink wrapped. The cover features a specially created artwork by fantasy artist Jan Pospíšil.
The project also aims to help in the wider world: all of author Felipe Pepe’s profit will be donated to the Vocação charity in Brazil, his homeland. Vocação helps kids and teenagers from poor areas to get education and employment, enabling them in turn to help others around them to do the same, changing the community for the better.
Why Buy The CRPG Book New Edition?
If you already have the original edition, this Expanded Edition has the following new features:
- 156 pages extra pages
- 65 new game reviews
- Revised content
- Cover art gallery
You’ll also find several articles on the history of the genre and some particular scenes. Think French, Korean and Chinese RPGs. Also, MMORPGs, BBS games, browser games, RPG Maker games and fan-translations.
It looks stunning, and you can learn more about The CRPG Book on the Bitmap Books website.
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Christian Cawley is a writer and editor who covers consumer electronics, IT, and entertainment media. He has written for publications such as Computer Weekly, Linux Format, MakeUseOf.com, and Tech Radar.
He also produces podcasts, has a cigar box guitar, and of course, loves retro gaming.
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