Guinness book of records: gamer's edition 2008

Gaming has been deemed worthy of its own Guinness book of records! First I'd heard of it was a week ago, a casual mention that the bookshop I work in could expect some stock in time for the release. Three boxes of it arrived today.

The embargo says we're not allowed to sell it until the 6th of February. It doesn't say that curious frogs can't have a quick look through one of the copies in the stock room. It's a hefty piece of work with a semi-flexible hardbacked cover. The back pages contain high score charts for many arcade games, and loads of facts and score charts are packed in where they'd be relevant, such as the shortest completion times for Super Metroid and the highest scores in non-arcade games. The front has a general overview of 2007 as a gaming year, with a month by month breakdown of key events and releases. Notable voice actors, artists and musicians all get mentions alongside the games they are most famous for. Then there's records for all kinds of things, like most playable characters in a game.

The bulk of the book is split up according to genre. Each genre has a 2 page introduction and then they big series and titles from that genre are given two pages each. There's loads of names here, loads. Pretty much every game I thought to look for was in there. Series are dealt with from the very first game to the most recent, with screenshots of all entries.

Total War has a two page spread devoted to it. Quite a few stats and quotes scattered about in little boxes, and a body of text giving an overview of how the games play and how the series has evolved. There's a table giving the top 10 ranked STW MP players, their clans and their scores. A Mike B quote is splashed across the centre of the section, it's a good one about games development being like a gulag, only without the nice guards and kindly environment.

It's RRP is £15.99, making it cheaper than the other varieties of Guinness BoR. My shop will be doing it for £9.99, and I expect most others will too.

Not seeing the attraction of the other varieties of Guinness BoR I expected this to be as unappealing. The flick through was interesting enough I might part with the £8 it would cost me to buy one.

Looks cool. Might buy it, when i have the money. Any news about release dates in other countries?

I wonder how they determine/verify the high scores and other "records"? Apart from the records, it sounds more like a history or encyclopedia of gaming.

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Originally Posted by Mikeus Caesar

Any news about release dates in other countries?

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Try asking in a local bookshop, or one of those indie games shops which sell games related merchandise.

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Originally Posted by Gregoshi

I wonder how they determine/verify the high scores and other "records"?

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Based on my flick through, it seems that at least some of the game runs have been recorded start to finish with a clock in view. Others have been done as part of an organised event. Some of the records, such as the Super Metroid ones, involve players breaking the game via known exploits. I'll be able to get a better answer when I pick up my copy tomorrow.

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Apart from the records, it sounds more like a history or encyclopedia of gaming.

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Yes. That's what sets it apart from the usual "Completely useless stats about entirely pointless records" Guinness formula. How many people honestly care if someone can finish Mario 64 in under 3 hours?

Scores witnessed by Twin Galaxies are considered official in the book. Those from other sources are listed as unofficial. Twin Galaxies have been monitoring gaming records for donkey's years - or so it says.

It's good reading. The second about earlier hardware generations made me feel so old, looking back at the release dates and best sellers and remembering when those games were brand new and exciting. The sheer number of records Nintendo hold for hardware firsts is awe inspiring. It's not been my imagination all these years, they truly are the most innovative of the Sega/Sony/Nintendo/Microsoft quartet.