Hidden Levels #6: Segagaga

Marijam Did’s book offers a critical yet hopeful look at the videogame industry, now larger than film and music combined. Combining cultural theory, materialist critique, and personal anecdotes, Did explores how games—from Pong and Doom to complex multiplayer and narrative-driven titles—reflect and shape the world. The book highlights the stories of gaming communities, political actors within them, and the often harsh realities faced by those who make the games. Did argues for a nuanced understanding of gaming’s influence, suggesting that its extraordinary power can be harnessed for egalitarian and progressive goals, rather than reinforcing hyper-materialist or reactionary agendas. The book also addresses issues like labor conditions in the industry, the politics of game design, and the potential for games to challenge the status quo.

Sega Dreamcast: Collected Works is a large format, deluxe hardback book published in 2019 by Read-Only Memory and written by award-winning author Simon Parkin. Produced in collaboration with Sega, the book offers unprecedented insight into the creation of Sega’s last console and its celebrated library of games. It includes never-before-published materials, manufacturing prototypes, stunning photography of rare hardware, game development materials, and peerlessly printed game imagery. The book features in-depth, interview-led editorial contributions from important Sega staffers such as Yu Suzuki (Shenmue), Masayoshi Kikuchi (Jet Set Radio), Naoto Ohshima (Sonic Adventure), and Tetsuya Mizuguchi (Space Channel 5, Rez). It is considered one of the best English-language books on the Dreamcast and provides a detailed history of the console's development, launch, and eventual downfall.