The History of Video Gaming in the USSR: Two New Books from Njoll

Njoll has released two books dedicated to the history of video gaming in the USSR — one covering arcade machines and the other video game consoles.

These books are the result of more than ten years of research. The texts are based primarily on interviews with developers and the memories of gamers from that era. Both volumes are illustrated with original studio photographs of the machines and consoles, and many images reveal their internal hardware and construction.

The books explore the development of the video game industry behind the Iron Curtain, from the first electromechanical arcade machines to home gaming systems that became familiar to millions of users across the USSR and Eastern Europe.

Attention is given not only to the machines and the games themselves, but also to everyday life in the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s.

Detailed information about the books, sample photographs, tables of contents, and ordering options can be found in the Shop section.

Customers who order both volumes will receive a complimentary poster featuring 15 of the most popular gaming platforms in the USSR and the post-Soviet region. Be quick — the poster is limited to just 50 copies.