The Video Game Library Newsletter - Vol. #015
1,000 Subscriber milestone, a Game Studies trilogy from Turkey, a spotlight on Significant Zero, and a great interview with VGL volunteer, Electrick.Marionnett!
Welcome back to The Video Game Library Newsletter!
A big holiday week this week - so whatever you celebrate, Happy [Holiday]! For me, July 1st was a beautiful, sunny Canada Day spent with friends.
I’ll admit, I considered taking a one-week break from the newsletter. Between the holidays and other commitments, it felt like a good time to pause. But the books keep coming - and I couldn’t resist diving back in.
Since launching this newsletter in April, 224 video game books have been announced or released.
TWO. HUNDRED. AND. TWENTY. FOUR. 🤯
Guys, this train isn’t slowing down… So if you enjoy all the work that goes into these weekly digests, please consider supporting at the Paid tier.
In News & Highlights, we’ve got a triple whammy from Routledge/CRC Press as well as a few long-awaited releases finally hitting shelves.
Behind the Shelves shares some of the work I’ve been doing on cataloguing some translations of books I’ve already catalogued.
The Recommended Read spotlight shares a fascinating chronicle of author Walt Williams' journey through his prolific career in gaming. It’s a snarky, and brutally honest 'behind-the-scenes' look at the oddities and realities of the oft glorified career of game development
And for this week’s From the Archives, we’re looking at a foundational Game Studies trilogy coming out of Turkey.
And in celebration of Canada Day, Community Interview shares the story of The Video Game Library’s top Canadian volunteer, Electrick.Marionnett!
Let’s hop in and see how July is shaping up!
📰 News & Highlights
A little light on the news this week, as expected from the July 1st/4th Holidays in North America. Hard to capitalize on media coverage when everyone is outside barbequing. A few long-awaited releases are finally hitting shelves this week though - so let’s check ‘em out!
The World Politics of Disco Elysium has finally dropped! Published by Routledge as part of their Popular Culture and World Politics series, this one’s been on my radar since it was announced.
Also from Routledge comes Videogames and Metareference, the first edited collection to explore metareference in video games from an interdisciplinary lens. Fascinating stuff.
For those who have been following Josh Bycer’s Game Design Deep Dive series, his latest entry, Metroidvania, just released this past week. Love the cover art on this one!
This week you can enjoy over 800 pages of Dan Jurgen's Tomb Raider comics series collected in the Tomb Raider Colossal Collection - Vol. 1 which hit shelves on July 1st from Dark Horse.
Also coming out of the world of Dark Horse, we have more CD Projekt Red goodness with Cyberpunk: Edgerunners - MADNESS Vol. 1. These multi-media franchises are always tough…is Edgerunners considered a spin-off of the game? Or of the original universe? Making an exception for this one.
Announced and up for pre-order this week, Cameron Kunzelman has a new Assassin’s Creed book coming out. Everything Is Permitted On Assassin’s Creed offers a deep dive into Assassin's Creed - its gameplay, history, and big ideas on freedom, fate, and the evolution of a hit franchise.
Missed this one earlier in June, so wanted to be sure I gave it a quick spotlight. Aussie writer, Joe Douglas, will be publishing his first book The History of SEGA with Pen & Sword under their White Owl imprint. Always interested in more literary love for Sega!
This week saw another release of Minecraft: The Manga - Vol. 4, this time by Norma Editorial for both the Spanish and Catalan localizations. Great to see all the translation efforts happening for this lineup.
And also in Minecraft news, the LEGO Minecraft Games Book released earlier this week, setting out to keep the whole family entertained with 50 ideas for LEGO Minecraft themed games, puzzles, and challenges!
Saved the best for last! After a few months of building excitement, Final Fantasy IX Picture Book: Vivi, Grandpa Quan, and the Day of Departure has officially released! A prequel to Vivi’s journey in the main game, illustrating the peaceful days leading up to his eventual departure into the wider world.
Did I miss something cool? Want to see this laid out differently?
Drop it in the comments or swing by our Discord to share it with the community.
Let’s keep this celebration of game-inspired books going strong!
📚 Behind the Shelves
Every week, I take you behind the scenes of The Video Game Library. From surprising discoveries to cataloging challenges, there’s always something new as we dig deeper into this ever-expanding archive of game-related literature.
First off, let’s celebrate: we’ve officially passed 1,000 subscribers! It’s been so encouraging to see this project grow since launching in April. Thank you for being a part of it.
This week, my main focus was catching up on translated editions of books already in the catalog. As you know, one of my core goals is to make this a global resource, so representing literature in multiple languages is a big priority. It’s slow work but deeply rewarding. Here's a sampling of the languages now represented on the site!
Truthfully, that’s most of what I had time for this week. The holidays kept things busy, but I’m already gearing up for what looks like a huge slate of releases in the days ahead.
This, as usual, is only a small sample of what we we’ve been up to this month, so take a peek at the site to see everything! And while you’re at it, drop your thoughts in the comments below. Your feedback helps shape how we deliver these looks behind the curtain.
💡 Recommended Read of the Week
Significant Zero: Heroes, Villains, and the Fight for Art and Soul in Video Games
Walt Williams
Significant Zero is a fascinating chronicle of author Walt Williams' intriguing journey through his prolific career in gaming. From his mischievous youth, selling shoplifted pornography in the schoolyard, to working on some of the most influential titles in recent generations, right through to his (false) retirement from the industry - it's, if nothing else, a unique memoir that you'll not likely find elsewhere.
Offering his insider perspective on AAA franchises like Bioshock, Mafia and Spec-Ops, Walt gives us a snarky, and brutally honest 'behind-the-scenes' look at the oddities and realities of the oft glorified career of game development. Chock-full of wit and cynicism, you'll be taken on an exhausting ride through the monotonous grind of script writing, the politics of corporate hierarchy, and the real-life woes of the infamous Crunch.
Now admittedly, I didn’t always personally connect with the tone - some chapters were rife with unapologetic cynicism - but Williams' voice is bold and unique, and his experiences shed light on corners of the industry that rarely get this kind of spotlight.
If you're looking for a less narrow view behind the industry's curtain, I'd easily suggest "Blood, Sweat and Pixels" above this one. But if you want a raw, personal dive into one man's creative battles and triumphs in the industry, Significant Zero is well worth your time - especially from Chapter 6 onward!
You can find details about Significant Zero here.
💾 From the Archives
Each week, I’ll dive deep into the shelves of The Video Game Library to spotlight a hidden gem or forgotten series — with the hope of surprising you with something new, unexpected, or long overlooked. This week, I wanted to share…
…a foundational Game Studies trilogy coming out of Turkey.
Over the past few years a new trilogy has emerged to help push the conversation forward around academic Game Studies in Turkey: Dijital Oyunlar by Nobel Akademik.
This ongoing book series - released between 2021 and 2024 - has become a foundational piece of Turkish-language game studies. Each volume tackles a unique perspective on play:
Dijital Oyunlar 1.0: Oynanış ve Anlam (“Gameplay and Meaning”)
Dijital Oyunlar 2.0: Oynanış ve Kimlik (“Gameplay and Identity”)
Dijital Oyunlar 3.0: Oynanış ve Mekanik (“Gameplay and Mechanics”)
Led by editors Dr. Ertuğrul Süngü and Prof. Barbaros Bostan, the books bring together Turkish scholars from across media, communication, psychology, and game design to explore what video games mean, how they shape our identities, and how their mechanics continue to evolve.
Volume 1.0 was a surprise hit. Printed in 2021, it sold out of its first edition before being reprinted in 2024. Its chapters argue that games are more than entertainment - they’re cultural texts, worthy of critical reading just like films or novels. Authors unpack symbolism in gameplay, and how meaning is shaped by both the player and the game’s internal logic.
Volume 2.0, published in 2023, took on identity. The essays explore how players express themselves through avatars, how game environments shape social behavior, and how topics like gender, NFTs, and online community overlap in the digital sphere.
Then in early 2024 came Volume 3.0, focused on mechanics. This time, the conversation turned toward how games are designed to feel - the way control schemes, level layouts, or systems like stamina bars and procedural generation impact play.
These books filled a gap. Before Dijital Oyunlar, very few Turkish-language books treated video games as serious cultural artifacts. The editors and authors set out to change that - and did. Today, the books are cited in academic articles, used in game design courses, and discussed by a growing community of Turkish game scholars.
📚 Want to learn more about them for yourself? All three volumes are catalogued here at The Video Game Library.
✨ Community Interview
Electrick.Marionnett has become an essential part of The Video Game Library’s volunteer team - meticulously cataloguing Pokémon books and championing the role of video game literature in youth spaces. But behind the username is Geneviève, a school librarian from Québec with a deep love for Pokémon, metadata, and manga.
From managing a trilingual manga library at Otakuthon to building engaging learning activities around video games for students, Geneviève blends passion and professionalism in a way that’s truly inspiring.
I was thrilled to sit down with her and learn more about her journey, the stories that shaped her, and what drives her incredible work.
Hope you enjoy!
Let’s start with an easy one - who is “Electrick.Marionnett”? Where did the name come from, and what does it say about you?
Well, my name is Geneviève and I’m 29 years old born and raised in Québec, Canada. My first language is French, and I’ve learnt English in High School. I’m a librarian specialised in cataloguing and metadata but I’m currently a school librarian in Montreal. Video games have always been part of my life thanks to my half-brother.
The username is a mix of the word electric (for electric type Pokémon) and a marionette. Combined, they mean robot for me. I thought of it unique, and it’s been my username for more than a decade. In a way, it’s related to how I felt about myself at that time. I didn’t really know who I was and felt like a robot or a marionette. I didn’t know why I wasn’t fitting in society norm. I realised why late when I got an autism diagnosis, and I stopped masking. The name still quite fits me for when I’m in working mode.
You’ve been such an amazing volunteer for The Video Game Library. How did you first come across the project, and what made you want to get involved?
I came across the project while working as a documentalist for the University of Montréal. I had a contract to help the video game laboratory to find a new library system and to find how other library catalogued their video games. I did analyse the website to see how you were cataloguing the books. Unknowingly to you, you are using a type called ‘’Dublin Core’’. I did share my find with my boss and he kept it for students to look for specific documentations in their research. I don’t know if professors know about it but still, it’s an amazing resource.
I found the motive and I liked going through all the types of books you were making available. I found that you were looking for volunteers and I thought ‘’why not?’’. Here I am!
Well, I’m so glad you found this project! You’ve helped fill a huge gap in our cataloguing efforts by focusing on Pokémon books. What is it about Pokémon that connects with you?
Fun fact, Pokémon Green and Red were released in Japan two weeks after I was born. I always said it was my destiny to like them. The saga has been with me since I was around three years old. I got Pokémon plushies and VHS for Christmas. Then the specific interest started. Everything in my head wad about Pokémon. It’s how I got my first friends in primary school. It has helped me learn English. I never stopped liking the saga. I consume every type of media and hobbies related to it. I have two binders of cards, clothing, books, video games, accessories and more about Pokémon. It has helped me in my darkest time. I will forever be a fan.
Do you have a favorite Pokémon?
There are two answers to this question: the real one and the one I tell most people.
The real one is Pikachu. I’m obsessed with this yellow creature. I’ve learnt to imitate its voice. It was even my camp counsellor name! But many people react badly and have mean commentary about it. I don’t like the reaction and avoid saying it. But everyone around me knows it’s my favourite.
The second answer is Hydreigon. It’s a pseudo-legendary Pokémon based on the hydra from Greek mythology. It’s from the 5th generation, my favourite. I first came to like it in Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Gates to Infinity. I loved the character! I also like how the etymology of its name: Hydra + drei (number 3 in German) + dragon. When I can, it’s on my team.
These are my number one and two!
What about your video game history? What was your first game and what are your favourite genre?
As I said before, it’s my half-brother who has shown me video games. We even have a picture of him and I with a SNES controller. I wasn’t even a year old. He left the console at my house when he moved out and I tried to play Mario and a Spider-Man game. I was really bad.
I got my first game console at 8 years old. I had a GameBoy Advance SP with Pokémon LeafGreen and a Shrek game. My starter was Squirtle. I played more than 800 hours before I transferred all my Pokémon in Pokémon Y to start the game again.
Nowadays, I play Visual Novels, cozy management, farming, dating sims and turn-based game. I have a bad reaction time and dyspraxia in my hands, so I need to play other kinds of games than action or RPG. I do watch a lot of let’s play and my boyfriend loves those game. I love the lore and read about it.
As a school librarian, do you ever find overlap between video games and the books the students are drawn to?
A lot. Children like Minecraft, Roblox and Fortnite mostly. When I do collection development, I always make sure to put some about video games. Unfortunately, we don’t have good documentary books in French about video games for kids. I only found books from 2012.
But there is a lot of lore books about Minecraft! We also have a lot of novels and comics related to video games. One of the best is ‘’Gamer’’ by Pierre-Yves Villeneuve. I’ve read the first book, and I really loved it.
I even created an activity to present video game history to kids for my jobs. I tell about the first game, arcade, weird facts (E.T. video game), what jobs they can do and how books are related to many video games.
You’re also the Manga Library Director for Otakuthon - which is amazing! Can you tell us a bit about that role and what it involves?
Otakuthon is a convention happening in Montreal at Palais des Congrès every year. The convention is celebrating their 20th anniversary this year! It’s the biggest bilingual convention in North America and in the top 10 biggest one.
This year will be my second year as the manga library director. It’s a volunteer position where I manage a trilingual library (French-English-Japanese) with a specialisation in mangas. We also have manhwa, manhua, webtoons, light novel and more! I also have staff to help me when the convention is happening, but I do a lot in-between. I’m preparing to have a real library management system (LMS), a first for a convention. I’m now cataloguing more than 2500 documents to prepare them for a migration towards the new system. It’s really awesome and I’m really excited about it.
This year I have two new sections: a youth one and an 18+ one. I really want to manage it like a real library and do a conservation role with mangas. We have a lot that are not available anymore for various reasons and it’s a privilege to care for it.
The convention is in a month on the 8th, 9th and 10th of August! Here is the website if you want to know more about it : https://www.otakuthon.com/2025/home/#gsc.tab=0
So let’s talk more about Québec and its French-speaking identity. Do you find that impacts the kinds of books or translations you come across in local stores and libraries?
There is a big difference between commercial bookstores and little bookshops. Everything made in Québec is always the most important in little stores. In more commercial ones, they push translated books from English speaking countries. Its kind of sad because we do have good books but with phenomenon like BookTok, it minimizes our own books’ visibility.
Most of the translated books come from France and have French terminology. This is the same with children’s book. The best example is with the word ‘’soccer’’ which is used here but in France they use ‘’football’’. Same when talking about grade in school. We try to have the best representing books in our school libraries, but we must make a choice.
For public libraries, I know most of them have books in French and English. It’s usually around 70% French and 30% English. But this changes depending on where you live. In Montreal, we have more books in English than in Rawdon for example. It goes with multilinguist and multiculturalism.
What are you currently reading - for fun, for work, or just for comfort?
Oh boy, I read too many things at the same time. So here is a list.
For work, I’m reading books about social media, fake news and AI to make new activities for the kids in 5th and 6th grade.
For fun, in French, I’m reading the novel ‘’ Juillet n’est pas une vivace’’ by Gabrielle Delamer who is my cousin!
I’m also reading the manga ‘’L’enfant en moi’’ (My Girlfriend’s Child) by Mamoru Aoi.
In English, I’m reading the novel ‘’ Under the Oak Tree ‘’ by Suji Kim.
I’m also finishing the webtoon ‘’ Duke Pendragon: Master of the White Dragon’’ written by YU (Utsumi Yuusuke) and art by Cobalt (Sumishiro Yukina) and original work by Kim Hyungjun(Frozen).
I also read a lot of fanfictions!
What’s one dream project or goal you'd love to pursue someday - either personally or professionally?
I want a house, hahaha! But I would love to be recognised as a librarian specialised in manga in my province. That would be amazing!
I would also love to write a book about mangas. I also have a novel idea for a long time, but all my notes are in a box. Maybe in the future!
In the meantime, where can people follow you and keep up with your discoveries and creative work?
I’m active on BlueSky. My LinkedIn is more career oriented and in French but if people really want, they can contact me on BlueSky about it. If you want to see my weird game list, you look at my Steam page electrick.marionnett 😊
Thanks for your time, Geneviève!
🙏 And THANK YOU for Reading
That’s a wrap for this week’s deep dive into all things video game literature. I hope you discovered something new, surprising, or just plain fun.
As always, your feedback helps shape this project - so don’t be shy! Drop a comment below, join the conversation on Discord, or just reply to this newsletter and share your thoughts.
And if you’re enjoying these weekly roundups, please consider supporting The Video Game Library with a paid subscription or forwarding this to a fellow fan. Every little bit helps us keep preserving and celebrating these incredible works - and the passionate people behind them.
Until next week — happy reading,
Dean (Founder, The Video Game Library)
Congrats on 1000 subs! ❤️
Congrats on 1000 subs!
Also...I wonder if there is a translation of those Turkish books you mentioned...I'd love to read them!!