The Platform Studies series, published by MIT Press, investigates the relationship between the hardware design of a system and the creative culture it enabled. By examining the constraints and affordances of specific platforms. These scholars demonstrate how the physical architecture of a machine directly shapes the games, art, and programming produced for it.
Some books may be added from time to time.
Last update : 11.02.2026
| Cover | Title | Author | Publisher | Language | ISBN | Support | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Racing the Beam: The Atari Video Computer System | N. Montfort & I. Bogost | MIT Press | English | 978-0262012577 | Physical, PDF, Kindle | (2009) The foundational book of the series; explains how the TIA chip defined the Atari 2600 look. |
 | Codename Revolution: The Nintendo Wii Platform | S.E. Jones & G.K. Thiruvathukal | MIT Press | English | 978-0262016803 | Physical, PDF, Kindle | (2012) Analyzes the Wii as a social and motion-controlled phenomenon rather than just a powerhouse. |
 | The Future Was Here: The Commodore Amiga | Jimmy Maher | MIT Press | English | 978-0262017206 | Physical, PDF, Kindle | (2012) Explores the multimedia revolution sparked by the Amiga's specialized custom chips. |
 | Seeing Red: A History of Speculative Design and a Color (Virtual Boy) | J.P. Wolf & T. Hernandez | MIT Press | English | 978-0262026840 | Physical, PDF, Kindle | (2014) A study of Nintendo's most famous failure and the technical challenges of stereoscopic 3D. |
 | I Am Error: The Nintendo Entertainment System | Nathan Altice | MIT Press | English | 978-0262028776 | Physical, PDF, Kindle | (2015) A deep dive into the 8-bit NES, covering everything from technical glitches to sound synthesis. |
 | Super Power, Spoony Bards, and Silverware: The Super Nintendo | Dominic Arsenault | MIT Press | English | 978-0262036566 | Physical, PDF, Kindle | (2017) Examines how the SNES hardware facilitated the "Golden Age" of the RPG and cinematic gaming. |
 | The Media Snatcher: PC-8801, PC-9801, and the Japanese PC Revolution | Nathan Altice | MIT Press | English | 978-0262039260 | Physical, PDF, Kindle | (2019) Focuses on the unique computer ecosystem in Japan and its influence on visual novels and RPGs. |
 | Who Are You? Nintendo's Game Boy Advance Platform | Alex Custodio | MIT Press | English | 978-0262044394 | Physical, PDF, Kindle | (2020) Explores the GBA's role as a bridge between the 16-bit era and modern mobile gaming. |
 | Too Much Fun: The Supercomputing History of the Atari 400 and 800 | Owen Linzmayer | MIT Press | English | 978-0262048569 | Physical, PDF, Kindle | (2023) analyzing Atari's 8-bit home computers as advanced "super-machines" for their time. |