January 26, 2025: Explore The History Of The UK Video Games Industry With Kim Justice

When I was a child, I always assumed that video games came from either Japan or the United States. I had no idea that there was a huge video game industry across the pond, ranging from bedroom coders to major players. I've been spending these cold winter days catching up on this fascinating history thanks to Kim Justice, a UK YouTuber whose channel covers the history of British gaming, among other things.

 

Kim's work is truly remarkable. Each video features an impressive collection of archival footage, photographs, and gameplay to tell the stories of companies, industry luminaries, and even the rise and fall of genres like the text adventure. These videos may be a walk down memory lane for some, but for me they're a fascinating look at a time when computer gaming was in its infancy. Thanks to the proliferation of "microcomputers" like the BBC Micro, the ZX Spectrum, the Amstrad CPC, and the Commodore 64, amateur coders of all ages could create their own games and market them to their fellow enthusiasts. This cottage industry would lead to a revolution in computer gaming that reverberates to this day.

 

These days, the video game industry is a multi-billion dollar juggernaut, though it wasn't always this way. Kim Justice shows us how it all started. If you love gaming, check it out! You'll be glad you did.

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