Trial of the Space Invaders

A fascinating, page-turning story about one of the great mysteries of the twentieth century: who invented video games, who got the credit, and how the fight over a new art form helped shape the world – G T Karber, creator of MURDLE
Not only has Simon Parkin unearthed an untold story from a well-trodden period of entertainment history, he has also written the best, liveliest account yet of the origin of video games. Trial of the Space Invaders is deeply researched, vividly written, and revelatory about the people and forces that shaped a fascinating modern artform – Keza MacDonald, author of SUPER NINTENDO: How One Japanese Company Helped the World Have Fun.
I love books that overturn my preconceptions, and Simon Parkin’s excellent book definitely did that for me. I really didn’t think a book about legal wrangling related to the early days of the video game industry could possibly be a page-turner, but this one certainly was for me. Simon does a brilliant job of telling the very human and captivating stories that underpinned the creation of a whole new industry that sits at the heart of our culture today – Tim Minshall, author of YOUR LIFE IS MANUFACTURED
Told with wit and dedication, Parkin pieces together the story of a forgotten patent case and pushes past the official end of the story to explore a key moment in the origin of a multi-billion dollar industry, told through the people who fought over it before anyone understood it’s true significance to gaming history – Eliot Higgins, founder of Bellingcat
A vivid, entertaining story about an under-appreciated piece of tech history with wide-ranging consequences. A must-read for anyone who cares about the history of video games, with a twist ending that challenges us to rethink our understanding of the industry – Jason Schreier, New York Times bestselling author of PLAY NICE: The Rise, Fall, and Future of Blizzard Entertainment
This lovingly researched, deftly rendered book tells the surprisingly thrilling story of how video games leapt from the research lab into the home, with big personalities battling over big money on the little screen. Think Ace Attorney meets Game Dev Tycoon, with all the plot twists and deep lore of your favorite RPG. Parkin is a terrific writer – J. Robert Lennon, co-editor of CRITICAL HITS: Writers Playing Video Games
An illuminating look at one of the most most important, and misunderstood, periods in video game history. Overflowing with intimate details and previously unreported stories, Trial of the SpaceInvaders deserves to be read and debated for years to come – Michael Thomsen, author of CAGE KINGS: How an Unlikely Group of Moguls, Champions & Hustlers Transformed the UFC into a $10 Billion Industry
Trial of the Space Invaders takes a long-forgotten lawsuit and places it at the heart of a meticulously researched, compellingly written corporate drama that feels ready for the big screen. Reminiscent of Michael Lewis and Patrick Radden Keefe at the height of their powers, Parkin’s book reminds us in utterly gripping fashion that people, not software, hardware or intellectual property, built and fought over our rights to play in a digital age - shaping a creative medium that has defined our age in the process – George E. Osborn, author of POWER PLAY: Video Games, Politics and the Battle for Global Influence
A splendid book that imbues the deep history of video games with the pacing and suspense of a legal thriller. Parkin’s technical expertise, infectious curiosity, and dogged pursuit of a mystery hiding in plain sight make for a real page-turner, shedding new light on how this medium grew from a few cathode-ray tubes in experimental labs into the rivalry-filled, multibillion-dollar entertainment colossus it is today – Rob Dubbin, co-host of The Secret Life of Games
Veteran journalist Parkin unspools an engaging tale of the early days of gaming… . Parkin is a determined sleuth, using court records, interviews, and well-educated guesses that show how the squabble led to a gaming culture that is now more lucrative and wide-open. Smart reportage with enough drama to appeal beyond the gaming community – Starred review * Kirkus *
This riveting investigation from journalist Parkin reveals how Nintendo’s 1980s lawsuit against television manufacturer Magnavox defined the gaming industry … A captivating saga of innovation, competition, and the legal battle that birthed a new trillion-dollar industry and art form * Publishers’ Weekly *

PRAISE FOR THE FORBIDDEN GARDEN OF LENINGRAD
Shortlisted for the Orwell Prize for Political Writing and the Royal Society Science Book Prize

‘An astonishing story brilliantly told … It is as moving as it is gripping to read’
Jonathan Dimbleby, author of Endgame 1944

‘A richly researched and meticulously observed account of a little-explored corner of 20th-century history’
Guardian

Simon Parkin is an award-winning British writer and journalist. He is a contributing writer for the New Yorker, Guardian, and Observer, and is the author of:

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