Quirk: The Art of the Video Game by Josh Jenisch (Call of Duty 4 Modern Warfare, Half-Life 2, Team Fortress 2, etc)

The Art of the Video Game is the first book to celebrate an exciting new visual medium—complete with stunning digital artwork from the biggest design studios and game publishers in the business, including Electronic Arts, Activision, Sega, Sony, Midway, Eidos, and Konami. Every page features gorgeously rendered images (plus never-before-published sketches, models, and works-in-progress) from dozens of beloved games—everything from old school favorites like Tomb Raider and Sonic the Hedgehog to contemporary hits like Beautiful Katamari, Call of Duty, Half-Life 2, Kane & Lynch, and more. Along the way, readers will discover the history of video game art and an exciting glimpse of its future. Full of exclusive interviews and images, The Art of the Video Game is a must-have gift for gamers of all ages.

Josh Jenisch is a writer and editor in Special Sections at the Los Angeles Times; his love affair with video games began way back in 1985 with Excitebike. He lives in Los Angeles, California, with his wife, Liz.