Screenshot 2021 03 25 At 11.41.14 Am
Image: Read-Only Memory

Update: The book is now fully-funded, having raised £51,770 of its £45,000 goal with 26 days remaining. Amazingly, nobody has taken up that £5,000 "PeaceMaster" reward tier as yet, though...

Original Story [Thu 25th Mar, 2021 12:00 GMT]: UK publisher Read-Only Memory has just announced its next project, and fans of the UK TV show GamesMaster will want to take note.

GamesMaster: The Oral History will delve into the creation of this legendary television series, running at more than 320 pages and featuring the input of over 40 contributors – including the people who made it all happen, as well as celebrity guests and the gamers who appeared on it.

Speaking of which, pop megastar Robbie Williams is penning the foreword to the book (he appeared on the show alongside Take That, the band in which he found fame), while iconic host Dominik Diamond will be "guiding" the narrative. Vic Reeves, Stewart Lee, Richard Herring and Pat Sharp (all names which any UK-based '90s kid will recall) are also adding their memories, as is Dave "The Games Animal" Perry, who was a big part of the production in its early years.

The top reward tier for the book costs £5,000, and is sure to create video game (and pop culture) history:

Feel the hand of history on your shoulders by becoming the person to lead peace talks between Dominik and Dave Perry as they reunite for the first time in 25 years. You will accompany Dominik to the Revolver Tattoo Rooms in Torquay where you will both be tattooed by Dave in his studio. Afterwards, you'll kick back and play some '90s videogames with Dominik and Dave, before heading to a nearby pub to toast this historic pop cultural moment.

In case you didn't know, Dom and Dave had a bit of a falling out on the show, but have, in recent years, mellowed somewhat. You can read more about that in Eurogamer's superb behind-the-scenes feature from a while back.

GamesMaster was the UK's first TV show devoted entirely to video games, and began airing in 1992. It featured studio-based challenges with members of the public and celebrities, as well as on-location reporting, reviews and news. The "GamesMaster" himself was memorably played by famed astronomer Sir Patrick Moore, who sadly passed away in 2012.

The series ended in 1998, but spawned a print magazine that lasted until 2018. Earlier this year, it was reported that Channel 4 was looking into rebooting the series for the modern era.

Read-Only Memory's book is up for funding on Kickstarter, with publication expected in the winter, ahead of the show’s 30th anniversary in 2022. You can hear Dom and publisher Darren Wall talking about it here, on the Under Consoletation podcast.

This article was originally published by nintendolife.com on Thu 25th March, 2021.