Bitmap Books announces Run 'n' Gun: A Guide To On-foot Shooters, a new book from veteran games journalist Dave Cook that examines the run‑and‑gun subgenre and its place alongside traditional shoot‑'em‑ups.
UK publisher Bitmap Books confirmed the project is in development after announcing it last year.
The upcoming volume, authored by Dave Cook—who previously wrote Bitmap's Go Straight, a book on scrolling beat 'em ups—focuses on arcade and console run‑'n' gun titles, with examples such as Contra and Metal Slug cited as genre touchstones.
Bitmap has shared preliminary images on its social channels and said it will reveal additional details next month, with the book slated for an early July release window.
Rewriting notable statements for clarity: Bitmap Books describes Run 'n' Gun as an in‑depth look at the run‑and‑gun style of on‑foot shooting games, which the publisher positions as the traditional shoot‑'em‑up's closest cousin.
The book is intended to document the design, history, and cultural impact of those games across arcade cabinets and home consoles.
Context and relevance: Run‑and‑gun games like Contra and Metal Slug have been mainstays of arcade and console libraries for decades and have frequently been reissued on modern platforms.
Many of these classics have seen re-releases and compilations on contemporary systems, including the Nintendo Switch eShop and physical collections, which has helped sustain interest in genre retrospectives and reference books.
Publisher pedigree: Bitmap Books is known for hardcover visual compendia and retrospective titles.
Past releases include N64: A Visual Compendium, PC Engine Box Art Collection, and Art of the Box.
Those projects established Bitmap as a specialist in high‑quality print retrospectives for retro and contemporary game audiences.
What to expect next: Bitmap's social posts will reportedly include more imagery and details in the coming weeks, ahead of the target early July launch.
Interested readers and collectors can follow Bitmap Books' official channels for pre-order information and full release details when they become available.
This announcement continues a wave of retro-focused publications and products that cater to fans of arcade-era design and modern re-releases on platforms such as the Nintendo Switch, where run‑and‑gun classics remain accessible to new audiences.
UK publisher Bitmap Books confirmed the project is in development after announcing it last year.
The upcoming volume, authored by Dave Cook—who previously wrote Bitmap's Go Straight, a book on scrolling beat 'em ups—focuses on arcade and console run‑'n' gun titles, with examples such as Contra and Metal Slug cited as genre touchstones.
Bitmap has shared preliminary images on its social channels and said it will reveal additional details next month, with the book slated for an early July release window.
Rewriting notable statements for clarity: Bitmap Books describes Run 'n' Gun as an in‑depth look at the run‑and‑gun style of on‑foot shooting games, which the publisher positions as the traditional shoot‑'em‑up's closest cousin.
The book is intended to document the design, history, and cultural impact of those games across arcade cabinets and home consoles.
Context and relevance: Run‑and‑gun games like Contra and Metal Slug have been mainstays of arcade and console libraries for decades and have frequently been reissued on modern platforms.
Many of these classics have seen re-releases and compilations on contemporary systems, including the Nintendo Switch eShop and physical collections, which has helped sustain interest in genre retrospectives and reference books.
Publisher pedigree: Bitmap Books is known for hardcover visual compendia and retrospective titles.
Past releases include N64: A Visual Compendium, PC Engine Box Art Collection, and Art of the Box.
Those projects established Bitmap as a specialist in high‑quality print retrospectives for retro and contemporary game audiences.
What to expect next: Bitmap's social posts will reportedly include more imagery and details in the coming weeks, ahead of the target early July launch.
Interested readers and collectors can follow Bitmap Books' official channels for pre-order information and full release details when they become available.
This announcement continues a wave of retro-focused publications and products that cater to fans of arcade-era design and modern re-releases on platforms such as the Nintendo Switch, where run‑and‑gun classics remain accessible to new audiences.
