• Book cover of 'Press Reset' by Jason Schreier with a person carrying boxes against a blue background. For customers across Bangladesh, Bookish Wonderland makes it easier to purchase quality English books through fast delivery options in Dhaka and durable stitched-and-glue binding.
1 1

Bookish Wonderland

Press Reset: Ruin and Recovery in the Video Game Industry by Jason Schreier

Press Reset: Ruin and Recovery in the Video Game Industry by Jason Schreier

Tk 239.00 BDT
Tk 239.00 BDT
Sale Sold out
Book cover type

In Press Reset, journalist Jason Schreier investigates what happens when video game studios close and the people behind beloved games lose their jobs. Drawing on interviews with developers, he traces the rise and collapse of companies connected to BioShock, Dead Space, Epic Mickey, and Kingdoms of Amalur. Their stories expose unstable employment, punishing overtime, corporate takeovers, financial mismanagement, and decisions that place workers at risk despite booming game sales. Schreier follows designers, programmers, and other employees as they search for work, relocate, leave gaming, or establish independent studios. Some find opportunities and creative freedom, while others face uncertainty and personal upheaval. By focusing on individual experiences rather than just famous franchises, the book reveals the human cost of an industry celebrated for innovation but troubled by recurring shutdowns. It also considers how business practices might change to give game creators more sustainable careers without sacrificing their passion for making games. Read More

View full details

About Press Reset: Ruin and Recovery in the Video Game Industry by Jason Schreier — The Real Stories Behind Studio Closures and New Beginnings

You finish a great video game and watch the credits roll. Hundreds of names move across the screen, but it is easy to forget that every name belongs to a person with bills, hopes, and a life outside work. What happens when those people arrive at the office and learn that their studio is closing? Press Reset: Ruin and Recovery in the Video Game Industry by Jason Schreier goes beyond the games on your screen to meet the people who made them. Drawing on firsthand interviews, Schreier follows workers through exciting projects, painful shutdowns, lost jobs, and unexpected new beginnings. This is not a guide to winning games. It is an eye-opening book about the human cost of making them and the strength it takes to start again. Along the way, you discover that losing a studio can change a worker’s home, friendships, income, and plans for years.

The Story Does Not End When a Game Launches

Fans often think a game release is the finish line. The team has spent years building worlds, testing controls, fixing mistakes, and preparing for the big day. Once the game goes on sale, players get to enjoy the result. But for developers, that day can bring a new kind of worry. Will the company keep the whole team? Will the next project receive funding? Will anyone have to move to another city to find a job? Schreier explores these questions by tracking real careers after major studio changes. He makes the people behind familiar titles visible and shows that a successful product and a secure workplace are not always the same thing. You begin to see the final credits not as an ending, but as a list of people whose stories continue after you stop playing.

Why Can a Popular Studio Close Its Doors?

A common question from gamers is simple: if a studio makes a game people love, why would its owner shut it down? There is no single answer. Projects can become expensive, leaders may disagree about a new direction, and a publisher can change its plans. A company might also want a smaller team or decide that another kind of game offers a better business opportunity. Press Reset explores these pressures through specific cases instead of giving you an easy villain or a simple rule. Some decisions follow money, while others involve leadership and creative control. The important point is that workers can lose jobs because of choices far above them. Understanding those links helps you read industry headlines with more care and recognize the lives behind words such as restructuring and closure.

Meet the Teams Behind Games You Recognize

BioShock Infinite, Epic Mickey, and Dead Space appear in the book's account of the industry. Even if you have never played all three, their stories offer an entrance into how large games are made and what happens to their creators afterward. The book takes you near studios such as Irrational Games, Junction Point, and Visceral Games, where talented people worked on ambitious projects under demanding conditions. You do not need to memorize every game or studio to follow the bigger picture. One person's move from one workplace to another can connect events that otherwise look like separate news stories. As those paths cross, the industry begins to look less like a collection of famous logos and more like a network of workers trying to do good work while planning for an uncertain future.

What Happened After Irrational Games Changed?

Irrational Games is closely linked with the BioShock series, including BioShock Infinite. Its story raises one of the book's sharpest questions: what happens when a well-known studio changes direction after releasing a major game? Schreier looks past the name of the company to follow employees who had invested years of work. For fans, a studio announcement may be one disappointing moment. For the people who worked there, it can mean a search for new income, a change of plans, and difficult talks at home. The book encourages you to think about what it means when a creative vision depends on a large group but a business decision can leave many of them without a place on the next project. It turns a familiar gaming headline into a deeply human story.

When Big Dreams Meet a Hard Business

The book also visits 38 Studios, the company founded by former baseball player Curt Schilling, and its plans to compete in the world of online games. Those dreams grew into a complicated business story involving ambitious projects and serious financial trouble. Workers who joined because they believed in the opportunity faced painful results when the company collapsed. Schreier does not treat their experience as a joke about a failed game. He asks what happened to the employees who had made real choices about their careers and lives. A bold idea can inspire people, but a company's promises matter most when people depend on them. This account invites readers to think about leadership, risk, and how decisions made by a few can reach families far beyond the office.

More Than Layoffs: Follow the Road to Recovery

The word ruin in the title is only half of the story. Recovery matters just as much. Some developers search for work at another studio. Some move, join small teams, or try to build businesses of their own. Others choose to leave the industry. Each path brings a different mix of risk, relief, and disappointment. Schreier follows people over time so that their lives do not disappear when a company closes. This gives the book a welcome sense of movement: you want to learn not only why a workplace failed, but also where its people went next. Their stories show the effort behind rebuilding a career. They do not promise that every setback leads to success, which makes the moments of hope feel more believable.

What Is Crunch, and Why Does It Matter?

In game development, crunch is a name often used for periods of very long working hours, especially as a deadline approaches. It can mean less sleep, missed family time, and growing stress. Press Reset places demanding work alongside the worry that a job might disappear when a project is finished. If workers feel they must keep proving themselves, it can become harder to question unhealthy demands. The book invites readers to think about how studios manage time and treat employees. It also asks whether the business can offer a more stable future to the people making its products. These are questions raised through the book's reporting and the period it covers; no single case should be taken as proof that every studio works in exactly the same way today.

A Premium Copy for Readers Who Love Real Stories

Bookish Wonderland offers this title with premium eye-soothing cream paper, crystal-clear printing, and high-quality stitched and glue binding. The gentle page color provides a comfortable background for long reading sessions, while the clear text makes it easy to follow names and events across different studios. The binding is designed to help the pages stay together through repeated reading, so you can return to an interview or a thought-provoking chapter later. These details describe the Bookish Wonderland reading copy rather than every edition sold elsewhere. If you like keeping nonfiction books beside your desk or adding them to a growing English book collection, a durable physical copy makes it easy to revisit the ideas instead of losing them in a passing news feed.

Who Should Read Press Reset?

This book is a natural choice for people who love video games and want to understand the work behind them. It also speaks to students considering game design, art, programming, or another creative career. The stories show why learning a skill is only one part of working in an industry; company plans and job conditions matter too. Business readers can explore the effects of leadership decisions on teams, while managers may find useful questions about how employees experience change. You do not have to play BioShock or know the history of every studio to follow the main ideas. If you enjoy investigative journalism, stories about working life, and people trying to recover after a setback, this book gives you plenty to discuss.

Is This a Sequel to Blood, Sweat, and Pixels?

No. Schreier's earlier book Blood, Sweat, and Pixels looks at the hard work involved in making video games, while Press Reset focuses on studio closures and what happens to developers afterward. They cover related subjects, but Press Reset is not a numbered sequel and does not require you to read the earlier book first. Start here if you are most interested in the fate of workers after a game launches or a studio changes course. Readers who already know the earlier book may enjoy seeing the discussion move from the struggle to finish a game to the struggle to build a lasting career. The two books can sit together on a shelf without being mislabeled as parts of a formal series.

Check the Price and Choose the Copy That Suits You

Book price in Bangladesh can vary by seller, stock, and edition, so check the current Bookish Wonderland listing for Press Reset by Jason Schreier before ordering. There is no fixed local price stated here. If you are comparing options, consider whether you want a printed reading copy that can stay on your shelf and be opened again when a new gaming story reminds you of something in the book. You can also contact the store to ask about availability, edition details, or customization. Whether you are buying for yourself or for someone interested in the gaming world, checking those details in advance helps you choose with confidence and avoids a surprise after you place the order.

From Dhaka to Your Doorstep

You can order this English nonfiction book through Bookish Wonderland whether you live inside or outside Dhaka. Nationwide delivery is available across Bangladesh, and Cash on Delivery is offered throughout the country. If you are in Dhaka and need your copy more quickly, ask about the fast or urgent delivery option and confirm what is available for your address. This makes it easier to shop for a title that may not be on the shelf of your nearest bookstore. Before ordering, check the live product listing for stock and delivery details. If you need help with a particular request, the store can answer questions through Facebook or Instagram.

Discover the People Behind Your Favorite Games

A favorite game may stay with you for years, but its creators have lives that continue long after the credits end. Press Reset follows those lives through studio shutdowns, uncertain moves, and the effort to begin again. It offers recognizable gaming history and a more personal view of the people who shaped it. If you want to know what happens when a creative workplace disappears, this is the story to pick up. Order Press Reset: Ruin and Recovery in the Video Game Industry by Jason Schreier from Bookish Wonderland after checking the current price and availability. Choose a delivery option for your address, and message the store on Facebook or Instagram for questions or book customization. Read it for the games you know; remember it for the people whose work made them possible.

If you require any customization or have any questions, please inbox us via FB or Insta.

Primary Specification
AuthorJason Schreier
NarratorRay Chase
EditorThomas Louie
GenreNonfiction, Video Game Industry, Business, Technology
ISBN-13/ISSN978-1538735497
ISBN-101538735490
PublisherGrand Central Publishing
Publishing DateMay 11, 2021
LanguageEnglish
Reading Age16+
FormatPrinted Book
Physical Specification & Quality
Paper QualityPremium eye-soothing cream paper
Binding QualityHigh quality stitched and glue binding (for longevity)
Print QualityCrystal-clear print
Pages320 pages
CountryUSA
Logistics Information
Weight343 gm
Length8.5 inches
Width5.6 inches
Height0.88 inch
What is Press Reset: Ruin and Recovery in the Video Game Industry by Jason Schreier about?

Press Reset is a nonfiction investigation into why working in the video game industry can be so unstable even when the industry itself generates enormous revenue. Jason Schreier uses dozens of first-hand interviews with developers, designers, executives, and other industry workers to examine what happens when studios shut down, projects fail, companies restructure, or employees are suddenly laid off. The book covers well-known studios and games including Irrational Games and BioShock Infinite, Junction Point and Epic Mickey, Visceral Games and Dead Space, and 38 Studios. Rather than focusing mainly on the finished games, Schreier follows the people who made them and what happened to their careers afterward. The central question is why talented developers can create successful or acclaimed games and still lose their jobs, relocate repeatedly, or leave the industry entirely.

How many books are in the Press Reset series by Jason Schreier, and what are they?

There is no officially numbered Press Reset series. Press Reset: Ruin and Recovery in the Video Game Industry by Jason Schreier is a standalone nonfiction book.

How is Press Reset different from Blood, Sweat, and Pixels?

Blood, Sweat, and Pixels focuses largely on the difficult development stories behind individual video games, with chapters that can often be read independently. Press Reset shifts the emphasis from particular games to the people and companies behind them. Schreier has explained that he wanted the second book to feel more connected and to have a stronger narrative arc running across the chapters. The central concern is not simply how hard it is to finish a game, but what happens when a successful or unsuccessful project is followed by layoffs, studio closure, relocation, or career disruption. Press Reset also takes a more explicit position on problems such as management failures, instability, and the treatment of workers. Readers interested mainly in how games get made may prefer Blood, Sweat, and Pixels, while those interested in employment conditions and industry structure may find Press Reset more focused.

Why do video game studios close even after making successful games?

One of the main questions in Press Reset is why commercial or critical success does not always protect a studio from closure. Schreier shows that studios can disappear for many reasons, including corporate restructuring, ownership changes, high development costs, management decisions, changing publisher strategies, cancelled projects, or a parent company deciding that a team no longer fits its plans. Irrational Games is a major example discussed in the book: BioShock Infinite was a high-profile release, yet the studio was effectively shut down afterward and many employees lost their jobs. Schreier uses examples like this to challenge the assumption that making a successful game automatically creates stable employment. The book argues that the project-based structure of the industry can make workers vulnerable even when they perform well and their games receive praise.

Does Press Reset explain layoffs, crunch, and job instability in the video game industry?

Yes. Layoffs and long-term job instability are central to Press Reset, while crunch is discussed as part of the broader working conditions developers face. Schreier has said that although excessive overtime receives a great deal of attention, the repeated cycle of losing jobs, changing employers, and sometimes moving across the country or world can be even more damaging to long-term careers. Developers may spend years on a game, endure intense production periods, and still face layoffs soon after release. The book examines how this instability affects families, finances, mental well-being, and the decision to stay in or leave the industry. It also shows that volatility is not limited to failed studios. Even teams behind successful games can be reorganised or closed. This makes Press Reset especially relevant to readers interested in labour conditions rather than only game design.

Which game studios and famous games are discussed in Press Reset?

Press Reset covers several major studios and projects to show different forms of success, failure, restructuring, and recovery. The book discusses Irrational Games, the developer behind BioShock Infinite; Junction Point, associated with Epic Mickey; Visceral Games, known for Dead Space; and 38 Studios, the company founded by former baseball player Curt Schilling. Schreier also follows developers whose careers connect multiple studios, allowing the chapters to build into one broader story rather than functioning as isolated case studies. These examples reveal different problems, including studio closures, management decisions, financial pressure, corporate acquisitions, cancelled work, and unstable employment. The goal is not simply to provide behind-the-scenes trivia about famous games. Schreier uses these studios to show how business decisions can affect hundreds of individual careers and why talented developers often have less control over their professional futures than players may assume.

Does Press Reset offer solutions to problems in the video game industry, or does it only describe what went wrong?
Press Reset is critical of industry instability, but Schreier deliberately wanted the book to do more than catalogue disasters. In his own explanation of the project, he said he wanted to highlight problems while also discussing potential solutions and ways the industry might improve. The book considers issues such as better management, stronger communication, more sustainable development practices, greater worker protections, and structural changes that could reduce the damage caused by repeated layoffs and studio closures. It also follows people who recover by joining new teams, starting companies, changing roles, or leaving games entirely. The book does not present one simple reform that would solve every problem, because studios fail for many different reasons. Instead, it asks what a healthier industry would require if companies want experienced developers to remain in games rather than being pushed out by repeated instability.
Who should read Press Reset, and do I need to know a lot about video games to understand it?
Press Reset is suitable for gamers, game-development students, programmers, designers, business readers, journalists, and anyone interested in how creative industries treat their workers. Extensive knowledge of video games is not required because Schreier explains the companies, projects, and industry context as the stories develop. Readers who know games such as BioShock Infinite, Dead Space, or Epic Mickey may recognise more references, but the human stories of layoffs, relocation, management, and career uncertainty remain understandable without specialist knowledge. The book may be particularly valuable for people considering a career in game development because it presents a less glamorous view of the industry than marketing or fan culture often provides. It is also useful for general business readers interested in project-based employment, corporate decision-making, creative labour, and the tension between profitable industries and unstable careers.
Is Press Reset by Jason Schreier available in a premium edition at Bookish Wonderland?

Bookish Wonderland offers Press Reset within its premium English book collection, with physical specifications focused on comfortable reading and regular reference use. The store's books feature premium eye-soothing cream paper, crystal-clear printing, and high-quality stitched and glue binding. These qualities can be useful for a nonfiction industry book because readers may return to particular studio histories, career stories, or sections about layoffs and management after finishing the first read. Grand Central Publishing lists the trade paperback at 320 pages with ISBN 9781538735497, though pagination can differ between formats such as ebook and international editions. Bookish Wonderland's term premium edition refers to the physical quality supplied by the store rather than an officially named collector's edition from Grand Central Publishing. Customers looking for a specific cover or ISBN should confirm the available copy before ordering.

What are the paper and print quality of Press Reset from Bookish Wonderland?

Bookish Wonderland's premium copy is produced with eye-soothing cream paper and crystal-clear printing to provide a clean and comfortable reading experience. The softer cream-toned page background can feel less visually harsh than very bright white paper during longer reading sessions, while sharp text reproduction keeps names, studio histories, quotations, and business details clear. This suits Press Reset because the book moves through many developers, companies, and events, and readers may want to pause or return to earlier sections to understand how different careers connect. A clear physical copy also works well for students studying game design, media, business, or digital labour. Exact paper thickness, typography, margins, and physical dimensions may vary according to the available edition, so customers with specific formatting requirements should confirm those details with Bookish Wonderland before purchasing.

How durable is the binding of Press Reset from Bookish Wonderland for repeated reading?

Bookish Wonderland uses high-quality stitched and glue binding for its premium printed books. Stitching adds structural support to the page sections, while adhesive reinforces the spine and helps keep pages securely attached during repeated use. This can be useful for Press Reset because many readers may treat it as a reference on game-industry careers rather than a book they read only once. Students and professionals may return to chapters about particular studios, layoffs, production problems, or career transitions when comparing them with newer industry events. Long-term condition still depends on handling, so readers should avoid forcing the book completely flat, folding the cover backward repeatedly, exposing it to moisture, or storing it in strong direct sunlight. With sensible care, the binding is intended to support regular reading and long-term bookshelf storage.

Why should I buy Press Reset by Jason Schreier from Bookish Wonderland, and is Cash on Delivery available across Bangladesh?

Bookish Wonderland gives gamers, developers, students, and business readers across Bangladesh convenient access to specialised English nonfiction such as Press Reset: Ruin and Recovery in the Video Game Industry by Jason Schreier. The store combines its large English book collection with premium eye-soothing cream paper, crystal-clear printing, and durable stitched and glue binding, making the book suitable for personal reading, study, gifting, or professional reference. Nationwide delivery is available both inside and outside Dhaka, so customers from different districts can order without depending on a nearby specialist bookstore. Cash on Delivery is available across Bangladesh, allowing customers to pay when the order arrives. Readers in Dhaka can also request fast or urgent delivery when the service is available. Before ordering, customers can confirm the supplied edition, current stock, final price, delivery charge, and estimated arrival time with Bookish Wonderland.