This articleneeds additional citations forverification.(September 2020) |
Game Playerswas a monthlyvideo gamemagazine founded by Robert C. Lock in 1989 and originally published by Signal Research inGreensboro, North Carolina.
| Categories | Video game journalism |
|---|---|
| Frequency | Monthly |
| Publisher | Signal Research (1989–1992) GP Publications (1992–1994) Imagine Media(1994–1998) |
| Founder | Robert C. Lock |
| Founded | May 30, 1989 |
| Final issue | June 1998 |
| Country | USA |
| Based in | Greensboro, North Carolina,U.S. (laterBurlingame, California,U.S.) |
| Language | English |
| ISSN | 1087-2779 |
| OCLC | 34042091 |
The original publication began asGame Players Strategy to Nintendo Games(the cover featured a disclaimer that claimed it had no affiliation withNintendo,which already had its official publication inNintendo Power). The magazine evolved over the years, spinning off a separate publication calledGame Players Sega Genesis GuidewhenSegaentered the console market. These two magazines were later folded together into one magazine.
In 1996, the magazine changed its name toUltra Game Playersand introduced a radically different format. At the end of its run, it turned intoGame Buyer,before being cancelled in 1998.[1]
History
editAround 1992, Signal Research was shut down by investors that seized the company because of fiscal mismanagement. The publishing house was revived by an investment group as GP Publications, with the intention of being sold. About a year later, GP Publications was purchased byFuture PublishingUK (mainly forGame Players) as an entry into the North American media publishing field. The newly acquired publication (along withPC Gamer,that was also published by GP Publications) was then used as a foundation to start a for a new American publishing company operated under the name of Imagine Media.[2]
Games Playersis the first video game magazine to feature a computer generated or CG cover.[citation needed]The magazine also featured mini-strategy guides, paper toys, trading cards and other branded items and extras, like posters for games, that were included when the issue was polybagged.
During 1989 and 1990, the company also put out a total of 16 "GameTapes", which were VHS tapes that showed how to beat certainNESgames.
Humor is included in almost every videogame review and image caption. Readers' letters come at the beginning of the magazine and are often one of the highlights of the magazine.[according to whom?]The magazine often includes a "newsletter" with irreverent jokes about magazine staffers, as well as cartoons. The introduction ofUltra Game Playerswas intended to coincide with the release of theNintendo 64andSuper Mario 64,as originally, the Nintendo 64 went by the name Nintendo Ultra 64.
Ultra Game Playersfeatures an updated design which places the readers' letters at the end of the magazine. One of the features ofUltra Game Playersis a "prize store" in which readers answered trivia questions for chances to win prizes. However, many readers complained that the humor that had madeGame Playerssuch an enjoyable magazine was missing from theUltraversion, which prompted a return to form soon after the switch.
Ultra Game Playerscontinued until June 1998, at which point it was replaced byGame Buyer.Game Buyerran for four more months before being cancelled by Imagine Publishing.
Former employees
edit- Associate Publisher & Creative Director Vince Matthews went on to lead Future's Special Projects group (creatingPocket Gamer). After leaving Future, Vince became the Director of Marketing for Conspiracy Entertainment and later, went to work forThe Walt Disney Company.
- Former magazine Editor in Chief Chris Slate helped launchPSM,became Editor in Chief atNintendo Power,Editor in Chief ofMacLife,and is currently now corporate communications manager atNintendo.
- Managing Editor Bill Donohue went on toPSM.
- Francesca Reyes became Editor in Chief atOfficial Xbox Magazine,another Future publication.
- Frank O'Connor, who helmed the later issues ofUGPandGame Buyeris now atMicrosoft,became director of theHalofranchise.
- Roger Burchill became Managing Editor atPSM.
- Vince DiMiceli became the editor ofThe Brooklyn Paper.
- Chris Charla also went to Microsoft and now heads theXbox One's Independent Developers division.
- Mike Salmon became Editor in Chief ofPC Acceleratormagazine and laterOfficial Xbox Magazine,and is currently Director of Research and Planning for2K Games.
References
edit- ^Game Mag Weaseling': Unraveling Game Players.Game set watch (2006-07-22). Retrieved on 2020-09-16.
- ^Game Players history.Gaming Magz. Retrieved on 2020-09-16.