EGM during the Sendai days
AM2forever
I miss the original review crew. There were actually several different
review crews durning the Sendai Publications days. Steve Harris, Ed
Semrad, Donn Nauert, Jim Allee was the one in place when I found EGM
for the first time in summer 1989. That was the second issue with all
the new systems on the cover.
Jim Allee replaced (or became) Jim Stockhausen, then gone after a
short time. Donn was gone even faster. Soon we had good 'ole Martin
Alessi (one my favorite EGM guys) Then around EGM #12 in spring/summer
1990, EGM got SUSHI-X. I guess he was one of the other reviewers but
perhaps he was a real reviewer.(?) And we ALWAYS had Quarterman, who
was really Steve Harris as far as I know, the founder of the magazine.
usually got some good gossip in the early days. (where's Altered Beast
2?) It was during these days, before EGM was sold to Ziff Davis, that
EGM shined. It had the best info on foreign games and consoles. Who
could forget seeing incredible new machines like Fujitsu FMTowns and
SuperGrafx, desiring these new wonders, not ever being able to get one
easily. Almost forgot the Konix Multi System with its simulator chair.
That's all not even counting the regular coverage of then new systems
like Turbo, Genesis and "the awesome Super Famicom" (remember
DragonFly demo with scaling & rotation?)
I enthusiasticly checked EGM and Sendai's spin off magazines, MEGA
PLAY and Super Gaming, for coverage on new software and systems.
Especially on obscure Japanese stuff like the short lived
6-games-made-for-it SuperGrafx. I think EGM was the only magazine to
mention that NAMCO had its own console, a 16-bitter, waiting in the
wings. Too bad that never saw release. EGM gave us so many mysteries
to ponder over. some real, some not. One mystery that was never
relsolved was NEC & Hudson's real 16-Bit follow up to the PC Engine
system. The "PC Engine 2" *became* the SuperGrafx. but there was never
any mention of what happened to the true 16-Bit PC Engine 2 EGM told
the world about, after the 8bit SuperGrafx was released. Another
mystery, came from the 4th issue of MEGA PLAY, Sendai's all SEGA
magazine. It was a Phantasy Star game with no title or platform
(Genesis? SegaCD?) that looked like an incredible RPG with its
tremendous detail & color, but very much looking like a Genesis
Phantasy Star. just never got anything more on it. :( oh the
mysteries of the vid game universe!.....
EGM was so interesting during its prime that I had to write something
on it.
Well, Steve Harris, Ed Semrad, Martin Alessi, if you see this by some
chance, I remember you well, and with fondness. So do many others.
Hope you're doing well these days.
-AM2
p.s. I regret any inaccuracies on my part with regard to my
rememberance of EGM history, names, times, places etc. it all started
in the eighties....wow
Joe Ottoson
news:ec37f778.02060...@posting.google.com:
> Was the magazine I relied on for almost ALL my videogame information.
> I miss the original review crew. There were actually several different
> review crews durning the Sendai Publications days. Steve Harris, Ed
> Semrad, Donn Nauert, Jim Allee was the one in place when I found EGM
> for the first time in summer 1989. That was the second issue with all
> the new systems on the cover.
>
> Jim Allee replaced (or became) Jim Stockhausen, then gone after a
> short time. Donn was gone even faster. Soon we had good 'ole Martin
> Alessi (one my favorite EGM guys) Then around EGM #12 in spring/summer
> 1990, EGM got SUSHI-X. I guess he was one of the other reviewers but
> perhaps he was a real reviewer.(?) And we ALWAYS had Quarterman, who
> was really Steve Harris as far as I know, the founder of the magazine.
Eh, I'd be more nostalgic if they didn't do everything in their power to
piss on certain systems despite having zero relevant (or accurate) info
for doing so.
Ed, "I hate VF, so I'll give it a poor review" Semrad, the yoinks who
rated Jaguar Doom down for no reason and so on. Yaaaaay!!!
DRSMITH666
magazine dignity and maturity. I still subscribe, and it's an OK magazine, but
it's still only a shell of it's former self. Now it's run by a "young, hip"
crowd who sometimes boarder on profanity and sexual innuendos. Bring Semrad
back at least and give the magazine some credability.
KikkoBoy01
remember reading them with my best friend, and we would be drooling at the
quality.
Yeah, EGM nowadays is hard to stomach sometimes, but what do I care, I have a
free subscription... :-)
I miss Semrad, but it was his decision to leave (around issue #105)
By the way, EGM in 97/98... wasn't so bad. I still got those issues and
looking back at them every now and then, they got some quality to them.
However, the 00/01/02 issues I cannot say the same for sadly.
Joe Ottoson
news:20020610043540...@mb-fv.aol.com:
> Man I loved EGM during the mid 90s and under. Quite frankly, they
> ruled. I remember reading them with my best friend, and we would be
> drooling at the quality.
Yeah they rocked while they actively tanked the Saturn, Jaguar, and pretty
much did everything in their power to make people buy 3d0's and PSx...
> Yeah, EGM nowadays is hard to stomach sometimes, but what do I care, I
> have a free subscription... :-)
It's better than it was.
ScottX
"Joe Ottoson" <jaot...@fortlewis.edu> wrote in message
news:Xns92292F68B52Dja...@130.133.1.4...
I agree, they freakin panned every system that Sega made from the home
release of Street Fighter 2 on. I always hated EGM.
Billy J. Dancefloor
> Now [EGM is] run by a "young, hip" crowd...
young, yes; hip, no.
--
"You got shit no good for brain."
Mojo Jojo
remember it fondly. Anybody remember that 32-bit upgrade for the NES? It
was an old EGM mag, it had Castlevania 3 on the cover if I remember
correctly. I still have some of my old EGM's. What a mag. I miss it
dearly. I wish the reviews and editors would bring out another game
magazine aimed at us classic gamers.
Mojo
"AM2forever" <am2fo...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:ec37f778.02060...@posting.google.com...
Jesse Morrison
(thin white mag with megaman on cover) onwards , and quit several years ago.
Wasn't Martin the shooter fanatic? I remember his review of TFIII, and how
excited I was to buy the game for $65 :)
TheShredder
>
> > I do miss the old EGM :-(
Heh, I miss the days when I was into VideoGames so much, I actually enjoyed
reading the mags :). Now I have the Internet to cover the costs of actually
getting the print stuff<G>.
I used to subscribe to Nintendo Power mainly. I had almost every single
issue of that magazine, except for about the first 10 or so. Still have the
big printout map of the Zelda 1 Overworld somewhere...
Sweet Zombie Jesus
news:3D04FDE6...@mit.edu...
> > Wasn't Martin the shooter fanatic? I remember his review of TFIII, and
how
> excited I was to buy the game for $65 :)
I heard somewhere that Martin became a jesus-freak and gave up videogames
for good. Thanks a lot, jesus! gah.
--
-Greg
==============================================
"Hello floor!!! Make me a sammich!!!!"
-GIR, Invader Zim
==============================================
KikkoBoy01
> ruled. I remember reading them with my best friend, and we would be
> drooling at the quality.
Yeah they rocked while they actively tanked the Saturn, Jaguar, and pretty
much did everything in their power to make people buy 3d0's and PSx... >>>
Maybe I should be more clear. To me, I enjoyed the hell outta EGM during the
16-bit war.
I got out of it once PSX came out and got coverage.
I'm talking about 1993 and 1994 issues... those were awesome. I also enjoyed
the 93/92/91 years.
Eric Something
>back at least and give the magazine some credability.
The irony of someone proclaiming credibility on something without being able to
spell the word correctly is lost on so many people in this thread.
__
"One who would give up good stories for good continuity deserves neither good
stories nor good continuity."
Eric Something
Don't worry, I'm sure they'll manage.
Eric Something
No it's not. Try not to get so upset that except for a brief stint during the
Dreamcast's heydey when they became slobbering Sega fanatics (which was
promptly ended when the EIC was fired and replaced with Shoe, the magazine has
retained its quality throughout its existence.
Dane L. Galden
news:AE7N8.7359$Pv2....@newsread2.prod.itd.earthlink.net...
> "Jesse Morrison" <jes...@mit.edu> wrote in message
> news:3D04FDE6...@mit.edu...
> > > Wasn't Martin the shooter fanatic? I remember his review of TFIII,
and
> how
> > excited I was to buy the game for $65 :)
>
> I heard somewhere that Martin became a jesus-freak and gave up videogames
> for good. Thanks a lot, jesus! gah.
There's no logical reason why the two can't co-exist. Perhaps a few games
would be "off-limits" but to say that one caused the other is mis-guided.
(Not saying you necessarily, Greg, or Martin or anyone else in particular
for that matter, but I hear so many people that claim incompatibilities
between religion and whatever else that it bothers me at times.)
Dane.
ScottX
"Eric Something" <omar...@aol.com> wrote in message
news:20020610174633...@mb-ch.aol.com...
> >Bring Semrad
> >back at least and give the magazine some credability.
>
> The irony of someone proclaiming credibility on something without being
able to
> spell the word correctly is lost on so many people in this thread.
>
And you became anything that even resembles an intelligent human being, when
omarichao?
ScottX
"Dane L. Galden" <chig...@ix.netcom.com> wrote in message
news:ae380t$r8o$1...@slb2.atl.mindspring.net...
> > > > Wasn't Martin the shooter fanatic? I remember his review of TFIII,
> and
> > how
> > > excited I was to buy the game for $65 :)
> >
> > I heard somewhere that Martin became a jesus-freak and gave up
videogames
> > for good. Thanks a lot, jesus! gah.
>
>
> There's no logical reason why the two can't co-exist. Perhaps a few games
> would be "off-limits" but to say that one caused the other is mis-guided.
> (Not saying you necessarily, Greg, or Martin or anyone else in particular
> for that matter, but I hear so many people that claim incompatibilities
> between religion and whatever else that it bothers me at times.)
He's joking, trust me.
ScottX
> >The Ziff Davis stuff is utter garbage.
>
> No it's not. Try not to get so upset that except for a brief stint during
the
> Dreamcast's heydey when they became slobbering Sega fanatics (which was
> promptly ended when the EIC was fired and replaced with Shoe, the magazine
has
> retained its quality throughout its existence.
Hmm, I would be very interested to see any mass media gaming mag that
showed anything that could be called support of the Dreamcast. I seem to
recall most of them giving great games average reviews, and printing every
stinking negative rumor they could get away with. Unless you consider
giving great games average reviews slobbering fandom. Which you probably
do, being omarichao, the only idiot I know of that's more self deprived than
me.
Laserdogg
I remember nearly everything you wrote AND I still have all of those issues. I
have recently been going through a retro gaming phase and have been re-acquiring
som e of the games/systems that I let go of back then. Just got through checking
out the first Final Fantasy for Nintendo. Boy, have we come a long way!
Laserdogg (eBay)
LD\DVD Collection
www.dvdtracker.com/~laserdogg
SSJ4Eric
>
> No it's not. Try not to get so upset that except for a brief stint during
the
> Dreamcast's heydey when they became slobbering Sega fanatics (which was
> promptly ended when the EIC was fired and replaced with Shoe, the magazine
has
> retained its quality throughout its existence.
>
They never fired the EIC, he went on to Expert Gamer, IIRC. Davidson is
back on the crew now, though, since XG went under. I always did like the
mag, since it's the closest thing to non-biasd out there.
Steve 'Flash' Juon
> >Bring Semrad
> >back at least and give the magazine some credability.
>
> The irony of someone proclaiming credibility on something without being able to
> spell the word correctly is lost on so many people in this thread.
It's not lost at all - it's just that since I never read or subscribed to
EGM I have no position on whether it's any good either way. Credibility?
I don't know if there is such a word in an industry where the best video
game magazine ever was Nintendo Power.
- Steve
AM2forever
FLOOD of 16bit shooters in the early 90s. Thunder Force III was the
king of shooters IMO when it first came out. not even Giares could
compare. Martin was EGM's TFIII master, beating everyone else at it.
I have most of the old EGMs put away myself. The oldest regular one I
have is the white covered one with Mega Man, I think that was #1 (not
sure) - but I also have the first buyers guide, the 1989 one that came
out in 1988. http://nestral.topcities.com/gallery/egm/egm1989.jpg -
so doesn't that mean there were other EGMs? before it was a monthy
magazine. like players guides or something. I remember Quarterman
(Steve) saying they had their first issue in 1987 (when the PC Engine
came out)
Anyway the only one im missing (when EGM was a full monthly mag that
is)
is this one: http://nestral.topcities.com/gallery/egm/egm1990.jpg an
intact 1990 buyers guide with like 2 dozen game shots on the cover.
though I have the magazine just not the cover :(
My favorite though, will ALWAYS be the second full EGM from July 1989
with the new systems previewed.
Jesse Morrison <jes...@mit.edu> wrote in message news:<3D04FDE6...@mit.edu>...
Billy J. Dancefloor
> The irony of someone proclaiming credibility on something
> without being able to spell the word correctly is lost on
> so many people in this thread.
omar panic-trolls! how cute.
AM2forever
> for good. Thanks a lot, jesus! gah."
Well... I don't know that it was *just like that*. I mean, one can
become more devoted to Jesus, but it doesn't have to have anything to
do with dropping videogames. Martin Alessi was a great guy, the
nicest EGM guy, and the nicest videogame journalist I can think of.
Don't blame Jesus :)
Ack, nm. I know you're just kidding :)
AM2forever
You know, there are a few games that I wont play simply because there
so blatently shoving out "evil" looking imagry and sound. most games
are harmless
and usually have good vs evil struggles. Heck, there's even games that
accept
religion/God even Jesus. Hey wasnt there a Squaresoft RPG about
Biblical adventures or something?
Sweet Zombie Jesus
news:ae3agu$3hfha$1...@ID-54280.news.dfncis.de...
> He's joking, trust me.
No I wasn't.
ScottX
> "ScottX" <weapo...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
> news:ae3agu$3hfha$1...@ID-54280.news.dfncis.de...
> > He's joking, trust me.
>
> No I wasn't.
Hmm, I figured you were. You weren't joking about Martin becoming a
"jesusfreak", or you weren't joking about him thinking that means he has to
give up games, or both?
Joe Ottoson
news:ae4tfn$40ho2$1...@ID-54280.news.dfncis.de:
He's been Jesusized in the name of Jack Chick apparently. Or one of
those freaky Christianity cults that also believes practicing TKD or
other martial arts automatically corrupts you because you're not devoted
to Jesus 100% of the time. (Largely seems centered around the belief
that all people are hopelessly stupid, but given the mindsets of those
developing the theories, not a big surprise they'd make that
assumption.)
ScottX
> > a
> > "jesusfreak", or you weren't joking about him thinking that means he
> > has to give up games, or both?
>
> He's been Jesusized in the name of Jack Chick apparently. Or one of
> those freaky Christianity cults that also believes practicing TKD or
> other martial arts automatically corrupts you because you're not devoted
> to Jesus 100% of the time. (Largely seems centered around the belief
> that all people are hopelessly stupid, but given the mindsets of those
> developing the theories, not a big surprise they'd make that
> assumption.)
Hehehahahaah. Poor sucker.
Clem
> The irony of someone proclaiming credibility on something without being able to
> spell the word correctly is lost on so many people in this thread.
Maybe, but the irony of someone giving english lessons whenever he can and who also
spells it "kindergarden" isn't lost on too many people. At least on me it isn't.
Sean Connery
Eric Something <omar...@aol.com> wrote:
>>The Ziff Davis stuff is utter garbage.
>
>No it's not. Try not to get so upset that except for a brief stint during the
Malarky. Most ZD rags have always had an agenda.
--
----------------------------------------------------------------------
$ lynx http://www.eff.org/alerts/20020322_eff_cbdtpa_alert.html
$ rm -fr CBDTPA SSSCA 'Senator Fritz Hollings (D-SC)'
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Jesse Morrison
Sweet Zombie Jesus wrote:
>
> "ScottX" <weapo...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
> news:ae3agu$3hfha$1...@ID-54280.news.dfncis.de...
> > He's joking, trust me.
>
> No I wasn't.
Not even in that Simpsons or FG sort of way?
Jesse Morrison
Yeah, I remember discussing this with Brian O. on a few occasions. The
DC had some amazing games coming out, but all the mags would always tack
on some negative comment after any glowing review.... Like "Yes, the
games releasing are amazing, but WILL they be enough?". I was pissed,
since Sega had both the HW and SW right at launch.
ScottX
>
> >
> > Hmm, I would be very interested to see any mass media gaming mag
that
> > showed anything that could be called support of the Dreamcast. I seem
to
> > recall most of them giving great games average reviews, and printing
every
> > stinking negative rumor they could get away with. Unless you consider
> > giving great games average reviews slobbering fandom. Which you
probably
> > do, being omarichao, the only idiot I know of that's more self deprived
than
> > me.
>
> Yeah, I remember discussing this with Brian O. on a few occasions. The
> DC had some amazing games coming out, but all the mags would always tack
> on some negative comment after any glowing review.... Like "Yes, the
> games releasing are amazing, but WILL they be enough?". I was pissed,
> since Sega had both the HW and SW right at launch.
Exactly, Powerstone alone was gameplay enough, but TXR, Sonic Adventure,
Soul Calibur, and even Hydro Thunder, not to mention the sports games, in
the first month was definitely the best launch I've ever seen. "But it
wasn't enough."
Padre
Does anyone remember the December 95 issue ? That thing was a monster !!
In fact all their holiday issues were packed to the gills ...
Also, EGM's Japanese coverage was hands-down the best.
Joe Ottoson
@news.mch.sbs.de:
> Yep, I'm in total agreement. Ziff Davis screwed up my favourite magazine.
> Does anyone remember the December 95 issue ? That thing was a monster !!
> In fact all their holiday issues were packed to the gills ...
>
Yep. That was the one that actively pissed on the Saturn.
AM2forever
Yeah December 1995 was EGM's most massive ever. And yes, EGM's
Japanese coverage was by far the best.
Justin Bagley
> I have most of the old EGMs put away myself. The oldest regular one I
> have is the white covered one with Mega Man, I think that was #1 (not
> sure) - but I also have the first buyers guide, the 1989 one that came
> out in 1988. http://nestral.topcities.com/gallery/egm/egm1989.jpg -
> so doesn't that mean there were other EGMs? before it was a monthy
> magazine. like players guides or something. I remember Quarterman
> (Steve) saying they had their first issue in 1987 (when the PC Engine
> came out)
The issue with Mega Man on the cover is the oldest issue I have as well.
I'm pretty sure that is the first regular issue. If I remember correctly,
there is no indication anywhere in the magazine that it is the premier
issue though. Maybe there were some fanzine-type issue produced earlier.
I also remember that they didn't exactly seem to follow a regular schedule
with the early issues of EGM. There were a couple of times were it was at
least two months between issues (I was *huge* video game fan then, back
when I actually had time to play games more than a couple hours a week).
> Anyway the only one im missing (when EGM was a full monthly mag that
> is)
> is this one: http://nestral.topcities.com/gallery/egm/egm1990.jpg an
> intact 1990 buyers guide with like 2 dozen game shots on the cover.
> though I have the magazine just not the cover :(
I have that issue. I must have read through it a 100 times. :)
> My favorite though, will ALWAYS be the second full EGM from July 1989
> with the new systems previewed.
That was the one with the first screen shots of the Super Famicom and early
games, right? I remember being amazed by the Super Mario World screen shot.
I haven't read game magazines regularly since GameFan and Gamer's Republic
disappeared. They were not as good as the early EGMs, but they were the
last ones that really interested me.
AM2forever
> In rec.games.video.nintendo AM2forever <am2fo...@hotmail.com> wrote:
> > I have most of the old EGMs put away myself. The oldest regular one I
> > have is the white covered one with Mega Man, I think that was #1 (not
> > sure) - but I also have the first buyers guide, the 1989 one that came
> > out in 1988. http://nestral.topcities.com/gallery/egm/egm1989.jpg -
> > so doesn't that mean there were other EGMs? before it was a monthy
> > magazine. like players guides or something. I remember Quarterman
> > (Steve) saying they had their first issue in 1987 (when the PC Engine
> > came out)
>
> The issue with Mega Man on the cover is the oldest issue I have as well.
> I'm pretty sure that is the first regular issue. If I remember correctly,
> there is no indication anywhere in the magazine that it is the premier
> issue though. Maybe there were some fanzine-type issue produced earlier.
Yeah that is just about exactly what I was thinking as well. So EGM
goes back to *at least* 1988, if not 1987. But they didn't really
become a full & regular magazine until 1989, and were not "monthy" til
1990. I think EGM had another name before it was EGM, like when they
were some type of fanzine, like you mentioned.
>
> I also remember that they didn't exactly seem to follow a regular schedule
> with the early issues of EGM. There were a couple of times were it was at
> least two months between issues (I was *huge* video game fan then, back
> when I actually had time to play games more than a couple hours a week).
>
Yup. there were gaps of many months in 1988 and early 1989. Then
they became ever other month and finally monthy around late spring
1990.
> > Anyway the only one im missing (when EGM was a full monthly mag that
> > is)
> > is this one: http://nestral.topcities.com/gallery/egm/egm1990.jpg an
> > intact 1990 buyers guide with like 2 dozen game shots on the cover.
> > though I have the magazine just not the cover :(
>
> I have that issue. I must have read through it a 100 times. :)
>
I've been through that and most of the early issues countless times.
^__^
> > My favorite though, will ALWAYS be the second full EGM from July 1989
> > with the new systems previewed.
>
> That was the one with the first screen shots of the Super Famicom and early
> games, right? I remember being amazed by the Super Mario World screen shot.
>
Yes. Indeed it had first pictures of the Super Famicom in EGM or any
western magazine as far as I know. I was amazed by DragonFly demo (I
think that became PilotWings) and I'm pretty sure it was the first to
have SMW pics too. Either that or it was issue 4 with Ghouls N Ghosts
Genesis on the cover.
Edit: I checked. issue 2 doesn't have the first pics of SMW, but they
have SMB3, and it was probably some of the first pics of that. SMW aka
SMB4 for Super Famicom was first shown in issue 4.
> I haven't read game magazines regularly since GameFan and Gamer's Republic
> disappeared. They were not as good as the early EGMs, but they were the
> last ones that really interested me.
I havent been reading much of anything as far as vid game magazines.
Last magazine that had anything interesting for me was Next
Generation/Next Gen.
Gamefan was good in some areas and I liked their pictures.