Game Players
Encyclopedia
Game Players was a monthly video game magazine founded by Robert C. Lock and published by Signal Research, in Greensboro, North Carolina. The original publication was titled Game Players Strategy to Nintendo Games (the cover featured a tagline that claimed no affiliation with Nintendo ). The magazine evolved over the years, even spinning off a separate publication called Game Players Sega Genesis Guide when Sega entered the console market. These two magazines were later folded together into one magazine.
Games Players was a groundbreaking publication for its time - it was the very first independent monthly video game magazine of the 8-bit generation (it was not affiliated with a first party publisher, such as Nintendo or Sega), in addition, it was the very first video game magazine to feature a CG cover .
Signal Research was purchased by Future Publishing UK (mainly for Game Players) as an entry into the US media publishing field. Future Publishing then operated under the name of Imagine Media in the United States.
As Game Players magazine evolved the staff began to develop a zany humor that pervaded almost every videogame review and image caption. Readers' letters came at the beginning of the magazine and were often one of the highlights of the magazine. The magazine often included a "newsletter" with irreverent jokes about magazine staffers, as well as cartoons.
In 1996, the magazine changed its name to Ultra Game Players and introduced a radically different format. The introduction of Ultra Game Players was intended to coincide with the release of the Nintendo 64
and Super Mario 64
(originally, the Nintendo 64 went by the name Nintendo Ultra 64).
Ultra Game Players featured a more modern design with a redesigned layout that placed readers' letters at the end of the magazine. One of the interesting features of Ultra Game Players was a "prize store" in which readers answered trivia questions for chances to win prizes. However, many readers complained that the humor that had made Game Players such an enjoyable magazine was missing from the Ultra version, which prompted a return to form soon after the switch. Ultra Game Players continued until June 1998, at which point it was replaced by Game Buyer. Game Buyer ran for four more months before being cancelled by Imagine Publishing (now Future Publishing).
Former magazine Editor in Chief Chris Slate is now Editor in Chief at Nintendo Power
. Bill Donohue, formerly of Game Players, is at PSM. Francesca Reyes, formerly of Game Players, is now Editor in Chief at Official Xbox Magazine
, another Future publication. Frank O'Connor, who helmed the later issues of UGP and Game Buyer is now at Microsoft
, as director of the Halo
franchise. Roger Burchill, formerly of Game Players, is managing editor at PSM. Rick Sanchez
, formerly the disc editor for Game Players, is at GameTap
.
Games Players was a groundbreaking publication for its time - it was the very first independent monthly video game magazine of the 8-bit generation (it was not affiliated with a first party publisher, such as Nintendo or Sega), in addition, it was the very first video game magazine to feature a CG cover .
Signal Research was purchased by Future Publishing UK (mainly for Game Players) as an entry into the US media publishing field. Future Publishing then operated under the name of Imagine Media in the United States.
As Game Players magazine evolved the staff began to develop a zany humor that pervaded almost every videogame review and image caption. Readers' letters came at the beginning of the magazine and were often one of the highlights of the magazine. The magazine often included a "newsletter" with irreverent jokes about magazine staffers, as well as cartoons.
In 1996, the magazine changed its name to Ultra Game Players and introduced a radically different format. The introduction of Ultra Game Players was intended to coincide with the release of the Nintendo 64
Nintendo 64
The , often referred to as N64, was Nintendo′s third home video game console for the international market. Named for its 64-bit CPU, it was released in June 1996 in Japan, September 1996 in North America, March 1997 in Europe and Australia, September 1997 in France and December 1997 in Brazil...
and Super Mario 64
Super Mario 64
is a platform game, published by Nintendo and developed by its EAD division, for the Nintendo 64. Along with Pilotwings 64, it was one of the launch titles for the console. It was released in Japan on June 23, 1996, and later in North America, Europe, and Australia. Super Mario 64 has sold over...
(originally, the Nintendo 64 went by the name Nintendo Ultra 64).
Ultra Game Players featured a more modern design with a redesigned layout that placed readers' letters at the end of the magazine. One of the interesting features of Ultra Game Players was a "prize store" in which readers answered trivia questions for chances to win prizes. However, many readers complained that the humor that had made Game Players such an enjoyable magazine was missing from the Ultra version, which prompted a return to form soon after the switch. Ultra Game Players continued until June 1998, at which point it was replaced by Game Buyer. Game Buyer ran for four more months before being cancelled by Imagine Publishing (now Future Publishing).
Former magazine Editor in Chief Chris Slate is now Editor in Chief at Nintendo Power
Nintendo Power
Nintendo Power magazine is a monthly news and strategy magazine formerly published in-house by Nintendo of America, but now run independently. As of issue #222 , Nintendo contracted publishing duties to Future US, the U.S. subsidiary of British publisher Future.The first issue published was...
. Bill Donohue, formerly of Game Players, is at PSM. Francesca Reyes, formerly of Game Players, is now Editor in Chief at Official Xbox Magazine
Official Xbox Magazine
Official Xbox Magazine is a monthly video game magazine which started in November 2001 around the launch of the original Xbox. A preview issue was released for E3 2001, with another preview issue for November 2001. The magazine is bundled with a disc that includes game demos, preview videos and...
, another Future publication. Frank O'Connor, who helmed the later issues of UGP and Game Buyer is now at Microsoft
Microsoft
Microsoft Corporation is an American public multinational corporation headquartered in Redmond, Washington, USA that develops, manufactures, licenses, and supports a wide range of products and services predominantly related to computing through its various product divisions...
, as director of the Halo
Halo (series)
Halo is a multi-million dollar science fiction video game franchise created by Bungie and now managed by 343 Industries and owned by Microsoft Studios. The series centers on an interstellar war between humanity and a theocratic alliance of aliens known as the Covenant...
franchise. Roger Burchill, formerly of Game Players, is managing editor at PSM. Rick Sanchez
Ricardo Sanchez (video games)
Ricardo Sanchez is a writer, producer and game industry executive.Sanchez is currently writing the Resident Evil comic book series for Wildstorm and wrote a promotional comic book for NCSoft's Aion MMO.-Career:...
, formerly the disc editor for Game Players, is at GameTap
GameTap
GameTap is an American online video game service established by Turner Broadcasting System . Dubbed by TBS as a "first of its kind broadband gaming network", the service provides users with classic arcade video games and game-related video content...
.
External links
- Game Players Fansite Tribute site with interviews and updates on former staff