Scrye
Encyclopedia
SCRYE is a discontinued gaming magazine that was published from 1994 to 2009. It was the longest-running periodical to have ever reported on the collectible card game
hobby. It was also the leading print resource for secondary-market prices on Magic: The Gathering
. JM White, publisher of the role-playing game
magazine Cryptych, launched the magazine in June of 1994 after being introduced to Magic by its publisher, Wizards of the Coast
's Peter Adkison
, in July 1993.
Initially created as a price guide for Magic: The Gathering cards, SCRYE also provided prices and strategy tips for the many other collectible and trading card games that followed. In the mid-1990s, SCRYE and InQuest were, by far, the two CCG magazines with the largest circulation.
In 1996 SCRYE published a second magazine as a market test. The magazine Mastyr, covered tournament Magic. Sales were not strong enough to support a separate publication and the features of Mastyr were rolled into SCRYE after a single issue.
When collectible card games underwent a resurgence of popularity in the United States with the 1999 release of Pokémon
, White added translations of Japanese cards to the magazine.
White sold the magazine on November 15, 1999 to Krause Publications
, which was later acquired by F+W Publications Inc.
. John Jackson Miller
became the editor and added collectible miniature game coverage to the magazine in 2000 prior to the release of Mage Knight
. Under later editor Joyce Greenholdt, the magazine's frequency increased to monthly. Miller and Greenholdt also produced two volumes in 2001 and 2003 covering all collectible card and miniature games to date, the Scrye Collectible Card Game Checklist and Price Guide.
The magazine has produced a number of affiliated one-shot publications, including ones devoted to Pokémon, Magic, and The Lord of the Rings
collectible card games. The "Scrye counter," one of the earliest pewter miniature scorekeeping devices specifically designed for collectible card games, was produced in the mid-1990s by Reaper Miniatures
through a licensing agreement with the magazine.
On Nov. 15, 2006, the magazine's publisher purchased GamingReport.com, an independent game news site, to serve as the official website for the magazine.
The name, a registered trademark, is adapted from a Middle English word meaning "to tell the future."
On January 29, 2009, the magazine's publisher sent an email to staff and contributors of SCRYE announcing that they intend to cease publication of the magazine after the April 2009 edition, the magazine's 131st regular issue. In the 131st issue, the magazine's editors suggest that the decision to cease publication was due, at least in part, to financial problems resulting from the current economic crisis in the United States: "The reason behind this decision should come as no surprise to anyone who's been paying attention to recent events, both within our hobby and in the world in general...as things stand, we cannot continue to publish the magazine profitably while still providing the level of quality entertainment and information that you, our readers, need and deserve in exchange for your money."
Collectible card game
thumb|Players and their decksA collectible card game , also called a trading card game or customizable card game, is a game played using specially designed sets of playing cards...
hobby. It was also the leading print resource for secondary-market prices on Magic: The Gathering
Magic: The Gathering
Magic: The Gathering , also known as Magic, is the first collectible trading card game created by mathematics professor Richard Garfield and introduced in 1993 by Wizards of the Coast. Magic continues to thrive, with approximately twelve million players as of 2011...
. JM White, publisher of the role-playing game
Role-playing game
A role-playing game is a game in which players assume the roles of characters in a fictional setting. Players take responsibility for acting out these roles within a narrative, either through literal acting, or through a process of structured decision-making or character development...
magazine Cryptych, launched the magazine in June of 1994 after being introduced to Magic by its publisher, Wizards of the Coast
Wizards of the Coast
Wizards of the Coast is an American publisher of games, primarily based on fantasy and science fiction themes, and formerly an operator of retail stores for games...
's Peter Adkison
Peter Adkison
Peter D. Adkison is the founder and first CEO of Wizards of the Coast , as well as a hobby game professional.During Adkison's tenure, Wizards of the Coast rose to the status of a major publisher in the hobby game industry. Wizards achieved runaway success with its creation of "Magic: the...
, in July 1993.
Initially created as a price guide for Magic: The Gathering cards, SCRYE also provided prices and strategy tips for the many other collectible and trading card games that followed. In the mid-1990s, SCRYE and InQuest were, by far, the two CCG magazines with the largest circulation.
In 1996 SCRYE published a second magazine as a market test. The magazine Mastyr, covered tournament Magic. Sales were not strong enough to support a separate publication and the features of Mastyr were rolled into SCRYE after a single issue.
When collectible card games underwent a resurgence of popularity in the United States with the 1999 release of Pokémon
Pokémon
is a media franchise published and owned by the video game company Nintendo and created by Satoshi Tajiri in 1996. Originally released as a pair of interlinkable Game Boy role-playing video games developed by Game Freak, Pokémon has since become the second most successful and lucrative video...
, White added translations of Japanese cards to the magazine.
White sold the magazine on November 15, 1999 to Krause Publications
Krause Publications
Krause Publications is a publisher of leisure-time & enthusiast magazines and books. Best known for its Standard Catalog of World Coins, a series of numismatic catalogs commonly referred to as Krause-Mishler catalogues or simply Krause catalogues. They provide information, pricing, and...
, which was later acquired by F+W Publications Inc.
F+W Publications Inc.
F+W Media Inc., formerly F+W Publications Inc., is a publishing company headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio.Founded in 1913, F+W publishes magazines, books, and digital products, and owns and operates consumer and trade shows....
. John Jackson Miller
John Jackson Miller
John Jackson Miller is an American comic book writer and commentator, known for his work on the Star Wars franchise as well as his research into comic book circulation history, as presented in the Standard Catalog of Comic Books series.-Biography:...
became the editor and added collectible miniature game coverage to the magazine in 2000 prior to the release of Mage Knight
Mage Knight
Mage Knight is a miniatures wargame using collectible figures, created by WizKids, Inc. The game was designed by founder Jordan Weisman along with Kevin Barrett. The game is the first to use Wizkids' Clix system, combining roleplaying and wargaming elements with aspects of collectible card games....
. Under later editor Joyce Greenholdt, the magazine's frequency increased to monthly. Miller and Greenholdt also produced two volumes in 2001 and 2003 covering all collectible card and miniature games to date, the Scrye Collectible Card Game Checklist and Price Guide.
The magazine has produced a number of affiliated one-shot publications, including ones devoted to Pokémon, Magic, and The Lord of the Rings
The Lord of the Rings
The Lord of the Rings is a high fantasy epic written by English philologist and University of Oxford professor J. R. R. Tolkien. The story began as a sequel to Tolkien's earlier, less complex children's fantasy novel The Hobbit , but eventually developed into a much larger work. It was written in...
collectible card games. The "Scrye counter," one of the earliest pewter miniature scorekeeping devices specifically designed for collectible card games, was produced in the mid-1990s by Reaper Miniatures
Reaper Miniatures
Reaper Miniatures is an American manufacturer of pewter figurines in the 25–35 mm scale, which include fantasy and science fiction figures. Reaper, based in Denton, Texas, has developed tabletop miniature game systems that may be played with their figures...
through a licensing agreement with the magazine.
On Nov. 15, 2006, the magazine's publisher purchased GamingReport.com, an independent game news site, to serve as the official website for the magazine.
The name, a registered trademark, is adapted from a Middle English word meaning "to tell the future."
On January 29, 2009, the magazine's publisher sent an email to staff and contributors of SCRYE announcing that they intend to cease publication of the magazine after the April 2009 edition, the magazine's 131st regular issue. In the 131st issue, the magazine's editors suggest that the decision to cease publication was due, at least in part, to financial problems resulting from the current economic crisis in the United States: "The reason behind this decision should come as no surprise to anyone who's been paying attention to recent events, both within our hobby and in the world in general...as things stand, we cannot continue to publish the magazine profitably while still providing the level of quality entertainment and information that you, our readers, need and deserve in exchange for your money."