Sega Power
Encyclopedia
Sega Power, initially known as S: The Sega Magazine, was a Future
publication aimed at the Sega
range of consoles, including the Master System, Mega Drive, Game Gear and later on the Mega CD, 32X and Saturn
. The magazine was later relaunched as Saturn Power when the other Sega consoles faded away.
Edited by Steve Jarratt, Future's
early Sega incarnation covered the Master System console and the page count was quite small compared to later issues of Sega Power. Issue 10's cover heralded the arrival of the Mega Drive.
Issue 1 was sent out to owners who had registered their Sega Master Systems via warranty cards, with further early issues only being available via subscription. The launch issue was also obtainable for free with the purchase of a game from selected retailers. After 6 issues the magazine went on general sale.
After 12 issues the magazine was re-launched with its new name in readiness for the forecast boom in video games consoles. After surviving on low sales for over a year and thanks to rising Mega Drive/Sonic The Hedgehog sales, the magazine circulation more than doubled during the end of 1991. The magazine enjoyed many successful years as one the biggest selling Sega titles, covering consoles such as the Mega Drive, Master System, Game Gear, Mega CD, Sega 32X
and the Saturn
. In the spring of 1997, after 91 issues, the magazine was relaunched and renamed.
With both the Mega Drive and Master System fading away by 1997, the magazine was relaunched with its new name; Saturn Power. Issue 1 was launched, cover dated June 1997 and came with a cover mounted demo disc. However, the magazine only lasted 10 issues before being pulled; the last being February 1998.
As a result of the popularity of these stories, rival title Sega Force
followed suit and released a spin off of Super Smash TV, which bore striking similarities to Stephen King's 'The Running Man'.
Future Publishing
Future plc is a media company; in 2006, it was the sixth-largest in the United Kingdom. It publishes more than 150 magazines in fields such as video games, technology, automotive, cycling, films and photography. Future is the official magazine company of all three major games console manufacturers...
publication aimed at the Sega
Sega
, usually styled as SEGA, is a multinational video game software developer and an arcade software and hardware development company headquartered in Ōta, Tokyo, Japan, with various offices around the world...
range of consoles, including the Master System, Mega Drive, Game Gear and later on the Mega CD, 32X and Saturn
Saturn
Saturn is the sixth planet from the Sun and the second largest planet in the Solar System, after Jupiter. Saturn is named after the Roman god Saturn, equated to the Greek Cronus , the Babylonian Ninurta and the Hindu Shani. Saturn's astronomical symbol represents the Roman god's sickle.Saturn,...
. The magazine was later relaunched as Saturn Power when the other Sega consoles faded away.
S: The Sega Magazine
Edited by Steve Jarratt, Future's
Future Publishing
Future plc is a media company; in 2006, it was the sixth-largest in the United Kingdom. It publishes more than 150 magazines in fields such as video games, technology, automotive, cycling, films and photography. Future is the official magazine company of all three major games console manufacturers...
early Sega incarnation covered the Master System console and the page count was quite small compared to later issues of Sega Power. Issue 10's cover heralded the arrival of the Mega Drive.
Issue 1 was sent out to owners who had registered their Sega Master Systems via warranty cards, with further early issues only being available via subscription. The launch issue was also obtainable for free with the purchase of a game from selected retailers. After 6 issues the magazine went on general sale.
Sega Power
After 12 issues the magazine was re-launched with its new name in readiness for the forecast boom in video games consoles. After surviving on low sales for over a year and thanks to rising Mega Drive/Sonic The Hedgehog sales, the magazine circulation more than doubled during the end of 1991. The magazine enjoyed many successful years as one the biggest selling Sega titles, covering consoles such as the Mega Drive, Master System, Game Gear, Mega CD, Sega 32X
Sega 32X
The Sega 32X, codenamed Project Mars, is an add-on for the Mega Drive/Genesis video game console by Sega. Its aim was to increase the lifespan of the aging Mega Drive/Genesis system, which was facing stiff competition from the SNES...
and the Saturn
Sega Saturn
The is a 32-bit fifth-generation video game console that was first released by Sega on November 22, 1994 in Japan, May 11, 1995 in North America, and July 8, 1995 in Europe...
. In the spring of 1997, after 91 issues, the magazine was relaunched and renamed.
Saturn Power
With both the Mega Drive and Master System fading away by 1997, the magazine was relaunched with its new name; Saturn Power. Issue 1 was launched, cover dated June 1997 and came with a cover mounted demo disc. However, the magazine only lasted 10 issues before being pulled; the last being February 1998.
Cover Mounted Books
As a variation on the free tips booklet often issued by computer games magazines, Sega Power released a string of novellas based on popular computer games. Titles in this range included: Golden Axe, Road Rash, Super Monaco GP and Desert Strike. These titles were written by members of the Sega Power team and combined a fictional narrative, hung loosely around the linear plot of the game, with cheats, codes and hints for gamers.As a result of the popularity of these stories, rival title Sega Force
Sega Force
Sega Force was an early 1990s publication that covered the Sega console range .-History:...
followed suit and released a spin off of Super Smash TV, which bore striking similarities to Stephen King's 'The Running Man'.
See also
- Sega Saturn MagazineSega Saturn MagazineSega Saturn Magazine was a monthly UK magazine dedicated to the Sega Saturn. It held the official Saturn magazine license for the UK, and as such some issues included a demo CD created by Sega, called Sega Flash, which included playable games and game footage...
- Official Dreamcast Magazine (US)Official Dreamcast Magazine (US)The Official Dreamcast Magazine was a video game magazine for the Dreamcast published in the United States. The magazine's initial issue "0" was released in June 1999, a full 3 months before the launch of the system. This rare issue featured Sonic the Hedgehog on a black cover, along with the...
- Official Dreamcast Magazine (UK)Official Dreamcast Magazine (UK)The Official Dreamcast Magazine was a video game magazine published by Dennis Publishing in the United Kingdom between 1999 and 2001. The magazine featured news, reviews, previews and features on Dreamcast games. The magazine held the official magazine license for the Dreamcast in the UK and...
- Video game journalism
- MagazineMagazineMagazines, periodicals, glossies or serials are publications, generally published on a regular schedule, containing a variety of articles. They are generally financed by advertising, by a purchase price, by pre-paid magazine subscriptions, or all three...
- Computer and video game industryComputer and video game industryThe video game industry is the economic sector involved with the development, marketing and sales of video games...
- Video game
External links
- Website of former staff member Stuart Campbell.