GameFan magazine
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| GameFan | |
|---|---|
 GameFan Volume 7, Issue 12 - December 1999 |
|
| Editor | Dave Halverson
David Hodgson Eric Mylonas |
| Categories | Computing, Gaming, Computer magazine |
| Frequency | Monthly |
| First Issue | October 1992 |
| Final Issue — Date — Number |
December 2000 Volume 8, Issue 12 |
| Company | DieHard Gamers Club (1992-1996)
Metropolis Media (1996-1998) Shinno Media (1999-2000) |
| Country | United States, Canada |
| Language | English |
| Website | Defunct |
| ISSN | unknown |
GameFan Magazine (originally known as Diehard GameFan Magazine) was a publication started by Dave Halverson in 1992 that provided coverage of domestic and import video games. It was notable for its extensive use of game screenshots in page design. It ceased publishing in December 2000.
GameFan's legacy extends far beyond that of its intended "hardcore" gaming legacy. Although began as an advertising supplement to sell imported (mostly from Japan) video games, the small text reviews and descriptions soon took on a life all their own, primarily due to the lack of refinement and sense of passion. Caricatures were given in place of actual editor profile, with profiles drawn exclusively by Terry Wolfinger. This particular method of reviewing and commenting was unique to GameFan Magazine, and seemingly freed its editors from the creative restraints commonly associated with competing publications.
While GameFan Magazine was well-known for its extensive import game coverage, it’s most likely just as well regarded for its expansive (and unique) coverage of the emerging interest in Japanese Anime. Long before anime-themed publications came into their own, GameFan was the ideal and most popular journal of what was new and popular in this genre.
Perhaps in no other arena was the effect of GameFan Magazine’s effects on the gaming industry as in their championing of the coming age of RPG (Role Playing Games). Mostly ignored by American audiences, this genre in particular was a favorite of many a GameFan staffer. The unique style of passionate response, combined with the more traditional video game audience helped create and foster acceptance for the style of gameplay that was so radically different. This support came to its climax with the release of Final Fantasy VII, of which GameFan was chosen as the on-box quote proclaiming the title “Quite Possibly The Best Game Ever Made”. However, they did not give the same praise for the succeeding title, Final Fantasy VIII, by giving it underwhelming review scores, claiming that the game was not a true Final Fantasy title. The next title, Final Fantasy IX, received GameFan's praise for returning to the fantasy elements that were part of the series pre-FFVII.
The death of GameFan Magazine is usually attributed to several factors, most based on rumors, heresay and misinformation. The primary cause was due to the effects of a series of lawsuits which had haunted the magazine for nearly its entire run (mainly stemming from a cadre of investors that felt they were fleeced during the earliest years of the publication's run), following it through numerous corporate iterations and change of hands. It is this lawsuit that, in fact, had prevented the sale of the print magazine and its continuation as a going concern (as it turns out, the deal was virtually all but final and was derailed at, literally, the 11th hour due to the aforementioned suit.)
Even after its demise, several staff members attempted to have the brand ressurrected by the publisher of Computer Strategy Plus, based in Burlington, Vermont. Unfortunately, a deal could not be reached and the magazine was shuttered shortly thereafter (around the end of the 1st quarter of 2001.)
Trivia: it also not common knowledge that, at one point, Ziff-Davis attempted to acquire the GameFan trademark for use on what became GMR Magazine (now defunct as well.)
Contents |
[edit] Controversy
Probably one of the most well-known (and most likely only) controversies in Gamefan's history was an issue in where a piece of written work, which contained several deogratory comments about Japanese people was leaked in an issue of Gamefan (naming them "Japs", a racial profanity that was used to insult Japanese descendants and Japanese-Americans during the years of World War II), taking the place of one of the paragraphs of one of the sports games reviews. Gamefan noted immediatly that the written words in question were not meant to be published. In the very next issue, Gamefan, in order to explain the actual case and to say that such words were never meant to be seen, published the following apology:
August 18, 1995
GameFan, more so than any other American title covering the gaming industry, has been the greatest proponent of the Japanese market and culture. This is a known fact in the industry and among gamers.
We are also the fastest growing gaming magazine on the market, despite the fact that our cover price is 20% higher than that of our competitors. We are thought of by readers of all gaming titles as the magazine with the highest production quality and editorial integrity. For these reasons, we are the constant target of our competitors.
Our September issue was the aim of sabotage. The intention was to include language in our issue offensive to the Japanese to damage relationships and set our friends against us.
During the production process, text containing various profanities and language offensive to the Japanese culture was woven throughout the text of the issue. We were able to remove the majority of the language. Despite our efforts, one paragraph contained within an editorial made it through the production process. By the time we discovered this, some of the copies were already distributed to retail outlets.
Unfortunately, because our production process largely involves digitized information on disk and it travels through the hands of several outside sources, it is subject to this type of manipulation. We were caught with our guard down, never having expected such an outrageous act. We have put safeguards in place to insure that this will never occur again.
The action was undoubtedly directed to harm GameFan.
We ask that you accept our deepest apologies for any offense that it may have caused. Please consider that the persons responsible for this action intended not only an offense against the Japanese, but against GameFan. This type of motive and behavior should not be condoned.
Carefully consider the circumstances and our integrity and help us maintain it by not reacting against GameFan, but together with GameFan.
Sincerely,
Dave Halverson
Editor In Chief, GameFan Magazine
[edit] Staff
Staff members of GameFan magazine had amusing aliases. The following are some known members of GameFan:
- E. Storm (Dave Halverson)
- Nick Rox (Nicholas Dean Des Barres, son of Michael Des Barres)
- Takuhi (Casey Loe)
- Knightmare (Dan Jevons)
- Glitch (Mike Griffin)
- Substance D
- Eggo (George Ngo)
- Dangohead (Anthony Chau)
- Kodomo (Matt Van Stone)
- ECM (Eric Mylonas)
- Fury (Jason Weitzner)
- Shidoshi (Eric Patterson)
- Cerberus (Tyrone Rodriguez)
- El Nino (Geoff Higgins)
- Waka (Mike Wakamatsu)
- L.A. Akira (Gerald Abraham)
- Sergeant H. Core (Jeremy Corby)
- The Wanderer (Rick Mears)
- Slasher Quan, (had worked for GamePro prior to working for Gamefan. Real name unknown)
[edit] Related Publications
GameFan's original Editor in Chief, Dave Halverson, went on to publish Gamer's Republic, and then Play magazine. (An American video-gaming magazine, not to be confused with the English publication of the same name.) Not long after it began, Gamer's Republic soon followed GameFan's demise and has ceased publication. Long-time fans of the original Diehard GameFan staff will be thrilled to know that Halverson has since began publishing PLAY! magazine. Comprised mostly of ex-GameFan staff members, Play! has found success across the country and continues to do well.
After GameFan ceased publication, Eric Mylonas went on to edit GameGO! magazine. Only one issue of the magazine ever reached publication while a second was completed and distributed in digital format, only. More recently, Mylonas has had success writing strategy guides for Prima Games.
