Gaming Target

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**Gaming Target**

URL	http://www.gamingtarget.com/
Commercial?	Yes
Type of site	Gaming
Registration	Free
Owner	Matt Swider
Created by	Matt Swider
Launched	February 17, 1999

Gaming Target is a website covering video games and gaming culture that was founded by Matt Swider on February 17, 1999.

Gaming Target is updated several times daily and features news, reviews, previews, interviews, cheats, screenshots, trivia and game information. The site provides coverage for 11 "current" systems (Xbox 360, PS3, Wii, PS2, Xbox, GameCube, PC, Game Boy Advance, Nintendo DS, PSP and N-Gage) and 12 classic systems (Atari 2600, NES, Game Boy, Game Boy Color, Sega Master System, Genesis, Sega CD, 32X, SNES, Saturn, PSone, N64 and Dreamcast) in their Retro Channel.

1 History
2 Notability
3 References
4 External links

[edit] History

When it launched in 1999, Gaming Target focused solely on the Nintendo 64 and Game Boy Color. The site began using the GamingTarget.com domain and opened a Dreamcast section on September 9, 1999, the same day as the DC's North American launch.

Various redesigns and servers outages would plague the site in 2000 and in early 2001 it went offline to undergo a complete revamp. The new Gaming Target went live on May 15, 2001 and the site has been in continuous operation ever since. In addition to the new design, sections were added for the PlayStation 2, Game Boy Advance and GameCube. A section devoted to the Xbox would open in October during the run-up to that console's November launch.

In September 2002, Gaming Target was redesigned again and became an affiliate of UGO. This deal allowed UGO to syndicate articles from Gaming Target on UGO's Games channel.

In late 2004, the site underwent another redesign, which it still currently uses, and opened sections covering the Nintendo DS and Playstation Portable. In May 2005, just before E3, Gaming Target added sections for the PC, N-Gage and the next-generation Xbox 360, PS3 and Wii. Finally, in June 2006, the Retro channel was opened, providing coverage of "retired" console, handheld and PC games.

[edit] Notability

In its seven years of operation, Gaming Target has created a database of over 1500 reviews. It is currently ranked as the 26th largest review archive by Gamerankings. ^[1]

Gaming Target has won acclaim for its "Video Game Librarian" series of articles.^[2] The series details a pilot program of how video games and gaming-related media enhance library collections while serving people's tastes. Both the initiative and the articles have been recognized by professionals in the library community, including the Library Journal. ^[3] ^[4] ^[5]

In addition to reviewing current games, Gaming Target also publishes a series of articles that delve into the history of games and gaming. Some of the more popular articles include a history of the Contra series, ^[6] a history of the Tomb Raider series, ^[7] an overview of Star Wars games, a history of Sonic the Hedgehog titles, ^[8] and a look at wrestling games. ^[9]

Gaming Target has been involved in controversy in the video game community on two separate occasions. First, it tried to decode the release date of the Wii from a cryptic Nintendo press release. ^[10] ^[11] While their guess of an October 2nd Wii release was ultimately wrong, it spurred much discussion, with some enthusiasts responding with supporting evidence and others responding with release date theories of their own.^[12] However, some analysts scoffed at the idea that the press release actually contained any coded information at all. ^[13]

Later, in October 2006, the site published a satirical article showcasing how to use the Kreate a Fighter option in the newest Mortal Kombat game, Mortal Kombat: Armageddon. ^[14] The article includes instructions on how to insert noted anti-video game attorney Jack Thompson into the game. Citing a contempt charge the lawyer received from a Florida judge, the article calls him “the most violent man in America, ergo, perfect for Mortal Kombat.” ^[15] Thompson responded by sending a letter to Midway Games demanding they cease and desist selling Mortal Kombat: Armageddon based on his claim that the game was illegally profiting from his likeness. The incident was widely reported in the mainstream and gaming press and was picked up by journalists at sites like Gamespot, The Inquirer, Slashdot and many more. Midway chose not to respond to Thompson's allegation. ^[16] ^[17] ^[18]