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Dave Halverson Re-launches GameFan Magazine
- Thread starter CO_Andy
- Start date
SonicMegaDrive said:
They can't leave it out - they need to be able to cater to as many folks as possible to be able to generate sales.
Gamefan was in a unique situation back in the day. They originally had Diehard Gamefan as a store to be able to generate interest, the way Game Informer has Gamestop. Gaming websites weren't around like they are today, and frankly, no one had that combination of over-the-top hyperbole editorials mixed with exclusive art and screen captures on glossy pages.
But this is all in the past. I don't think their "fun but immature" writing would fly now. How are they going to get exclusive content like Game Informer? How are they going to get subscribers? How do they stay successful in the internet age?
"God's Beard!"
Member
I remember when PSM used to come with DVDs of the staff at karaoke bars in japan and pimped out garbage trucks.
seaandthebells
Member
I can only add one detail to the story. Back in November, I was contracted to produce one op-ed column for the January 2010 issue of Play. Fee was $100 for just about 1200 words, I delivered and submitted my invoice.
First week of January I followed up trying to figure out where the cash was, heard back from EIC Brady Fletcher that accounting had misplaced my faxed info. Followed up, heard nothing. When I finally heard back from Brady last week, he informed me that he was no longer with Play. One day later, I received a notice informing me that, as one of Fusion's creditors, I was entitled to participate in the bankruptcy claim against Fusion Publishing.
Play and Geek sank without note inside of a few weeks. They both employed a number of decent editors and writers, but I'm not sure if I can say they'll be missed. That Dave Halverson is relaunching GameFan magazine tickles my nostalgia center, but frankly, there is no audience or base of advertisers to support this magazine. If you're reading, Dave, don't sully that good name.
First week of January I followed up trying to figure out where the cash was, heard back from EIC Brady Fletcher that accounting had misplaced my faxed info. Followed up, heard nothing. When I finally heard back from Brady last week, he informed me that he was no longer with Play. One day later, I received a notice informing me that, as one of Fusion's creditors, I was entitled to participate in the bankruptcy claim against Fusion Publishing.
Play and Geek sank without note inside of a few weeks. They both employed a number of decent editors and writers, but I'm not sure if I can say they'll be missed. That Dave Halverson is relaunching GameFan magazine tickles my nostalgia center, but frankly, there is no audience or base of advertisers to support this magazine. If you're reading, Dave, don't sully that good name.
I AM JOHN!
Banned
Man, I don't know what's worse - that Play went under so unceremoniously or that they were only going to pay you $100 for a 1,200 word piece. :\
HyperZone<3
Member
so wait, is Play completley dead? As in, last issue pending and shit?
I would be saddened to see it go, sure it never lived up to its potential, but man, what potential it did have. I did like its unabashed geekery towards old-style gaming, its gorgeous layouts, and despite being very nearly a fanboy magazine (with way too much space devoted to crappy anime and everything) at least it didn't read like one.
I guess I'm sad to see it go, it always made for a good read.
I would be saddened to see it go, sure it never lived up to its potential, but man, what potential it did have. I did like its unabashed geekery towards old-style gaming, its gorgeous layouts, and despite being very nearly a fanboy magazine (with way too much space devoted to crappy anime and everything) at least it didn't read like one.
I guess I'm sad to see it go, it always made for a good read.
Play was the reason I thought to look into playing the Shaman King Master of Spirits games on GBA. Good little Castlevania-like titles. Otherwise, I disliked the magazine greatly. I bought a few issues, tried to like it. I would always catch a factual error or stupid statement... I just couldn't get behind it.
seaandthebells
Member
That's my understanding. The January issue got printed but not distributed, and that's that.
And dude, let me tell you, $100 for anything in the current freelancing scene ain't terrible.
And dude, let me tell you, $100 for anything in the current freelancing scene ain't terrible.
I AM JOHN!
Banned
Just think of what would happen if Dave Halverson and Mike Wilson teamed up! :Odaegan said:
GotchaForce
Member
Gamefan was my fucking bible. I used to read all the game mags back in the day and while the huge holiday issues of EGM and sleekness of Next Gen mags were awesome nothing held a candle to Gamefan. I don't want to see the same bland lay-out for every noteworthy game, I want huge pages of art and crazy-ass rants about how amazing it is.
-FF7 being compared to man's greatest achievements like the bible and pennicilin?
-Sonic Adventure getting straight 100s?
-shump review layouts being presented sideways in tate mode?
Fuck yeah!
I hope the new Gamefan is half as crazy before is crashes and burns.
-FF7 being compared to man's greatest achievements like the bible and pennicilin?
-Sonic Adventure getting straight 100s?
-shump review layouts being presented sideways in tate mode?
Fuck yeah!
I hope the new Gamefan is half as crazy before is crashes and burns.
seaandthebells
Member
daegan said:
Be fair now. Gamefan lasted for close to seven years and Play lasted for nine. That's kinda decent.
The fact that neither magazine hadn't anything even remotely resembling professional line editing is forgivable.
Digital-Hero
Member
CO_Andy said:
Good news. I still have old issues of GAMEFAN Magazine.
Digital-Hero
Member
tokkun said:
Screw those guys man. They spoiled FF7 for me with their dumb cd. :lol
(1997, 17 Years Old)
Me: "Cool, my gameplayers came with a PC CD with Doom 64 and FF7 videos!"
Me: *Clicks first video*
Me: "Aerith is getting stabbed in the back by Sephiroth!?"
Me: "Hmmm..."
Ninja Scooter
Member
Gamefan's back.
Come pet the cat.
Come pet the cat.
FrostuTheNinja
Member
Digital-Hero said:
Hahhahaa... Happened to me as well.
Well, if it's Gamefan, I'd like to see ECM back on the team but then again, we don't get everything we want.
Shig said:
Brutal...
Broman1978
Junior Member
Man, I LOVED Gamefan! I remember in my youth when I bought Gamefan´s here in Sweden (Import in selected Magazine kiosks, (is the word right?))
I paid roughly 17 Dollars/Issue here in Sweden.
I remember the E3-1995 Issue, and when they went bonkers about ClockWork Knight 2 in their review. man so much good memories.
<3<3
I paid roughly 17 Dollars/Issue here in Sweden.
I remember the E3-1995 Issue, and when they went bonkers about ClockWork Knight 2 in their review. man so much good memories.
<3<3
SatelliteOfLove
Member
God, the dish and dirt and disses in here. :lol
Makes my old Play Threads with "Embarrassing Halversonism of the Ish" seem tame.
That was what got me to let my sub run out. When he made himself up to be more than the crazy half-perv uncle of gaming, like some ultimate arbiter of quality, he could no longer be ignored. Hopefully Heather lands in gainful employment as well, her writing amused me.
Makes my old Play Threads with "Embarrassing Halversonism of the Ish" seem tame.
Ridley327 said:
That was what got me to let my sub run out. When he made himself up to be more than the crazy half-perv uncle of gaming, like some ultimate arbiter of quality, he could no longer be ignored. Hopefully Heather lands in gainful employment as well, her writing amused me.
Cow Mengde said:
Uh, Davidson is helming it now, and he's doing a kick-ass job. The collage posters of your youth and the XTREEM Guy images for ratings are no more. You should seriously check it out, it's pretty swanky.
shidoshi said:
"Jap bastards" and Cybermorph storieeeeees... locked and loaded!
SamBishop said:
If anybody really wants some serious "history of GameFan" stories, do yourself a favor - go to Wikipedia, look up "GameFan magazine", then at the links at the bottom, click on "Thread about GameFan on The Next Level forum".
That thread is an oldie, but a goodie. Takes a little while to get started, but once it does...
Yoritomo said:
Oh yes. I interrupted a vacation in Hawaii to track down all the Gamefan copies on Kauai when I heard about this. Still have 'em. Classic.
One of the things that made Gamefan so charming was the overt conversational tone of the mag. I'm not sure they'll be able to duplicate it now because of the way it was done then. The guys just dictated the reviews and someone else did the typing, capturing the conversational magic as an accidental artifact of the process.
shidoshi said:
That thread just proves that all our sins -- or, uh, stupid fanboy idiot mistakes -- will find us. I weep in preparation for my idiocy.
Psykotik said:
You are an awesome person, not because of your preference, but because you were willing to give the new GamePro a go. I think I wanna work there now...
Poke fun at Halverson but he did one of the greatest favors one could ever do for a fellow gamer:
Read his review of Cybermorph,ran out and bought a jag,loved it allot. True the system sucked for the most part,but there were games on it that made me glad I bought one.
I remember this magazine was the only one to give Atari half a chance while EGM were taking pot shotsat Atari,assholes.
His coverage of anything Jaguar was truly nice to see. I remember reading updates on AVP,seeing Rebellion's next game(which sadly never mad it out for the Jag.)..it was to be some type of dungeon dwelling action rpg about the living dead and looked great for its time. The man single handily kept the Atari/Jaguar spirit alive so I look back on those days with a cool smile,he loved the games and each month I always loved reading his impressions ad reviews. Anyways to this day AVP is still one of my all time favorite gaming highlites. Game freaked me out with fear,loved mapping my locations,exploring for security cards,hearing the Predator whisper something freaky in a hallway making me piss my pants, and making a run for it while running into a group of xenomorphs, hoping they didn't follow me into the air vents once I ditched them..:lol
So he isn't all bad. Yes his middle name should be hyperbole but he loved the games,and turned me onto the Jag. and its handful of fun games(ok in this case we'll cheat and count 3-4 fingers as a hand) AVP I love you baby
I for one look forward to his new magazine. I just hope the layous resemble bigger layouts like GameFan use to. Never cared for Game's smaller ones,it always looked too boxed in. I could do without the movie crap but whatever helps pay the bills and keeps the magazine going I guess. One thing I hope the new mag, does is report on rumormills going ons in next gen. consoles and wheeling and dealing of 3rd party support for those machines. Made for good excitement,they reported it with a great flavor,next gen. was always excited when they spoke of it in their columns.
Read his review of Cybermorph,ran out and bought a jag,loved it allot. True the system sucked for the most part,but there were games on it that made me glad I bought one.
I remember this magazine was the only one to give Atari half a chance while EGM were taking pot shotsat Atari,assholes.
His coverage of anything Jaguar was truly nice to see. I remember reading updates on AVP,seeing Rebellion's next game(which sadly never mad it out for the Jag.)..it was to be some type of dungeon dwelling action rpg about the living dead and looked great for its time. The man single handily kept the Atari/Jaguar spirit alive so I look back on those days with a cool smile,he loved the games and each month I always loved reading his impressions ad reviews. Anyways to this day AVP is still one of my all time favorite gaming highlites. Game freaked me out with fear,loved mapping my locations,exploring for security cards,hearing the Predator whisper something freaky in a hallway making me piss my pants, and making a run for it while running into a group of xenomorphs, hoping they didn't follow me into the air vents once I ditched them..:lol
So he isn't all bad. Yes his middle name should be hyperbole but he loved the games,and turned me onto the Jag. and its handful of fun games(ok in this case we'll cheat and count 3-4 fingers as a hand) AVP I love you baby
I for one look forward to his new magazine. I just hope the layous resemble bigger layouts like GameFan use to. Never cared for Game's smaller ones,it always looked too boxed in. I could do without the movie crap but whatever helps pay the bills and keeps the magazine going I guess. One thing I hope the new mag, does is report on rumormills going ons in next gen. consoles and wheeling and dealing of 3rd party support for those machines. Made for good excitement,they reported it with a great flavor,next gen. was always excited when they spoke of it in their columns.
Ten-Song said:
This cover art is based on a piece of classic Japanese artwork. Nobody will take video games seriously because of reactions like yours. People have a really hard time seeing video games as more than just shit for kids. So when people see something like this, the reaction is negative.
shidoshi said:
YES, thanks Shidoshi! I read almost that whole thread about a year ago and it was absolutely fascinating. I wished I would've favorited the link because everytime I hear a Dave Halverson story like this it makes me want to go back and read it again. Will definitely be reading some of it again tonight.