Help Wanted for Game Reviews, Prototype Info, etc.

[Epicenter]

Hey, I'm Epicenter. I'm starting a gaming site called Epic Gaming. I've got about 450 megs' worth of content to upload to the new server next Monday, so the site's off to a good start. The site primarily contains the following:

- Console game reviews (32-bit and previous)
- Arcade game reviews (2D, preferably)
- Arcade/Console Hardware profiles
- Prototype info/footage/ROMs of Console games
- Game magazine scans (previews/reviews/ads/stragegy guides/prototype footage/etc.)
- Promotional videos (i.e. E3 videos, Magazine VHS tapes, etc.)
- Photos/PCB Scans of hardware/games
- Game manual scans and .txt file versions
- Pirate/Unlicensed game ROMs, cartridge photos, reviews, info, etc.
- Clone hardware photos / info
- Game oddities, leftover material in final versions
- Game revision/glitches info
- Obscure game-related merchandise
- Unreleased games
- An Extensive section on the Ecco 2 prototype version based on my existing site: (http://ecco2beta.2ya.com)
- An extensive Sonic game secrets section from my now-defunct site, Sonic Epicenter

Needless to say, this is quite an undertaking. I have a large quantity of most of what is listed above, but this is not a one-person job by any means! I currently have 2 other contributors helping out, but that's of course nowhere near enough. There are only so many games I can review in a period of time, and I can't very well compare prototypes to final versions of games I do not know well. I know many of you know these games inside and out and would be of great help. I also know that you must have lots of useful information and materials you could provide.

For this reason, I'd like to ask if anyone could contribute, or if they would like to join the Epic Gaming staff. Anything you do for the site will of course be fully credited! I'll post your work with your name (or pseudonym), e-mail address (if you want), and URL to your web site(s). The things I am most in need of right now are:

Game reviews, prototype/final comparisons, unlicensed/pirate game materials (cart scans, info, ROMs, etc.), magazine scans, and prototype footage of any kind.

I'm presently working on some more game reviews (the goal is 20 more completed before the site moves to the new server next week), and putting together a thorough analysis and comparison of the Kirby GBA E3 preview video to the final game, in addition to the adapation of the Ecco 2 Beta and Sonic Epicenter content.

In case you're wondering, some of the content that I think will be the most popular are DIVX-encoded Sonic 2 (genesis/megadrive) preview video clips (approx. 8 minutes in all, with lots of prototype footage), tons of high-res scans of Sonic 1/2 (genesis/megadrive), and Sonic 1, plus Triple Trouble (Game Gear) footage, and the Kirby E3 video and analysis. (This is only a small segment of the stuff I've got lined up for release, though!)

It's going to take a lot of effort to bring all this together, so any help would be greatly appreciated, no matter how small! Perhaps you have a site with content you could contribute, or a review you could donate, or some prototype images, anything will be of great help.Thank you very much for reading this!

-- Deven "Epicenter" Gallo

[Alex Kidd]

I don't have much of what your looking for, but I AM an avid review writer. I'd be glad to donate anything in that category, assuming I'll be credited.
I don't have many magazine spots (like a fool I gave away complete collections of GamePro/SWATPro/Game Player from '93 to '97 back in '99)
But I do have some, so any of those you're welcome to as well.

Alex Kidd

[Epicenter]

Thanks! Sent you a PM.

[Ed Oscuro]

I gots...a proto. Heh. Yes, I can write a bit better than that, but you aren't supposed to know, really.

Anyways, if the powers that be will it, I'll get ahold of two arcade PCBs soon:

Daimakaimura (that's Ghouls'n Ghosts)
and
Shadow Dancer (Sega)

Not sure, but I think they're the Japanese versions (edit: er, duh, yes Virginia, Daimakaimura is the Japanese version. To clarify, I mean I'm not 100% sure about Shadow Dancer--though I AM sure I'll never forgive myself if I pass it up. In fact, I'm buying it right now, and I'll pay the $20 extra to do it via PayPal. Vampire Savior 2 will just have to wait). I've got a rather decent digital camera, so I'll send some pictures your way if we cross paths again.

And yet another edit: Have you considered seeking hosting at classicgaming.com? I know we don't have the flashiest layout, and our servers are QUITE popular, but I myself have gotten permission to eventually have a site hosted there--it's certainly a good way of doing things.

[hydr0x]

wow! if u can realize what u want to, then this site is going to be great, exactly what i've been looking for

i do not write many reviews, but perhaps i could change that ;)
but i have a lot of game mags, problem is, they are 99% german :o) but i do also have some pirate carts, lots of promotional stuff, 2 nintendo vhs-tapes and quite a lot of information about snes-protos/unreleased games

so, if u need anything (i will look at what u need after the site is launched) i will be happy to contribute if it's credited

btw which url is the site going to have?

[Epicenter]

The site's probably going to be at http://epicgaming.2ya.com. It's a redirector to the real URL, which is a bit longer (though not terribly.) I'd use ClassicGaming, but I've already been offered hosting by a friend with a T3 internet connection. :)

Ed Oscuro: Photos of the PCBs would be good for the Arcade section! Thanks! :)

Hydr0x: If you could scan the promotional materials, take photos of the pirate carts and perhaps provide ROMs of them, and maybe digitize the Nintendo tapes, that would be awesome!

If either of you wants to be on the staff, let me know, we can use all the help we can get!

[Epicenter]

Oh, also, scans of prototype material from the game magazines would be very cool, we'd mainly be looking for images, rather than text, anyway. :) Perhaps you could put together some PHP pages about the individual prototype/unreleased SNES games. Once the site's up, you can use the pages there as a template. thx!

[Epicenter]

no one else? :(

[digitalpress]

no one else? :(

I'd love to help out, but I'm kinda spread thin wtih other projects.

I'd be happy to "team up" in some way, link exchange, cross-promoting, crossover articles, etc.

Best of luck to ya!

[WiseSalesman]

I'm something of a writer myself, and I'd be happy to help you out with game reviews, articles, and any other written content providing that I'm credited for it. I've written numerous articles and editorials for the local and regional newspapers here. Only thing is, I have a hard time deciding on a project for myself, especially when it's for someone else's site. Give me an assignment, though, I guarantee you'll get a top notch piece of writing. Drop me a pm if you're interested.

[Scoots]

Good luck with your site! I admin a similar site (Fatmangames.com) but we cover everything from Odyssey to Xbox with the occasional recipe to boot! Give us a look if Epic Gaming doesn't seem to be your thing.

[Epicenter]

I must say, that's the first site I've seen that provides vintage and new game reviews alongside spicy rice dish recipes.. that's pretty damn original. :)