GamePro's 200th Issue - Official Discussion Thread

[Anthony1]

I don't see anybody else with a GamePro's 200th issue thread, so here goes.....


I just got my issue in the mail today, yes I know that GamePro sucks, but I got a free subscription, so what the heck. Anyways, this issue is actually pretty damn cool. It's their 200th issue, and they take a look back at the past 16 years of video gaming. They have alot of different features related to various retro games and systems, and they actually give some brief information on every issue of GamePro that ever came out. They even have a page where they discuss the history of GamePro magazine.


Overall, it's quite entertaining, especially for those of us that enjoy the old school games, but in typical GamePro fashion they basically just nip the tip of the iceberg on everything, and you never get any real in-depth information.

To me, GamePro is like the anti-Gamefan or Next-Generation. While GameFan and Next-Generation where very in-depth, giving you the inside dirt on everything, and being blunt about how the games are coming along and in the reviews, etc, GamePro is more of a "happy go lucky" video game mag. You don't get much more than what's on the back on the game box, and the typical marketing gibberish that the publishers spew out.

Still, having said all of that, this issue is quite entertaining, and I highly suggest that everyone pick this issue up, or borrow it from a friend that could give a crap about retrogaming.

Pretty cool.

[Lemmy Kilmister]

but I got a free subscription, so what the heck. Anyways, this issue is actually

Do you remember the web-site you signed up for to get the free subscription?

[Anthony1]

but I got a free subscription, so what the heck. Anyways, this issue is actually

Do you remember the web-site you signed up for to get the free subscription?


No I don't, but actually it was somebody from this site that gave everybody the info to sign up.


Actually, I think it was supposed to be for free subscriptions to GamePro and EGM, but for some reason I never did get any EGM's.

[norkusa]

I dunno. I've been getting a free subscription also to GamePro for the past couple years. I remember reading the editors column in issue #199 and it basically said that GP was undergoing changes and that the next issue was going to be in an entirely new and exciting format. :roll:

Well, I received issue #200 the other day and with the exception of a few nostalgic articles and pics, this Gamepro looked like the same crap magazine I've always known. Same garbage layout and the boring and dumbed-down articles as before. I was expecting to see a slick transformation like EGM went thru a couple years ago but that obviously isn't here.

The one positive thing I've noticed is that it looks like they got rid of that HORRIBLE illustrator who drew those god-awful cartoony images for Gamepro for the past 10-15 years. Those stupid illustrations always made me vomit whever I saw them.

[Anthony1]

look, I definitely agree that GamePro is one of the most lackluster mags out there, but I do think that the 200th issue is pretty cool. For about 15 minutes, anyways.

[digitalpress]

I always find it humorous when current gen mags try to "go retro". It's all so trendy. Personally I'll stick to the forums here, and to the people who not only lived it then, but live it now.

The only part of this issue I enjoyed was the look back at past GamePro writers, where I discovered my old pal Tom Russo was one of the game review guys. Funny how he never mentioned that before. I can't wait to see him again :)

[norkusa]

look, I definitely agree that GamePro is one of the most lackluster mags out there, but I do think that the 200th issue is pretty cool. For about 15 minutes, anyways.

I didn't think that the 200th was total garbage. I especially liked that article about the controversial ads that appeared in the mag over the years. It's just that I was expecting to see a new style and format for the magazine and it wasn't there. It's disappointing because Gamepro has been this way for years and I was hoping that they'd finally re-invent themselves as a credible gaming mag.

[Richter]

just about every other page was a PSP ad

-.-

[shvnsth]

anyone else here think play is the new next-generation?

[mr_nihilism]

anyone else here think play is the new next-generation?

I find opinions of Play to be rather overrated, so I'll say no. I won't bother to elaborate. Simple question, simple answer.

[shvnsth]

i don't really like either play or next-gen, for me, it was egm, and now game informer, but neither satisfy

[rolenta]

The only part of this issue I enjoyed was the look back at past GamePro writers, where I discovered my old pal Tom Russo was one of the game review guys. Funny how he never mentioned that before. I can't wait to see him again :)

There's also a Tom Russo who writes reviews for Entertainment Weekly. I wrote to the Tom we know to ask if he was the same guy as the EW writer but I never received a reply.

[Dahne]

I liked the 200th issue. All magazines these days seem to be pretty much the same to me; too many damn previews, not enough about what's out now. There's a trend of looking forward to a game, getting it, beating it, and forgetting it. That's not my style. Unfortunately, I seem to be in the extreme minority.

Speaking of something semi-related, I just got a chance to read the NES issue of DigitPress, and I have to say that I really enjoyed the feature about Nintendo Power. Lots of stuff I didn't know about that magazine. As much crap as it gets, there was something weirdly innocent about it, and I still like reading old back issues to this day.

[Bratwurst]

The one positive thing I've noticed is that it looks like they got rid of that HORRIBLE illustrator who drew those god-awful cartoony images for Gamepro for the past 10-15 years. Those stupid illustrations always made me vomit whever I saw them.

Bahahaha, ditto. That guy had to be the nephew of someone important in Ziff Davis or something for his doodles to loiter in Gamepro's pages for so long.

The most telling thing about the 200th issue is the cover gallery. At one point just about every other issue was a Mortal Kombat theme.

[Daniel Thomas]

That guy happened to be Francis Mao, and he was with GamePro since the very beginning. I've often enjoyed his illustrations, although they're a little on the cartooney side. He's certainly a talented artist.

I remember that there was a wonderful Phantasy Star illustration from one of their very first issues, but I can't for the life of me remember who drew it.

GamePro was always aimed at the kiddie market, the 8-16 set, and that's alright. It's certainly worked very well for them. I wasn't aware that they had a 200th issue; otherwise I would have written them a letter. I may still do that, actually; a short little rememberance of the 'good old days.'

[Anthony1]

anyone else here think play is the new next-generation?


NO.


Next-Generation was much more of a "Games Industry" magazine than a "gaming" magazine. Next-Generation loved to talk about the various console wars, and the marketing, and the trade shows, and the great video game battles, etc, etc. Also, they could hype up games like I've never seen before. Every issue they had you thinking that they had discovered the next Holy Grail. But it was always about games that were like more than a year away, and when the game finally ended up getting reviewed, they would give it like 3 stars or 2 1/2 stars. So much for being revolutional and industry changing. I always hated their reviewing system. The reviews were too brief and too much the opinion of one individual.

Having said all of that, Next-Generation was my second favorite video game magazine of all time. I actually have every single issue of Next Gen. Well, every issue except that one that they gave away at the e3 show. All it had on the cover was a picture of a gold Zelda N64 cart.


Getting back to Play, I really like that mag, they seem to focus more on the here and now of gaming, about games that are either available or will soon be available, and they go in depth on alot of it. The one thing that I don't like is all the Anime and movies and music and action figures and all that other crap. They waste like 20 pages or more on that stuff. Not that that stuff sucks, but are they a gaming magazine or a freaking Maxim? I wish they would devote those 20 pages to retro coverage.

[lendelin]

I liked the 200th issue. All magazines these days seem to be pretty much the same to me; too many damn previews, not enough about what's out now. There's a trend of looking forward to a game, getting it, beating it, and forgetting it. That's not my style. Unfortunately, I seem to be in the extreme minority.

Speaking of something semi-related, I just got a chance to read the NES issue of DigitPress, and I have to say that I really enjoyed the feature about Nintendo Power. Lots of stuff I didn't know about that magazine. As much crap as it gets, there was something weirdly innocent about it, and I still like reading old back issues to this day.

Nice to hear that you liked the article...and yeah, like you (and as I pointed out in the article) I think the nice thing about NP was that the preview section was reduced to a couple of pages in stark contrast to todays mags where two thirds of game coverage are often hyped previews.

For those of you who complain about the kiddie-style of the mainstream mags back then: well, the game industry WAS predominantly a kids business, so the mainstream mags were tailored towards kids and teenagers. I think NP at the time made the best of it by focusing on games, maps, and tips. Maybe a product of a more "innocent" time as well, meaning that the target were "innocent" kids at the time while the business aspects were as harsh as they are today.

I haven't read the 200th issue of GamePro yet; it is still buried under a stack of magazines from the last two months. I just came back from a two-months vacation/business-trip in Germany, so I have a lot of reading (and PLAYING!) to do. I'll certainly eat up the various Gamepro articles...:)

Yep, the more successfull the current game industry is, the more we'll have the interest in game history (with all the strenghts and shortcomings of hindsight views).

[NintendoMan]

I am waiting on mine!

Also, can't wait to get my 200th issue of EGM and Nintendo Power, as soon as they hit that mark, which is soon.

[Captain Wrong]

What's there to discuss? Pretty much the same kiddy crap, five minute crapper read the previous 199 issues were.

[Anthony1]

What's there to discuss? Pretty much the same kiddy crap, five minute crapper read the previous 199 issues were.


"five minute crapper read"


That's a good one. It's funny, because I actually have some GamePro's in my two bathrooms, and that is usually the amount of time that I read it.

Although in terms of discussing things, I do think this issues has some stuff to offer. They do a number of lists, that definitely can be debated such as:



****SPOILER ALERT*****



****SPOILER ALERT******








The Lamest Hardware Peripherals Ever Released

1. DigiScent iSmell

2. CatBox

3. Sega Activator

4. Power Glove

5. Sega CD

6. PS2 Hard Drive

7. Sega VR

8. Sega 32X

9. Super Scope 6/Sega Menacer

10. Steel Battalion Controller


Personally, I don't thing the Sega CD qualifies as one of the 10 lamest hardware peripherals. Sure, it wasn't the best hardware add on ever, but it doesn't deserve to be on this list.



Here is another list they have in this issue


Top 10 Underappreciated Gems

1. Ico - PS2

2. Poy Poy - PSX

3. Beyond Good & Evil - PS2

4. Incredible Crisis - PSX

5. Katamari Damacy - GCN

6. Adventures of Cookie and Cream - PS2

7. Mad Maestro - PS2

8. T2: Judgment Day (arcade)

9. Typing of the Dead - DC

10. Zombies Ate my Neighbors - SNES/Genesis



I can't argue with Ico, that's a great game, but this list has way too many current generation games in it. Tons of great games from the past aren't listed. Like Kid Chameleon for the Sega Genesis (shameless plug for one game that I think is incredibly underrated)



They also have a list of the Biggest Blunders in video game history. They have a list of the Coolest Modern Video-Game Characters, another list for Best Japanese Games Never Released in the U.S. and a list for 10 Modern Classics Every Gamer Should Own.

[gamegirl79]

5. Katamari Damacy - GCN

I hope this is a typo? If not I need to go back and look more closely at this issue!

[Anthony1]

5. Katamari Damacy - GCN

I hope this is a typo? If not I need to go back and look more closely at this issue!



Oops. They actually have it for the GameCube, it's a typo on their part, and I copied it and didn't even notice it.

[gamegirl79]

5. Katamari Damacy - GCN

I hope this is a typo? If not I need to go back and look more closely at this issue!


Oops. They actually have it for the GameCube, it's a typo on their part, and I copied it and didn't even notice it.

Interesting....I didn't even notice it when I read the actual article in the mag. :)

[Overbite]

i got this issue too and it is bad.

The reviews are always horrible. Just a couple paragraphs not really saying anything and just giving a basic jist of what the game is and if its good.

The Unreal Championship 2 review is horrible! Spends most of it saying how the old games have this and that and this new one has some melee and the maps are good but boring and thats it. Spent more time talking about the old Unreal games than actually reviewing the new one.

[Keir]

What's there to discuss? Pretty much the same kiddy crap, five minute crapper read the previous 199 issues were.
LOL When mine came in the mail the other day the first thing I did was to toss it into the bathroom for future reading. (Still haven't read it though.)

The only reason I have a subscription is that it's free. In fact, my 12 months are long over and they still send it to me. If they did finally stop sending it to me and I had another opportunity to get it free I wouldn't do it.

[lendelin]

C'mon guys, the section isn't sooooo bad!

It is a nice read, nothing noteworthy. The timeline at the bottom of the pages is at times informative, and the little section 'what happened to former editors' is the most interesting by far. The evergreen of top ten lists is boring.

GamePro isn't overall so bad, guys. I still credit them for not falling for the hype of 'Enter the Matrix' back then unlike GameInformer and NP. They called a sub-par game a sub-par game and gave bad review grades despite "exciting" movie sequences.