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{{short description|Video game magazine}}
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[[Image:GameNOW_Issue18.jpg|thumb|221px|Cover for issue number 18 (April 2003): ''[[The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker]]''.]]
{{italic title}}

{{more citations needed|date=June 2009}}
[[Image:GameNOW_Issue20_Cover2.jpg|thumb|221px|Cover for issue number 20 (June 2003): [[Mega Man]] 15th Anniversary Special (collectible cover 2 of 2).]]
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[[Image:GameNOW Issue18.jpg|thumb|221px|Issue #18 (April 2003): ''[[The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker]]'']]

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'''''GameNOW''''' (occasionally abbreviated to '''''GN''''') was a [[United States]]-based [[Video game journalism|video game magazine]] that was published by [[Ziff-Davis]] from November 2001 to January 2004. A total of 27 issues were published. In addition to video game consoles like [[PlayStation 2]], [[Xbox (console)|Xbox]], [[GameCube]], and [[Game Boy Advance]], ''GameNOW'' also covered games for [[personal computer]]s.
[[Image:Final Fantasy 8 Pic.jpg|thumb|221px|The infamous ''[[Final Fantasy VIII]]'' screenshot.]]

⚫
'''''GameNOW''''' (occasionally abbreviated to '''''GN''''') is a [[United States]]-based [[video game magazine]] that was published by [[Ziff-Davis]] from November 2001 to January 2004. There are 27 issues of GameNOW total. In addition to video game consoles like [[PlayStation 2]], [[Xbox]], [[GameCube]], and [[Game Boy Advance]], GameNOW also covered games for [[personal computers]].


==History==
==History==
GameNOW's roots began in July 1994 when the popular magazine [[Electronic Gaming Monthly]] launched a spin-off magazine called [[EGM2]]. EGM2 was essentially "another EGM," only without a reviews section and a greater emphasis on import games. The magazine lasted 49 issues with the last issue coming out in July 1998.
''GameNOW'''s roots began in July 1994<ref>{{cite web|title=Defunct or Suspended Magazines, 2003|url=http://www.magazine.org/insights-resources/research-publications/trends-data/magazine-industry-facts-data/2003-defunct-or|work=The Association of Magazine Media|accessdate=13 December 2015|archive-date=22 December 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222104102/http://www.magazine.org/insights-resources/research-publications/trends-data/magazine-industry-facts-data/2003-defunct-or|url-status=dead}}</ref> when the popular magazine ''[[Electronic Gaming Monthly]]'' launched a spin-off magazine called ''[[EGM2|EGM<sup>2</sup>]]''. ''EGM²'' was essentially "another EGM," only without a reviews section and a greater emphasis on import games.


Starting in August 1998, EGM2 became [[Expert Gamer]] (often abbreviated to XG), and the magazine's focus shifted away from news and previews to strategy and tricks. Despite the different name, XG continued EGM2's numbering system. XG lasted for 39 issues until October 2001 (with the last issue being XG #88).
Starting in August 1998, ''EGM²'' became ''[[Expert Gamer]]'' (often abbreviated to ''XG''), and the magazine's focus shifted away from news and previews to strategy and tricks. Despite the different name, ''XG'' continued ''EGM²''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s numbering system. ''XG'' lasted for 39 issues until October 2001 (with the last issue being ''XG'' #88).


The next month (November 2001), XG morphned into its newest form, GameNOW. Although GameNOW maintained a healthy tricks section and occasional strategy guides, the magazine's focus shifted to in-depth previews and reviews. Skewed to a slightly younger audience than that of EGM (roughly 12 to 14-years-olds), GameNOW concentrated less on industry insider-type features and more on the actual video games, including numerous large screenshots and elaborate feature articles.
The next month (November 2001), ''XG'' was replaced by ''GameNOW''. Although ''GameNOW'' maintained a healthy tricks section and occasional strategy guides, the magazine's focus shifted to in-depth previews and reviews. Targeted to a younger audience than that of ''EGM'' (16 year-olds, while also appealing to 10-15 year-olds), ''GameNOW'' concentrated less on industry insider-type features and more on the actual video games, including numerous large screenshots and elaborate feature articles.


In November 2002 (issue #13), the GameNOW staff was almost completely replaced when [[Ziff-Davis]] moved its [[video game]] magazines from the [[Chicago]] suburb of [[Oak Brook, Illinois]] to [[San Francisco, California]]. Of the original staff, only two writers made the move to California. Shortly after the move, the magazine underwent a massive redesign, which greatly improved the look of the magazine.
In November 2002 (issue #13), the ''GameNOW'' staff was almost completely replaced when Ziff-Davis moved its [[video game]] magazines from the Chicago suburb of [[Oak Brook, Illinois]] to [[San Francisco, California]]. Of the original staff, only two writers made the move to California. Shortly after the move, the magazine underwent a massive redesign.


==Staff==
==Staff==
The magazine's original editorial staff consisted of the following crew:
The magazine's original editorial staff consisted of the following crew:

* Editor-in-Chief - Dan Leahy
* Editor-in-Chief - Dan Leahy
* Managing Editor - Justyn Harkin
* Managing Editor - Justyn Harkin
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Once the magazine was relocated to San Francisco, the staff consisted of:
Once the magazine was relocated to San Francisco, the staff consisted of:

* Editor-in-Chief - Tom Byron
* Editor-in-Chief - Tom Byron
* Managing Editor - Carrie Shepherd
* Managing Editor - Carrie Shepherd
* Associate Editors - Phil Theobald, Ethan Einhorn, Miguel Lopez, Sushi-X
* Associate Editors - Phil Theobald, Ethan Einhorn, Miguel Lopez, Sushi-X
* Senior Art Director - Andrew Burwell
* Senior Art Director - Andrew Burwell
* Associate Art Directors - Nicole Tanner
* Associate Art Director - Nicole Tanner


==The Return of Sushi-X==
==The return of Sushi-X==
GameNOW #16 (February 2003) featured the long-awaited return of the legendary EGM review ninja, [[Sushi-X]]. An expert on fighting games, an actual photo of Sushi never appeared in the magazine. Instead, he was always shown as a pixelized, 16-bit era sprite. Even in this form, he still featured his trademark red [[Keikogi]], [[katana]], and [[sai]].
''GameNOW'' #16 (February 2003) featured the return of the ''EGM'' review ninja, [[Sushi-X]]. An expert on fighting games, an actual photo of Sushi never appeared in the magazine. Instead, he was always shown as a pixelized, 16-bit era sprite. Even in this form, he still featured his trademark red [[keikogi]], [[katana]], and [[sai (weapon)|sai]].


Sushi's reviews differed from the other editor's reviews in that they were written with more flowery prose and were peppered with references to his ninja training and his quest for enlightenment.
Sushi's reviews differed from the other editors' reviews in that they were written with more flowery prose and were peppered with references to his ninja training and his quest for enlightenment.


==Magazine Content==
==Magazine departments==
Like most magazines, GameNOW features many recurring sections. These included:
Like most magazines, ''GameNOW'' features many recurring sections. These included:


===Regular Sections===
===Regular sections===
* Rants & Raves - GameNOW's letters section was popular among its readers for its humorous and sarcastic tone. GameNOW wasn't afraid to poke fun at its readers, and many readers would write in hoping to be "zinged" in the pages of the magazine. Rants & Raves was home to several inside jokes among GameNOW's readership, including the frequent use of a particular screenshot from the [[PlayStation]] game, ''[[Final Fantasy VIII]]''.
* Rants & Raves - ''GameNOW''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s letters section was popular among its readers for its humorous and sarcastic tone. ''GameNOW'' wasn't afraid to poke fun at its readers, and many readers would write in hoping to be "zinged" in the pages of the magazine. Rants & Raves was home to several inside jokes among ''GameNOW''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s readership, including the frequent use of a particular screenshot from the PlayStation game ''[[Final Fantasy VIII]]''.
* GameNOW Gallery - A two-page spread that focused on showing large screenshots and character artwork from upcoming games. This section is notable for featuring a spread highlighting [[Rare]]'s original character designs for [[Joanna Dark]] in ''[[Perfect Dark Zero]]'' (issue #15, January 2003) and a spread showing several screenshots from the unreleased [[GBA]] game, ''[[Shantae]] Advance'' (issue #25, November 2003).
* ''GameNOW'' Gallery - A two-page spread that focused on showing large screenshots and character artwork from upcoming games. This section is notable for featuring a spread highlighting [[Rare (company)|Rare]]'s original character designs for [[Joanna Dark]] in ''[[Perfect Dark Zero]]'' (issue #15, January 2003) and a spread showing several screenshots from the unreleased GBA game ''[[Shantae|Shantae Advance]]'' (issue #25, November 2003).
* Hot 10 - A previews section that counted down the top ten best games coming out each month.
* Hot 10 - A previews section that counted down the top ten best games coming out each month.
* Now Playing - GameNOW's review section. The magazine's review scale was much like a school's report card, with grades ranging from A+ to F. As you might expect, a C grade denoted that the game was average.
* Now Playing - ''GameNOW''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s review section. The magazine's review scale was much like a school's report card, with grades ranging from A+ to F. A C grade denoted that the game was average.
* The A+ Club - A section that called special attention to all the games that received GameNOW's highest review score, an A+.
* The A+ Club - A section that called special attention to all the games that received ''GameNOW''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s highest review score, an A+.
* The F Troupe - The polar opposite of The A+ Club. This section called out every game that received GameNOW's lowest score, an F. The F Troupe's mascot was Poo, an anthropomorphic piece of cartoon poop that the GameNOW editor's created in the [[PlayStation 2]] game ''[[Magic Pengel]]''.
* The F Troupe - The polar opposite of The A+ Club. This section called out every game that received ''GameNOW''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s lowest score, an F. The F Troupe's mascot was Poo, an anthropomorphic piece of cartoon poop that the ''GameNOW'' editors created in the PlayStation 2 game ''[[Magic Pengel]]''.
* Tricks Now - A multiple page section near the back of the magazine that contained cheat codes for the latest games.
* Tricks Now - A multi-page section near the back of the magazine that contained cheat codes for the latest games.
* Animal Crossing Bulletin Board - A small feature than ran withing the Tricks Now section from issue #14 (December 2002) to issue #25 (November 2003). It features strategies for the [[GameCube]] game, ''[[Animal Crossing]]'' and original patterns that you could recreate with the game's pattern designer. Among the custom patterns were the GameNOW logo and a recreation of GameNOW's legendary ''[[Final Fantasy VIII]]'' screenshot.
* Animal Crossing Bulletin Board - A small feature than ran within the Tricks Now section from issue #14 (December 2002) to issue #25 (November 2003). It featured strategies for the Nintendo GameCube game ''[[Animal Crossing]]'' and original patterns that could be recreated with the game's pattern designer. Among the custom patterns were the ''GameNOW'' logo and a recreation of ''GameNOW''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s legendary ''Final Fantasy VIII'' screenshot.


===Fan Club===
===Fan Club===
When GameNOW began, Fan Club was the name of the letters section that ran in the back of the magazine. Starting with issue #4 (February 2002), the Fan Club section was expanded to include regular (and often humorous) mini-features in addition to the reader mail.
When ''GameNOW'' began, Fan Club was the name of the letters section that ran in the back of the magazine. Starting with issue #4 (February 2002), the Fan Club section was expanded to include regular (and often humorous) mini-features in addition to the reader mail.


In issue #14 (December 2002), the letters section was moved to the front of the magazine and renamed Rants & Raves. The mini-features were retained in the now expanded Fan Club section in the back of the magazine.
In issue #14 (December 2002), the letters section was moved to the front of the magazine and renamed Rants & Raves. The mini-features were retained in the now expanded Fan Club section in the back of the magazine.


Among the regular mini-features were:
Among the regular mini-features were:

* Top Ten - Although these top ten lists were often played straight by counting down the top ten games in a specific series or genre, there were occasional lists that were made for laughs.
* Top Ten - Although these top ten lists were often played straight by counting down the top ten games in a specific series or genre, there were occasional lists that were made for laughs.
* Crap from the Past - Poked fun at terrible older video games.
* Crap from the Past - Poked fun at terrible older video games.
Line 63: Line 58:
* Gamerdex - Inspired by the [[Pokédex]] from [[Nintendo]]'s [[Pokémon]] series, this section highlighted a different type of gamer, including an illustration of the gamer.
* Gamerdex - Inspired by the [[Pokédex]] from [[Nintendo]]'s [[Pokémon]] series, this section highlighted a different type of gamer, including an illustration of the gamer.
* Gaming Evolution - Took a video game character or series and traced its evolution from its humble beginnings to its current success. The section also made note of the subject's most embarrassing moments.
* Gaming Evolution - Took a video game character or series and traced its evolution from its humble beginnings to its current success. The section also made note of the subject's most embarrassing moments.
* Fan Letter Art - Envelope art sent in by the GameNOW readers.
* Fan Letter Art - Envelope art sent in by the ''GameNOW'' readers.
* $10 Treasures - Discussed discount games available for the [[PlayStation]].
* $10 Treasures - Discussed discount games available for the PlayStation.
* Giuseppe Contelli's What If? - A spotlight for long-time EGM2, Expert Gamer, and GameNOW reader, Giuseppe Contelli's nonsensical "What If" scenarios. A prime example: What if [[Bullet Bill]] did attract [[Joanna Dark]] and she reads the inscription, "I am in love with yours" on him?
* Giuseppe Contelli's What If? - A spotlight for long-time ''EGM²'', ''Expert Gamer'', and ''GameNOW'' reader Giuseppe Contelli's nonsensical "What If" scenarios. A prime example: What if Bullet Bill did attract Joanna Dark and she reads the inscription, "I am in love with yours" on him?
* Cool Job - A short interview with video game industry insiders where they explained what their job involved and how they got it. A notable interview subject was [[Charles Martinet]], [[Nintendo]]'s voice of [[Mario]].
* Cool Job - A short interview with video game industry insiders where they explained what their job involved and how they got it. A notable interview subject was [[Charles Martinet]], Nintendo's voice of [[Mario]].
* Super Lucky Love Love Japan - A section that highlighted import games, anime-based games, and [[anime]]. This section is an evolved version of the old feature, Super Lucky Imports.
* Super Lucky Love Love Japan - A section that highlighted import games, anime-based games, and [[anime]]. This section is an evolved version of the old feature, Super Lucky Imports.
* [[Game Critter Super-Squad!]] - A comic strip by cartoonist [[Jeremy "Norm" Scott]], the creator of [[Hsu and Chan]] (which GCSS was a spin-off of).
* [[Game Critter Super-Squad!]] - A comic strip by cartoonist [[Jeremy "Norm" Scott]], the creator of [[Hsu and Chan]] (of which GCSS was a spin-off).


==List of Issues==
==April Fools==
⚫
It's a tradition among Ziff-Davis' video game magazines (particularly ''Electronic Gaming Monthly''), to plant an April Fools joke in the April issue. During its brief history, ''GameNOW'' only had one April Fool's joke.
The following is a list of all the GameNOW issues including what was on the cover:


⚫
In issue #6 (April 2002), on page 42, there was a one-page preview for an Xbox game called ''Metal Gear Solid X''. Before ''[[Metal Gear Solid 2: Substance]]'' was announced for either PlayStation 2 or Xbox, ''GameNOW'' ran this preview for the fake game. ''MGSX'' was said to be an Xbox port of the PlayStation 2 game, ''[[Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty]]''. The biggest selling point of this game was that after playing through the game once, a bonus mode was unlocked, allowing a play through the game again as the series' main hero, [[Solid Snake]], instead of ''MGS2''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s hero, Raiden.
* Issue #1, November 2001 - ''[[Super Mario Sunshine]]'' ([[GameCube]])
* Issue #2, December 2001 - ''[[Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3]]'' ([[PlayStation 2]], [[Xbox]], [[GameCube]])
* Issue #3, January 2002 - ''[[Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone]]'' ([[PlayStation]], [[Game Boy Advance]], [[Game Boy Color]])
* Issue #4, February 2002 - ''[[Super Smash Bros. Melee]]'' ([[GameCube]])
* Issue #5, March 2002 - ''[[Pac-Man World 2]]'' ([[PlayStation 2]])
* Issue #6, April 2002 - ''[[Tekken 4]]'' ([[PlayStation 2]])
* Issue #7, May 2002 - ''[[Dragon Ball Z: The Legacy of Goku]]''/''[[Dragon Ball Z: Collectible Card Game]]'' ([[Game Boy Advance]])
* Issue #8, June 2002 - ''[[NFL 2K3]]'' ([[PlayStation]], [[Xbox]], [[GameCube]])
* Issue #9, July 2002 - ''[[WWE WrestleMania X8]]'' ([[GameCube]])
* Issue #10, August 2002 - Fall's Big Games Issue 2002
* Issue #11, September 2002 - ''[[Super Mario Sunshine]]'' ([[GameCube]])
* Issue #12, October 2002 - ''[[Sly Cooper and the Thievius Raccoonus]]'' ([[PlayStation 2]])
* Issue #13, November 2002 - ''[[Star Fox Adventures]]'' ([[GameCube]])
* Issue #14, December 2002 - ''[[007: Nightfire]]'' ([[PlayStation 2]], [[Xbox]], [[GameCube]])
* Issue #15, January 2003 - ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers]]'' ([[PlayStation 2]], [[Xbox]], [[GameCube]])
* Issue #16, February 2003 - ''[[Dragon Ball Z: Budokai]]'' ([[PlayStation 2]])
* Issue #17, March 2003 - ''[[Yu-Gi-Oh!: The Duelists of the Roses]]'' ([[PlayStation 2]])
* Issue #18, April 2003 - ''[[The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker]]'' ([[GameCube]])
* Issue #19, May 2003 - ''[[Tomb Raider: The Angel of Darkness]]'' ([[PlayStation 2]])
* Issue #20, June 2003 - [[Mega Man]] 15th Anniversary Special
'''Note:''' This issue shipped with two different covers -- one features Mega Man's original design and one featuring the ''[[Mega Man Battle Network]]'' version of the character.
* Issue #21, July 2003 - ''[[Hulk]]'' ([[PlayStation 2]], [[Xbox]], [[GameCube]])
* Issue #22, August 2003 - 50 Hot Games of Fall 2003
* Issue #23, September 2003 - ''[[Soul Calibur II]]'' ([[PlayStation 2]], [[Xbox]], [[GameCube]])
* Issue #24, October 2003 - ''[[Star Wars Rogue Squadron III: Rebel Strike]]'' ([[GameCube]])
* Issue #25, November 2003 - ''[[Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles]]'' ([[PlayStation 2]], [[Xbox]], [[GameCube]])
'''Note:''' This issue shipped with four different covers -- one for each of the four Ninja Turtles.
* Issue #26, December 2003 - [[Final Fantasy]] Blowout
* Issue #27, January 2004 - ''[[Yu Yu Hakusho: Spirit Detective]]'' ([[Game Boy Advance]])


⚫
Additionally, extra features in the Solid Snake mode included the return of Nastasha Romanenko (from the original ''[[Metal Gear Solid (1998 video game)|Metal Gear Solid]]''), a boss fight against [[Revolver Ocelot]], the chance to assist Raiden in battles from the first play-through (this time from Snake's point of view), and access to previously locked areas of Big Shell.
==April Fool's==
⚫
It's a tradition among [[Ziff-Davis]]' video game magazines (particularly [[Electronic Gaming Monthly]]), to plant an April's Fools joke in the April issue. During it's brief history, GameNOW only had one April Fool's joke, but it was a doozy.


⚫
The preview featured seven very convincing (yet phony) screenshots of the new features. The two screenshots that show Snake wandering through a red office building were photographs of the ''GameNOW'' offices that had their colors altered and the Metal Gear characters inserted into them. In the first-person screenshot that shows Snake in a helicopter shooting down at a [[AV-8 Harrier II|Harrier jet]], the hand holding the gun belongs to Mike Vallas, the man who created the fake screens.
⚫
In issue #6 (April 2002), on page 42, there was a one-page preview for an [[Xbox]] game called ''Metal Gear Solid X''. Before ''[[Metal Gear Solid 2: Substance]]'' was announced for either [[PlayStation 2]] or [[Xbox]], GameNOW ran this preview for the fake game. ''MGSX'' was said to be an [[Xbox]] port of the [[PlayStation 2]] game, ''[[Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty]]''. The biggest selling point of this game was that if you played through the game once, you unlocked a bonus mode that let you play through the game again as the series' main hero, [[Solid Snake]] instead of ''MGS2'''s hero, Raiden.


==Notes==
⚫
Additionally, extra features in the Solid Snake mode included the return of [[Nastasha Romanenko]] (from the original ''[[Metal Gear Solid]]''), a boss fight against [[Revolver Ocelot]], the chance to assist Raiden in battles from the first play-through (this time from Snake's point of view), and access to previously locked areas of [[Big Shell]].
{{Reflist}}


⚫
==External links==
⚫
The preview featured seven very convincing (yet phony) screenshots of the new features. It is interesting to note that the two screenshots that show Snake wandering through a red office building were actually photographs of the GameNOW offices that had their colors' altered and the Metal Gear characters inserted into them. Also, in the first-person screenshot that shows Snake in a helicopter shooting down at a [[Harrier]] jet, the hand that you see holding the gun belongs to Mike Vallas, the man who created the fake screens.
⚫
* [http://www.1up.com Ziff-Davis' official website]
⚫
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20060619053706/http://boards.1up.com/zd?category.id=gamenow The ''GameNOW'' message boards on 1up.com]


{{Ziff Davis}}
A few European websites took scans of the preview and posted them as news.

==Trivia==
* The back cover of GameNOW #1 features the only appearance of a specific ad for ''[[Star Wars Rogue Squadron II: Rogue Leader]]'' for [[GameCube]]. The ad features a glass cube containing a crashed [[TIE interceptor]] inside it. The glass on one side of the cube is cracked and purple smoke is pouring out of the crashed (and flaming) ship. [[LucasArts]], the company that created the game, had placed the ad shortly before the terrorist attacks of [[9/11]]. In light of the attacks, the company felt that it was in the best taste to withdraw the ad. However, the first issue of GameNOW had already been printed by the time of the attacks and before [[LucasArts]] could withdraw the ad, making GameNOW #1 the only place to see this ad in print.
* ''[[Super Mario Sunshine]]'' was the cover story on GameNOW #1 despite the only content relating to the game in that issue being a small news article announcing the title (which wouldn't be released until roughly a year later). The reason for this is that when GameNOW was in the planning stages, a mock-up cover for issue #1 was created with a big picture of [[Mario]] as the primary piece of cover art. The [[Ziff-Davis]] execs liked the mock-up cover so much that they insisted that it become the actual cover for the first issue. A quick news story had to be written up to make the cover relevant to the rest of the issue.
* GameNOW's original layout and design was strikingly similar to the British Nintendo magazine, [[N64 Magazine]] (which was eventually renamed NGC). Even the four multi-colored spots below GameNOW's logo were "heavily inspired" by [[N64 Magazine]]'s logo. GameNOW's design moved away from the look of [[N64 Magazine]] after GameNOW's redesign in February 2003 (issue #16).
* If you line up issues #16-27 (the last year's worth of issues), you'll see a familiar sight on the spines -- the recurring ''[[Final Fantasy VIII]]'' screenshot that had become an in-joke among GameNOW readers.
* The final issue of GameNOW was a special 3D issue. By using the ChromaDepth 3D glasses that came with the issue, certain images seemed to pop off of the page. Even the [[Game Critter Super-Squad!]] comic was colored in such a way to take advantage of the 3D effect.

⚫
==External links==
====Official====
⚫
*[http://www.1up.com [[Ziff-Davis]]' Official Website]
⚫
*[http://boards.1up.com/zd?category.id=gamenow The GameNOW message boards on 1up.com]


[[Category:Computer and video game magazines]]
[[Category:Monthly magazines published in the United States]]
[[Category:United States magazines]]
[[Category:Defunct video game magazines published in the United States]]
[[Category:Monthly magazines]]
[[Category:Magazines established in 2001]]
[[Category:Magazines disestablished in 2004]]
[[Category:Magazines published in Chicago]]
[[Category:Magazines published in San Francisco]]

Latest revision as of 05:13, 4 September 2024

Issue #18 (April 2003): The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker

GameNOW (occasionally abbreviated to GN) was a United States-based video game magazine that was published by Ziff-Davis from November 2001 to January 2004. A total of 27 issues were published. In addition to video game consoles like PlayStation 2, Xbox, GameCube, and Game Boy Advance, GameNOW also covered games for personal computers.

History

[edit]

GameNOW's roots began in July 1994[1] when the popular magazine Electronic Gaming Monthly launched a spin-off magazine called EGM2. EGM² was essentially "another EGM," only without a reviews section and a greater emphasis on import games.

Starting in August 1998, EGM² became Expert Gamer (often abbreviated to XG), and the magazine's focus shifted away from news and previews to strategy and tricks. Despite the different name, XG continued EGM²'s numbering system. XG lasted for 39 issues until October 2001 (with the last issue being XG #88).

The next month (November 2001), XG was replaced by GameNOW. Although GameNOW maintained a healthy tricks section and occasional strategy guides, the magazine's focus shifted to in-depth previews and reviews. Targeted to a younger audience than that of EGM (16 year-olds, while also appealing to 10-15 year-olds), GameNOW concentrated less on industry insider-type features and more on the actual video games, including numerous large screenshots and elaborate feature articles.

In November 2002 (issue #13), the GameNOW staff was almost completely replaced when Ziff-Davis moved its video game magazines from the Chicago suburb of Oak Brook, Illinois to San Francisco, California. Of the original staff, only two writers made the move to California. Shortly after the move, the magazine underwent a massive redesign.

Staff

[edit]

The magazine's original editorial staff consisted of the following crew:

  • Editor-in-Chief - Dan Leahy
  • Managing Editor - Justyn Harkin
  • Associate Editors - Phil Theobald, Ethan Einhorn
  • Senior Art Director - Carey Wise
  • Associate Art Directors - Dave Malec, Mark Manzo (Mark would eventually become an Associate Editor)

Once the magazine was relocated to San Francisco, the staff consisted of:

  • Editor-in-Chief - Tom Byron
  • Managing Editor - Carrie Shepherd
  • Associate Editors - Phil Theobald, Ethan Einhorn, Miguel Lopez, Sushi-X
  • Senior Art Director - Andrew Burwell
  • Associate Art Director - Nicole Tanner

The return of Sushi-X

[edit]

GameNOW #16 (February 2003) featured the return of the EGM review ninja, Sushi-X. An expert on fighting games, an actual photo of Sushi never appeared in the magazine. Instead, he was always shown as a pixelized, 16-bit era sprite. Even in this form, he still featured his trademark red keikogi, katana, and sai.

Sushi's reviews differed from the other editors' reviews in that they were written with more flowery prose and were peppered with references to his ninja training and his quest for enlightenment.

Magazine departments

[edit]

Like most magazines, GameNOW features many recurring sections. These included:

Regular sections

[edit]
  • Rants & Raves - GameNOW's letters section was popular among its readers for its humorous and sarcastic tone. GameNOW wasn't afraid to poke fun at its readers, and many readers would write in hoping to be "zinged" in the pages of the magazine. Rants & Raves was home to several inside jokes among GameNOW's readership, including the frequent use of a particular screenshot from the PlayStation game Final Fantasy VIII.
  • GameNOW Gallery - A two-page spread that focused on showing large screenshots and character artwork from upcoming games. This section is notable for featuring a spread highlighting Rare's original character designs for Joanna Dark in Perfect Dark Zero (issue #15, January 2003) and a spread showing several screenshots from the unreleased GBA game Shantae Advance (issue #25, November 2003).
  • Hot 10 - A previews section that counted down the top ten best games coming out each month.
  • Now Playing - GameNOW's review section. The magazine's review scale was much like a school's report card, with grades ranging from A+ to F. A C grade denoted that the game was average.
  • The A+ Club - A section that called special attention to all the games that received GameNOW's highest review score, an A+.
  • The F Troupe - The polar opposite of The A+ Club. This section called out every game that received GameNOW's lowest score, an F. The F Troupe's mascot was Poo, an anthropomorphic piece of cartoon poop that the GameNOW editors created in the PlayStation 2 game Magic Pengel.
  • Tricks Now - A multi-page section near the back of the magazine that contained cheat codes for the latest games.
  • Animal Crossing Bulletin Board - A small feature than ran within the Tricks Now section from issue #14 (December 2002) to issue #25 (November 2003). It featured strategies for the Nintendo GameCube game Animal Crossing and original patterns that could be recreated with the game's pattern designer. Among the custom patterns were the GameNOW logo and a recreation of GameNOW's legendary Final Fantasy VIII screenshot.

Fan Club

[edit]

When GameNOW began, Fan Club was the name of the letters section that ran in the back of the magazine. Starting with issue #4 (February 2002), the Fan Club section was expanded to include regular (and often humorous) mini-features in addition to the reader mail.

In issue #14 (December 2002), the letters section was moved to the front of the magazine and renamed Rants & Raves. The mini-features were retained in the now expanded Fan Club section in the back of the magazine.

Among the regular mini-features were:

  • Top Ten - Although these top ten lists were often played straight by counting down the top ten games in a specific series or genre, there were occasional lists that were made for laughs.
  • Crap from the Past - Poked fun at terrible older video games.
  • Hot or Not - A lighthearted look at what the editors were into that month.
  • Gamerdex - Inspired by the Pokédex from Nintendo's Pokémon series, this section highlighted a different type of gamer, including an illustration of the gamer.
  • Gaming Evolution - Took a video game character or series and traced its evolution from its humble beginnings to its current success. The section also made note of the subject's most embarrassing moments.
  • Fan Letter Art - Envelope art sent in by the GameNOW readers.
  • $10 Treasures - Discussed discount games available for the PlayStation.
  • Giuseppe Contelli's What If? - A spotlight for long-time EGM², Expert Gamer, and GameNOW reader Giuseppe Contelli's nonsensical "What If" scenarios. A prime example: What if Bullet Bill did attract Joanna Dark and she reads the inscription, "I am in love with yours" on him?
  • Cool Job - A short interview with video game industry insiders where they explained what their job involved and how they got it. A notable interview subject was Charles Martinet, Nintendo's voice of Mario.
  • Super Lucky Love Love Japan - A section that highlighted import games, anime-based games, and anime. This section is an evolved version of the old feature, Super Lucky Imports.
  • Game Critter Super-Squad! - A comic strip by cartoonist Jeremy "Norm" Scott, the creator of Hsu and Chan (of which GCSS was a spin-off).

April Fools

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It's a tradition among Ziff-Davis' video game magazines (particularly Electronic Gaming Monthly), to plant an April Fools joke in the April issue. During its brief history, GameNOW only had one April Fool's joke.

In issue #6 (April 2002), on page 42, there was a one-page preview for an Xbox game called Metal Gear Solid X. Before Metal Gear Solid 2: Substance was announced for either PlayStation 2 or Xbox, GameNOW ran this preview for the fake game. MGSX was said to be an Xbox port of the PlayStation 2 game, Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty. The biggest selling point of this game was that after playing through the game once, a bonus mode was unlocked, allowing a play through the game again as the series' main hero, Solid Snake, instead of MGS2's hero, Raiden.

Additionally, extra features in the Solid Snake mode included the return of Nastasha Romanenko (from the original Metal Gear Solid), a boss fight against Revolver Ocelot, the chance to assist Raiden in battles from the first play-through (this time from Snake's point of view), and access to previously locked areas of Big Shell.

The preview featured seven very convincing (yet phony) screenshots of the new features. The two screenshots that show Snake wandering through a red office building were photographs of the GameNOW offices that had their colors altered and the Metal Gear characters inserted into them. In the first-person screenshot that shows Snake in a helicopter shooting down at a Harrier jet, the hand holding the gun belongs to Mike Vallas, the man who created the fake screens.

Notes

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  1. ^ "Defunct or Suspended Magazines, 2003". The Association of Magazine Media. Archived from the original on 22 December 2015. Retrieved 13 December 2015.
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