Help compiling a comprehensive list of UK Sega magazines...

Hey guys,

For many years, I've been attempting to collect all known UK magazines relating to the Mega Drive. I think I've done quite well: I've got 336 magazines so far. It's an unusual hobby, I guess -- but this is home of the obscure, isn't it?

I recently decided that it would be a nice idea if I could make a chronological list of all known UK Sega magazines from th "classic" period (i.e. pre-Dreamcast). Here's what I've got so far:



1. S - The Sega Mag (Future)
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12 issues (Oct 1989 - Nov 1990)
There was a two-month gap between issues 1 and 2. The magazine was re-launched as Sega Power.



2. Sega Power (Future)
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79 issues (Dec 1990 - Apr 1997)
Continued the numbering system that was used by S magazine (so the first issue was numbered "issue 13"). Two special issues: Summer '96 (#82) and Christmas '96 (#87). The magazine was [again!] relaunched as Saturn Power.



3. Sega Pro (Paragon)
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58[?] issues (Nov 1991 - Apr[?] 1996)
Two[?] special issues: Easter '94 and Easter '95. I can confirm that this magazine lasted until at least issue 58. It may have lasted a little longer, I don't know.


4. Mega-Tech (EMAP: 1-25; Maverick Magazines: 26-40[?])
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40[?] issues (Christmas 1991 - Apr[?] 1995)
The first magazine to focus exclusively on the Mega Drive. EMAP eventually sold it to Maverick, and the quality dropped until its eventual closure. I have been told from a reliable source that an issue 40 exists, though I haven't seen it myself. Any info on this one would be greatly appreciated!


5. Sega Force (Europress)
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19 issues (Jan 1992 - Jul 1993)
This split up into "Sega Force Mega" and "Sega Master Force", which catered to the Mega Drive and Master System, respectively.


6. Mega Drive Advanced Gaming (Maverick Magazines)
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30[?] issues (Sep 1992 - Feb[?] 1995)
I can confirm that issue 30 exists. I don't know if it lasted a couple more issues. Once Maverick bought all the other Mega Drive magazines, this one suffered the most. I can't comment on issues 27 and 28 (because I haven't seen them), but issues 29 and 30 consisted entirely of verbatim re-prints from previous issues (they even previewed games they had already reviewed over a year earlier!).


7. MEGA (Future: 1-23; Maverick Magazines: 24-31[?])
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31[?] issues (Oct 1992 - Apr[?] 1995)
Another Mega Drive specific magazine. A special (un-numbered) edition was published in June 1993, and reviewed all Mega Drive games that had been released until that point. Future sold the magazine to Maverick Magazines and, just like Mega-Tech, it degraded into a 30-page pamphlet. I believe issue 31 is the final issue, but I'm happy to be proven wrong.


8. Mean Machines Sega (EMAP)
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53 issues (Oct 1992 - Mar 1997)
One-month gap between issues 8 and 9, so a "June 1993" does not exist. When it closed, this magazine recommended its sister publication: [Official] Sega Saturn Magazine.


9. Sega Zone (Dennis: Nov 1992 - Aug 1993; Future: Sep 1993 - Feb 1994; Maverick Magazines: Mar 1994 - ???)
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>=23 issues (Nov 1992 - [at least Sep 1994])
Changed hands twice! Catered to all Sega formats until Maverick Magazines acquired it, at which point it became another Mega Drive magazine. I have no idea when it ended, but I know it lasted until at least September 1994.


10. Mega Action (Europress)
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11 issues (Jun 1993 - Mar 1994)
One special issue (#8, Christmas 1993). The magazine closed down when its publishers, Europress, folded.


11. Sega XS (Paragon)
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17 issues (Jun 1993 - Apr 1994)
This was the Sega off-shoot of Paragon's short-lived "Console XS". A magazine dedicated to nothing but tips and walkthroughs for all Sega consoles. It was bi-monthly for the first six issues, and then it became a monthly magazine.

From issue four, the mag also included a reviews section. Unlike other magazines, the reviews didn't give ratings or scores to the games -- you had to actually read the review to find out if it the reviewer liked it. Furthermore, being primarily a walkthrough magazine, Sega XS would only review games they had completed. This would ensure a fair criticism of the game in question. Finally, Sega XS didn't bother itself with being the first to review a game. It would occasionally review older games. The reviews section was abolished from issue 9 onwards, and the magazine stated that its 20+ page solutions should act as a good enough indication of what a game is like.

Sega XS was absorbed into Sega Pro issue 45 (May '95) as the tips section. The Sega XS section disappeared only a few issues after it had been introduced. Interestingly enough, issue 17 of Sega XS contained part 1 of a "Story of Thor" walkthrough -- this walkthrough was concluded in issue 45 of Sega Pro.


12. Sega XS Classics (Paragon)
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3[?] issues
After issue 17 of "Sega XS", "Sega XS Classics" was launched. The old numbering system was continued (so the first issue was numbered "issue 18"). This magazine was entirely re-prints of old walkthoughs that had already been published in old issues of the original Sega XS. I have the third issue ("issue 20", which only covered three Mega Drive Sonic games), and the magazine claimed that "issue 21" would contain part 2 of each guide. I haven't seen it, so I can't confirm whether or not it exists.


13. Mega Power (Paragon)
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19[?] issues (Aug 1993 - Feb[?] 1995)
Mainly focused on the Mega CD, although it also covered the Mega Drive. Most issues had a cover-mounted CD. I have seen up to issue 19, but I don't know if that was the final issue.


14. Sega Force Mega (Europress)
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7 issues (Aug 1993 - Feb 1994)
The seventh issue being a "best of" special issue. The magazine closed down when its publishers, Europress, folded.


15. Sega Master Force (Europress)
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6 issues (Aug 1993 - Jan 1994)
The magazine closed down when its publishers, Europress, folded.


16. Mega Machines (Europress)
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3 issues (Dec 1993 - Feb 1994)
A short-lived magazine from Europress, which never had much of a chance to get going. I haven't got any issues of this one, so I can't tell you anything about it.


17. Sega Magazine (EMAP)
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22 issues (Jan 1994 - Oct 1995)
Officially endorsed by Sega. After issue 22, Mega Drive and Game Gear coverage was dropped and the magazine became [Official] Sega Saturn Magazine.


18. Sega Pro CD (Paragon)
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14[?] issues (Sep 1994 - Oct[?] 1995)
Identical to the regular "Sega Pro", only sporting a different front cover and a cover-mounted CD. Internally, the two magazines are exactly the same. The first three issues were numbered "1", "2" and "3". From the fourth issue onwards, the magazine used the same numbering system as "Sega Pro" (so the fourth issue was numbered "40", ...etc). The magazine probably lasted only 14 issues. I don't have issues 51-53 of Sega Pro, so I can't confirm this.


19. Sega Saturn Magazine (EMAP)
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37 issues (Nov 1995 - Nov 1998)
Officially endorsed by Sega. The first two issues included a mini-section for 16-Bit games. This section disappeared from issue 3 onwards. Covered many import games (quite unusual for an official license). It lasted right up to the bitter end of the Saturn's life, covering Sega arcades and the Dreamcast in its final issues.


20. Saturn+ (Paragon)
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5 issues (Dec 1995 - Apr 1996)
Short-lived Saturn magazine from early in the console's life.


21. Total Saturn (Rapide)
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10 issues (Jan 1997 - Oct 1997)
Another Saturn magazine, from later on in the console's life.


22. Saturn Power (Future)
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10 issues (May 1997 - Feb 1998)
Continuation of Sega Power, only now focusing exclusively on the Saturn. The issue numbering was re-set to start from 1.



Whoah! That's quite a lot. As you can see, I need more information on when the following magazines ceased publication:

Sega Pro
Mega-Tech
Mega Drive Advanced Gaming
MEGA
Sega Zone
Sega XS Classics
Mega Power
Sega Pro CD

If anyone can fill me in, please do! And while we're on the subject, did anyone here buy any of these old magazines back in the good old days?

Speak to you later,

-Matt

 

God I loved Sega Power when I was a kid. Found a stash of them at a car boot and I read them to death. Wish I'd kept them.

 

Did you throw them out (I hope not!), or did you end up selling them?

Sega Power was a pretty cool magazine. It was the only one to cover the Mega Drive from beginning to end (almost -- it stopped just before EA's sports '98 games came out... and it might have missed The Lost World, too, I can't quite remember off-hand). It started off as a terrific mag, though it went through a *really* bad spell in the middle and then improved a lot towards the end.

I liked the way it would often comment on (and criticize!) other Sega magazines of the time. The writers clearly bought issues of rival publications, which was quite cool.

-Matt

 

If your serious about compiling a full list you might be aswell contacting some members on dedicated forums. I know some members on here could help you out - Rupert & Aypok for sure and a guy called Stewart but I am not certain of his ID on here (could be Dr Doak).

Good luck with this mate, sounds a very interesting hobby.

 

Thanks for the input, Kiff! I've just sent Rupert and Aypok a private message each.

Are there any other forums in particular that you can recommend trying?

-Matt

 

I take it you have probably already talked to "Mort" who has done sterling work archiving lots and lots of UK magazines already? (20+ complete magazine runs so far I think)

He's findable at http://www.zzap64.co.uk/ and I know he provided all the scans for http://www.meanmachinesmag.co.uk/

 

I haven't spoken to Mort -- judging by his site, he's done a heck of a lot of scanning! I'll just drop him an email right now, I can't wait to hear what he has to say.

Thanks for the information, this is great stuff!


-Matt

 

I would try most of the guys on either -

www.sega16bit.com or www.smstributes.co.uk

Both great sites with some cool people on there!

 

Cheers, Kiff. I hadn't heard of those sites -- I'm just heading over there now to investigate.

I'll keep you updated,

-Matt

 

Also try www.retromags.com

Meppi hangs out on there.. He's not from the UK but he did quality scans of OSSM and Maximum. Several MEGA issues are available as well.

 

three hundred and thirty-six mags O_O
/Me is impressed

 

Heh, cheers cyberguile. It's taken a few years (on-and-off), and there are still many more issues to track down -- but I'm roughly 2/3 of the way there.

Pulsar_t, I've had a chat with Meppi. He couldn't find any obvious omissions, and he didn't have any additional information. But he did say that he'll no doubt be in touch at a later date -- his scanning project has a timeline which stretches years into the future!

-Matt

 

I gave them to a friend actually, they all got binned I believe, bugger.

 

btw, maybe you could help us for these:

http://www.guardiana.net/MDG-Database/Notes-de-presse.html
http://www.guardiana.net/Ressources/Ads-Scan/

 

Hey cyberguile, that's an awesome site! A real treasure trove of information.

I'll be happy to contribute some scans of magazine adverts once I get my hands on a decent scanner. I guess I could try going the "cheap and easy" route by taking a photograph of each advert, but the results certainly wouldn't look as good as a proper scan.


-Matt

 

well, we try to do our best ^^

 

You should check out Segafreak's list:

http://www.segacollection.com/specials/segamags.htm

Eh, not that this user seems to be active any more, but ya never know

 

I thought there were 24 issues of this one? It may be just my memory playing up mind you ;-).

I have the full set so i can have a check if you like.

 

Retro, thanks for the input. I was in touch with SegaFreak way back in August of last year. As a matter of fact, I gave him some of the details on his webpage (for MEGA, Mega-Tech and Mega Drive Advanced Gaming) -- though I did emphasise that I was only counting issues I had confirmed to exist, and that they *could* have possibly lasted a couple of issues longer. There are a couple of mistakes on that page (for example, Sega Zone lasted until at least issue 23), but it's definitely a good reference.

DrDoaK, I'm certain that Sega Magazine ran for just 22 issues. To be honest with you, before compiling my list I also had it in my head that there were 24 issues in total! Maybe it's because 24 issues would take it up to a nice two years, or maybe I was just getting confused with Mean Machines.

I'm up at 475 issues now, by the way! And I can confirm that Sega Pro lasted until at least issue 57, as I've recently acquired that particular issue. Any more information, as always, is welcome.

I'll keep you all updated as this project progresses,

-Matt

 

Yeah, definitely 22 Issues of the Official Sega Mag, senility setting in on my behalf :icon_bigg.

Are the 'Complete A-Z of Mega Drive Games' magazines included in that list somewhere? I'm not sure who published them off the top of my head, possibly a Sega Pro spin off. I know there were at least three of those as i have Volume 3. Can provide a pic if needed, just let me know .

Are you gonna post a pic of them all so i can have a good drool?