http://www.defunctgames.com The latest A Brief History of Gaming episodes from Defunct Games http://www.defunctgames.com/history/44 Having already looked at Electronic Gaming Monthly's best and worst April Fools' jokes and analyzed every LamePro parody published in the 1990s, we're officially out of ideas. So here's a thought: Let's talk about April Fools' jokes that DIDN'T HAPPEN on April Fools' Day. Join us as we look at EGM mash-ups that include everything from Sonic the Hedgehog to Strider to Final Fight. We'll also talk about the non-April Fools' jokes that were inspired by the EGM editors, including Foul magazine and ... Defunct Games? That's right, we're going to be taking a look at our past in this surprisingly informative look at April Fools' jokes that have nothing to do with April Fools' Day! Thu, 01 Apr 2021 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.defunctgames.com/history/43 Join Defunct Games' Cyril Lachel as he fills out GamePro's reader survey from 1992. Featuring 35 questions designed to learn more about the average reader, including what systems they own, where they rent games, what genres they like and how often they watch GamePro TV. It's a trip down memory lane as we talk about growing up in a small town and buying new issues of GamePro magazine. Fri, 21 Feb 2020 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.defunctgames.com/history/42 This weekend brings us the 92nd Academy Awards, and while I'm not a huge fan of awards shows, I have to admit that I genuinely love the Oscars. Sure, they make a lot of boneheaded decisions and the hosts are sometimes disappointing, but I grew up watching them and still look forward to see what happens. One thing I've always wanted to do is vote at the Oscars, but seeing as I've never made a movie, worked in Hollywood or been nominated for any awards, it seems my chances are pretty slim. With that dream squashed, I figured I would do the next best thing -- vote for the GamePro Reader's Choice Awards.<br /><br /> Okay, so maybe that's not the next best thing, but it's exactly what I'm going to do today. I've pulled out this ballot from the November 1992 issue of GamePro magazine that wanted me to vote on the best games of the year. I didn't do it back in the day, but it's better late than never, right? Join me as I go through all eleven categories and pick the absolute best games of 1992. Fri, 07 Feb 2020 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.defunctgames.com/history/41 The year was 1993 and GamePro had an unexpected April Fools problem on their hands. Their nearest competitor, a scrappy and opinionated Electronic Gaming Monthly, had already come out swinging with convincing cheat codes -- one that unlocked Simon Belmont in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2: The Arcade Game and another that introduced Sheng Long to Street Fighter II. These immediately went viral and even got reprinted in foreign magazines, which was a big deal in the early 1990s. This forced GamePro to come up with their own April Fools series, and the result was LamePro. Mon, 01 Apr 2019 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.defunctgames.com/history/40 With the Electronic Entertainment Expo just a few days away, every games journalist worth their salt is scrambling to write predictions, line-up interviews and be the first to break the big scoops. I've decided to go the other direction. Instead of looking forward to this year's E3, I've decided to look backwards -- to the first time I ever covered the annual trade show. Mon, 01 Jun 2015 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.defunctgames.com/history/39 Street Fighter II was big business in 1993. In fact, the franchise was so big that many games journalists believed it would break the 16-bit war wide open. In today's episode of A Brief History of Gaming, we're taking a look back at a time when Capcom punched Sega in the gut. While it all worked out in the end, this lurid tale suggests that making promises can sometimes lead to PR disaster. Tue, 24 Feb 2015 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.defunctgames.com/history/38 Are you sick of handing out candy to a bunch of entitled brats? Then turn off your porch light, pretend nobody is home and join us as we look at the scariest magazine covers of the 1990s. From being buried alive to the ills of drinking soda, this episode of A Brief History of Gaming has to be seen to be believed. Just keep reminding yourself that they are only magazine covers. Fri, 31 Oct 2014 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.defunctgames.com/history/37 Did you know that Sally Field has conquered more than just movies, television and music? After going head-to-head with Ganon, the former Flying Nun also conquered the world of Hyrule. See what makes this two-time Oscar-winning actress a retro gamer, and why it caught Entertainment Weekly off guard. In our opinion, Sally Field is a retro gamer ... and here's the proof! Tue, 23 Sep 2014 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.defunctgames.com/history/36 So far September has brought disappointing reviews for one of the biggest releases of the year, more fallout from faux-scandals and a lot of talk about the new Smash Bros. game. But that wasn't the case twenty years ago. Leave today's hot topics behind and take a trip to 1994, back when the newsstand was full of game magazines. Journey with us as we flip through old issues of Electronic Gaming Monthly, GamePro, Mean Machines Sega, Game Informer and Super Play to see what everybody was talking about in September 1994. Tue, 16 Sep 2014 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.defunctgames.com/history/35/ E3 may be over, but our week-long look at the very first Electronic Entertainment Expo is sticking around for one more day. For our final episode, we'll see the very first E3 through the eyes of Nintendo Power. Find out what the magazine thought of Sega's Saturn, Sony's PlayStation and Nintendo's own group of Super NES games in this final episode of The First E3! Fri, 13 Jun 2014 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.defunctgames.com/history/34/ E3 week is almost over, but our week-long look at the very first Electronic Entertainment Expo rages on. Today's episode sees the E3 1995 through the eyes of Electronic Gaming Monthly, one of the most popular video game magazines of all time. Find out how they carried themselves in this brand new episode of The First E3. Thu, 12 Jun 2014 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.defunctgames.com/history/33/ Are you overwhelmed by the usual E3 news? Then join Defunct Games as they take a look back at the very first Electronic Entertainment Expo in 1995. This is day three of a week-long series that sees E3 through the eyes of different old school magazines. How did the up-and-coming Next Generation magazine cover this brand new convention? Find out as Defunct Games takes you back to the very first E3. Wed, 11 Jun 2014 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.defunctgames.com/history/32/ E3 week is here. But instead of looking at the newest and hottest games, Defunct Games is taking a look back at the very first Electronic Entertainment Expo. This is day two of our week-long series that will see E3 through the eyes of old school magazines. How excited was Die Hard Game Fan to cover this brand new convention? Find out as Defunct Games takes you back to the very first E3. Tue, 10 Jun 2014 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.defunctgames.com/history/31/ E3 week is upon us. But instead of looking forward to the big game announcements, Defunct Games is taking a look back at the very first Electronic Entertainment Expo. This is the first part of a week-long series that will see E3 through the eyes of old school magazines. How did GamePro cover E3 back in 1995? Find out as Defunct Games takes you back to the first E3! Mon, 09 Jun 2014 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.defunctgames.com/history/30/ How long did it take classic video game magazines to finally feature women on their covers? You may be surprised by how long it took Game Informer, Electronic Gaming Monthly, Sega Force, GamePro, Nintendo Power and other magazines from the 1980s and 1990s. See how your favorite publication fared in this brand new episode of A Brief History of Gaming. Tue, 27 May 2014 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.defunctgames.com/shows.php?id=history-29 A Brief History of Gaming #29: What's so bad about the Official Sega Genesis Seal of Quality anyway? As it turns out, it was the kiss of death to most early Sega Genesis third-parties. Join Cyril as he chronicles how many early third-parties made it out of the 20th century. Spoiler alert: Everything is grim! Wed, 05 Feb 2014 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.defunctgames.com/shows.php?id=history-28 Nintendo Power Uncovered #33: The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are back, and this time they're on a slightly better Nintendo Power cover. But don't get too excited, because this TMNT design still sucks. Find out why this cover is so confusing when you read another exciting episode of Nintendo Power Uncovered, the only show that isn't afraid to review every Nintendo Power cover! Wed, 29 Jan 2014 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.defunctgames.com/history/27/ Next week marks the tenth annual Penny Arcade Expo, located in the beautiful state of Washington. To help celebrate the occasion, Defunct Games is proud to debut our exclusive look at PAX 2006. Join us as we look at this smaller, more personal event, featuring early appearances of Klei, The World's Smallest Dungeons, Guitar Hero II and much, much more. Fri, 23 Aug 2013 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.defunctgames.com/shows.php?id=history-26 Were you caught off guard by the announcement of the Wii Mini? You shouldn't have been, because this post-generation redesign is perfectly in line with old school Nintendo. Today we delve into the history of the redesigns that came before it, including the top loading NES and the Super NES Junior! Thu, 06 Dec 2012 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.defunctgames.com/shows.php?id=history-25 In this episode of A Brief History of Gaming, we thought it would be fun to take a look back at six of the most memorable video game stress balls. Will Sega finally come out on top? Does the size and shape matter? Do these balls even relieve stress? All these questions will be answered as we dig into The Great Video Game Stress Ball Test! Tue, 21 Aug 2012 00:00:00 -0800