Gaming publications that cover SHMUPS?

[jpolz]

Just wondering what you guys all read as far as gaming publications. I used to get Game Informer (free subscription), but thought it was shite.

As somebody who remembers GamePro, EGM, & Gamefan from back the early 90's....what's worth reading out there? Anything in english that covers the japanese arcade scene?

[Benjamin]

Anything in english that covers the japanese arcade scene?

You're looking at it? Since shooters are stuck in Japan by and large, don't expect outside magazines to cover them. A release such as Under Defeat, which is pretty big news in the shooter world, won't register outside Japan on any major publications or websites. Magazines still will review those games released in the US, but few really seem to care, and the ones that do bother will still find time to trash the game for being "short" or a "rental."

http://www.gamerankings.com/htmlpages2/914452.asp

[PFG 9000]

GamesTM and Retro Gaming are two British gaming magazines that feature frequent articles on shooters. Among my favorite issues are a recent one of Retro Gaming with an R-Type cover feature, and an early GamesTM issue that put R-Type Final on the cover.

[dave4shmups]

PLAY Magazine has pretty good coverage of the Japanese gaming scene.

I just renewed my Most Valuable Player account at Game Crazy, which includes a subscription to a gaming magazine, and just changed to PLAY from EGM. STAY AWAY from EGM; not only is their import section small, but it's pretty much soley dedicated to mocking Japanese gaming.

[ahnslaught]

I've recently found hard core gamer magazine for free download online, and they actually do a pretty good job of covering shooters and other japanese gaming and retro stuff. Plus, it's free! I would give that a shot, just to see if you like it or not.

I'm not sure of their actual homepage, but you can download it through fileplanet or through other sites like hardcore gaming 101, found right here:

http://hg101.classicgaming.gamespy.com/

[Sonic R]

HGM aka Hardcore Gamer Magizine.

The last issue (that I picked up) had Radirgy in it (the 2 page spread was even in TATE) and a few issues before that had a review for Raiden III. Pretty good mag.

[zinger]

Two of the largest swedish gaming magazines covers basically every major shotoer release, including import, from a shmuper's perspective. I also remember reading an article about Cave stretching over several pages. I'd rather get my information elsewhere (faster, better, free), but I do respect them for trying!

[Never_Scurred]

Just wondering what you guys all read as far as gaming publications. I used to get Game Informer (free subscription), but thought it was shite.

As somebody who remembers GamePro, EGM, & Gamefan from back the early 90's....what's worth reading out there? Anything in english that covers the japanese arcade scene?

Gamefan...*sigh*

I remember still remember that article they did on shmups. I think that was the first time ever that I recall that word being used to describe the genre. I miss that magazine. That was a gamers gaming magazine. I miss how the reviews and previews were laid out. It was as if the game had swallowed the pages. Even the few ads they had were worth reading. Proof positive that nothing good lasts forever...Whatever happened to those guys?

[Arcatech]

ya, Gamefan was and is my fav video game mag of all time. Great stuff while it was around.

[fl0w]

in France, Retro Game and Game Fan. Retro Game is awesome! Both are independant magazines and will die if noone buys them!

[Kiken]

I've recently found hard core gamer magazine for free download online, and they actually do a pretty good job of covering shooters and other japanese gaming and retro stuff. Plus, it's free! I would give that a shot, just to see if you like it or not.

I'm not sure of their actual homepage, but you can download it through fileplanet or through other sites like hardcore gaming 101, found right here:

http://hg101.classicgaming.gamespy.com/

HGM's official homepage is: www.luv2game.com

I ended up getting asked to write 2 small reviews for some doujin shmups in the latest issue (#12... I wrote up the Kamui and Imperishable Night reviews).

[1up]

I've recently found hard core gamer magazine for free download online, and they actually do a pretty good job of covering shooters and other japanese gaming and retro stuff. Plus, it's free! I would give that a shot, just to see if you like it or not.

I'm not sure of their actual homepage, but you can download it through fileplanet or through other sites like hardcore gaming 101, found right here:

http://hg101.classicgaming.gamespy.com/

I think that free game magazine is pretty sweet. thanks for the link