It has come as a shock which is evidently clear from the latest issue of 336, as there is no mention of the final issue on the front cover.
One FaceBook comment read: "Can't believe it's just ending just like that. Just another normal issue. Future should make one final collectors issue celebrating the magazine and video games through the years! This deserves a better ending!" Most certainly many readers would want a final issue worthy of a celebration of the Magazine which has been going since 1993. The decline of video games magazines sales and paper reading material in general has had a major decline due to the Internet, which isn't surprising. With the show long gone and now the magazine itself, this truly is the final nail in the coffin for the name. COLLECTIONS! If there is anyone out there who has every single issue of the magazine, please let us know in a comment. If you had the first issue as well, or any special ones this would be exciting to hear.
Buy the best selling game this month!
Some may call keeping useless game mags that you refuse to throw away hoarding, I would call it retro collectibles although anyones partner would probably disagree.
Amongst the usual old game magazines and bits of paper that must mean something, there is of course GamesMaster.
GamesMaster Issue 133 - May 2003
Relatively speaking this isn't that old (still 12 years though). However, this is a unopened issue of GM that came with the last episode of GM on DVD. The disc also featured other cool gaming bits along with an option to view the magazines front covers from past issues.
Why unopened? there were two copies purchased of course. However, I doubt this will be worth much.
Why can't the GM magazine issue the entire show series on DVD?
GamesMaster Issue 1
I will have to admit that I did not purchase this when the show first launched back in the early 90's. The contents of the mag has some interesting game news of the time along with references to the show itself of course.
GamesMaster - The Official Book
Again, not originally purchased at the time but found on eBay. The book focuses on the second series along with a snip of the 3rd.
GamesMaster Tips & Cheats Books
Why oh why so many? Back in the day they came with almost every issue of GM. In today's world there is no need for a small tips book as anyone can get what they need from Mr.Google. The end result has been a pile of little books for old games, these are pretty worthless.
GamesMaster XMas Special VHS
As already mentioned in an earlier post, this was a mix tape of new games at the time. The music was fitting and showcased the games perfectly.
Disappointed with the front cover as the sticker had ripped the front off.
Anyone who will be watching old video game shows such as GM will no doubt have the nostalgic urge to play retro games.
You can of course obtain the old consoles and games on sites such as eBay. However, long gone are the days where you can pick them up cheap at the local car boot as most sellers will now know their worth.
The prices are not rediculous though as you can purchase an unboxed SNES console on eBay for around £30-£50 and this is roughtly the cost of most older consoles
Collectors will of course pay a lot more for a boxed console or game and some are quite rare.
The black Playstation programable console can be worth well over the £300 mark along with any Jap import consoles.
There are also many increasingly rare games such as 'Secrete of Mana' for the Super Nintendo (£50+) and 'Panzer Dragoon Saga' for the Sega Saturn which can sell for well over £100+.
Most of the well known retro games can be purchased for a relativlly cheap price so there is always a bargain to be had.
If you plan to play some of the older classics without cluttering your room with dusty plastic boxes, then you can of course use the following methods:
Download a ROM and Emulator to your PC, laptop or tablet.
Download officially released games to the Playstation and XBox on-line networks.
Buy retro game bundle discs.
Stream games to services such as Steam or OnLive.
Personally, I think the experience of playing on the original format is more satisfying.
Let's face it, there are no entertaining computer game shows that have the comedy and genuine banter that GamesMaster had.
Watching GM (especially the later series) was like watching your mates play games and take the piss out of you, I think that is what adults need now.
Channel 5 have 'The Blurb' of course, but this has people just trying to be funny, or maybe I just don't get their immature humor directed at clear posh students?
An Idea
Channel 5 will consume almost any TV show like Big Brother. Why could they not have just resurrected GamesMaster?
The host could have been Frankie Boyle (its still a Scottish comedian with glasses) and after offending most of the guests including the film crew, we can then sit back and know we have a decent show.
Channel 5 have ran The Gadget Show for more than ten years now, so why can't a game show run longer?
GM was cut premature, the games industry is growing bigger not smaller.
Lack of entertainment
It's not just computer game shows that need a revamp for adults, movie shows and cult interests also.
Back in the early 2000's there was a show called Vidz on Channel 4. This had two hosts who were hilarious, reviewing films whilst keeping up a weird but funny act.
For those who love Real Anime such as Manga from the 90's, then you will no doubt remember 'Cyber City Oedo 808'.
This was part of the Cyber Punk collection which also included Cenocyber and AD Police.
If you have not heard of or seen Cyber City then here is a quick plot summary from Wiki:
To combat computerised crime more effectively, the Cyber Police unit of the future Japanese city of Oedo has restarted the feudal practice of hōmen (放免), employing hardened criminals with a history of hi-tech offences and other crimes such as murder as officers themselves.
Three such criminals are Sengoku, Gogol and Benten who are serving their 300-or-more year sentences in an orbitalpenitentiary.
For duty served, each criminal will receive a reduction in their prison
time. Desperate to get away from the boredom and monotony of jail life,
they half-heartedly agree to the deal.
This has to be one of the best Manga series out there, a futuristic but realistic setting in Tokyo, mashed up with lots of swearing and hard action.
Unfortunately there was only three episodes, fans wanted more and this could have carried on forever.
Versions
Most fans of Cyber City will agree that the UK version is actually better than the Japanese and US version. The UK version released by Manga Entertainment UK has an alternate and more fitting soundtrack by Rory McFarlane, the UK release also had a better dub cast.
Format Want this on DVD or Blu-Ray? Well you can''t at this moment in time, only on VHS. The reason is apparently due to Manga UK losing the rights to Cyber City, how this has happened is unknown and strange as this is Manga Entertainment we are talking about not a ping pong company.
There is a small forum article by someone who has started a project to create their own DVD version Here.
A pitch and plea to Manga UK
Whatever the issue is, this should be sorted out. I am constantly amazed by how difficult or absent there is of classic Manga on new formats such as Blu-Ray.
I am sure, judging by the YouTube hits of Cyber City that there would be a market to release this on Blu-Ray or even DVD.
I would be willing to pay £50 for a HQ version on Blu-Ray and I am sure many more would say the same.
It doesn't take a geek to work out that this will make some money and may create more fans in the process.
You can watch the English UK Cyber City on YouTube.
Re-watching the show can be entertaining not only for the old games but for some of the guests on there. I mean, people with NHS glasses who look dodgy and strange geeks with funny hair cuts.
I shall try and watch a show each night, along with the Walking Dead (strange mash up) but this will be one entertaining tea time viewing.
