GAME SIDE

GAME SIDE (ゲームサイド) is a Japanese game magazine brand published by Micro Magazine. It is known for its distinctive editorial focus on unearthing and revisiting retro games, rather than covering only the latest releases. The brand traces its origins to Used Games (ユーズド・ゲームズ), a quarterly magazine launched in July 1996 by Kill Time Communication (KTC) with the tagline "Japan's first used-game specialty magazine running counter to the times." That magazine ran for 22 issues and covered mainly Mega Drive, PC Engine, Famicom, and Super Famicom software, later expanding to Sega Saturn, Game Boy, Game Gear, MSX computer games, and arcade games. It held influence among core hardware users and even affected used-game market prices in areas like Akihabara when it featured titles. In September 1998, a sister magazine Nice Games (ナイスゲームズ) was launched with the tagline "excavation-style game specialty magazine," focusing on lesser-known titles and publishing semi-annual sales rankings and editorial best-game features. It ran for 8 issues. In May 2002, following the renaming of KTC's parent company Micro Design Publishing to Micro Magazine and a group reorganization, Used Games and Nice Games merged into Yuuge (ユーゲー), which ran for 25 issues on a bimonthly schedule with the tagline "game magazine transcending eras." It dropped the "used-only" label but continued covering older generations such as the Famicom, and inherited the best-game feature as the "Yuuge AWARD." In August 2006, on the 10th anniversary of the original launch, the magazine was renamed GAME SIDE (ゲームサイド) through a public name contest. Around this time it began covering not only old games but also minor yet polished new and recent titles, especially old-style games. In April 2008, a spin-off Game Side LEVEL1 was launched to focus on such new titles, making the publication monthly alongside Game Side, but it lasted only two issues before being replaced by the larger A4-size visual-focused GAME LEVEL1, which itself ended after two more issues; by early 2009 the schedule returned to bimonthly. In 2010, as game information distribution shifted to the web, the magazine returned to a quarterly schedule to emphasize archival value not found online, but it ceased publication with the August 2010 issue. The editorial department remained active, continuing the label through internet distribution and book publications. From 2010, genre-specific special issues were released as part of the Game Side Books label, including Shooting Game Side (シューティングゲームサイド, 12 issues), Action Game Side (アクションゲームサイド, 3 issues), Adventure Game Side (アドベンチャーゲームサイド, 2 issues), and Role-Playing Game Side (ロールプレイングゲームサイド, 2 issues). These were treated as books rather than magazines, without magazine codes. On October 7, 2015, the genre-specific specialty magazines also ceased publication. The brand is remembered for its influence on retro game culture and for coining terms such as "PC Engineer" for enthusiastic PC Engine fans.

The history of GAME SIDE begins with Used Games (ユーズド・ゲームズ), launched in July 1996 by Kill Time Communication (KTC). Its catchphrase was "Japan's first used-game specialty magazine running counter to the times." It ran for 22 issues. The publication pace was quarterly, but the second issue was delayed by four months and changed format and binding, leading some readers to think it had been discontinued after one issue. Issues 1–3 used processed photos of old toys on the cover; from issue 4, SF illustrator Shigeru Komatsuzaki handled covers, and from issue 16 (2000) Takāki Wada (Aroazufū) took over. The magazine mainly covered Mega Drive, PC Engine, Famicom, and Super Famicom software; later it expanded to Sega Saturn, Game Boy, Game Gear, MSX computer games, and arcade games. It specialized in discovering and introducing used games, had a readership of core hardware users, and was influential online. It also influenced used-game market prices in areas like Akihabara when featured titles gained added value. Unlike other game magazines such as Weekly Famitsu, not focusing on the latest software was key to its success. It also frequently examined the legality of used-game sales amid the controversy that arose in 1997. The term "PC Engineer" for enthusiastic PC Engine fans originated in this magazine; "Bakage" is also sometimes attributed to it, though that term originated in BEEP! Mega Drive. In September 1998, sister magazine Nice Games (ナイスゲームズ) was launched. It ran for 8 issues. From issue 4, it borrowed materials from manufacturers and used game characters on covers. Its catchphrase was "excavation-style game specialty magazine," aiming to convey the appeal of lesser-known works. It published game software sales rankings every half year and ran a "best games chosen by the editorial department" feature. Because used games faced strong criticism at the time, it was created partly as a refuge, but as differentiation became difficult, the two magazines merged. In May 2002, KTC's parent company Micro Design Publishing changed its name to Micro Magazine and the group was reorganized. Used Games and Nice Games merged and were renamed Yuuge (ユーゲー), with publication becoming bimonthly. It ran for 25 issues. Its catchphrase was "game magazine transcending eras." The merger dropped the "used-only" signboard, but the editorial policy of covering old-generation games such as the Famicom continued. Meanwhile, the semi-annual best-game feature inherited from Nice Games continued under the name "Yuuge AWARD." Some issues included supplements such as stickers and CDs. Like Used Games, a compilation volume was published every four issues; the final volume 6 included five issues, making it thicker. In August 2006, on the 10th anniversary of its founding, the magazine changed its name from Yuuge to Game Side (ゲームサイド), chosen through a public contest. Around this time, in addition to introducing old games, it began covering minor but highly polished new and recent games, especially old-style games. In April 2008, Game Side LEVEL1 was launched as a spin-off specializing in such new game information, making Game Side and it monthly. However, after two issues it was replaced by GAME LEVEL1, a larger A4-variant visual-focused publication, which itself ended after two more issues; by early 2009 the schedule returned to bimonthly. In 2010, as game information distribution shifted to the web, the magazine returned to quarterly to increase archival value not available online, but it ceased publication with the August 2010 issue (its third quarterly issue). After that, the editorial department remained active, continuing the label through internet distribution and book publications. Genre-specific specialty magazines were published as part of the Game Side Books label, all without magazine codes and treated as books. Shooting Game Side (シューティングゲームサイド) began in 2010; at the first issue it was uncertain whether a second would follow, but after a second issue eight months later it continued steadily to 12 issues. A "0" issue was also published, re-collecting and revising shooting feature articles from the Game Side era. Its editorial policy followed Game Side, covering shooting games broadly regardless of new, old, or doujin. Action Game Side (アクションゲームサイド) began in 2012, focusing on classic 2D action games rather than 3D; it ran for 3 issues. Like Shooting Game Side, re-edited versions of Game Side articles were published, but due to volume they were split into A and B issues rather than a single 0 issue. Adventure Game Side (アドベンチャーゲームサイド) began in 2013 and ran for 2 issues; unlike the previous two, a re-edited 0 issue preceded the regular issues. Role-Playing Game Side (ロールプレイングゲームサイド) began in 2014 and ran for 2 issues. On October 7, 2015, the genre-specific specialty magazines also ceased publication.

• 2015

  Genre-specific specialty magazines ceased publication.

• 2014

  Role-Playing Game Side began publication.

• 2013

  Adventure Game Side began publication.

• 2012

  Action Game Side began publication.

• 2010

  Magazine returned to quarterly schedule; ceased publication with August 2010 issue.

• 2010

  Shooting Game Side began publication.

• 2008

  Game Side LEVEL1 spin-off launched.

• 2006

  Magazine renamed GAME SIDE on its 10th anniversary.

• 2002

  Micro Design Publishing renamed Micro Magazine; Used Games and Nice Games merged into Yuuge.

• 1998

  Nice Games launched as a sister magazine.

• 1996

  Used Games launched by Kill Time Communication (KTC).

Retro and cult game specialty magazine brand with archival value.

• Used Games (ユーズド・ゲームズ)

  Quarterly used-game specialty magazine launched in July 1996, 22 issues.

• Nice Games (ナイスゲームズ)

  Sister magazine launched September 1998, 8 issues.

• Yuuge (ユーゲー)

  Merged magazine launched May 2002, 25 issues.

• GAME SIDE (ゲームサイド)

  Renamed magazine launched August 2006, ceased August 2010.

• Shooting Game Side (シューティングゲームサイド)

  Shooting game specialty magazine, 12 issues from 2010.

• Action Game Side (アクションゲームサイド)

  Action game specialty magazine, 3 issues from 2012.

• Adventure Game Side (アドベンチャーゲームサイド)

  Adventure game specialty magazine, 2 issues from 2013.

• Role-Playing Game Side (ロールプレイングゲームサイド)

  RPG specialty magazine, 2 issues from 2014.

1. 1GAME SIDE - Wikipedia (Japanese)ja.wikipedia.org
2. 2Wikidata Q11200847wikidata.org