Gaming Reference Magazines

The 1990s marked a decade of rapid growth in the gaming industry, with home consoles, personal computers, tabletop games, and collectible card games reaching wider audiences than ever before. As gaming communities continued to expand, magazines became an essential resource for players. The following two magazines showcase how print media helped players stay informed, educated, and connected before the internet became a common source of gaming information. 

Illustration of a large BattleTech armored combat robot standing in a futuristic battlefield. <br />

The Games Annual. 1997 Premiere Issue. 

The Games Annual: The Definitive Digest of the World of Games was published by Matthews-Simmons Marketing in 1997. It was the first and only issue in the series, which aimed to provide an overview of the diverse world of games. The magazine is organized chronologically based on the approximate historical origin of the games discussed, starting with dice games and progressing through puzzles, strategy games, card games, board games, wargames, miniatures, and role-playing games. Additional sections include pinball and skill games, internet, computer, and video games, play-by-mail games, and live-action games. The publication also provides information on gaming accessories, books, clubs and organizations, events, manufacturers, retailers, game collecting, and the process of making and marketing original games.

The cover story of this issue features BattleTech, a game series created by the FASA Corporation. Originally released as a tabletop wargame, the BattleTech franchise later expanded to include a role-playing game, several computer games, and a virtual reality experience. The series’ varied formats and styles reflect the broad range of games explored throughout the magazine. 

An illustration of a blonde knight with a sword and shield in front of a colorful geometric background.

Game Player's Encylopedia of Nintendo Games. 1990 Premiere Issue, Vol. 1. 

The Game Player's magazine family was one of the most prolific gaming publications of its era. From the late 1980s through the 1990s, Game Player's and its numerous spin-off titles published more than 200 issues covering various gaming platforms. Founded by Robert Lock and published by Signal Research, this volume is the inaugural issue of Game Player's Encyclopedia of Nintendo Games. Published across eight volumes from 1990 to 1994, the series served as a comprehensive strategy guide for Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) players. Each issue provided hints, tips, strategies, passwords, power-ups, and other secrets for dozens of popular NES titles. This volume features Double Dragon II: The Revenge, The Three Stooges, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Dr. Chaos, Zelda II: The Adventure of Link, and Super Mario Bros.