Game Players Magazines

Game Players was a brand of video gaming magazines published in North America for ten years, beginning in 1988 and ending during 1998. The brand began with the magazine Game Player's, which covered multiple gaming platforms. Several spin-off titles later appeared, such as Game Players Encyclopedia of Sega Genesis Games, Game Player's Sega Genesis Strategy Guide, and Nintendo themed versions of those titles.

Eventually the original magazine was canceled and, after management changes, the main Nintendo and Sega spin-offs combined to replace the original as Game Players Nintendo-Sega. This magazine later resumed numbering based on the original title. It was also renamed to Ultra Game Players and Game Buyer before being canceled.

Featuring Phantasy Star

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Phantasy Star II article.

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Phantasy Star IV preview article.

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Page 22 casts doubt on the possibility of a North American release for Phantasy Star IV with a claim that Sega was unsure the gaming market could support the unusually large size of the game. Two screen shots of vehicles, showing the Ice Digger on Motavia and a vehicle battle on Dezoris, are included.

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Phantasy Star IV preview article.

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Phantasy Star IV is featured with a full page advertisement on page 15 and a two page review that paints the game in a negative light. The game receives an ratings of 6 in graphics, 6 in music and sound effects, 5 in innovation, 7 in gameplay, and 8 in replay value. The overall rating is 70%.

Game Player's Sega Genesis Strategy Guide

In the early years of Game Players, that magazine originally covered all gaming systems. To provide more dedicated coverage of games for specific consoles, spin-off magazines were launched. Game Player's Sega Genesis Strategy Guide was the title targeting Sega systems. Eventually this title was canceled and combined with the matching Nintendo targeted spin-off to form Game Players Nintendo-Sega, which replaced the main Game Players title.

Featuring Phantasy Star

Game Player's Sega Genesis Strategy Guide Vol. 1 No. 1

Includes a six page preview of Phantasy Star II, written by Matthew A. Firme. It introduces basic game functions and basic exploration of Motavia and Dezoris.

Game Player's Sega Genesis Strategy Guide Vol. 2 No. 5

Phantasy Star III is briefly described with a single paragraph and a battle screen shot in a Buyer's Guide section on page 73.

Game Players Encyclopedia of Sega Genesis Games

Another spin-off Game Players, this magazine featured a much larger page count than the other Sega focused title. The extra space was used to provide in-depth coverage of games on a greater scale than the sister publication.

Featuring Phantasy Star

Game Players Encyclopedia of Sega Genesis Games Volume 3

Contains a ten page basic walkthrough of Phantasy Star III focusing on the Rhys, Ayn, and Crys generational path, written by Chris Slate. The guide ends in the midst of collecting the five legendary weapons in Crys' quest. The first page erroneously states that the fate of the Phantasy Star II cast is revealed at the end of the game.

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