VideoGames & Computer Entertainment

"VideoGames & Computer Entertainment" (abbreviated as "VG&CE") was an American magazine dedicated to covering video games on computers, home consoles and arcades. It was published by Larry Flynt Publications (LFP) from the late 1980s until the mid-1990s.

Offering game reviews, previews, game strategies and cheat codes as well as coverage of the general industry, "VG&CE" was also one of the first magazines to cover both home console "and" computer games. The magazine gave out annual awards in a variety of categories, divided between the best of home video games and computer video games. The magazine was known for its artwork, created by Alan Hunter and other freelance artists.

"VG&CE" was started at LFP by Lee Pappas (listed as Publisher), with Andy Eddy as Executive Editor. (Eddy was a freelance contributor to the first issue of the magazine, which had the cover date of “December 1988,” just before relocating to California in September 1988 to become its editor before the first issue hit the streets. During Eddy's tenure at the magazine, there was no one listed as Editor in Chief, simply due to odd staff-titling decisions. For all intents and purposes, Eddy was the magazine's Editor in Chief.) Contributors included Arnie Katz and Bill “The Game Doctor” Kunkel, co-founders of the first video-game magazine, "Electronic Games". Tips & Tricks Editor in Chief Chris Bieniek was an associate editor at "VG&CE".

“VideoGames” Era

Around 1993, the magazine dropped computer game coverage, and shortened its name to "VideoGames". In an effort to compete with magazines popular at the time, such as "GamePro", the magazine was made more kid-friendly with vibrant colors and issues often featured a videogame cheat printed on the cover, labelled as a “free code” (this ended in late 1994). In this time period, "Mortal Kombat" and its first two sequels were often featured on the cover, and a listing of Fatalities and special moves lists were basically a monthly feature. In the July 1993 issue of VideoGames, Mortal Kombat co-creators Ed Boon and John Tobias first told the specific requirements to find the hidden character Reptile. [http://www.mobygames.com/game/mortal-kombat/trivia]

For much of this era, Chris Gore was editor-in-chief, and had a monthly news and gossip column titled “The Gore Score.”

The magazine ended publication in late 1996, when Ziff-Davis bought "VideoGames" from LFP and folded the brand.

pin-off magazines

"VG&CE" spun off several other notable video-game magazines, including:
* "TurboPlay Magazine" (June/July 1990-August/September 1992), a bi-monthly magazine dedicated to covering TurboGrafx-16 hardware and software.
* "Tips & Tricks", a game magazine dedicated to game strategies and cheat codes. The magazine concept was spun out of the “Easter Egg Hunt” and “Tips & Tricks” sections in "VG&CE", which offered extensive codes and cheats for video games, as well as the “walkthrough” strategies that "VG&CE" also provided.

External links

* [http://www.atarihq.com/tsr/special/cb/cb.html An interview with former associate editor Chris Bieniek, about his years with VG&CE.]