''Sega Power'', initially known as ''S: The Sega Magazine'', was a
Future
The future is the time after the past and present. Its arrival is considered inevitable due to the existence of time and the laws of physics. Due to the apparent nature of reality and the unavoidability of the future, everything that currently ...
publication aimed at the
Sega
is a Japanese multinational corporation, multinational video game and entertainment company headquartered in Shinagawa, Tokyo. Its international branches, Sega of America and Sega Europe, are headquartered in Irvine, California and London, r ...
range of consoles, including the
Master System
The is an 8-bit
third-generation home video game console manufactured by Sega. It was originally a remodeled export version of the Sega Mark III, the third iteration of the SG-1000 series of consoles, which was released in Japan in 1985 and ...
,
Mega Drive
The Sega Genesis, known as the outside North America, is a 16-bit fourth generation home video game console developed and sold by Sega. It was Sega's third console and the successor to the Master System. Sega released it in 1988 in Japan a ...
,
Game Gear
The is an 8-bit fourth generation handheld game console released by Sega on October 6, 1990, in Japan, in April 1991 throughout North America and Europe, and during 1992 in Australia. The Game Gear primarily competed with Nintendo's Game Boy, ...
and later on the
Mega-CD
The Sega CD, released as the in most regions outside North America and Brazil, is a CD-ROM accessory for the Sega Genesis produced by Sega as part of the fourth generation of video game consoles. It was released on December 12, 1991, in Jap ...
,
32X and
Saturn
Saturn is the sixth planet from the Sun and the second-largest in the Solar System, after Jupiter. It is a gas giant with an average radius of about nine and a half times that of Earth. It has only one-eighth the average density of Earth; h ...
. The magazine was later relaunched as ''Saturn Power'' when the other Sega consoles were discontinued.
''S: The Sega Magazine''
Edited by Steve Jarratt,
Future plc
Future plc is an international multimedia company established in the United Kingdom in 1985. The company has over 220 brands that span magazines, newsletters, websites, and events in fields such as video games, technology, films, music, photogr ...
's early Sega incarnation covered the
Master System
The is an 8-bit
third-generation home video game console manufactured by Sega. It was originally a remodeled export version of the Sega Mark III, the third iteration of the SG-1000 series of consoles, which was released in Japan in 1985 and ...
console and the page count was quite small compared to later issues of ''Sega Power''. Issue 10's cover heralded the arrival of the Mega Drive.
Issue 1 was sent out to owners who had registered their Sega Master Systems via warranty cards, with further early issues only being available via subscription and through select retailers. The launch issue was also obtainable for free with the purchase of a game from selected retailers. After 6 issues the magazine went on general sale.
''Sega Power''
After 12 issues the magazine was re-launched with its new name in readiness for the forecast boom in video games consoles. The magazine covered consoles such as the
Mega Drive
The Sega Genesis, known as the outside North America, is a 16-bit fourth generation home video game console developed and sold by Sega. It was Sega's third console and the successor to the Master System. Sega released it in 1988 in Japan a ...
,
Master System
The is an 8-bit
third-generation home video game console manufactured by Sega. It was originally a remodeled export version of the Sega Mark III, the third iteration of the SG-1000 series of consoles, which was released in Japan in 1985 and ...
,
Game Gear
The is an 8-bit fourth generation handheld game console released by Sega on October 6, 1990, in Japan, in April 1991 throughout North America and Europe, and during 1992 in Australia. The Game Gear primarily competed with Nintendo's Game Boy, ...
,
Mega-CD
The Sega CD, released as the in most regions outside North America and Brazil, is a CD-ROM accessory for the Sega Genesis produced by Sega as part of the fourth generation of video game consoles. It was released on December 12, 1991, in Jap ...
,
Sega 32X
The 32X is an add-on for the Sega Genesis video game console. Codenamed "Project Mars", it was designed to expand the power of the Genesis and serve as a transitional console into the 32-bit era until the release of the Sega Saturn. The 32X us ...
and the
Saturn
Saturn is the sixth planet from the Sun and the second-largest in the Solar System, after Jupiter. It is a gas giant with an average radius of about nine and a half times that of Earth. It has only one-eighth the average density of Earth; h ...
. In the spring of 1997, after 91 issues, the magazine was relaunched and renamed.
''Saturn Power''
With both the
Mega Drive
The Sega Genesis, known as the outside North America, is a 16-bit fourth generation home video game console developed and sold by Sega. It was Sega's third console and the successor to the Master System. Sega released it in 1988 in Japan a ...
and
Master System
The is an 8-bit
third-generation home video game console manufactured by Sega. It was originally a remodeled export version of the Sega Mark III, the third iteration of the SG-1000 series of consoles, which was released in Japan in 1985 and ...
discontinued by 1997, the magazine was relaunched with its new name; ''Saturn Power''. Issue 1 was launched, cover dated June 1997 and came with a cover mounted demo disc. However, the magazine only lasted 10 issues before being pulled; the last being February 1998.
Cover mounted books
As a variation on the free tips booklet often issued by computer games magazines, ''Sega Power'' released a string of novellas based on popular computer games. Titles in this range included: ''Golden Axe'', ''Road Rash'', ''Super Monaco GP'' and ''Desert Strike''.
These titles were written by members of the ''Sega Power'' team and combined a fictional narrative, hung loosely around the linear plot of the game, with cheats, codes and hints for gamers.
As a result of the popularity of these stories, rival title ''
Sega Force
''Sega Force'' was an early 1990s publication that covered the Sega console range (Sega Mega Drive, Mega-CD, Master System and Game Gear).
History
''Sega Force'', along with ''Nintendo Force'', was initially announced in mid-1991 by Newsfield. ...
'' followed suit and released a spin-off of ''Super Smash TV'', which bore striking similarities to Stephen King's 'The Running Man'.
See also
*
Sega Saturn Magazine
''Sega Saturn Magazine'' was a monthly UK magazine covering the Sega Saturn, a home video game console. It held the official Saturn magazine license for the UK, and some issues included a demo CD created by Sega, ''Sega Flash'', which included ...
*
Official Dreamcast Magazine (US)
*
Official Dreamcast Magazine (UK)
''Official Dreamcast Magazine'' (commonly abbreviated as ''ODCM'') was a video game magazine published by Dennis Publishing in the United Kingdom between 1999 and 2001. The magazine held the license for the Sega Dreamcast console in the UK and ...
References
{{Future plc
External links
Websiteof former staff memberStuart Campbell
*
Saturn Power magazines on the
Internet Archive
The Internet Archive is an American digital library with the stated mission of "universal access to all knowledge". It provides free public access to collections of digitized materials, including websites, software applications/games, music, ...
Digitized Sega Power magazines on Retro CDNArchived Sega Power magazineson the Internet Archive
Sega magazines
1989 establishments in the United Kingdom
1997 disestablishments in the United Kingdom
Defunct computer magazines published in the United Kingdom
Home computer magazines
Magazines established in 1989
Magazines disestablished in 1997
Mass media in Bath, Somerset
Monthly magazines published in the United Kingdom
Video game magazines published in the United Kingdom