Leaderboard

  1. Melki

    Melki

    Team Member

    • Points

      117

    • Content Count

      206

  2. E-Day

    E-Day

    Retromags Curator

    • Points

      111

    • Content Count

      5,099

  3. kitsunebi77

    kitsunebi77

    Database Moderator

    • Points

      68

    • Content Count

      30,281

  4. Phillyman

    Phillyman

    Retromags Curator

    • Points

      36

    • Content Count

      44,278

Popular Content

Showing content with the highest reputation since 09/13/2019 in all areas

  1. 8 points
    E-Day

    109 downloads

    Game Player's Strategy Guide to Nintendo Games Volume 3 Number 4 (August-September 1990)
  2. 7 points
    E-Day

    103 downloads

    Game Player's Strategy Guide to Nintendo Games Volume 3 Number 7 (December 1990)
  3. 7 points
    Melki

    152 downloads

    GamePro Issue 208 (January 2006)
  4. 7 points
    E-Day

    115 downloads

    Game Player's Strategy Guide to Nintendo Games Volume 3 Number 2 (April-May 1990)
  5. 6 points
    Melki

    125 downloads

    GamePro Issue 215 (August 2006)
  6. 6 points
    Melki

    125 downloads

    GamePro Issue 212 (May 2006)
  7. 6 points
    E-Day

    121 downloads

    Tips & Tricks Issue 59 (January 2000)
  8. 5 points
    Melki

    115 downloads

    GamePro Issue 225 (June 2007)
  9. 4 points
    Melki

    70 downloads

    GamePro Issue 229 (October 2007)
  10. 4 points
    kitsunebi77
    Sega's Shining Soul for the Game Boy Advance. Sega and Nintendo fanboys existing in harmony. World peace, rose petals and fairy dust. Enjoy. https://archive.org/details/shiningsoulcompletestrategyguide
  11. 3 points
  12. 3 points
    Ethereal Dragonz
    Newest upload [09/29/2019] - Famimaga June 1989 https://archive.org/details/famimagajune1989 It's all over man! This was the last gaming magazine I was able to pull from Perfect Dark that was not already archived elsewhere.
  13. 2 points
    Phillyman

    190 downloads

    File imported by an administrator
  14. 2 points
    Ethereal Dragonz
    Newest upload [09/25/2019] - Famimaga February 1989 https://archive.org/details/famimagafebruary1989
  15. 2 points
    Ethereal Dragonz
    Newest upload [09/22/2019] - Weekly Famitsu 7 September 19 1986 https://archive.org/details/famitsu7september1986 I had to upload this one immediately after coming across it. I do not see it on Archive.org or similar sites. This is a pretty cool find!
  16. 2 points
    kitsunebi77
    Well, as you know, scanning magazines takes a lot of money and time. I've spent over $1000 and god knows how many hours of my free time working to provide stuff for our members (and everyone else, really, since you don't have to join RM to download our releases). I get nothing in return other than the occasional thank you (usually about 1 for every 50 downloads.) That's a commitment of time and money with no reward that VERY few people are willing to make. Then you've got people like the community of Japanese traders who justify the expense/time of digitizing their collections by considering the resultant files to be their personal property which they can then "sell" to recoup their losses (in this case, by trading with other like-minded individuals). Would the world be a richer place if people were willing to share their resources selflessly? Well, sure. But as long as we've got millions of starving, destitute people out there in the world being ignored by people with the means to help, it seems a little silly to get TOO upset over someone hoarding magazines. Most people are selfish. It's just human nature.
  17. 1 point
    kitsunebi77
    I hope nobody minds, but I've decided to draw the line at adding arcade card game magazines to the database. They're big business in Japanese arcades (they'd have to be to support multiple magazines devoted to them), but since we've never had anything similar in the West (to my knowledge), and they can't be played by anyone not actually standing inside of an arcade in Japan, I just don't know who would possibly want to read about them here. Especially since they seem to mostly focus on soccer games, and from what I've gathered in forum posts through the years, most Retromags readers are adamantly opposed to the existence of sports and would like to see all athletic activities and games based upon them banished from the universe. (I kid but...no, no I don't. You all really seem to despise sports.) So none of these: Of course not ALL arcade card games are soccer-themed, even if those are (obviously) the most popular. And although I'm not interested in arcade games myself (the only game I ever play in arcades is Taiko no Tatsujin), it's still worth investigating, if only to realize that there is an entire subcategory of games in Japan that Westerners are never exposed to. https://gamecola.net/2017/05/playing-scannable-card-games-in-japan/ https://www.beastsofwar.com/video-games/tabletop-otaku-arcade-card-games/ http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2018/05/feature_diving_down_the_rabbit_hole_with_japans_arcade-based_trading_card_games
  18. 1 point
    Ethereal Dragonz
    Newest upload [10/11/2019] https://archive.org/details/supersoftavgrpg11987 Previous Files Arcadia - October 2005: https://archive.org/details/ArcadiaOctober2005 Flux 1 - September 1994: https://archive.org/details/Flux1Sept1994 Flux 5 - September 1995: https://archive.org/details/Flux5 Gamest - April 1991: https://archive.org/details/GamestApril1991 Game Player's Nintendo Guide - May 1992: https://archive.org/details/GamePlayersNintendoGuideMay1992 GamePro - April 2004: https://archive.org/details/GameProApril2004 GamePro - August 2004: https://archive.org/details/GameProAugust2004 GamePro - September 2005: https://archive.org/details/GameProSeptember2005 Mega Sega 16 - August 1994: https://archive.org/details/MegaSega161994 Mortal Kombat II Magazine #1 - November 1994: https://archive.org/details/MortalKombatIIMagazine11993 Mortal Kombat II Magazine #4 - February 1995: https://archive.org/details/MortalKombatIIMagazine4 Pasocom Paradise Soshuhen Vol. 6 - February 1995: https://archive.org/details/PasocomParadiseSoshuhenVol.6 PC Gamer Vol. 3 Issue 6 - June 1992: https://archive.org/details/PCGamerJune1996 PC Gamer Malaysia - December 2007: https://archive.org/details/PCGamerMalaysiaDecember2007/ PC Gamer Malaysia - August 2008: https://archive.org/details/PCGamerMalaysiaAugust2008 Play Magazine - February 2006: https://archive.org/details/PlayMagazineFebruary2006 Play Magazine - September 2006: https://archive.org/details/PlayMagazineSeptember2006 Play Magazine - December 2006: https://archive.org/details/PlayMagazineDecember2006 Official Xbox Magazine - June 2002: https://archive.org/details/OfficialXboxMagazineJune2002 Super Juegos - August 1994: https://archive.org/details/VideoJuegosAugust1994 Super Mario Coloring Book - 1989: https://archive.org/details/SuperMarioBrosColoringBook1989 Tech Gian - July 2004: https://archive.org/details/TechGianJuly2004 Tech Gian - Jan 2005: https://archive.org/details/TechGianJan2005 Tech Gian - August 2004: https://archive.org/details/TechGian-August2004 Tips & Tricks 1 - Spring 1994: https://archive.org/details/TipsAndTricks1 Xbox Nation 8 - June 2003: https://archive.org/details/XboxNation082004 Xbox Nation 10 - Nov 2003: https://archive.org/details/XboxNationNov2003/ Xbox Nation 11 - Dec/Jan 2004: https://archive.org/details/XboxNation11Jan2004 Xbox Nation 12 - March 2004: https://archive.org/details/XboxNation12March2004 Xbox Nation 13 - April 2004: https://archive.org/details/XboxNation13April2004 Xbox Nation 14 - May 2004: https://archive.org/details/XboxNationMay2004 Xbox Nation 16 - July 2004: https://archive.org/details/XboxNationJuly2004/ #notmyscans Famimaga June 1987: https://archive.org/details/famimagajune1987 Famimaga October 1987: https://archive.org/details/famimagaoctober1987 Famimaga February 1988: https://archive.org/details/famimagafebruary1988 Famimaga April 1988: https://archive.org/details/famimagaapril1988 Famimaga October 1988: https://archive.org/details/famimagaoctober1988 Famimaga February 1989: https://archive.org/details/famimagafebruary1989 Famimaga March 1989: https://archive.org/details/famimagamarch1989 Famimaga June 1989: https://archive.org/details/famimagajune1989 Famimaga March 1990: https://archive.org/details/famimagamarch1990 Famimaga April 1990: https://archive.org/details/famimagaapril1990_2 Famimaga May 1990: https://archive.org/details/famimaga5111990 Pasocom Paradise December 2003: https://archive.org/details/pasocomparadise122003 Super Soft AVG & RPG #1 1987: https://archive.org/details/supersoftavgrpg11987 Weekly Famitsu 7 September 1986: https://archive.org/details/famitsu7september1986 Weekly Famitsu 61 November 1988: https://archive.org/details/famitsu61november1988 Weekly Famitsu 91 January 5 1990: https://archive.org/details/famitsu91january1990
  19. 1 point
    kitsunebi77
    EDIT A bunch of them are here, including that one. (Not gonna count. Some of the files aren't PDFs. A lot, though.) https://archive.org/details/MSXMagazine-Japan
  20. 1 point
    kitsunebi77
    Sorry, I wasn't clear. By default, ScanSnap paper size is set to "automatic detection." This is actually autocrop. By manually selecting a paper size, you are turning autocrop off. If you select a size larger than the page you're scanning, it will ensure that you're scanning every part of the page. Unless my calculations are incorrect, if you scan two issues of Famitsu per week, you could be caught up in around 22 years. And then you could die with a tombstone engraved with "He wasted his life. What was he thinking???"
  21. 1 point
    Setolam
    Thank you so much for the scans, it is good to see some japanese magazines. , I do not like specially Gamest, but it is wellcome. I want to thanks that you scan too another magazines.
  22. 1 point
    E-Day
    Retromags Presents! Game Player's Strategy Guide to Nintendo Games Volume 4 Number 2 (February 1991) Database Record Download Directly! Scanned By: E-Day    Edited By: E-Day    Uploaded By: E-Day    Donated By: CIVICMINDED Subscribe to our New Release Feedburner email!  
  23. 1 point
    Melki
    Retromags Presents! GamePro Issue 221 (February 2007) Database Record Download Directly! Scanned By: E-Day    Edited By: Melki    Uploaded By: E-Day    Donated By: CIVICMINDED Subscribe to our New Release Feedburner email!  
  24. 1 point
    kitsunebi77
    This is an interesting one. It's a book that came as part of a collection containing the first 5 Wizardry games for PC (disk images of the Apple versions were also included, which could be run on an emulator). Despite being all in black and white, this book is actually pretty packed with information, moreso than a lot of standalone guides available for purchase. https://archive.org/details/wizardrycollection
  25. 1 point
  26. 1 point
    godane
    Thats really suck and to me is very odd. Anyways i hope maybe he can search some of magazines there to find some of them out there. Anyways i have magazine of Comptiq 183 i found on a pc engine forum (i think). The only one i could find. I also found like 8 login magazines from the 1990s. Will be upload them soon. Link to pdf: https://archive.org/details/Comptiq_Issue_183_1998_05_Kadokawa_Shoten_JP
  27. 1 point
    Melki
    Retromags Presents! GamePro Issue 215 (August 2006) Database Record Download Directly! Scanned By: E-Day    Edited By: Melki    Uploaded By: E-Day    Donated By: CIVICMINDED Subscribe to our New Release Feedburner email!  
  28. 1 point
  29. 1 point
    E-Day
    Retromags Presents! Game Player's Strategy Guide to Nintendo Games Volume 3 Number 7 (December 1990) Database Record Download Directly! Scanned By: E-Day    Edited By: E-Day    Uploaded By: E-Day    Donated By: CIVICMINDED Subscribe to our New Release Feedburner email!  
  30. 1 point
    kitsunebi77
    TWO! TWO! TWO FOR THE PRICE OF NONE! These guides for Wizardry VII are obviously companions to one another with a combined 500 pages of tips&tricks and secret codes! Just kidding, this is an RPG. Lots of cold hard data and maps, then. The one on the left is the "guide" volume and the one on the right is the "data" volume. https://archive.org/details/wizardrycrusadersofthedarksavantcluebookguidehen https://archive.org/details/wizardrycrusadersofthedarksavantcluebookdatahen
  31. 1 point
  32. 1 point
    kitsunebi77
    I thought I had already uploaded all of the Gundam guides, but just like how it is in Japan in real life, you can never truly escape the presence of Gundam. Turn a corner...GUNDAM! Look over your shoulder...GUNDAM! Open the medicine cabinet...GUNDAM! Close the medicine cabinet, omigodinthemirrorbehindyou...GUNDAM!!!! https://archive.org/details/mobilesuitgundamgihrensgreedbloodofzeontacticsoftheoneyearwar
  33. 1 point
  34. 1 point
    kitsunebi77
    This is the second guide to Emerald Dragon I've uploaded (the other was months ago). This guide was released in 1990, so it covers the computer versions of the game (most likely the PC-98 version), as opposed to the 1994 PC Engine CD version or the 1995 Super Famicom version. I'm not sure if the console versions are ports (in which case the maps and whatnot would still be useful) or if they're completely different games... https://archive.org/details/emeralddragonguidebook
  35. 1 point
    Ethereal Dragonz
    Newest upload [09/17/2019] - Famimaga February 1988 https://archive.org/details/famimagafebruary1988 Ok this one is not available in at least two different sites :-).
  36. 1 point
    JonnyCGood
    The retro series of sites (segaretro, sonic retro, nec retro) are another scanning/uploading project. They only accept pdfs though, sadly. You can view their magazine archive here: https://retrocdn.net/Category:Shared_magazine_scans
  37. 1 point
    kitsunebi77
    Bokujou Monogatari - Honobono Fanbook Vol.1 (April 2008)
    Special issue focused on Harvest Moon published under the joint banner of Dengeki Nintendo DS and Chara Parfait.
  38. 1 point
    kitsunebi77
    The copy of the game available at the Internet Archive here is 307MB: https://archive.org/details/RedumpSegaMegaCdSegaCd20160731Part2 I remember the disc included with the book being around 150MB, IIRC. So it must have been a demo (it wouldn't make sense to include the full game with the book, anyway.) But there was no indication that it was a demo - the disc booted to what looked like the start menu for the regular game. I guess this was before people figured out how to use demo discs as flashy marketing tools, so they just basically presented the game exactly as is (though presumably only up to a certain point.)
  39. 1 point
    Melki
    Retromags Presents! GamePro Issue 204 (September 2005) Database Record Download Directly! Scanned By: E-Day    Edited By: Melki    Uploaded By: E-Day    Donated By: CIVICMINDED Subscribe to our New Release Feedburner email!  
  40. 1 point
    kitsunebi77
    You have no idea the sheer jubilant pleasure I get imagining that some Japanese magazine scan hoarders are getting pissed off noticing this stuff show up at the Internet Archive. Keep it up. Hmmm...that does pose a problem, doesn't it. Lots of Japanese mags have Japanese titles, and even ones that have words written alphabetically on the cover are often written in Japanese when people list them in auctions or otherwise write about them online. I wonder how much you're overlooking...
  41. 1 point
    Phillyman
    PRIMARY SYSTEMS COVERAGE Nintendo Entertainment System --- (Table of Content (TOC) and headline excerpts follow. Bullet lists and (notes) added for clarity. All games for NES.) Editor's Notes (approx. 1/4 page; editorial by Selby Bateman; Double Dragon II, issue synopsis) Game Player's Exclusive: Double Dragon II: The Revenge (5 pages; game overview with screenshots and strategies) SUPER STRATEGY (game overviews with screenshots, tips and strategies; 5 pages each) The Adventures of Bayou Billy Clash at Demonhead Desert Commander IronSword: Wizards and Warriors II (IronSword: Wizards & Warriors II) The Magic of Scheherazade Mega Man II Monster Party Rescue: The Embassy Mission Shadowgate Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles HOT HITS (game overviews with screenshots, 2 pages each) All-Pro Basketball Baseball Simulation 1.000 The Bugs Bunny Crazy Castle Defender of the Crown Demon Sword Faxanadu Fester's Quest Goal! Hydlide Knight Rider Nobunaga's Ambition Rocket Ranger Shooting Range Spy vs. Spy II: The Island Caper Super Sprint The Three Stooges Top Gun - The Second Mission Track and Field II Twin Cobra Willow DIRECTORY (1 page; game company directory)
  42. 1 point
    kitsunebi77

    191 downloads

    *このスキャンは皆のために作ったので、ぜひダウンロードして、友達に伝いて、楽しんでください！もしほかのところでこのスキャンを分け合ったら、「このファイルはRetromagsからで、そこで誰でもでタダでダウンロードすることできる」と伝いて下さい。雑誌電子化は皆のために。よろしくお願いします！ Family Computer Magazine is (unlike most other Japanese magazines) printed in Japanese right-to-left format. For those unaware, that means that the front cover is where the back cover is on a Western magazine, and thus the spine is on the right side. Once opened, the pages are read beginning with the page on the right and moving across to the left page. When using a CBR reader to read a single page at a time, this won't cause too many problems, but if you put the reader into two-page mode, the left and right facing pages will be in the wrong order. Thus, it is strongly suggested that when reading this magazine, you set your CBR reader to it's Japanese mode (almost all CBR readers have one for reading manga), which will automatically display the pages in the correct order. For anyone unfamiliar with this mag - it was the first Famicom/NES magazine in the world, predating Famitsu by a year. And although Famitsu would ultimately end up out-lasting Family Computer Magazine by expanding their coverage to all consoles, from a collector's viewpoint, issues of Famimaga (as it is usually referred to) seem to typically be more desireable/valuable than Famitsu issues of similar vintage. *This scan was made for everyone, so please download it, share it with your friends and enjoy! If you share this scan elsewhere, please say that the file is from Retromags, where anyone can download it for free. Magazine preservation is for everyone. Thank you!
  43. 1 point
    kitsunebi77
    Dragon Quest III
    Dragon Quest III (released in the USA as Dragon Warrior III) is an RPG developed by Chunsoft and published by Enix for the Famicom on February 10, 1988.
  44. 1 point
    kitsunebi77
    Dragon Quest III (Japan)
    Dragon Quest III (released in the USA as Dragon Warrior III) is an RPG developed by Chunsoft and published by Enix for the Famicom on February 10, 1988.
  45. 1 point
    Phillyman
    Features: You Asked For It, You Got It (Editor LeeAnne McDermott promises quality to all her readers) The Mail (Readers sound off about issue 1) The Cutting Edge (A look at the new hardware coming to America) Sega Genesis NEC TurboGrafx-16 Nintendo Game Boy Konami handheld games Nintendo Super Famicom Konix Multi-System LJN Roll & Rocker controller (NES) The Adventures of GamePro (Chapter one of a new comic story featuring protagonist Alex West, aka: GamePro!) Industry ProFile (A visit to Data East HQ) ProNews Report (Enter a Super Dodge Ball tournament, win a Jaleco-sponsored sweepstakes, save money on Capcom games with Captain Commando bucks, Viz is publishing a Golgo 13 comic, and here's a list of game counselor hotlines broken down by company) ProArtist Series (Scott Hanson of Indianapolis, IN wins first prize in "The Villains" category; now it's time to submit for "The Heroes") ProChallenge Board (Readers submit their best scores) Puzzle Challenge (one word scramble and one word search puzzle to test your skills away from the controller) Hot at the Arcades: Operation Thunderbolt (Taito) The Final Round (Konami) Turbo Outrun (Sega) ProViews: Milon's Secret Castle (NES) Guerrilla War (NES) Goal! (NES) Strider (NES) Super Dodge Ball (NES) Stealth ATF (NES) Altered Beast (SMS) S.W.A.T. (Secret Weapons and Tactics): Alex Kid in Miracle World (SMS) Sky Kid (NES) Goonies II (NES) Space Harrier (SMS) Metroid (NES) Castlevania (NES) x2 Spy Hunter (NES) Wonder Boy (SMS) Gyruss (NES) Kid Icarus (NES) Ninja Gaiden (NES) Golvellius (SMS) x2 Power Strike (SMS) Karnov (NES) Zanac (NES) Altered Beast (SMS) Gauntlet (NES) x2 Duck Hunt / Gotcha / Wild Gunman (NES) Black Belt (SMS) R-Type (SMS) Choplifter (SMS) Metal Gear (NES) Bubble Bobble (NES) Platoon (NES) Mega Man (NES) Ninja (SMS) Phantasy Star (SMS) Reader Tips: Super Mario Bros. 2 (NES) Spy Hunter (NES) Castlevania II: Simon's Quest (NES) Kenseiden (SMS) R-Type (SMS) Double Dragon (SMS) Rocky (SMS) Ask the Pros (reader-submitted requests for help): Milon's Secret Castle (NES) Metal Gear (NES) Teddy Boy (SMS) Wonder Boy (SMS) Shinobi (SMS) Overseas ProSpects: Gradius II (NES) Ads (in order of appearance): Operation: Wolf (NES) Mappy-Land (NES) Bubble Bobble (NES) Activision's Excellent Nintendo Sweepstakes Super Dodge Ball (NES) Adventures of Lolo (NES) / Rollerball (NES) GamePro magazine subscription Air Fortress (NES) / Vegas Dream (NES) Hoops (NES) Acclaim Wireless Remote Controller (NES) Ultimate Game Club mail order club Hudson Joycard Sansui SSS controller (NES) / Adventure Island (NES) / Adventures of Dino Riki (NES) / Bomberman (NES) / Milon's Secret Castle (NES) Bad Dudes (Multi) Rastan (SMS) Vigilante (SMS) Galaxy Force (SMS) Dark Chambers (7800) Impossible Mission (7800) Airball (7800) Mega Man 2 (NES) / Strider (NES) GamePro-branded merchandise Toys 'R' Us Atari 2600 and 7800 Metal Gear (NES) Notable Stuff: The cheats column acquires its S.W.A.T. name starting with this issue. Winners of the Excellent Nintendo Sweepstakes take home a full compliment of Activision-published NES carts: The Three Stooges, Stealth ATF., Predator, Ghostbusters, and Super Pitfall. Apparently losing this contest was the only way to win it. The incorrect passwords for The Goonies II and Metroid which were printed last issue are corrected in this one. The editor promises more Sega "coveage" in a response to letters requesting it. Proofreaders? We don't need no stinkin' proofreaders... Last issue, a subscription to GamePro cost $19 per year, a savings of roughly 10% off the $3.50 cover price. If you bought in at that price, you're a sucker because in this issue, a subscription only costs $13.97 per year, while the cover price has gone up to $3.95. Looks like that sweet ad revenue is flowing in! "The Adventures of GamePro"'s conceit basically rips off 1984's The Last Starfighter, right down to the video game mastering protagonist being named 'Alex' in both. Who's bright idea was it to run the screenshot of the Metroid password in S.W.A.T. right across the gutter fold?
  46. 1 point
  47. 1 point
    E-Day

    Version 1.0.0

    72 downloads

    GamePro (March 1999) Tomb Raider II ProStrategy Guide
  48. 1 point
    E-Day

    Version 1.0.0

    147 downloads

    GamePro Issue 082 May 1996 Supplement 1
  49. 1 point
    Areala
    So you just couldn't keep away from Stauf's Mansion... When the clock struck the fatal hour, you just had to answer its call. You simply couldn't resist. And once you ventured into Stauf's haunted mansion, you found that no amount of sniveling and pleading could save you from your chosen fate. You should not have entered without a guide. Well, perhaps your pleas for mercy have been answered. The Official Strategy Guide which you now hold in your hands is the only help you can count on to solve the mysteries hidden within this decomposing mansion. Amidst these pages you will find: Detailed puzzle strategies and solutions Explanations of all the clues Locations of all the Treasure Hunt items A complete fictional walkthrough of the game The 11th Hour script in its original form An interview with Graeme Devine and Rob Landeros The challenges within Stauf's evil and foreboding underworld have never been more terrifying. Face them alone and you're no better than a demented killer's favorite plaything!
  50. 0 points
    kitsunebi77
    No other magazine epitomizes the decline and homogenization of the game industry in Japan moreso than Comptiq, in my opinion. It launched in 1983 and was a magazine exclusively about computer games for over a decade. The issues from this time period are literally the only Japanese magazines I own which are interesting for me to flip through. But sometime around 1994-1997, the magazine began to change. The focus shifted away from computer games and began to focus more on game characters from PC and console titles. The reason being, of course, that it was during that time period that computer gaming died in Japan. In the rest of the world, the PC was making great strides during those years - super VGA, advanced sound cards, and rapidly improving 3d graphics ensured that the PC had at last finally emerged as a technically superior system for gaming over home consoles. But in Japan, the PC never caught on as a gaming system. Windows 95 hit the market and PCs quickly took over as the standard for home and business computing, but computer games remained relegated to the PC-98 computers for the most part, which ceased production in 2000. So it was during that 1994-1997 era, just as PC gaming was exploding in the West, that it began to die in Japan, with the development/release of computer games becoming less and less, and being replaced more and more by cheaply produced cookie-cutter visual novels. Hence, without any "real" games to actually report on, Comptiq switched gears and became a magazine full of illustrations of visual novel characters, similar to Dengeki G's Magazine. Sure, Japan still has consoles. But I can't help but believe that the games industry would be richer overall if computer gaming had survived and not EVERY single game released in Japan had to first be approved by Sony or Nintendo.