Electronic Fun with Magazines

I sure miss video game magazines from the 80s.

I was reminded of this when I watched the short that was released today by Area 5, in order to tease and help promote the Kickstarter campaign for Outerlands, a 6-episode documentary series covering video game culture.

It’s something you should be backing.

In the short, we visit the home of Frank Cifaldi, and we are introduced to his — in his words — complete collection of 80s video game magazines. He starts flipping through the very first issue ofElectronic Games, an issue I remember reading.

I loved those magazines.

My favorites were Electronic Games and also Electronic Fun with Computer and Games. I read tons more, but those are the two that stick in my mind. I probably had most of the runs back in the day, but I ended up getting rid of all my magazines — I used to keep everything, including a full run of Wired, from the first issue — when I moved to Japan.

Yes, I did that.

In recent years I have been turning into someone who is gradually trying to get rid of physical stuff, as I learn to appreciate accessing everything in digital form. When it comes to stuff like these old magazines, it has been great to find online scans — here is the complete run of Electronic Fun (all 17 issues).

But seeing Frank flip through that issue of Electronic Games resulted in a nostalgic mindwarp that really had me wishing I still had that original collection.

I do thank Area 5, and Frank Cifaldi, for reminding me just how great it’s been growing up in sync with the world of video games.