''Sega Power'', initially known as ''S: The Sega Magazine'', was a

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publication aimed at the

Sega is a Japanese video game company and subsidiary of Sega Sammy Holdings headquartered in Tokyo. It produces several List of best-selling video game franchises, multi-million-selling game franchises for arcade game, arcades and video game cons ...

range of consoles, including the

Master System The is an 8-bit Third generation of video game consoles, third-generation home video game console manufactured and developed by Sega. It was originally a remodeled export version of the Sega Mark III, the third iteration of the SG-1000 series ...

Mega Drive The Sega Genesis, known as the outside North America, is a 16-bit Fourth generation of video game consoles, fourth generation home video game console developed and sold by Sega. It was Sega's third console and the successor to the Master Sys ...

Game Gear The is an 8-bit Fourth generation of video game consoles, fourth-generation handheld game console released by Sega on October 6, 1990 in Japan, in April 1991 throughout North America and Europe, and in 1992 in Australia. The Game Gear primarily ...

and later on the Mega-CD,

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and

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. The magazine was later relaunched as ''Saturn Power'' when the other Sega consoles were discontinued.

''S: The Sega Magazine''

Edited by Steve Jarratt,

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's early Sega incarnation covered the

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-CD,

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 ...

and the

. In the spring of 1997, after 91 issues, the magazine was relaunched and renamed.

''Saturn Power''

With both the

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'' followed suit and released a spin-off of ''Super Smash TV'', which bore striking similarities to Stephen King's 'The Running Man'.

References

{{Future plc

External links

Website
of former staff memberStuart Campbell * Saturn Power magazines on the

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