Summary
- Game Informer's sudden closure brings about a wave of nostalgia and mourning for the beloved gaming magazine on social media.
- Efforts made to archive magazine content show dedication to preserving the video game medium's heritage despite cover hype and unfulfilled announcements.
- Each unique cover design, from handcrafted homages to minimalist themes, has left a lasting impact on the magazine's readers throughout the years.
After 33 years of publication and 367 issues circulated, Gamestop has ceased publication of the much-loved gaming magazine Game Informer. After the subscription's sudden shuttering, many gamers, developers, and former writers have lamented the loss on social media.
As the Game Informer website and digital archive have been similarly shut down, efforts by enthusiasts have been made to archive the magazin and prevent the possible loss of media. Although some covers may hype up some questionable titles, and some software announcements may not come to be, every issue is a part of the video game medium's heritage.
20 Issue 320 (December 2019)
A Handcrafted Homage To Blizzard's IPs
Game Informer's December 2019 cover was created in celebration of the "unprecedented unveiling of new titles and updates" from that year's Blizzcon showcase. Detailing some stunning artwork surrounding Blizzard IPs such as Diablo, Hearthstone, and Overwatch, four other collectible covers were released showcasing the franchises individually.
19 Issue 117 (January 2003)
Moody, Washed-Out Tones Depict A New Xbox IP
Game Informer issue 117's cover image is a celebration of Fable's reveal from the placeholder tile of 'Project Ego'. Providing exclusive closed-door coverage on the title, the cover's dark and mystical tones set it apart from the somewhat direct covers of some other issues.
18 Issue 200 (December 2009)
An Extremely Minimalist Design Celebrating 200 Issues
In celebration of Game Informer's 200th issue in December 2009, the magazine released eight collectible covers themed around their top choices for the 200 best games of all time. The minimalist white background and central sprite or model create a dynamic cover image that draws readers' eyes to the paperback.
10 Incredibly Ambitious Video Games That Were Cancelled
There have been a lot of video games canceled for one reason or another. Here's a look at some of the most ambitious video games that never released.
17 Issue 344 (March 2022)
Fluid Motion and Intricate Details Promote A New Square Enix RPG
Placing their coverage of Square Enix's new IP Forspoken on the cover of Gamer Informer's March 2022 issue, the issue boasts a 14-page cover story. Featuring a dynamic illustration by Forspoken art director Yuuki Matsuzawa, this cover is an intricate yet impactful showcase of the game.
16 Issue 181 (May 2008)
Alternate Covers Promote Epic Games' Returning Third-Person Franchise
Promoting Game Informer's exclusive coverage of Microsoft's first-party sequel Gears of War 2, May 2008's cover is a minimalist two-tone design. With grayscale and contrasting red-black alternate covers, series protagonist Marcus Fenix stands silhouetted against the blood-spattered background.
15 Issue 290 (June 2017)
A Dynamic Collage Showcases The Magazine's JRPG Rankings
Game Informer's June 2017 issue promoted the magazine's 'Top 100 RPGs Of All Time' list. To honor this, the cover is designed as a diorama showcasing the protagonists of the industry's greatest role-playing games. Geralt of Rivia, Pikachu, and Cloud Strife all make appearances among other RPG hall-of-fame stars.
14 Issue 104 (December 2001)
A Comic-Book Style Provides An Alternative Look For Metal Gear Solid 2
To prepare readers for their six-page coverage of Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty, Game Informer decorated its December 2001 issue with a comic book-inspired piece of artwork portraying Solid Snake himself. Despite no mention of the game's true protagonist Raiden, perhaps due to an embargo, the cover is a varied take on the magazine's usual design.
13 Issue 212 (December 2010)
Ten Years Of Protagonists Depicted In A Handcrafted Mural
As Game Informer ventured into a new decade, artist Sam Spratt was commissioned to illustrate a mural of the magazine's picks for the 30 characters that defined the 2000s. With appearances from Master Chief, Glados, and John Marston, these covers are so precisely designed that they can be placed side-by-side to create a dynamic diorama.
12 Issue 20 (December 1994)
DOOM's Chaotic Cover Lends Itself To Game Informer
Game Informer's December 1994 cover is not its own unique artwork. However, it's a testament to the creativity and flexibility of Don Ivan Punchatz's original DOOM cover art that it can still make such an impact even when simply promoting the game's Sega 32X port.
11 Issue 321 (January 2020)
A PlayStation Anniversary Promoted Through Minimalist Design
In celebration of PlayStation's 25th anniversary, Game Informer decorated their cover with minimalistic, semi-grayscale depictions of some of the platform's greatest first-party mascots. From Crash Bandicoot and Sackboy to Kratos and Ratchet, a quarter-century's worth of IPs are on creative display in the magazine's January 2020 issue.