{{Short description|Japanese video game magazine}} {{Expand language|topic=|langcode=ja|otherarticle=ゲーマガ|date=November 2021}} {{Infobox magazine | image_file = Gemaga Magazine Cover.jpg | image_caption = Final issue cover (May 2012) | category = Video games | publisher = SB Creative | founded = 1984 | finaldate = May 2012 | country = Japan | language = Japanese }} {{nihongo foot|'''''Gemaga'''''|ゲーマガ|Gēmaga|lead=yes|group=lower-alpha}} was a Japanese video game magazine founded in 1984 as ''Beep'' and published by SB Creative. During its history, it was known variously as ''Beep'', {{nihongo foot|''Beep! MegaDrive'',|BEEP!メガドライブ|BEEP! Mega Doraibu|lead=yes|group=lower-alpha}} ''Sega Saturn Magazine'', ''Dreamcast Magazine'', {{nihongo foot|''Dorimaga'',|ドリマガ|Dorimaga|lead=yes|group=lower-alpha}} and finally ''Gemaga''.<ref name="Caoili" /><ref name="Gifford" /> When it ended publication in May 2012, it was the longest-running Japanese game magazine.
== History == The magazine was started by Softbank Publishing in 1984 as a monthly publication under the name ''Beep'' to cover video games for home computers, arcade machines and gaming consoles.<ref name="mbook" /><ref name="history" /> Its original layout was inspired by the men's magazine ''Popeye''.<ref name="川口洋司" />
The original ''Beep'' magazine was discontinued on 8 March 1989. The editor-in-chief, Yoji Kawaguchi pitched a new format to SoftBank: two separate magazines, one which covers games for Sega Mega Drive, and one which is dedicated to the upcoming Super Nintendo Entertainment System. The publisher was more interested in Nintendo, since it was more popular in Japan than Sega, but agreed to start with the Mega Drive-themed publication because the new Nintendo console was delayed from its original launch date in 1989. The new publication was named ''Beep! Mega Drive''. Kawaguchi decided to keep the original name ''Beep'' to emphasize the continuity between the publications. The magazine went from a monthly to a twice-monthly publication.<ref name="history" />
In 1995 coverage of Mega Drive was withdrawn in favour of the Sega Saturn. The magazine was renamed ''Sega Saturn Magazine''. Kawaguchi decided to drop "Beep" from its name because according to him, it had served its purpose. The magazine became a weekly publication.<ref name="history" /> In 1998 it was rebranded as ''Dreamcast Magazine'' and changed its focus from Saturn to Sega Dreamcast.<ref name="dreamcast" /><ref>{{cite web|url=http://headline.gamespot.com/news/98_10/09_satmag/index.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19990422202804/http://headline.gamespot.com/news/98_10/09_satmag/index.html|title=Softbank Renames Saturn Magazine|website=GameSpot|archive-date=April 22, 1999|date=October 9, 1998|access-date=April 24, 2022}}</ref>
Sega discontinued the Dreamcast on March 31, 2001, but the magazine survived by rebranding itself again. The title was changed to its previously informal name ''Dorimaga'' (short for "Dreamcast Magazine") and became a multiplatform publication.<ref name="dorimaga" /> In 2006 the magazine changed its name again, to ''Gemaga'', which is short for "Games Magazine".<ref name="Gemaga" /><ref name="Gifford" />
In January 2012, it was announced by the publisher that ''Gemaga'' was to close. The May 2012 issue was the last of the magazine. At the time of its closure it was the longest-running magazine devoted to videogames in Japan.<ref name="Hillier" /><ref name="ウメ" /><ref name="Caoili" />
== Notes == {{Notelist}}
== References == <references> <ref name="mbook"> {{cite book |title= 懐かしファミコンパーフェクトガイド |publisher= マガジンボックス |page= 107 |isbn= 978-4906735891 |language= ja |year= 2016 }}</ref> <ref name="川口洋司">{{cite web |author = 川口洋司 |url = https://akiba-pc.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/column/masudaretro/1088721.html |title = Beep元編集長 川口洋司氏が語るライバル誌ログインと、今だから言える『MYST』制作時のミス |language = ja |website = AKIBA PC Hotline! |publisher = Impress |date = 2017-10-31 |access-date = 2021-11-25 |archive-date = 2021-05-06 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210506103206/https://akiba-pc.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/column/masudaretro/1088721.html |url-status=live }}</ref> <ref name="history">{{cite web |url = https://game.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/feature/1310283.html |title = 「セガハードヒストリア」のヒストリア～または製作日記【第1回】 |language = ja |website = GAME Watch |publisher = Impress |date = 2021-08-03 |access-date = 2021-11-25 |archive-date = 2021-06-07 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210607044309/https://game.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/feature/1310283.html |url-status=live }}</ref> <ref name="dreamcast">{{cite web |url = https://group.softbank/news/press/19981105 |title = 週刊ドリームキャストマガジン創刊 |language = ja |publisher = Softbank |date = 1998-11-05 |access-date = 2021-11-25 |archive-date = 2020-11-01 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20201101013336/https://group.softbank/news/press/19981105 |url-status=live }}</ref> <ref name="dorimaga">{{cite web |url = https://nlab.itmedia.co.jp/games/gsnews/0105/11/news04.html |title = 新装刊！「ドリマガ」絶賛発売中！ |language = ja |website = IT media |date = 2001-11-05 |access-date = 2021-11-25 |archive-date = 2021-11-26 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20211126000654/https://nlab.itmedia.co.jp/games/gsnews/0105/11/news04.html |url-status=live }}</ref> <ref name="Gemaga">{{cite web |url = http://www.gamenews.ne.jp/archives/2006/04/530.html |title = 総合ゲーム月刊誌ドリマガ、5月30日発売号から「ゲーマガ」に誌名変更 |language = ja |website = Garbage News |date = 2006-05-03 |access-date = 2021-11-25 |archive-date = 2016-04-10 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160410143255/http://www.gamenews.ne.jp/archives/2006/04/530.html |url-status=live }}</ref> <ref name="Hillier">{{cite web |author = Brenna Hillier |url = https://www.vg247.com/japans-oldest-games-magazine-to-end-in-march |title = Japan's oldest games magazine to end in March |language = en |website = VG247 |date = 2012-01-18 |access-date = 2021-11-25 |archive-date = 2021-11-26 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20211126000613/https://www.vg247.com/japans-oldest-games-magazine-to-end-in-march |url-status=live }}</ref> <ref name="ウメ"> {{cite web |author = ウメ |url = http://gemaga.sbcr.jp/2012/03/post-ca66.html |title = 退職のお知らせ |language = ja |website = Gemaga |date = 2012-03-31 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120404183610/http://gemaga.sbcr.jp/2012/03/post-ca66.html |access-date = 2021-11-27 |archive-date = 2012-04-04 }} </ref> <ref name="Caoili">{{cite web |author = Eric Caoili |url = https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/-em-final-fantasy-brigade-em-em-metal-gear-rising-em-and-more-in-this-week-s-japanese-news-roundup |title = Final Fantasy Brigade, Metal Gear Rising and more in this week's Japanese news roundup |language = en |website = Game Developer |date = 2012-01-23 |access-date = 2021-11-27 |archive-date = 2021-08-27 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210827174258/https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/-em-final-fantasy-brigade-em-em-metal-gear-rising-em-and-more-in-this-week-s-japanese-news-roundup |url-status = live }}</ref> <ref name="Gifford">{{cite web |author = Kevin Gifford |url = https://www.gamedeveloper.com/game-platforms/analysis-the-state-of-game-magazines-in-japan |title = Analysis: The State Of Game Magazines In Japan |language = en |website = Gamasutra |date = 2008-05-30 |access-date = 2021-11-28 |archive-date = 2021-08-30 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210830041835/https://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/18409/Analysis_The_State_Of_Game_Magazines_In_Japan.php |url-status = live }}</ref> </references> {{Shūkanshi}} {{Video game journalism}}
Category:1984 establishments in Japan Category:Magazines established in 1984 Category:Magazines disestablished in 2012 Category:Magazines published in Tokyo Category:Monthly magazines published in Japan Category:Weekly magazines published in Japan Category:Video game magazines published in Japan Category:Defunct video game magazines Category:Sega magazines Category:Sega Genesis Category:Sega Saturn Category:Dreamcast