Christmas Nights article, circa 1996

aso · Post by **aso** » Mon Jul 05, 2004 5:16 pm

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From Next Generation, bless its departed self.

While this article really doesn't state anything new, it's a nostalgic read.

Post by **Squirrelknight** » Mon Jul 05, 2004 5:23 pm

Is it just me, or is the background on Spring Valley different in that screenshot on the corner of the first page?

Post by **Crazy Penguin** » Mon Jul 05, 2004 5:48 pm

I believe that was a Twin Seeds link attack mode mini game thingy that didn't make it into the final.

aso · Post by **aso** » Mon Jul 05, 2004 6:07 pm

Indeed. Shame, it looked really cool.

BlazeHedgehog · Post by **BlazeHedgehog** » Mon Jul 05, 2004 9:32 pm

Ah yes. One of the three was to get Christmas NiGHTs here in the states was by either purchasing a copy of UGP, NEXT Generation, or renting a Saturn game at Blockbuster tagged with "Free Christmas NiGHTS Bonus".

I should try and track down the UGP review, if it's of any interest.

aso · Post by **aso** » Mon Jul 05, 2004 10:21 pm

BlazeHedgehog wrote:Ah yes. One of the three was to get Christmas NiGHTs here in the states was by either purchasing a copy of UGP, NEXT Generation, or renting a Saturn game at Blockbuster tagged with "Free Christmas NiGHTS Bonus".

I should try and track down the UGP review, if it's of any interest.

That's right. Real shame is, this issue of Next Generation was part of a subscription, meaning it lacked the CD. Bloody shame.

If you can post the UGP review, it'd be much appreciated.

Psxphile · Post by **Psxphile** » Tue Jul 06, 2004 12:53 am

I suddenly have a reason to dust off some scans I've had on my HD for some time now:

<a href="http://members.lycos.co.uk/psxphilee/sc ... g">GameFan review page 2</a>
<a href="http://members.lycos.co.uk/psxphilee/sc ... g">GameFan review page 3</a>

Review of the final. I had little to no interest in <i>NiGHTS Into Dreams</i>, let alone the frilly update, until I chanced upon this gush of a review in '97. It made me realize I was missing out on what was surely a one time event in gaming history.

I don't feel that way anymore.

Post by **G.Silver** » Tue Jul 06, 2004 1:25 am

That Gamefan article pissed me off like nothing else I can think of, as I had already spent an entire day turning my hometown upside down searching for a magazine with Xmas NiGHTS included, only to find Gamefan's coverage delivered right to my door. Like "look what people who subscribed to OTHER magazines got!" Thanks Gamefan, thanks a fucking lot.

Post by **Green Gibbon!** » Tue Jul 06, 2004 9:58 am

Like aso said, though, it wasn't in subscription copies, you had to buy a newsstand copy if you wanted the disc. I remember I had a subscription to Game Players at that time and then I had my mom go out and buy some extra copies of the issue I'd already received plus some of Next Gen just to be safe. She didn't remember which magazines to buy, though, and I ended up with about a dozen issues encompassing every game publication they had at Toys R Us. Somehow, I ended up with only a single copy of the game.

Silv, I assume you did eventually get a hold of Xmas NiGHTS?

Post by Bo » Tue Jul 06, 2004 10:02 am

I spent more than I should have on Ebay in 2000 to get mine... well worth it, though.

Post by **Segaholic2** » Tue Jul 06, 2004 10:02 am

I actually don't have a copy of Christmas NiGHTS. Someone have extras to sell?

Post by **G.Silver** » Tue Jul 06, 2004 12:48 pm

Silv, I assume you did eventually get a hold of Xmas NiGHTS?

Yeah, a friend from Seattle was able to get an extra one for me.

BlazeHedgehog · Post by **BlazeHedgehog** » Wed Jul 07, 2004 7:54 pm

Damn, I miss Gamefan. Reading that Christmas NiGHTS review brings back memories...

I personally need to buy a new Christmas NiGHTS, I think. As a child I treated a lot of my CDs really badly, and Christmas NiGHTS is almost unplayable anymore. I usually have to sit and fight with the Saturn and the disc for hours before it'll boot up and let me play.

Haven't found the Christmas NiGHTS review. Found the one with the NiGHTS review, but I think I scanned that earlier for Rlan and Secrets of Sonicteam.

Post by **G.Silver** » Thu Jul 08, 2004 2:50 am

Ask the man with a stack of Gamefans (actually two stacks) and the will to rummage through them at a moment's notice: It's the Feb. 97 issue, Mario Kart 64 is on the cover.

Psxphile · Post by **Psxphile** » Thu Jul 08, 2004 8:07 am

Coincedently, Dave Halverson (E.Storm) heads up as editor of <i>Play Magazine</i> now, and looking through its pages, you can get a feel of the old GameFan style coming through.

Post by **Green Gibbon!** » Thu Jul 08, 2004 8:25 am

I haven't opened an issue of Play Magazine in seven months. Has it gotten any better at all? It's the only game publication out now that could potentially be the next Next Generation, but the writing is consistently abysmal. I mean, their heart is in the right place...

Post by **Popcorn** » Thu Jul 08, 2004 9:59 am

I got Christmas NiGHTS from a magazine back in the day, but then made the grave mistake of lending it to Johnny 'Sonikku' Wallbank (not to be confused with Asshole 'Sonniku' Asshole) who is now my arch-nemesis or thereabouts and refused to send it back on grounds of me (quote) 'not deserving it'. The rage, the rage.

plasticwingsband · Post by **plasticwingsband** » Thu Jul 08, 2004 11:36 am

Green Gibbon! wrote:I haven't opened an issue of Play Magazine in seven months. Has it gotten any better at all? It's the only game publication out now that could potentially be the next Next Generation, but the writing is consistently abysmal. I mean, their heart is in the right place...

I agree that they have their heart in the right place, but after they gave an "A" to Sonic Heroes and called it the best Sonic game since Sonic & Knuckles, I couldn't take them seriously.

Post by **Esrever** » Thu Jul 08, 2004 1:08 pm

The only game magazine I even look at anymore is GMR, and that's because they won't stop mailing the damn thing to me! I have never paid for a single issue of that glorified EB catalog, and how many issues do I have now? 8? 12? Oy!

I'm serious, don't let these people find out where you live. You can't get away. I've been thinking of moving.

Light Speed · Post by **Light Speed** » Thu Jul 08, 2004 1:38 pm

Heh, the same sort of thing happened to me with PSM. After my Playstation 1 broke and I grew a brain I decided to cancel my PSM subscription, I did this by not sending them any money ever again. I continued to get another years worth of magazine, each one smaller than the last. They finally stopped for about two years, however I started recieving them again about 3 or 4 months ago. My dad claims he used some of his frequent flier miles to buy magazine subscriptions and he said he thinks he got PSM for me (don't know why since I don't have any Sony consoles anymore) and some other girl magazine for my sister. However the one he got for her has his name on the address, the PSM has my name so I think they are still sending them to me for free. I don't know how it is the number one Playstation magazine.

Post by Bo » Thu Jul 08, 2004 3:08 pm

I paid for a 1 year Wired magazine subscription 3 years ago... still getting it.

aso · Post by **aso** » Thu Jul 08, 2004 3:38 pm

If some folks really need Christmas Nights, mod your Saturn in some way so that it can play Japanese games, and head down to here - a Mint copy is only 7.99. I already own one. (Hell, may buy another.)

As far as quality game magazines go, the last truly good magazines I've seen have been Ultra Game Players, Next Generation/Next Gen, PC Accelerator, and PC Gamer (stopped reading due to Silent Hill 3 review... fanboy response, yes). As far as *now* goes, I'm getting Gamepro as part of a free subscription. It sucks.

Post by **Popcorn** » Thu Jul 08, 2004 4:20 pm

Edge magazine is pretty damn good, and apparently the only thing of its kind in the world.

Post by **G.Silver** » Fri Jul 09, 2004 2:04 am

When I was in the UK last year I got the chance to flip through a lot of old Edges and a few current ones, it really is a nice little magazine.

I haven't opened an issue of Play Magazine in seven months. Has it gotten any better at all? It's the only game publication out now that could potentially be the next Next Generation, but the writing is consistently abysmal. I mean, their heart is in the right place...

I loitered around at Super 1 today taking a look at the current Play. It's not a matter of abysmal writing so much as the fact that there is no real "writing" to speak of, there are a few news articles, small reviews, a couple interviews that looked good, but nothing like Next Gen. Not really like Edge either. I miss the insane Gamefan page layouts, but I suppose the idea is to just show off a few really nice screen shots, seeing how you can always find more online, just like you can find all the news online (a month ago) too.

Rlan · Post by **Rlan** » Fri Jul 09, 2004 8:31 pm

Yoink!

I'll add these to Secrets of Sonic Team if that's okay with you [Both Aso and Psxfile]

If you have any other crap, give me a holler.

The GHZ Forum

Christmas Nights article, circa 1996

Christmas Nights article, circa 1996

Good as time as any.