Talk:Games (magazine)
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[edit] Bankruptcy
The following appeared on GAMES Magazine bankruptcy being considered for deletion as of May 7, 2006 (as it was left 04:16, 7 May 2006 by User:Jimkoke ). I thought it was an interesting story, though posited without reference to the source of information. It might have a home on this page if someone can verify it, or maybe even just as a mention of rumour? - Rainwarrior 04:46, 7 May 2006 (UTC)
Games Magazine mysteriously stopped publication in the early 1990's.
Each issue of GAMES contained numerous and varied puzzle style games. Some of these games were implemented as contests with a first prize of typically $1,000.00. One of these contests forced the magazine into bankruptcy. Through an omission, the now very standard text similar to only one prize will be awarded and in the event of a tie, the winner will be chosen randomly, was left out of the contest rules. This contest had well over a thousand winners. The magazine was obligated to award all the winners the first prize of $1,000.00. The prize payout was more than the magazine could bear and bankruptcy took the magazine out of publication.
As compensation to its subscribers, the magazine offered a substitute subscription to a somewhat less successful, but similar, puzzle magazine.
The magazine was later purchased and resumed publication. About a year or so after resuming publication, an article in the magazine detailed the events leading up to the bankruptcy.
[edit] Bankruptcy? Yes. Contest gone awry? No.
The above is almost totally false. Here's an article with the actual facts, which are far more mundane than the contest-run-amok version. It's vaguely possible that the "contest" explanation did appear in the magazine though, as I remember GAMES occasionally pulling April Fool's jokes on its readers. Perhaps this was one of them. Andrew Lenahan - Starblind 17:25, 7 May 2006 (UTC)
[edit] PSC Publishing
Interesting article on why the bankruptcy occurred. The article mentions that, at the time, it was being published by "PSC Publishing." The article lacks mention of when Playboy (PEI) sold off the magazine, who bought it, etc. I'm assuming PSC got it directly after PEI, but don't want to add that information to the article without confirmation. Anyone have back issues that could be consulted? Student Driver 22:17, 3 September 2006 (UTC)
[edit] GAMES History
I was a contributor to GAMES starting with its third issue, early 1978. It was not originally owned by Playboy, but was bought by them a couple of years after its founding. During the time that they owned the magazine, they actually ran a few puzzles in Playboy itself, mostly by GAMES contributors or editors. (Including the first one, I'll modestly add, a word search by yours truly.) It's been awhile, and I have to set the "wayback machine", but, as I recall, John Jacobson was the editor prior to Will Shortz's tenure. They did indeed declare bankruptcy after Playboy sold them. I never learned all the details. I believe there may have been a second bankruptcy later, before they were picked up by Kappa. The present incarnation retains most of the "look and feel" of the original. The GAMES WORLD OF PUZZLES publication is, for me, a welcome addition. I love the articles in the original, but it's truly fun to have a pure puzzling edition as well. For any further discussion, you can contact me at ekstra@msn.com. Edith Rudy —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 63.164.145.85 (talk) 19:09, 26 April 2007 (UTC).
