The 1st of April 1992 issue of Electronic Gaming Monthly contained a lie so convincing it became the most famous hoax in video game history. Martin Alessi, the magazine's editor at the time, published a detailed article claiming that a secret character named Sheng Long existed in Street Fighter II: The World Warrior. The article described how to unlock the character by performing a specific sequence of moves: down, down, forward, forward, forward, punch, punch, punch, kick, kick, kick. The hoax was so effective that thousands of players spent hours trying to find the non-existent fighter, and the story spread through word-of-mouth and early internet forums. This prank established EGM's reputation for irreverence and set a precedent for April Fools jokes that would become a staple of the publication. The magazine's willingness to blur the line between fact and fiction created a unique relationship with its readers, who learned to question everything they read while eagerly consuming every word. The Sheng Long hoax remains a cultural touchstone for gamers who grew up in the 1990s, proving that sometimes the most memorable moments in gaming history were created by a magazine that refused to take itself too seriously.
The Review Crew That Defined Standards
Electronic Gaming Monthly revolutionized video game criticism by introducing a unique letter grade system that replaced the traditional 0 to 10 scale in the April 2008 issue. Before this change, the magazine had used a numerical system where scores of 10 were rarely given, and the highest honor was the Platinum Award, which required three perfect 10 ratings. The shift to letter grades created a new standard where a C represented average quality, while Silver, Gold, and Platinum awards recognized games with B- to A+ averages. This system was not merely cosmetic; it reflected a fundamental shift in how the magazine approached game evaluation. The Review Crew, a rotating pool of editors, would review major titles while individual staff members handled smaller releases. The magazine's policy of rarely giving perfect scores until Metal Gear Solid received four 10 ratings in 1998 demonstrated their commitment to maintaining credibility. This approach created a sense of exclusivity around highly-rated games, making the Platinum Award one of the most coveted honors in gaming journalism. The transition from numerical to letter grades also coincided with changes in the Review Crew's structure, moving from teams of four to teams of three, and eventually to single reviewers for most games. This evolution reflected the magazine's adaptation to the changing landscape of video game criticism and the increasing volume of releases.The 1st of April 1992 issue of Electronic Gaming Monthly contained a lie so convincing it became the most famous hoax in video game history. Martin Alessi, the magazine's editor at the time, published a detailed article claiming that a secret character named Sheng Long existed in Street Fighter II: The World Warrior. The article described how to unlock the character by performing a specific sequence of moves: down, down, forward, forward, forward, punch, punch, punch, kick, kick, kick. The hoax was so effective that thousands of players spent hours trying to find the non-existent fighter, and the story spread through word-of-mouth and early internet forums. This prank established EGM's reputation for irreverence and set a precedent for April Fools jokes that would become a staple of the publication. The magazine's willingness to blur the line between fact and fiction created a unique relationship with its readers, who learned to question everything they read while eagerly consuming every word. The Sheng Long hoax remains a cultural touchstone for gamers who grew up in the 1990s, proving that sometimes the most memorable moments in gaming history were created by a magazine that refused to take itself too seriously.
The Review Crew That Defined Standards
Electronic Gaming Monthly revolutionized video game criticism by introducing a unique letter grade system that replaced the traditional 0 to 10 scale in the April 2008 issue. Before this change, the magazine had used a numerical system where scores of 10 were rarely given, and the highest honor was the Platinum Award, which required three perfect 10 ratings. The shift to letter grades created a new standard where a C represented average quality, while Silver, Gold, and Platinum awards recognized games with B- to A+ averages. This system was not merely cosmetic; it reflected a fundamental shift in how the magazine approached game evaluation. The Review Crew, a rotating pool of editors, would review major titles while individual staff members handled smaller releases. The magazine's policy of rarely giving perfect scores until Metal Gear Solid received four 10 ratings in 1998 demonstrated their commitment to maintaining credibility. This approach created a sense of exclusivity around highly-rated games, making the Platinum Award one of the most coveted honors in gaming journalism. The transition from numerical to letter grades also coincided with changes in the Review Crew's structure, moving from teams of four to teams of three, and eventually to single reviewers for most games. This evolution reflected the magazine's adaptation to the changing landscape of video game criticism and the increasing volume of releases.