Editor Steve Hannley First issue June 2005 | Founder Tim Lindquist Final issue First Half 2010 | |
Categories Computing, Gaming, Computer magazine Frequency Monthly from 2005–2008
Quarterly from 2008-2011
Online from 2008-Present | ||
Hardcore Gamer is an online American video game magazine published by Steve Hannley. Founded in 2005, Hardcore Gamer published 36 issues in print before switching to an online-only format.
Contents
Hardcore Gamer concentrates on niche and indie video game titles, such as Disgaea and Limbo, and contains specialty features which differ from what more mainstream outlets generally cover. The Graveyard feature, for instance, covers forgotten retro games. Although primarily focusing on specialty games, Hardcore Gamer features stories for major releases such as Grand Theft Auto V and The Last of Us, assessing them from alternative perspectives.
History
Hardcore Gamer Magazine printed its first issue in June 2005. While most magazines were strictly print, Hardcore Gamer offered free copies of every issue in PDF file format in addition to the hard copies. Until April 2007, nearly every issue's cover was hand drawn by former GameFan artist Terry Wolfinger. Beginning in 2008, Hardcore Gamer changed its format by switching their release schedule from monthly to quarterly and shifting much of their coverage to their newly launched website. In addition to the change of format, Hardcore Gamer Magazine's logo was changed and the magazine began to be referred to as simply Hardcore Gamer. In 2009, Hardcore Gamer changed their release schedule once again to become a bi-annual magazine. In late 2009, former Editorial Director, Steve Hannley, purchased the publication in a private sale, pledging to continue with all current staff.
After publishing a final print issue in 2010, the publication was then moved exclusively online where it has remained. In addition to a large review base and features carried over from the magazine, Hardcore Gamer now includes constant news updates and numerous editorials, as well as video content and livestreaming.
Related publications
Tim Lindquist, the founder of Hardcore Gamer, co-founded GameFan with Dave Halverson. Both magazines have an emphasis on the hardcore gaming community and feature article layouts stylistically embedded with images. In addition to Tim Lindquist, Terry Wolfinger and Greg Off, who were key staff of GameFan, both worked on Hardcore Gamer.