May In History: 1989 In Review

[triverse]

Due to the overwhelming amount of fun and interesting things happened in May 1999, 1994 and 1989 Retromags is doing a three part look at May in History. Without further ado, Retromags presents Part 3 of May in History:

May 1989, probably started out like most any other month but if you were into entertainment in just about any form, there were some big happenings. If you were a gamer then you probably were excited to see

Taito release Operation Wolf on the NES, Tengen released what would become an unofficially licensed version of Tetris (get a copy of Game Over for the scoop on the mess surrounding Tetris) and Arch Rivals is released in arcades thanks to Acclaim. Magazines were still not considered mainstream and were often viewed as slightly below comics (which had collectability on their side). Still at the time May was a very important month. EGM #1 and Gamepro #1 were released this month and it was the beginning of change for the industry as a whole, video games and magazines based on video games were changing. So was the world for that matter, May 1989 saw the opening of Disney-MGM Studios and the Calgary Flames won their first and only Stanley Cup Trophy.

Life as the King of Pop wasn't much easier in 1989 as he was the focus of a police call about a suspicious person shopping near a Californian jewelry store.

Michael Jackson was shopping in disguise.

Harrison Ford reprised his role as Indiana in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. If you had a mom like mine, you know about Dallas and Bobby Ewing and the talk that went on about the Season finale with him caught in the crossfire as a rival tried to kill J.R. (Bobby's brother for those that don't know). TV shows that called it quits this year include the following May 1 - The Benny Hill Show (UK) (1955-1989), May 10 - Dynasty (1981-1989), May 14 - Family Ties (1982-1989), Moonlighting (1985-1989), May 21 - Miami Vice (1984-1989), May 22 - Kate and Allie (1984-1989).

20 Years Ago, you may have seen these issues in your mailbox or at the local news stand:

Atarian Video Game Magazine

here

EGM #1

here

Gamepro #1

here

Nintendo Power #6

here

Video Games and Computer Entertainment

here

Check out the Wikipedia for

EGM and Gamepro for facts and interesting tidbits that you may not have known.

The oldest issue from May available here on Retromags.com is one many may not know about or have even heard of but thanks to kitsune it is available here. Ladies and gentleman, Retromags.com is proud to present the May 1984 issue of Computer Fun.

Computer Fun May 1984

here

Contributors to this section:

kbf_private_joker

kitsune

Phillyman

scurti

TresHombres

Links to the other two parts:

1999

1994

[Sakuyo!]

Unfortunately I was only 2 in May 1989. But reading about the events I imagine it was an exciting time to be a gamer. The NES was still firing on all cylinders and dominating the video game market, the Sega Master System was........just there, and the then-next gen consoles such as the TG-16 and the Sega Genesis were on the horizon.

Also, 2 of the most, if not the most important gaming magazines launch that same month. They would be each other's greatest rival. Today, 20 years later, only one is left standing unfortunately, and its not the well-liked one.

BTW, did the plans to release the last, unpublished issue on EGM on the web fall through? DAMN. I can't believe EGM will be remembered by with HUGH JACKMAN on their last cover.

So, as a youngster, I 'd definitely like to hear how it was for you who were of age back 20 years ago.

[CyberkNight]

Not to nitpick but Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade would have been the 1989 Indiana Jones movie. However, the NES version of Temple of Doom was released in 1988 and coincidentally there was an unlicensed Tengen version of that game (in addition to a licensed Mindscape version which was identical).

[triverse]

Not to nitpick but Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade would have been the 1989 Indiana Jones movie. However, the NES version of Temple of Doom was released in 1988 and coincidentally there was an unlicensed Tengen version of that game (in addition to a licensed Mindscape version which was identical).

Thank you for the heads up on that minor mistake (yeah, minor, um, yep ). I must have gotten cross eyed writing it up. lol