Happy Easter and April Fools! Revisiting classic Street Fighter hoaxes from EGM

Easter Eggs and April Fools Day seldom go hand and hand... But today this 2018, they coincide and crossover on April 1st as it is Easter Sunday and it's also the same day where tricks and pranks can be made in good fun. So in the spirit of both occasions and the fact that the 2018 Capcom Pro Tour is currently ongoing with some of the best Street Fighter players around the world - let's revisit some of Electronic Gaming Monthly's most infamous pranks during "April Fools".

Back in April of 1992, EGM decided to post a "trick" that would test the patience and sanity of any Street Fighter II player willing to go for it - fighting against "Sheng Long" - the supposed master of Ryu and Ken who was put into Street Fighter canon by accident thanks to a mistranslation of the word "Dragon Punch" in one of Ryu's winning quotes. As a result, EGM decided to take advantage and put out a grand hoax where the player, as Ryu, cannot take a single hit until they reach M.Bison's stage and when they reach that stage they cannot land or take hits until the tenth round. By that time, "Sheng Long" would appear and throw Bison off the arena - challenging the player to a "dual to the death".

Ironically, this hoax led to the creation and existence of Akuma/ Gouki as the "Secret Boss Character" that made his first appearance in Super Street Fighter II Turbo. That wouldn't be "Sheng Long" technically, but the pranks wouldn't stop there.

When Street Fighter III: New Generation first appeared in arcades, EGM revived the "secret" by creating a new elaborate "hoax" for the April 1997 issue - with Sheng Long "appearing in the sequel and an elaborate method explained on how to "fight him". Of course it was another ruse, and this eventually led to Akuma appearing in the updated Street Fighter III: 2nd Impact.

Eventually more than a decade later, "Sheng Long" did get his long awaited addition to the Street Fighter series - in the form of Gouken - the true master of Ryu and Ken who was supposedly killed by Akuma/ Gouki, but instead revived thanks to a new power that countered the Satsui no Hadou his younger brother used. Gouken made his first appearance as a secret boss character in Street Fighter IV, before becoming fully playable in later revisions and home releases.

Finally, there was the "AKUMA" hoax in Resident Evil 2, which EGM took full advantage of using as a "Trick of the Month" to let players play as the famed Street Fighter secret character in the 1998 survival horror sequel. That put a lot of people through stress and challenges to "unlock the demon" - another elaborate trick for April Fool's that the Electronic Gaming Monthly guys cleverly crafted.

That's pretty much it for the throwback folks. Happy Easter and April Fool's Day 2018!

Welcome Back, EGM!!!

And so it begins... The Return Of The King Of American Video Game Magazines!

Back in January 2009, my heart sank completely when I learned that Electronic Gaming Monthly was no more. Its publisher, Ziff Davis, sold 1UP.com to UGO Entertainment, effectively putting to rest the magazine many fellow gamers and I have been reading since its inception on the summer of 1989. Unlike other competitors, EGM's strong point was its writing and content. The magazine contributed a lot to the gaming industry and its consumers by providing mostly first hand and exclusive content not seen anywhere else, becoming a dominant and trusted force in the video game community. Even with the advent and eventual expansion of the internet, the brand alone spoke volumes. It was a reliable source of information, reviews, and unbiased opinions from sincere and devoted people who were passionate about gaming in every sense of the word. From the moment I picked up the Megaman 2 issue in the late 80's to the time I actually believed in the April Fool's jokes they made (like the Sheng Long Street Fighter II trick), EGM was a brand that me and my fellow gamers could wholeheartedly rely on, until its unceremonious demise.

However, all was not lost.

In the eve of E3 2009, EGM writer and founder Steve Harris acquired the rights to publish EGM anew for both online and print mediums. The relaunch would occur sometime before or after the new year, and as part of the promotions, the "Lost" EGM issue, originally dated for a February 2009 release, was released online and appeared in the restructured website, EGMnow.com. Through the website, people can register and subscribe to EGMi - the digital magazine companion to the print medium we gamers all know and love. EGMi features exclusive content like video interviews and live page browsing that can only be experienced when you sign up.

I picked up my copy of the "New and Improved" EGM just today, and I must say, it feels good to be back reading a printed international magazine devoted entirely to gaming again. It's fitting that for the relaunch itself, the new issue focuses on Street Fighter once again, specifically on "The Street Fighter Legacy" and its impact on the fighting game industry, not to mention the latest installment in the series released by Capcom - "Super Street Fighter IV". In fact, the "Zombie Issue" sports two covers featuring SF stalwarts Ryu and Ken, and for this reunion, I picked the man with the headband just for the occasion. In addition to the emphasis on SF, the issue also includes a look back at EGM's past; An exclusive interview with God Of War/ Twisted Metal creator David Jaffe; And an inside look on games that were hyped and anticipated by many, like the recently released Xbox 360 exclusive Alan Wake. There's also some features and commentaries by many of the top writers and players in the gaming industry today, including content contributed by new guys like Marc Bozon (former IGN Editor), and by EGM veterans like Dan "Shoe" Hsu, Ryan O'Donnell, and... Sushi X!!! Of course, that means that we can't forget about the reviews... they're back as well! They're all present here again, with the numbering system and good, bad, and ugly commentary intact. As part of the synchronization process, the magazine comes with a unique "iPASS" code that brings on more exclusive content when you log in online and sign up!

With all that said and more to look forward to in the future, Electronic Gaming Monthly is truly back and here to stay. Reading this rebirth brings a tear to my eye... and fresh new smell of magazine goodness on my face. Anybody who knows the brand better get skipping to their nearest bookstore or magazine stand and pick up a copy now! EGM IS BACK PEOPLE! Spread the word!