EGM's Sushi-X - Unmasked At Last?

Thanks to CJ Johnston's weblog for its discussion on the true identity of U.S. videogame magazine EGM's secretive early/mid-'90s writer, Sushi-X. Johnston, a former EGM staffer, muses on the origins of the character: "The way I figure it (and I'm guessing here, since he appeared in EGM before my [1994-era] time), the Sushi-X persona was inspired by [Japanese videogame magazine] Famitsu's Taco-X, a reviewer often dressed as a ninja", and goes on to claim that the Lloyd Mangram-esque Sushi-X, "often the 'swing reviewer' who would pan something the other guys 'liked'", was originally writer Ken Williams. However, "soon everyone else on staff was taking turns playing Sushi-X", and, even post-EGM removal, the often composite character was resurrected for the now defunct GameNow magazine in 2003.

Re:As a Long Time EGM Reader...

[forkazoo]

Well, it makes sense to have a 'balancing' viewpoint on some games -- with a composite character like Sushi-X, you can still tell the publisher you wrote a good review, so they have to take you to dinner. It's that pesky 'other guy' who mentions all the flaws. Rather a reasonable solution, compared to the current, "This was the best game ever made" reviews for almost everything.

I always added a point or two to any Sushi score..

[CronoCloud]

of a game that wasn't a fighting game.

I couldn't stand the guy and his Street Fighter obseesion/I'm more hardcore than you because I can play imports/I use the japanese words for fighting game attacks because I am more hardcore than you.

Give me a break. He'd have fit right in at GameFan with their 2D/SNK worship/Fighting game worship/we liked anime before anyone else did attitude.

And worse, all of EGM was a bit like that. They gave Samurai Showdown game of the year honors. A game for a system that no one other than editors and writers of video game magazines actually owned. I think they did it just to prove how "hardcore" they were.

I'm glad that era is over and I'm glad Sushi is gone. Good riddance to him and all that blasted Street Fighter and Mortal Kombat letter art.