Computer Games Magazine
Encyclopedia
Computer Games Magazine was a computer gaming print magazine
. It was formerly Computer Games Strategy Plus, and before that, Strategy Plus, which had been founded as Games International in the UK
in 1988. While its initial focus was on strategy game
s, it covered a wide range of game genres. The editor-in-chief was first, Brian Walker
, from the UK; then Steven Wartofsky, and then later Steve Bauman. Based in Richmond, Vermont
, it was the only independent computer gaming magazine in the United States. The magazine was acquired from Brian Walker
by Yale Brozen, owner of the mail-order games company Chips 'n Bits, who ran it as a separate business entity from his mail-order business.
The magazine also covered content related to console games including Xbox 360
, PlayStation 2
, Xbox
, GameCube
, PSP
, Game Boy Advance
, and Nintendo DS.
Computer Games Magazine included news, interviews, reviews, previews, and a wide variety of feature articles, as well as columns from game developers, industry leaders, academics, and writers within the videogame genre.
Games were rated on a 5-star system.
Computer Games was the sister publication and creator of MASSIVE Magazine (later renamed MMO Games Magazine
), debuting in Fall 2006, and was also affiliated with game retailer Chips & Bits, as well as game auction/trading site GameSwapZone.com.
On March 13, 2007 it was reported that both Computer Games Magazine and MMO Games Magazine
were shut down by their publisher, Theglobe.com
, after that company was hit with a multi-million dollar judgement in a lawsuit resulting from the e-mail spam
of MySpace
.
A Greek version of Computer Games Magazine is still in print. This publication is currently on its seventh year of circulation and has been offering a covermount of full game (titles have included Resident Evil 4, Fallout 1 & 2, Icewind Dale, Hitman: Contracts, and more). The publication was originally owned by Hyperpress, a minor publication house but was sold to Motorpress in 2006 (along with the Greek version of GamePro magazine).
On July 10, 2007 a post from an apparent administrator on the Computer Games Magazine website forums (CGOnline.com) indicated that both Computer Games Magazine and MMO Games Magazine would be brought back to the public under a new publisher.
In the October 2007 issue of Games for Windows: The Official Magazine
, a letter addressing Computer Games Magazine subscribers informed them that their pre-existing subscriptions had been applied to Games for Windows. It is currently unknown whether the future re-launch of Computer Games Magazine might also use the same subscriptions or require a new one.
In early 2009, CGOnline.com went back online featuring articles from past magazines. Content is continually being uploaded to the archive on the site.
Magazine
Magazines, periodicals, glossies or serials are publications, generally published on a regular schedule, containing a variety of articles. They are generally financed by advertising, by a purchase price, by pre-paid magazine subscriptions, or all three...
. It was formerly Computer Games Strategy Plus, and before that, Strategy Plus, which had been founded as Games International in the UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
in 1988. While its initial focus was on strategy game
Strategy game
A strategy game or strategic game is a game in which the players' uncoerced, and often autonomous decision-making skills have a high significance in determining the outcome...
s, it covered a wide range of game genres. The editor-in-chief was first, Brian Walker
Brian Walker
Brian Walker is a toy inventor from Bend, Oregon who is known for attempting to build his own rocket and as the inventor of several toys, namely the air bazooka....
, from the UK; then Steven Wartofsky, and then later Steve Bauman. Based in Richmond, Vermont
Richmond, Vermont
Richmond is a town in Chittenden County, Vermont, United States. The 2000 census revealed a population of 4,090.Local students attend Mount Mansfield Union High School, Camel's Hump Middle School, And Richmond Elementary School. Mount Mansfield Union High is in the neighboring town of Jericho...
, it was the only independent computer gaming magazine in the United States. The magazine was acquired from Brian Walker
Brian Walker
Brian Walker is a toy inventor from Bend, Oregon who is known for attempting to build his own rocket and as the inventor of several toys, namely the air bazooka....
by Yale Brozen, owner of the mail-order games company Chips 'n Bits, who ran it as a separate business entity from his mail-order business.
The magazine also covered content related to console games including Xbox 360
Xbox 360
The Xbox 360 is the second video game console produced by Microsoft and the successor to the Xbox. The Xbox 360 competes with Sony's PlayStation 3 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles...
, PlayStation 2
PlayStation 2
The PlayStation 2 is a sixth-generation video game console manufactured by Sony as part of the PlayStation series. Its development was announced in March 1999 and it was first released on March 4, 2000, in Japan...
, Xbox
Xbox
The Xbox is a sixth-generation video game console manufactured by Microsoft. It was released on November 15, 2001 in North America, February 22, 2002 in Japan, and March 14, 2002 in Australia and Europe and is the predecessor to the Xbox 360. It was Microsoft's first foray into the gaming console...
, GameCube
Nintendo GameCube
The , officially abbreviated to NGC in Japan and GCN in other regions, is a sixth generation video game console released by Nintendo on September 15, 2001 in Japan, November 18, 2001 in North America, May 3, 2002 in Europe, and May 17, 2002 in Australia...
, PSP
PlayStation Portable
The is a handheld game console manufactured and marketed by Sony Corporation Development of the console was announced during E3 2003, and it was unveiled on , 2004, at a Sony press conference before E3 2004...
, Game Boy Advance
Game Boy Advance
The is a 32-bit handheld video game console developed, manufactured, and marketed by Nintendo. It is the successor to the Game Boy Color. It was released in Japan on March 21, 2001; in North America on June 11, 2001; in Australia and Europe on June 22, 2001; and in the People's Republic of China...
, and Nintendo DS.
Computer Games Magazine included news, interviews, reviews, previews, and a wide variety of feature articles, as well as columns from game developers, industry leaders, academics, and writers within the videogame genre.
Games were rated on a 5-star system.
Computer Games was the sister publication and creator of MASSIVE Magazine (later renamed MMO Games Magazine
MMO Games Magazine
MMO Games Magazine was a short-lived computer magazine that focused on the massively multiplayer online gaming market. It was published by the media conglomerate theGlobe.com as a sister publication to Computer Games magazine. The magazine's website was launched in June 2006, and the first issue...
), debuting in Fall 2006, and was also affiliated with game retailer Chips & Bits, as well as game auction/trading site GameSwapZone.com.
On March 13, 2007 it was reported that both Computer Games Magazine and MMO Games Magazine
MMO Games Magazine
MMO Games Magazine was a short-lived computer magazine that focused on the massively multiplayer online gaming market. It was published by the media conglomerate theGlobe.com as a sister publication to Computer Games magazine. The magazine's website was launched in June 2006, and the first issue...
were shut down by their publisher, Theglobe.com
TheGlobe.com
theGlobe.com was an internet startup founded in 1994 by Cornell students Stephan Paternot and Todd Krizelman. A social networking service, theGlobe.com made headlines by going public on November 13, 1998 and posting the largest first day gain of any IPO in history up to that date...
, after that company was hit with a multi-million dollar judgement in a lawsuit resulting from the e-mail spam
E-mail spam
Email spam, also known as junk email or unsolicited bulk email , is a subset of spam that involves nearly identical messages sent to numerous recipients by email. Definitions of spam usually include the aspects that email is unsolicited and sent in bulk. One subset of UBE is UCE...
of MySpace
MySpace
Myspace is a social networking service owned by Specific Media LLC and pop star Justin Timberlake. Myspace launched in August 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, Myspace had 33.1 million unique U.S. visitors....
.
A Greek version of Computer Games Magazine is still in print. This publication is currently on its seventh year of circulation and has been offering a covermount of full game (titles have included Resident Evil 4, Fallout 1 & 2, Icewind Dale, Hitman: Contracts, and more). The publication was originally owned by Hyperpress, a minor publication house but was sold to Motorpress in 2006 (along with the Greek version of GamePro magazine).
On July 10, 2007 a post from an apparent administrator on the Computer Games Magazine website forums (CGOnline.com) indicated that both Computer Games Magazine and MMO Games Magazine would be brought back to the public under a new publisher.
In the October 2007 issue of Games for Windows: The Official Magazine
Games for Windows: The Official Magazine
Games for Windows: The Official Magazine was a monthly computer game magazine published by Ziff Davis Media, licensing the Games for Windows brand from Microsoft Corporation. It was the successor to Computer Gaming World. The first issue was released in November 2006...
, a letter addressing Computer Games Magazine subscribers informed them that their pre-existing subscriptions had been applied to Games for Windows. It is currently unknown whether the future re-launch of Computer Games Magazine might also use the same subscriptions or require a new one.
In early 2009, CGOnline.com went back online featuring articles from past magazines. Content is continually being uploaded to the archive on the site.
External links
- http://www.cgonline.com/ Computer Games Magazine website (now an archive)
- http://www.mmogamesmag.com/ MMO Games Magazine website
- http://www.gamesite.gr/ Greek Computer Games Magazine website & gaming news portal
- http://www.computergamesmagazine.com.mx/ Computer Games Magazine for Mexico website
- http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3675/is_200101/ai_n8939888/