Julian Rignall
Encyclopedia
Julian "Muppet" Rignall is a longterm publishing veteran with experience launching and managing numerous video game magazines and websites. A writer and editor, Rignall has also produced content for corporate websites, marketing collateral and advertising campaigns.
Rignall currently serves as vice president of content at GamePro Media
, publisher of GamePro magazine and GamePro.com.
in the early 1980s as a student competing in video game tournaments. During his teenage years, Rignall held the UK and World Record high scores on video games such as Defender
, Pole Position
and Crossfire
. He also won Computer and Video Games
magazine's 1983 UK Video Arcade Game Championship beating more than 500 of the country's top arcade players to win the title. Rignall's success at winning international video game tournaments launched his career as a video game journalist writing gaming hints and tips for magazines such as Computer and Video Games and Personal Computer Games
.
, Chris Anderson, invited Rignall to join the launch team for Newsfield Publications
' Commodore 64
magazine, ZZAP!64
. As a staff writer, Rignall continued to display his gameplaying abilities as he repeatedly emerged the victor of the monthly ZZAP! Challenge, where readers challenged the magazine's reviewers to one-on-one gaming contests.
In December 1987, Rignall became editor of ZZAP!64, a position he retained until his elected departure in August 1988 (Issue 39).
magazine, an EMAP
publication. Upon his promotion to editor, Rignall changed the magazine's editorial direction focusing more on the newly emerging Japanese video game consoles instead of the fading 8-bit
generation of computers.
In 1990, recognising the console market was large enough to warrant a magazine of its own, Rignall launched Mean Machines
. Covering the top-selling video game systems of the time, such as the Super Nintendo
and Sega Mega Drive, Mean Machines became the largest-selling multi-platform publication in the United Kingdom. In 1992, Mean Machines was split into two separate publications: the officially endorsed Nintendo Magazine System, now known as Official Nintendo Magazine, and Mean Machines Sega.
In late 1993, Rignall launched his final British publication, the officially endorsed Sega Magazine.
During this period, Rignall appeared regularly on TV as a games reviewer on the British TV programme GamesMaster
, and made numerous appearances on BBC TV and BBC Radio
as an industry commentator and field expert.
, California
. As vice president of design, he was responsible for product design and licensing acquisitions from other game developers and publishers. While at Virgin, Rignall contributed to such titles as Agile Warrior F-111X, NanoTek Warrior
, The Lion King
, The Jungle Book
and the highly anticipated, but never published, Thrill Kill
.
, to join the Imagine Games Network
(IGN). As editorial director, he led the expansion of the online network guiding it to its market leadership position. In 2001, IGN was awarded a People's Voice Webby Award. The editorial tone and style Rignall helped establish in IGN's early years still continue to this day.
's user-centred design and research division where he developed consumer, business and marketing content for the company's 22 million website customers.
(formerly Imagine Media) to help launch the US branch of their UK-based custom publishing division, Future Plus. He spent three years at Future Plus creating consumer content solutions for Fortune 500
companies such as Best Buy
, K-Mart, Apple
, Blizzard-Activision, Toys R Us and Research in Motion
/BlackBerry
. Future US's custom content portfolio included publications like Best Buy
s @gamer magazine and Blizzard Entertainment's World of Warcraft
: The Magazine. In 2008, Future Plus was awarded a Pearl "Gold" Award by the Custom Publishing Council for its Guide 2 Gaming produced on behalf of Best Buy.
appointed Rignall as vice president of content. His first "From the Editor" column appeared in GamePros February 2011 issue.
Rignall currently serves as vice president of content at GamePro Media
GamePro
GamePro Media was a United States gaming media company publishing online and print content on the video game industry, video game hardware, and video game software developed for a video game console , a computer, and/or a mobile device . GamePro Media properties include GamePro magazine and...
, publisher of GamePro magazine and GamePro.com.
Early 1980s: Teenage gaming journalist
Rignall's career as a gaming journalist began in LondonLondon
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
in the early 1980s as a student competing in video game tournaments. During his teenage years, Rignall held the UK and World Record high scores on video games such as Defender
Defender (game)
Defender is an arcade video game developed released by Williams Electronics in 1980. A shooting game featuring two-dimensional graphics, the game is set on a fictional planet where the player must defeat waves of invading aliens while protecting astronauts...
, Pole Position
Pole Position
Pole Position is a racing video game released in 1982 by Namco. It was published by Namco in Japan and by Atari, Inc. in the United States...
and Crossfire
Crossfire
A crossfire is a military term for the siting of weapons so that their arcs of fire overlap. This tactic came to prominence in World War I....
. He also won Computer and Video Games
Computer and Video Games (magazine)
Computer and Video Games is a video game magazine and website published in the United Kingdom.- History :...
magazine's 1983 UK Video Arcade Game Championship beating more than 500 of the country's top arcade players to win the title. Rignall's success at winning international video game tournaments launched his career as a video game journalist writing gaming hints and tips for magazines such as Computer and Video Games and Personal Computer Games
Personal Computer Games
Personal Computer Games was a multi-format UK computer games mag of the early/mid eighties.-History:It is famous for launching the careers of several notable games journalists of the '80s including Bob Wade, Peter Connor and Chris Anderson. Anderson would later launch Amstrad Action, and Future...
.
1985–1988: First magazine launch
In 1985, the former editor of Personal Computer GamesPersonal Computer Games
Personal Computer Games was a multi-format UK computer games mag of the early/mid eighties.-History:It is famous for launching the careers of several notable games journalists of the '80s including Bob Wade, Peter Connor and Chris Anderson. Anderson would later launch Amstrad Action, and Future...
, Chris Anderson, invited Rignall to join the launch team for Newsfield Publications
Newsfield Publications
Newsfield Publications Ltd was a British magazine publisher during the 1980s and early 1990s.-Overview:Newsfield Publications Ltd was founded by Roger Kean, Franco Frey and Oliver Frey in 1983. Based in Ludlow, Shropshire, Newsfield published a number of popular computer game magazines from the...
' Commodore 64
Commodore 64
The Commodore 64 is an 8-bit home computer introduced by Commodore International in January 1982.Volume production started in the spring of 1982, with machines being released on to the market in August at a price of US$595...
magazine, ZZAP!64
Zzap!64
Zzap!64 was a computer games magazine covering games on the Commodore International series of computers, especially the Commodore 64 . It was published in the UK by Newsfield Publications Ltd and later by Europress Impact....
. As a staff writer, Rignall continued to display his gameplaying abilities as he repeatedly emerged the victor of the monthly ZZAP! Challenge, where readers challenged the magazine's reviewers to one-on-one gaming contests.
In December 1987, Rignall became editor of ZZAP!64, a position he retained until his elected departure in August 1988 (Issue 39).
1988–1993: EMAP publications, media appearances
In 1988, Rignall joined Computer and Video GamesComputer and Video Games (magazine)
Computer and Video Games is a video game magazine and website published in the United Kingdom.- History :...
magazine, an EMAP
EMAP
Emap Limited is a British media company, specialising in the production of business-to-business magazines, and the organisation of business events and conferences...
publication. Upon his promotion to editor, Rignall changed the magazine's editorial direction focusing more on the newly emerging Japanese video game consoles instead of the fading 8-bit
8-bit
The first widely adopted 8-bit microprocessor was the Intel 8080, being used in many hobbyist computers of the late 1970s and early 1980s, often running the CP/M operating system. The Zilog Z80 and the Motorola 6800 were also used in similar computers...
generation of computers.
In 1990, recognising the console market was large enough to warrant a magazine of its own, Rignall launched Mean Machines
Mean Machines
Mean Machines was a market-leading multi-format gaming magazine released between 1990 and 1992 in the United Kingdom. Its style was popular with gamers of the time for its irreverent humor, anarchic editorial tone and style, and its sometimes outrageously outspoken reviews.- Origins :In the late...
. Covering the top-selling video game systems of the time, such as the Super Nintendo
Super Nintendo Entertainment System
The Super Nintendo Entertainment System is a 16-bit video game console that was released by Nintendo in North America, Europe, Australasia , and South America between 1990 and 1993. In Japan and Southeast Asia, the system is called the , or SFC for short...
and Sega Mega Drive, Mean Machines became the largest-selling multi-platform publication in the United Kingdom. In 1992, Mean Machines was split into two separate publications: the officially endorsed Nintendo Magazine System, now known as Official Nintendo Magazine, and Mean Machines Sega.
In late 1993, Rignall launched his final British publication, the officially endorsed Sega Magazine.
During this period, Rignall appeared regularly on TV as a games reviewer on the British TV programme GamesMaster
GamesMaster
GamesMaster was a British television show, screened on Channel 4 from 1992 to 1998, and was the first ever UK television show dedicated to computer and video games.-Origins:...
, and made numerous appearances on BBC TV and BBC Radio
BBC Radio
BBC Radio is a service of the British Broadcasting Corporation which has operated in the United Kingdom under the terms of a Royal Charter since 1927. For a history of BBC radio prior to 1927 see British Broadcasting Company...
as an industry commentator and field expert.
1994–1997: US software development
In 1994, Rignall transitioned from magazine publishing to software development, joining Virgin Interactive Entertainment in IrvineIrvine, California
Irvine is a suburban incorporated city in Orange County, California, United States. It is a planned city, mainly developed by the Irvine Company since the 1960s. Formally incorporated on December 28, 1971, the city has a population of 212,375 as of the 2010 census. However, the California...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. As vice president of design, he was responsible for product design and licensing acquisitions from other game developers and publishers. While at Virgin, Rignall contributed to such titles as Agile Warrior F-111X, NanoTek Warrior
NanoTek Warrior
NanoTek Warrior is an tube shooter game developed by Tetragon Inc. and released by Virgin Interactive in 1997.-Gameplay:NanoTek Warrior uses behind the ship perspective. There is a total of eight levels in the game. Each level consists of two stages: "Tube-runner mode" and "Boss/Orbit mode". Most...
, The Lion King
The Lion King (video game)
The Lion King is a video game based on Disney's popular animated film. The title was published by Virgin Interactive in 1994, and was released on SNES, NES, Game Boy, PC, Sega Mega Drive/Genesis, Amiga, Master System and Game Gear. The NES and Master System versions of the game were never released...
, The Jungle Book
The Jungle Book (video game)
Walt Disney's The Jungle Book is a series of video games based on the 1967 Disney animated film The Jungle Book, primarily released in 1994. It was first released by Virgin Interactive in 1993 for the Sega Master System...
and the highly anticipated, but never published, Thrill Kill
Thrill Kill
Thrill Kill is a cancelled and unpublished 1998 fighting video game for the Sony PlayStation. While the technical feat of allowing four players to fight simultaneously in the same room was to be a major selling point, this was overshadowed by the controversy surrounding the game's depictions of...
.
1997–2002: IGN expansion
In 1997, Rignall left Virgin and moved to San Francisco, CaliforniaCalifornia
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, to join the Imagine Games Network
IGN
IGN is an entertainment website that focuses on video games, films, music and other media. IGN's main website comprises several specialty sites or "channels", each occupying a subdomain and covering a specific area of entertainment...
(IGN). As editorial director, he led the expansion of the online network guiding it to its market leadership position. In 2001, IGN was awarded a People's Voice Webby Award. The editorial tone and style Rignall helped establish in IGN's early years still continue to this day.
2002–2007: Online retailing and marketing
During 2002, Rignall shifted from the games business into online retailing and marketing. He became editorial director at Walmart.com responsible for the content of the world's biggest retailer's online presence. In 2004, Rignall moved to Haggin Marketing, a San Francisco advertising agency where he created print advertisements and other marketing vehicles for Dell, Inc. In 2006, Rignall became the vice president and editorial creative director with Bank of AmericaBank of America
Bank of America Corporation, an American multinational banking and financial services corporation, is the second largest bank holding company in the United States by assets, and the fourth largest bank in the U.S. by market capitalization. The bank is headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina...
's user-centred design and research division where he developed consumer, business and marketing content for the company's 22 million website customers.
2007–2010: Future Plus Custom Publishing
In August 2007, Rignall rejoined Future USFuture US
Future US is a United States media corporation specializing in targeted magazines and websites in the video games, music, and technology markets. Future US is headquartered in the South San Francisco with offices in New York City and Los Angeles...
(formerly Imagine Media) to help launch the US branch of their UK-based custom publishing division, Future Plus. He spent three years at Future Plus creating consumer content solutions for Fortune 500
Fortune 500
The Fortune 500 is an annual list compiled and published by Fortune magazine that ranks the top 500 U.S. closely held and public corporations as ranked by their gross revenue after adjustments made by Fortune to exclude the impact of excise taxes companies collect. The list includes publicly and...
companies such as Best Buy
Best Buy
Best Buy Co., Inc. is an American specialty retailer of consumer electronics in the United States, accounting for 19% of the market. It also operates in Mexico, Canada & China. The company's subsidiaries include Geek Squad, CinemaNow, Magnolia Audio Video, Pacific Sales, and, in Canada operates...
, K-Mart, Apple
Apple
The apple is the pomaceous fruit of the apple tree, species Malus domestica in the rose family . It is one of the most widely cultivated tree fruits, and the most widely known of the many members of genus Malus that are used by humans. Apple grow on small, deciduous trees that blossom in the spring...
, Blizzard-Activision, Toys R Us and Research in Motion
Research In Motion
Research In Motion Limited or RIM is a Canadian multinational telecommunications company headquartered in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada that designs, manufactures and markets wireless solutions for the worldwide mobile communications market...
/BlackBerry
BlackBerry
BlackBerry is a line of mobile email and smartphone devices developed and designed by Canadian company Research In Motion since 1999.BlackBerry devices are smartphones, designed to function as personal digital assistants, portable media players, internet browsers, gaming devices, and much more...
. Future US's custom content portfolio included publications like Best Buy
Best Buy
Best Buy Co., Inc. is an American specialty retailer of consumer electronics in the United States, accounting for 19% of the market. It also operates in Mexico, Canada & China. The company's subsidiaries include Geek Squad, CinemaNow, Magnolia Audio Video, Pacific Sales, and, in Canada operates...
s @gamer magazine and Blizzard Entertainment's World of Warcraft
World of Warcraft
World of Warcraft is a massively multiplayer online role-playing game by Blizzard Entertainment. It is the fourth released game set in the fantasy Warcraft universe, which was first introduced by Warcraft: Orcs & Humans in 1994...
: The Magazine. In 2008, Future Plus was awarded a Pearl "Gold" Award by the Custom Publishing Council for its Guide 2 Gaming produced on behalf of Best Buy.
2010–2011: GamePro Media unit it went belly up after an incredibly bias preview of SWTOR
On 8 November 2010, GamePro MediaGamePro
GamePro Media was a United States gaming media company publishing online and print content on the video game industry, video game hardware, and video game software developed for a video game console , a computer, and/or a mobile device . GamePro Media properties include GamePro magazine and...
appointed Rignall as vice president of content. His first "From the Editor" column appeared in GamePros February 2011 issue.
1965-present: not very intelligent
Through all this time, he has never been very intelligent, selling himself out and reviewing games poorly. Making Gamepro go belly-up.External links
- GamePro Media website
- GamePro.com
- Interview with Julian Rignall, The Mean Machines Archive