PlayStation: The Official Magazine
Encyclopedia
PlayStation: The Official Magazine (PTOM) is a magazine originally known as PlayStation Magazine (PSM). After Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine was canceled, Sony Computer Entertainment
announced on October 1, 2007 that PSM would become "PlayStation: The Official Magazine". It is published 13 times a year by Future Publishing
.
As of the 2007 Holiday issue, the magazine is officially PlayStation: The Official Magazine. The last PSM issue was December 2007. While it did retain the same staff for a period of time lasting from December 2007 until January 2008, it has since then lost its remaining core editors, making PTOM a completely different magazine from the former PSM.
From the July 2008 issue to the June 2009 issue, PTOM included promotional codes for free downloads of Qore
, a subscription-based interactive online magazine
. The free Qore did not include some of the features in the paid-for edition, such as playable demos.
Prior to becoming the official magazine, PSM was an independently published video game magazine specializing in all Sony
video game console
s and handheld gaming
platforms. PSM was published by Future Publishing
, who also publishes the PlayStation Official Magazine (UK)
.
The magazine launched with the September 1997 issue, which featured Final Fantasy VII
for the PlayStation on the cover. Since then, it has consistently outsold every other PlayStation-dedicated magazine both in the U.S.
and abroad (according to independent ABC audits). This is largely due to the magazine's large base of subscribers.
PSM celebrated ten years of publication with its 2007 issue. By this time, the magazine had been through several redesigns, most recently with its June 2006 issue. Also over its history, the magazine had sponsored side content such as cover-mounted DVDs
, website
s, online forums
, and near the end, a PSM podcast
.
PSM had covered the PlayStation 3
since its announcement.
In the early years, PSM had an anime-styled mascot named Banzai Chibi-Chan illustrated by Robert DeJesus. He was featured prominently through the issues and even inspired apparel and other accessories. He was later dropped though. The reason stands that he was too childish and gave some the wrong impression about the magazine.
A smiley face with an eye patch was used before it too was dropped. The face was notable for its inclusion on lid sticker inserts including the first issue. After the original Lid Stickers a few other lid stickers appeared throughout the magazines life span. Other inserts included tip sheets and memory card stickers with different game themes instead of the demo discs competitor OPM was known for.
Sony Computer Entertainment
Sony Computer Entertainment, Inc. is a major video game company specializing in a variety of areas in the video game industry, and is a wholly owned subsidiary and part of the Consumer Products & Services Group of Sony...
announced on October 1, 2007 that PSM would become "PlayStation: The Official Magazine". It is published 13 times a year by Future Publishing
Future Publishing
Future plc is a media company; in 2006, it was the sixth-largest in the United Kingdom. It publishes more than 150 magazines in fields such as video games, technology, automotive, cycling, films and photography. Future is the official magazine company of all three major games console manufacturers...
.
As of the 2007 Holiday issue, the magazine is officially PlayStation: The Official Magazine. The last PSM issue was December 2007. While it did retain the same staff for a period of time lasting from December 2007 until January 2008, it has since then lost its remaining core editors, making PTOM a completely different magazine from the former PSM.
From the July 2008 issue to the June 2009 issue, PTOM included promotional codes for free downloads of Qore
Qore (PlayStation Network)
Qore is a subscription-based interactive online magazine for the PlayStation Network and replaces the Jampack series of disks offered by PlayStation Underground. Currently only available in North America, the service offers high definition videos, interviews, and behind-the-scenes footage...
, a subscription-based interactive online magazine
Online magazine
An online magazine shares some features with a blog and also with online newspapers, but can usually be distinguished by its approach to editorial control...
. The free Qore did not include some of the features in the paid-for edition, such as playable demos.
PSM: 100% Independent PlayStation Magazine
Sony Computer Entertainment
Sony Computer Entertainment, Inc. is a major video game company specializing in a variety of areas in the video game industry, and is a wholly owned subsidiary and part of the Consumer Products & Services Group of Sony...
video game console
Video game console
A video game console is an interactive entertainment computer or customized computer system that produces a video display signal which can be used with a display device to display a video game...
s and handheld gaming
Handheld game console
A handheld game console is a lightweight, portable electronic device with a built-in screen, game controls and speakers. Handheld game consoles are run on machines of small size allowing people to carry them and play them at any time or place...
platforms. PSM was published by Future Publishing
Future Publishing
Future plc is a media company; in 2006, it was the sixth-largest in the United Kingdom. It publishes more than 150 magazines in fields such as video games, technology, automotive, cycling, films and photography. Future is the official magazine company of all three major games console manufacturers...
, who also publishes the PlayStation Official Magazine (UK)
PlayStation Official Magazine (UK)
The Official UK PlayStation Magazine is a now-defunct magazine, launched in November 1995 to coincide with the launch of the PlayStation console. It ran for 108 issues, with the last hitting news stands in March 2004. The first issue sold 37,000 copies...
.
Final Fantasy VII
is a role-playing video game developed by Square and published by Sony Computer Entertainment as the seventh installment in the Final Fantasy series. It was originally released in 1997 for the Sony PlayStation and was re-released in 1998 for Microsoft Windows-based personal computers and in 2009...
for the PlayStation on the cover. Since then, it has consistently outsold every other PlayStation-dedicated magazine both in the U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and abroad (according to independent ABC audits). This is largely due to the magazine's large base of subscribers.
PSM celebrated ten years of publication with its 2007 issue. By this time, the magazine had been through several redesigns, most recently with its June 2006 issue. Also over its history, the magazine had sponsored side content such as cover-mounted DVDs
Covermount
Covermount is the name given to storage media or other products packaged as part of a magazine or newspaper...
, website
Website
A website, also written as Web site, web site, or simply site, is a collection of related web pages containing images, videos or other digital assets. A website is hosted on at least one web server, accessible via a network such as the Internet or a private local area network through an Internet...
s, online forums
Internet forum
An Internet forum, or message board, is an online discussion site where people can hold conversations in the form of posted messages. They differ from chat rooms in that messages are at least temporarily archived...
, and near the end, a PSM podcast
Podcasting
A podcast is a series of digital media files that are released episodically and often downloaded through web syndication...
.
PSM had covered the PlayStation 3
PlayStation 3
The is the third home video game console produced by Sony Computer Entertainment and the successor to the PlayStation 2 as part of the PlayStation series. The PlayStation 3 competes with Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles...
since its announcement.
Mascots
A smiley face with an eye patch was used before it too was dropped. The face was notable for its inclusion on lid sticker inserts including the first issue. After the original Lid Stickers a few other lid stickers appeared throughout the magazines life span. Other inserts included tip sheets and memory card stickers with different game themes instead of the demo discs competitor OPM was known for.