UK Resistance
Encyclopedia
UK Resistance was a video games website founded in 1996 by Gary Cutlack and Jon M (under the pseudonyms Commander Zorg and Captain Jax). Originally a Sega
news and reviews fansite, UK Resistance expanded its coverage across all formats, and developed a style depending more on satirical updates rather than its original UK news and reviews content. The site officially closed on March 29th, 2011
The website is frequently referenced by games industry media, and its exposure led to a writer's position at Sega Saturn Magazine
for Gary Cutlack. The website has been described by Edge
as the place where "Europe's Sega cognoscenti gathered to discuss the burning issues of the day", and by Wired
gaming blog as "the popular taking-on-the-industry slam page". The site was often linked to from other gaming blogs such as Kotaku
and Joystiq
.
Notable updates from the website include the Blue Sky in Games campaign, a campaign to reintroduce light hearted environments and settings into video games, as opposed to the prevalence of "realistic" gang violence games such as Saints Row
. As UK Resistance themselves put it, "We want to play in a HAPPY PRETEND LAND, not a shit version of an American slum full of mixed-race gangsters wearing licensed sportswear!". The campaign was picked up by websites such as Eurogamer
, who gave it their full backing, and PC Zone
, who called the campaign "a just cause... that we heartily endorse".
UK Resistance was acquired by Shiny Media in June 2007, before being returned to the sole ownership of Cutlack in June of 2008 in lieu of money owed to him by Shiny. In October 2007, UK Resistance was voted Best Non-Commercial Website or Blog at the inaugural Games Media Awards held at the Soho Revue Bar in London
. Cutlack was also nominated for Best Writer In Specialist Media at the same event.
Sega
, usually styled as SEGA, is a multinational video game software developer and an arcade software and hardware development company headquartered in Ōta, Tokyo, Japan, with various offices around the world...
news and reviews fansite, UK Resistance expanded its coverage across all formats, and developed a style depending more on satirical updates rather than its original UK news and reviews content. The site officially closed on March 29th, 2011
The website is frequently referenced by games industry media, and its exposure led to a writer's position at Sega Saturn Magazine
Sega Saturn Magazine
Sega Saturn Magazine was a monthly UK magazine dedicated to the Sega Saturn. It held the official Saturn magazine license for the UK, and as such some issues included a demo CD created by Sega, called Sega Flash, which included playable games and game footage...
for Gary Cutlack. The website has been described by Edge
Edge (magazine)
Edge is a multi-format computer and video game magazine published by Future Publishing in the United Kingdom. It is known for its industry contacts, editorial stance, distinctive anonymous third-person writing style, yearly awards and longevity....
as the place where "Europe's Sega cognoscenti gathered to discuss the burning issues of the day", and by Wired
Wired (magazine)
Wired is a full-color monthly American magazine and on-line periodical, published since January 1993, that reports on how new and developing technology affects culture, the economy, and politics...
gaming blog as "the popular taking-on-the-industry slam page". The site was often linked to from other gaming blogs such as Kotaku
Kotaku
Kotaku is a video games-focused blog. It is part of Gawker Media's "Gawker" network of sites, which also includes Gizmodo, Deadspin, Lifehacker, io9 and Jezebel. Named to CNET News' Blog 100, Kotaku is consistently listed in the top 40 of Technorati's Top 100...
and Joystiq
Joystiq
Joystiq is a video gaming blog founded in June 2004 that has since become one of the most successful sites within the Weblogs, Inc. family of weblogs. It is the centerpiece of WIN's own network of video gaming blogs, which also includes a blog dealing specifically with the popular MMORPG World of...
.
Notable updates from the website include the Blue Sky in Games campaign, a campaign to reintroduce light hearted environments and settings into video games, as opposed to the prevalence of "realistic" gang violence games such as Saints Row
Saints Row
Saints Row is an open world action-adventure video game developed by Volition, Inc. and published by THQ. It is the first title in the Saints Row series and is succeeded by Saints Row 2. A PlayStation 3 port was cancelled after protracted development time...
. As UK Resistance themselves put it, "We want to play in a HAPPY PRETEND LAND, not a shit version of an American slum full of mixed-race gangsters wearing licensed sportswear!". The campaign was picked up by websites such as Eurogamer
Eurogamer
Eurogamer is a Brighton-based website focused on video games news, reviews, previews and interviews. It is operated by Eurogamer Network Ltd., which was formed in 1999 by brothers Rupert and Nick Loman. Eurogamer has grown to become one of the most important European-based websites focused on...
, who gave it their full backing, and PC Zone
PC Zone
PC Zone was the first magazine dedicated to games for IBM-compatible personal computers to be published in the United Kingdom. Earlier PC magazines such as PC Leisure, PC Format and PC Plus had covered games but only as part of a wider remit. PC Zone was founded in 1993.The magazine was published...
, who called the campaign "a just cause... that we heartily endorse".
UK Resistance was acquired by Shiny Media in June 2007, before being returned to the sole ownership of Cutlack in June of 2008 in lieu of money owed to him by Shiny. In October 2007, UK Resistance was voted Best Non-Commercial Website or Blog at the inaugural Games Media Awards held at the Soho Revue Bar in London
London
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...
. Cutlack was also nominated for Best Writer In Specialist Media at the same event.