South San Francisco, Calif., March 25, 2010 – Future US, the special-interest media company, today announced that the 200th issue of PC Gamer magazine unveils a cover-to-cover redesign. The redesign provides an increasingly sophisticated readership with more news analyses, in-depth features and respected, independent editorial content. It also ensures that PC Gamer will remain the most authoritative gaming resource in an industry surfeited with quick-draw websites that compete with each other on basic news and reviews. The sweeping changes include new fonts and layouts, new columns, and improved organization for easier reading. In addition, the 200th issue includes “200 Reasons to Love PC Gaming,” a visual tour of PC gaming that celebrates the most outrageous hardware, the wildest weapons, the most sophisticated mods, and everything else that makes PC gaming the object of so many gamers’ obsessions. Also included is a feature story on the “50 Best Games to Play at Work” (we won’t tell if you tear it out and put it in your desk drawer).
“Our redesign of PC Gamer reflects the very different role that print journalism plays today compared to just a few years ago,” said Kristen Salvatore, publisher of the Games Group. “Today’s readers want a more grown-up, sophisticated magazine that treats PC gaming with seriousness and gravitas, but that can still be irreverent and show a sense of humor. They want a magazine that shares their passion and celebrates PC gaming, diving deep into its technology and products and maintaining a critical eye. Our readers trust us to deliver creative content that’s uniquely suited to their passions, and the new PC Gamer design ensures we continue to deliver on that trust.”
Launched in 1994, PC Gamer is the leading authority on the world of PC gaming, with an audience of 3.3 million readers, according to MRI. PC Gamer, which already offers readers the most vivid, concise writing in the industry, has also added new sections to reflect the PC’s growing dominance in some of the biggest trends in videogames. Massive Attack is dedicated to MMO coverage, while Mod Shop offers reviews of player-made content and how-to’s on “modding” games—a PC gaming tradition from day one. And Dev Man Talking gives developers a forum to discuss the challenges of contemporary game design, and provides independent developers with an opportunity to talk about the PC game industry on an equal footing with the big studios.
In addition to new sections, PC Gamer welcomes back two veteran columnists. Former pro race car driver Andy Mahood offers “In Simulation,” covering the dazzling variety of simulations that are uniquely associated with PC gaming. And Desslock—one of the world’s best known and most respected reviewers of role-playing games—returns with his Alt Lives column dedicated to the genre.
PC Gamer has also integrated how-to’s throughout the magazine, covering everything from diplomacy tips for turn-based strategy games, to finding the best free games from independent developers, to step-by-step hardware troubleshooting guides in The Hard Stuff.
The existing Preview and Review sections feature a more organized and contemporary design that’s not only easier to read, but also offers readers a visual tour of each game with an expanded area for screenshots.
“PC gaming is distinct from console gaming in that it evolves extremely fast, and it isn’t constrained by the centralized control of a licensor. So we’ve got this thriving market that’s growing in many directions all at once—there’s massively multiplayer games, simulations, the thriving indie scene, mods, and of course the traditional genres including first-person shooters and RPGs,” said Logan Decker, EIC, PC Gamer. “There’s so much out there that it’s almost impossible to keep up with it all. So we redesigned PC Gamer as the most complete and the most ambitious guide to this vast constellation of games, and to help readers derive even more enjoyment out of their passion. We continue to offer in-depth reporting, thrilling layouts, exclusive stories, the best writing in the industry and a highly respected brand.”
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About Future
Future plc is an international special-interest media group that is listed on the London Stock Exchange (symbol FUTR). Founded in 1985 with one magazine, today we have operations in the UK, US and Australia creating over 180 special-interest publications, websites and events for people who are passionate about their interests. We hold strong multi-media market positions in games, technology, film, music, cycling, automotive and crafts. Our biggest-selling magazines include Total Film, T3, Classic Rock, Digital Camera, Guitar World, Revolver, Official Xbox Magazine, PlayStation: The Official Magazine, Nintendo Power, Maximum PC and Mac|Life. Our websites include gamesradar.com, bikeradar.com, techradar.com, musicradar.com, dailyradar.com and photoradar.com. Future produces nearly 4 million magazines each month; we attract more than 27 million unique visitors to our websites; and we host 27 annual live events that attract hundreds of thousands of enthusiasts. In addition, Future exports, syndicates or licenses its publications to 90 countries internationally, making us the UK’s number one exporter and licensor of monthly magazines.
Future US Media Contact
Brigit Valencia, Plugged In PR for Future US
360-597-4516
Brigit@pluggedinpr.com