GamesTM

gamesTM is a UK-based multi-format computer and video games magazine, covering many video game platforms including PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Wii, GameCube, Xbox, PlayStation 2, PC games, Game Boy Advance, PlayStation Portable, Nintendo DS and Arcade machines. The first issue was released in December 2002. Since 2008, gamesTM is also available in Germany, and the Netherlands and Belgium, each in their own languages.

Format

Besides covering all current and recent happenings in the video game world, the magazine includes a retro section at the rear, with reviews of past games and "battles" between older consoles.

As a standard, it is 180 pages long. News articles, developer interviews and the like are located at the front, with the preview section following. After the previews there is usually a large feature focused on a particular game or games company. This feature normally lasts 4 to 5 pages. The section for readers' letters follows, at the end of the magazine.

Since it is a multi-format magazine, a large number of games on all formats are reviewed, although the majority of games that are released are not reviewed because of space and deadline restrictions.

It is released monthly for a price of GBP £4.50, with subscriptions available.

Features

Almost every month there is a feature 'Letter from America' by Gray 'The Shape' Nicholson detailing his life in America. There is also a parallel feature 'Kongetsu' by Japanese correspondent Tim Rogers, detailing Japan, the feature also comes with a humorous, game related 'teach yourself Japanese.' Kongetsu has ran in every issue so far. Also, beginning with issue 62 (November 2007), a 'Reader's Column' will be published in a similar style to these two features, allowing readers of the magazine to express their opinions. At the back of the magazine is the contact section where readers can have their views expressed.

Target audience

The magazine targets the mature gamer demographic, similar to that of Edge magazine.

Reviews

Reviewed games are given an overall score marked out of 10, the ultimate mark of 10 being reserved for an extremely small amount of games. Although several games have received 9/10, only six games in the magazine's history have achieved this score –

• Metroid Prime
• Burnout 3
• Gears of War
• God of War II
• Bioshock
• Grand Theft Auto IV

The magazine has also started to review game related hardware on occasion as well as aspects of Xbox Live. These typically include games available for purchase on the Xbox Live Marketplace and various retail games with Live functionality.

History

In January 2006, the future of the magazine became uncertain after its publisher, Highbury Entertainment, went into administration with debts of GBP £27 million. No subscribers received issue #40 and the next issue (#41) did not appear in the shops, though it should have been out on January 26, 2006. At the time, the magazine's staff could not be contacted and calls to the subscription helpline led to an automated message that said all magazines had been sold. The magazine's website went offline but was available again a few days later.

On January 20, 2006, Imagine Publishing announced that it had acquired gamesTM along with 23 other Highbury titles.

Imagine Publishing has since announced that it will continue to publish gamesTM, resuming with issue #41 which was published in February 2006. Editor Martin Mathers was transferred from games™ to Imagine's X360 magazine — focusing on the Xbox 360 — which was also acquired from Highbury. He later moved on to launch Imagine's Wii magazine, Revolution, and has now moved to Nintendo's official magazine ONM.

Issue #42 was released on March 23 2006, with an explanation from new editor Paul Morgan in the introduction, stating that the magazine will undergo an evolution. The magazine has been published according to its usual monthly schedule since.

In Issue #62, the "evolution" of the magazine proposed back in Issue #42 finally occurred, when it received its first major overhaul since its inception. Although the content of the magazine was largely unchanged, it received a complete visual makeover, as well as the addition of two new regular segments; "Ilustrated", randomly occouring pages that highlighted influential games from the past, and "Reader's View", which gave readers the chance to have their own articles featured in the pages of the magazine.

As of issue #48 the Retro section is edited by Ashley Day.

In 2006, gamesTM celebrated its 50th issue.

On March, 3, 2008 the German version of gamesTM was first released in Germany, with a scheduled 12 issues per year.

On April, 1, 2008 the Dutch version of gamesTM was first released in the Netherlands and Belgium, with a scheduled 11 issues per year.

As of issue #68, Games tm introduced "Industry"; a recruitment focused mini magazine built into the magazine that allows game developers, universities and colleges to advertise their job positions and related courses amongst industry focused news editorial and features.

References

External links

• gamesTM Official website
• the Dutch gamesTM website
• gamesTM Index Project - Complete index of previewed and reviewed games with scores.
• The gamesTM Archive - Fan-run by-game index of gamesTM articles. Incomplete, and seemingly on hiatus
• GamesTM pages at DJ LINK DomaiN - reviews scores, covers