AMSTRAD ACTION
(c) Future
Type: Amstrad

First issue: October 1985

Last issue: June 1995

The first 'Future' magazine ever was a best selling. Editor was Chris Anderson who was also editor of the excellent 'Personal Computer Games' magazine and later editor of 'Zzap!64' magazine for the very first issues. It's the perfect magazine if you were an amstrad owner, no surprise it won the challenge with Newsfield's Amtix! magazine. It's also incredible if you think that it reached 1995 with more than 100 issues published although from 100+pages in the beginning it come down to 60 pages (1992) to end with 24 pages only. In this list because 3 (4) issues were published in 1985.

UK magazine - Games contents: 90% (1985)

AMTIX!
(c) Newsfield
Type: Amstrad

First issue: November 1985 (October 1985)

Last issue: April 1987

The third Newsfield's games magazine. Written and built like 'Crash' (for spectrum) and 'Zzap!64' (for commodore 64) it is aimed to the same audience with an amstrad machine. Not the same success as the previous two mags though. As games magazine for Amstrad, Future's 'Amstrad action' was better and best-selling. However, considering the lack of Amstrad games magazines I'm surprised it folded one year and half later. It was then merged with 'Computing with the Amstrad' [click]. Again it's here because 2 (3) issues were published in 1985.

UK magazine - Games contents: 95%

AMUSEMENT LIFE
(c) Am Life
Type: Multiformat (mostly arcade)

First issue: January 1983

Last issue: September 1984

This is a 'minor' magazine from Japan and one of the first ever from the land of the rising sun. In the beginning it is focused on amusement parks, roller coaster and only one half is related to videogames (mostly arcade games and handheld). However at the end of 1983 already it is mostly videogames oriented again with a particular interest to the arcade games years before GAMEST [click]. The best part of this magazine are in fact the advertisment of the coin-operating machines although later issues also cover MSX computer. They didn't seem to have much clear (in the beginning at least) about what to put in the magazine. I am therefore not surprised by its premature closure given the well-established presence of Micom Basic's appendix SuperSoft.

Japan magazine - Games contents: 50% (early 1983) then 70-90% (1983-1984)

ATARI AGE
(c) The Atari Game Club
Type: Atari console

First issue: May/June 1982

Last issue: March/April 1984

Atari's official magazine. It replaces the Atari Age newsletters (two issues published only: Spring 1981 and Summer 1981) although it is still more similar to a newsletter than a real magazine. This magazine wasn't in fact available at the newsagent: it was for subscription only. There're usually 20 or 30 pages (full colour) with all the latest Atari releases for console (no Atari computer games coverage). Something similar to the UK Ingersoll's Atari owners club newsletter (available since 1980) there was also a German version called "Atari Club Magazin" (Christmas1982-April 1984) and French as well named "L'Atarien" (Oct. 83 - Feb.86 but with 11 issues realeased only). Tremendous circulation: it's very easy to find complete collections given away even nowadays for a few bucks.

US magazine - Games contents: 100%

BEEP
(c) Softbank
Type: Multiformat

First issue: January 1985

Last issue: May 1989

Beep, subtitled 'magazine from game kids' is not the first Japanese magazine entirely dedicated to videogames but it's my favorite. It is built in a very similar way to the English magazines (Crash is perhaps the one that comes closer) but it is multi-format starting from MSX, NEC PC series and FM-7 Fujitsu and then covering the launching titles of the new Sega (Sega mark III aka SMS) and Nintendo (Family computer aka NES) console. Colourful, with many adverts, screenshots, tips and tricks in its about 200 pages there is also space for arcade games, board games, gadgets, playgrounds and even (in the beginning) there are some basic listings to re-type. I only got a few issues from the first period and I find it a great magazine. It changes names over the years to Beep! Megadrive, then Sega Saturn Magazine, then Dreamcast Magazine and so on. First 'era' lasted until spring 1989.

Japan magazine - Games contents: 80%

BIG K
(c) IPC
Type: Multiformat

First issue: April 1984

Last issue: March 1985

Also considered from the competitors the best computer magazine of its times, 'BIG K' is for 5/10% technical (programming, hardware..etc) and 90% games oriented (computer and console). Both sections were brilliant for the time. Unbelievably it will close the year after first being published because it wasn't selling too much. A mix of interested well-written articles about videogames and some sections related to younger people. Last issues includes 'TV Gamer'.

UK magazine - Games contents: 95%

BLIP
(c) Marvel comics group
Type: questionable

First issue: February 1983

Last issue: August 1983

This is a 32 pages magazine with a comic book format and console gaming only related. I don't like it because it was probably aimed for 8 years-old audience (maybe also written!). However this is an interesting item being the first and only attempt of Marvel to enter in the videogames field. But as you can see it didn't last long. I'm too rude?. Could be. This is however what I read on a competitor publication of that times: "if you're old enough to understand this article you're too old to read BLIP!". I was very doubtful whether to insert it or not here.

US magazine - Games contents: questionable

COMMODORE HORIZONS
(c) Sunshine
Type: Commodore

First issue: December/January 1984

Last issue: April 1986 [COMMODORE AND AMIGA HORIZONS UK]

Another magazine too ahead for its time and another Sunshine brilliant publication. It covered (in the beginning) all the commodore world from technical stuff to videogames. Early issues are mostly technical and similar to Nick Humpshire's 'Commodore computing international'. But if 'CCI' isn't in this list since it never give up on the 'serious stuff' this magazine from 1985 become videogames oriented mostly so here it is. Changed its name to 'Commodore and Amiga Horizons' from April 1986 (last known) and then became integral part of 'Commodore computing international' [click] magazine from June 1986.

UK magazine - Games contents: 20% (1983-1984); 70% (1985-1986)

COMMODORE USER
(c) Paradox/Emap
Type: Commodore

First issue: October 1983 (June 1983)

Last issue: February 1990 [CU] - October 1998 [CU AMIGA]

Emap's Commodore related magazine. It's 'Vic computing' magazine [click] simply with a different name, more pages, sold at newsagents and obviously not solely Vic 20 oriented anymore. It's a technical magazine, but as early as December 1984 half of the magazine is games oriented. In mid 1985 is a game magazine mostly and from early 1986 following the success 'Zzap!64' is a games magazine only with technical contents dropped. It differs from the other commodore related publications in that period (CCI and YC) which didn't (for the moment) give up with the serious stuff. It covers all the Commodore world from C16 to the most modern Amigas with its rename as 'CU Amiga' [click] but C64 coverage was almost dropped already in early 1989 focalizing on Amiga games only. This is a Commodore bible from late 1981 to late 1998 but as stated until 1985 is not to be considered a real videogame magazine.

UK magazine - Games contents: 20/30% (1983/1984); 50/70% (1985); 90% (1986)

COMPUTER & VIDEO GAMES
(c) Emap
Type: Multiformat

First issue: November 1981

Last issue: October 2004

The historic EMAP magazine. Multiformat par excellence it was the first monthly videogame magazine in the world. The first mag considering videogames with the same importance as most of the magazines considered professional programs, hardware etc. Absolutely exceptional (since early issues) the usual sections for adventure and arcade games. It has changed very much during the years and in half '80 already contents had nothing to do with early issues. Changed for the (very) younger people in early '90 since it was aimed for a 12-15 years old reader focused mainly on consoles. The problem about C&VG is that in all its 23 years of history we can say there was always a better magazine around. But covering the videogames field from 1981 it's a piece of history since other (much) better multiformat games magazines (ex. Personal Computer Games, The One, ACE etc.) lasted less than half a decade. It's still easy to find issue for sale nowadays. Much harder to find are instead the attachments to the magazine.

UK magazine - Games contents: 100%

COMPUTER CHOICE
(c) Business Press International
Type: Multiformat

First issue: December 1983

Last issue: September 1984 (?)

This is one of the hundreds of UK publications seeking to make its own space in the crowded world of computer magazines for 1984. And it is one of the few that can be inserted in this list being mainly related to videogames and generally dovoted to a teen audience. The reviews of games are well separated between the various systems and the magazine is full of very different articles but generally they talk about the computer use in everyday life or interviews with famous people on how the the computers changed their lives. In some ways similar to the American 'K-POWER' and 'ENTER' it is an interesting magazine that has a style of its own.

UK magazine - Games contents: 70%

COMPUTER GAMER
(c) Argus
Type: Multiformat

First issue: April 1985

Last issue: June 1987

The sequel to 'Games computing' magazine and a very strange move from Argus indeed. It is really the same magazine with changed title, screenshots for games reviews (which now have a rating) plus an arcade section that replaces the console gaming section. Strangely there is less colour and there are worst listings!. Clearly they learnt a little from Newsfield. 'Games computing' was a good magazine for its time but 'Computer Gamer' was totally inadequate to the many new and attractive publications born in the second half of the '80 years. Too late came the re-styling in 1987.

UK magazine - Games contents: 95%

COMPUTER GAMES
(c) Alberto Peruzzo
Type: Multiformat

First issue: April 1984

Last issue: October 1984 [MAY 1985]

The science fiction magazine named 'Futura' that used to have some (little) computer articles started to publish a spin-off magazine related to videogames only. It's in fact the official Italian version of the American counterparty 'Computer Games' magazine formerly 'Video Games Player'. Not a bad magazine but definitely not up to Jackson's 'Videogiochi'. The small italian videogames market in that period didn't give much room for other publications (for videogames magazines related only at least). The closure came after 6 issues only becoming again included in 'FUTURA' magazine (a few dozen pages in the beginning then less) until May 1985.

Italian magazine - Games contents: 100%

COMPUTER GAMING WORLD
(c) Golden Empire
Type: Multiformat

First issue: November/December 1981

Last issue: November 2006

For many years the longest running videogame magazine in the world. In the beginning focalized on the strategy, war games and adventure games. No console coverage or arcade games at all. Despite its full 100% videogames coverage it's a rather atypical videogame magazine with reviews sent from readers. In 1984 it covers also arcade games and become more interesting. In early days the 'take a peek' section is the best part of the magazine: there are about 30 games featured every month with a b/w screenshot and a little description (less than 10 rows); as you can guess in the 1981-1985 era it was not one of the best game magazines around for sure. But it is also the only american videogame magazine which survived after 1985 and the only one where you can first read about the first Ultima, the first Zork, the first Wizardry etc.

US magazine - Games contents: 100%

CRASH
(c) Newsfield
Type: Spectrum

First issue: February 1984

Last issue: April 1992

The first Newsfield mag is one of the best videogames magazine of all times. Extremely well pagination, very good reviews, very good articles. All the magazines of the time did copy "Crash" in terms of contents and in the way on how to review the games (but at the time some people say: written by 12 years old for 12 years old). Also modern mags are written and built like "Crash": this is the mag that started an era. Unfortunately spectrum related only after Newsfield's bankruptcy its logo appears in 'Sinclair User' [click] an EMAP mostly technical magazine (in the classic era at least).

UK magazine - Games contents: 100%

CREATIVE COMPUTING VIDEO & ARCADE GAMES
(c) AHL Computing
Type: Multiformat

First issue: Spring 1983

Last issue: Fall 1983

David Ahl's 'Creative computing' games magazine. CC was a great technical magazine and this version for games enthusiast is even better. Usual 130+ pages full of adverts, screenshots, game reviews (many in black and white though) and great articles. Unfortunately there were only two issues published (due to the american videogame shake-out); that's a pity: this is a magazine I definitely would have liked to see more issues. The right magazine published at the worst time possible.

US magazine - Games contents: 100%

ELECTRONIC FUN
(c) Fun & Games
Type: Multiformat

First issue: November 1982

Last issue: May 1984 [COMPUTER FUN]

The main competitor to 'Electronic Games' magazine. Following EG great success it come out exactly one year later. And they obviously copied the famous Reese magazine in about everything. All the features you can find in Electronic Games are also in Electronic Fun: they didn't innovate anything. But I don't want to be misunderstood: this is a really good games magazine. There are in fact more console and computer games reviews than EG. I'd say that some parts of the magazine are even better than EG. Name will change in Computer Fun from April 1984 and numeration restarts, but being only two issues of CF published I decided to treat EF and CF together.

US magazine - Games contents: 100%

ELECTRONIC GAMES
(c) JCE
Type: Multiformat

First issue: January 1984

Last issue: September/October 1986 [EG COMPUTER]

It's the official Italian version for the American 'Electronic Games' magazine. But from Summer 84 already contents are 100% Italian. It's for the younger audience (at first) and very similar to the American counterpart. Strangely it becomes more and more technical with the inclusion of listings and basic programming. So much that already at the beginning of 1985 only 3/4 of the magazine is related to video games. At the end of 1985 technical and serious part becomes predominant proabably because Jackson's 'Videogiochi' was unbeatable. Very strange metamorphosis. In early '80, in Europe, usually the opposite occurred.

Italian magazine - Games contents: 100% (1984); 70% (1985)

ELECTRONIC GAMES
(c) Reese
Type: Multiformat

First issue: Winter (November 1981)

Last issue: August 1985 [COMPUTER ENTERTAINMENT]

The first American videogame magazine. Also the first in the world if you don't consider C&VG as a real videogame magazine (I'm one of them!). This is a great magazine that started an era. The editorial staff was exceptional and the whole magazine is brilliant and (in its times already!) known worldwide. There are so many features and infos in every issue that I think the classic adverts only (Atari, Mattel, Infocom etc.) can justify a reading. No wonder there were also many official (and unofficial!) translations including Tele Match (Germany), Tilt! (France), Micom Games (Japan) and Italy with the same name. This is also the only (real) american videogame magazine (CGW is pretty atypical) which survived the 1984 shake out. It only changed name in May 1985 (numerations doesn't restart). Due to its tremendous circulation is very easy to find issues for sale also nowadays.

US magazine - Games contents: 100%

ENTER
(c) Children's television workshop
Type: Multiformat

First issue: October 1983

Last issue: May 1985

Another US magazine covering computer games and computer entertainment in general. It includes also some serious stuff like programming and entertainment articles not related to videogames. Very colourful and built like an UK magazine is a very good magazine on its own; I think it's the most interesting title if you compare it with its direct US competitors (K Power & Microkids) being very similar to them. But I do prefer other 'real' videogames magazines because it reviewed just a few old games.

US magazine - Games contents: 70%

FAMILY COMPUTER
(c) Tokuma Shoten
Type: Multiformat (mostly nintendo)

First issue: August 1985

Last issue: June 1998 (?)

Family Computer Magazine aka 'FAMIMAGA' is considered as the first real Japanese videogame magazine even if Login (especially from March 85 with the attachment 'will be' Famitsu) and Beep (from 1985) predates this magazine and could be considered valid competitors. This is also the official Nintendo magazine at least until late 1980s and in these years the main comptetitor of FAMITSU once became a stand-alone magazine in June 1986. I managed to see only a bunch of issues among the first editions and it seems much more focused on strategies rather than on video game reviews. In 1997 it was splitted into two different titles (one called Famimaga weekly and one called Famimaga 64) which both lasted shortly. In any case, I would like to see more early 'classic' issues before giving a final judgment. Maybe someone can help.

Japan magazine - Games contents: 90%

GAMES COMPUTING
(c) Argus
Type: Multiformat

First issue: January 1984

Last issue: March 1985

The first Argus 100% games magazine. This is a great magazine with good reviews and excellent articles. I like the style and its layout in general. There is even a section related to the console gaming with reviews, news etc. Despite it's not very known I think this magazine has very little to envy to the 'C&vg's' of that era but it's also weaker to multiformat 'PCG' or machine related magazines like 'Crash'. In fact 'its biggest (maybe only) problem is the totally absence of screenshots for games reviews; they preferred to use the overlay covers instead. Become 'Computer gamer' from April 1985 but numeration restarts.

UK magazine - Games contents: 95%

HOME COMPUTER
(c) Jackson
Type: Multiformat

First issue: May 1984

Last issue: July 1985

Due to the fact that computer games were now predominant in the gaming scene, Jackson/Studio Vit tries to create this spin-off mag coming from 'Videogiochi'. While the covers can be misleading this is primarily a videogame magazine. Looking at its style, its articles and everything, it is a magazine suitable for the younger reader interested mostly on computer games or interested to the very basic programming techniques. A fair number of basic listings complete the magazine. At the end it returned to be part of 'Videogiochi'. This magazine is an hybrid: 'Videogiochi' was fair enough for the young videogame addicted (since it covered also computer games) while for those interested in the more serious stuff in Italy already there were other better suitable magazines at the time (Commodore Computer Club and MC Microcomputer) including also other 'serious' magazines from Jackson itself.

Italian magazine - Games contents: 70%

HOME COMPUTING WEEKLY
(c) Argus
Type: Multiformat

First issue: March 8-14, 1983

Last issue: October 8-14, 1985

Don't be fooled by this umpteenth Argus Specialist publication. Although front covers sometimes can be misleading it's a video game magazine. Very clean in the layout with reviews (very up-to-date, as obvious being weekly) of all the major games of the moment. I may be looking crazy but probably this is the best UK videogame magazine in 1983. For sure the best regarding the number of video games reviewed each week including percentage ratings with great software house interviews and news column but reviews are without screenshots and the whole magazine is however also poor regarding game adverts and "colourful" pages. With the advent of the new mega videogames magazines in 1985 he tries to give itself a more technical edge and eventually become integral part of Popular Computing Weekly (a mostly technical publication from sunshine).

UK magazine - Games contents: 80% (1983-1984); 40% (1985)

JOYSTICK
(c) Sport & Fritid Press AB
Type: Multiformat

First issue: November 1983

Last issue: January 1985 [April 1987]

This Swedish magazine is less than 40 pages in average but all excellent. At the beginning it covered video games for consoles (Intellivision, Atari, Coleco, Vetrex) with a style and layout identical to the US magazines of the times. Some articles are (including images and layout) literally "stolen" from Electronic Fun magazine (but not only). Subsequently it focus more on computer-games (Atari, C64, Spectrum and Vic20) and it begin to publish also games listings. Again, the listings are literally copied (including again images and layout) from what was already published in UK magazines (mostly C&VG but also Big K and others). At the end it seems that from February 85 it becomes an 8-page club magazine. Generally a decent magazine but also because most of it come by translating pieces of English and American magazines here and there (and I doubt they paid the rights).

Swedish magazine - Games Contents: 100%

JOYSTIK
(c) Publications International
Type: Multiformat

First issue: September 1982

Last issue: December 1983

A glossy publication. Subtitled 'how to win at video games' is what you could expect. Tips and tricks mastering videogames mostly. Every game featured takes about four or more pages including beautiful colourful screenshots. Tips are great and they are for console games and coin-op mostly. It's spectacular turning these pages with all that colour and screenshots. Unfortunately as a simply videogame magazine it's not very good indeed since there are only mini reviews and the total absence of adverts. A great magazine on its own but I'm not surprised about its demise: if you didn't have the right videogame for the right machine featured in the articles many pages of this magazine were useless.

US magazine - Games contents: 100%

K POWER
(c) Scholastic
Type: Multiformat

First issue: February 1984

Last issue: November/December 1984

Just average videogame magazine. It is similar to the UKs publications of that times with many game listings inside. But it is also colourful with a very interesting games reviews section. Coverage is for computer games only and despite it was generally aimed to a teenager player there are some nice features like modems, starting your own BBS etc. Very similar to 'Enter' and 'Microkids', it includes the latter in the last few issues. From Janaury 1985 it become a very small section of 'Familiy Computing' (another Scholastic mostly technical magazine).

US magazine - Games contents: 80%

LOAD RUNNER
(c) ECC publications
Type: questionable

First issue: June 23, 1983

Last issue: December 8, 1983

The 'Galaxies First Computer Comic' is a 40 pages magazine with videogames/home computer theme published fortnightly. There are also videogames reviews, arcade games and even type-in listings. Very similar to american BLIP magazine I was very doubtful whether to insert it or not here.

UK magazine - Games contents: questionable

LOGiN
(c) ASCII
Type: Multiformat

First issue: May 1982

Last issue: July 2008 (?)

Login is recognized as the very first Japanese magazine dedicated to video games. Born as a spin-off of ASCII (a 100% technical magazine) from the largest computer publisher in Japan the first issues are actually still quite technical and it is only from April 1983 (when it becomes monthly) that it is focalized mostly in video games. This change of focus is even more noticeable from the end of 1984. Moreover from March 1985 the famous 'Famicom Tsushin' was a section of the magazine until June 1986 when it became a magazine of its own (FAMITSU) [click] as well as the leading magazine for the periods to follow. Although the magazine has lasted a couple of decades since then it became more and more peculiar publishing humor articles that had little to do with games leaving FAMITSU and FAMIMAGA the role as real videogames magazines. Tremendous circualtion it's easy to find early issues for sale even today. Some of them are 400 pages 'monsters'.

Japan magazine - Games contents: 70% (1983-1986)

MICOM BASIC
(c) The Dempa Shimbun
Type: Multiformat

First issue: July 1982

Last issue: May 2003

Micom basic aka BOEMAGA is for Japan what C&VG represented in the UK. Since the beginning of his publications he focuses exclusively on computer video games, leaving console games completely aside. It therefore covers all the main Japanese computers of the time, from NEC to PC series, from MSX to FUJIITSU and Sharp. The number of videogame listings in basic and machine language is remarkable in its 300 pages of average every month. In addition, there are game reviews, arcade, high-scores sent by readers as well as an exaggerated number of advertising pages. The attached SuperSoft [click] magazine (Nov83-Dec84) was quite a stir covering arcade games three years before GAMEST [click]. Some readers purchased the magazine only for this separate appendix with the result of the problem of shoplifting only the appendix. No wonder it will integrated into the magazine from 1985. Another peculiarity is the presence of music scores regarding video game soundtracks and the fact that it is one of the few Japanese magazines that does not deal with adult games at all.

Japan magazine - Games contents: 80%

MICOM GAMES
(c) Obunsha
Type: Multiformat

First issue: December 1983

Last issue: April 1984 (?)

This is the official Japanese version of the US 'Electronic Games' magazine. It is a great magazine with lots of infos about the best games of the moment obviously related to system like NEC-PC-100, CASIO PV-2000, FUJITSU FM-7, Sharp MZ-2000, SEGA SG-1000 and arcade coin-op games. Structured very well with reviews, tricks, it also has articles translated from the US magazine about the lastest games of the moment in particular related to apple2. It is probably the best Japanese video game magazine of the period and I wonder why it lasted only 3 issues, perhaps because it was more like an American than a Japanese magazine. Maybe this mag is a couple of years ahead of its time or just too similar to US/UK publications instead than japanese ones.

Japan magazine - Games contents: 90%

MICRO ADVENTURER
(c) Sunshine
Type: Multiformat

First issue: November 1983

Last issue: March 1985

Another brilliant Sunshine publication. There are good articles, good reviews and good hints section but it's for adventure games and simulations only. To publish a magazine so focalized is a bit dangerous at least, both in terms of readership and potential advertisements. Overall, I'm surprised it lived so long. However a perfect reading for the true text only adventurer!. A particular gem: graphics adventures are now cosidered the natural evolution of text adventures. I don't agree, they are two different types of videogames.

UK magazine - Games contents: 80%

MICROKIDS
(c) Microkids
Type: Multiformat

First issue: November/December 1983

Last issue: June/July 1984

Subtitled 'the magazine for kids who love computers' this short lived magazine built like 'K Power' and 'Enter' is just average. There are however many more pages and many more contents aimed to 'kids' players (not as you could expect though). There are also many serious stuff as programming and other kids stuff like comics. So particular that I was very doubtful if place it here or not since it is more similar to 'Hi-Res' than 'Enter'. No surprise it was merged with 'K-power' magazine just a few issues later.

US magazine - Games contents: 60%

MICROMANIA
(c) HobbyPress
Type: Multiformat

First issue: May 1985

Last issue: Still published

Spanish videogames enthusiast had to wait until mid-1985 their first videogame magazine while (not to mention UK) Italy, Germany and France had already since late 1982. It was worth the wait because it's obviously a "modern" magazine, very clean in the layout with its part of reviews (half of mag) and tips and tricks (other half). The reviews of amstrad and spectrum videogames are predominant compared to other machines of the period (C64). The "primera epoca" lasted from 1985-1988 and only the first issues can be considered classic.

Spanish magazine - Games contents: 100%

MSX MAGAZINE
(c) ASCII
Type: MSX

First issue: November 1983

Last issue: May 1992 (?)

As easily understandable the best videogame magazine (as well as unique) for MSX computer is a Japanese magazine. Best UK related magazines for MSX were in-fact totally technical (Argus' MSX USER) or mostly technical (Haymarket's MSX COMPUTING). Something better can be found in countries like Spain or italy but still no mostly videogames oriented. Some issues are 200 'monsters' pages but in general pages were around 100. Since the first issues it has a vocation almost totally oriented to video games, news and tips etc. although there are some pages related to new hardware or to the inevitable type-in listings. Definitely a magazine not to be underestimate and looking at its quality that does not surprise me too much it lasted until 1992.

Japan magazine - Games contents: 80%

ODYSSEY 2 ADVENTURE
(c) J.I. Scott Company
Type: Odyssey 2

First issue: Winter 1982

Last issue: Summer 1983

This 12-16 pages quarterly magazine is more a newsletter than a magazine in fact it was sent out to members of the Odyssey 2 fanclub. It is colourful, full of news, tricks and information. These 16 pages could hardly be used better. In this list only for the presence of Atari Age.

US magazine - Games contents: 100%

PC GAMES / PERSONAL COMPUTER GAMES
(c) Computing International
Type: Multiformat

First issue: Summer 1984 (?)

Last issue: December/January 1986 (?)

This is the australian version of the UK magazine 'Personal Computer Games'. Very similar in many aspects (especially regarding the part related to video games reviews) but also different from the English counterpart since it also features some technical stuff (from the UK magazine 'Personal Computer News') while remaining almost completely focused on video games. There are also many more video games listings than the original UK version and, of course, it is more oriented to Commodore 64 than Spectrum owners . It is the only "classic" Australian video game magazine that deserve to be in this list as all the other "down under" publications (ex. Australian Commodore Review) were almost completely focused on the technical side in that period.

Australian magazine - Games contents: 70%

PERSONAL COMPUTER GAMES
(c) VNU
Type: Multiformat

First issue: Summer 1983

Last issue: February 1985

In its really short live this was my favourite European videogame magazine. In the year 1984 PCG was the only magazine (with HCW) that also reviewed a vast amount of games for commodore 64 every month. And they obviously caught many adverts of Commodore games. Probably it was about two years ahead because the commodore-only magazines of the period didn't review many c64 games but were full of hardware news, programming technics or basic listings. It closed in February 1985, to the astonishment of all. After its closure three PCG reviewer went to Newsfield to give life to 'Zzap!64' magazine. For C64 videogames coverage before Zzap!64 forget the various multiformat magazines (C&VG, Games Computing...) or commodore related magazines (Commodore User, Commodore Horizons, Your Commodore, Your 64...) and simply look for PCG.

UK magazine - Games contents: 100%

PILOT VIDEO
(c) Vjesnik
Type: Multiformat

First issue: March 1985

Last issue: May 1985

Perhaps the rarest of the magazines on this site. Having a '85 video game mag in Yugoslav when "Computers will not bring happiness to the working class" is astonishing even though there were already some other computer serious publications there. But Vjesnik was in fact a historic publisher also known in the UK and US and very innovative. There were only 3 issues published (48 pages) where in the first part you have videogame reviews (spectrum and C64 only) that include ratings and different opinions from different reviewers. The style is very similar to the English magazines of 1984 in particular YOUR 64 and YOUR SPECTRUM (but also PCG and Crash). The second part is related to listings or small programming tutorials or gaming articles whith some pages which are literally "stolen". It might turn up the nose from the fact that the games reviewed are about 5-6 months old after their original release in the UK but I don't think the import of video games into the former Yugoslavia was so immediate. Generally, however, I find it a good magazine and very clean as a whole.

Yugoslavian (Croatian) magazine - Games contents: 80%

SOFTLINE
(c) Softalk publishing
Type: Multiformat

First issue: September 1981

Last issue: March/April 1984 [ST.GAME]

Softalk's games magazine. At the beginning it mainly covers Apple 2 and Atari computer but then it covers also Vic20 and C64. It's basically a videogame magazine but many of its 32 (up to 64) pages are for programmer interviews and regular columns like "the graphics technics" for apple 2 and "the sound technics" for atari. Articles always from a "playful" point of view but still quite serious. Some of them also are written by people like top Electronic arts' programmer Bill Budge or Sierra Online's founder Ken Williams. Very interesting the video games advertisements which are very difficult to find in other more "popular" videogame magazines. The games reviews section is without screenshots. Last issue changes its original name. Overall a little gem. Some people consider it the very first videogame magazine in the world.

US magazine - Games contents: 70%

SOFTWARE INDEX
(c) IPC
Type: Multiformat

First issue: 1984 (published December 83)

Last issue: Spring 1985 (?)

This quarterly publication has a considerable number of pages and information to be reckoned with. And it is substantially indentical to the 'Software Encyclopedia' by US 'Electronic Games' magazine. I can bet this is a true copy since it was published just some months after... Therefore it has informations (a few lines) about all the relases for the period. It is good and valuable on its own but not as a true video game magazine. At least six issues are known and given the exit of IPC from the computer publishing market in early 1985, the spring 1985 issue is likely to be the last.

UK magazine - Games contents: 100%

SOFTWARE TODAY
(c) Argus
Type: Multiformat

First issue: June/July 1984

Last issue: October/November 1985 (?)

Another Argus specialist publication born in the first half of the 80s. All of its (more than) 100 pages are related to videogames reviews. Probably born to compete with IPC's 'Software index' magazine (released about 6 months earlier) it's a typical classic argus magazine (reviews in column, rating with stars from 1 to 5, no screenshots at all) but at least the various systems (including console) are kept clearly separated and sometimes reviews are longer than usual. Furthermore there are no-type in listings (that was not so obvious even if it was a software reviews magazine) or adverts. Unbeatable for the number of videogames reviewed (more than 300 rated each issue including TI-99 and Sharp!) it certainly cannot be said that they are always relative to the month of the original release (unlike PCG or Crash for example). Some of the reviews are taken directly from 'Home Computing Weekly' magazine. At least 9 published issues are known.

UK magazine - Games contents: 100%

TELE ACTION
(c) EHPA
Type: Multiformat

First issue: April 1983

Last issue: May 1983

This short lived German magazine has fewer pages of its competitors but it is generally good and bulit in the same way as the usual European video games magazines of that period. Hence many colourful pages, games reviews for console games, handheld and generally little or no coverage for computer and computer games. Again we're facing with a good publication but not enough to stand comparison with 'Tele match'. No room for two german vg magazines since the video game market was still in its infancy.

German magazine - Games contents: 100%

TELE MATCH
(c) Beim Verlag
Type: Multiformat

First issue: December/January 1983

Last issue: February 1985 [TELE MATCH COMPUTER]

The first german videogame magazine has an official relation to US 'Electronic games' magazine. The EG magazine logo appears on the cover and in fact is very similar to the american counterpart focalizing on console games mostly. Computer games coverage start to be intersting at the end of 1984 only with merging of another mostly technical computer publication "COMPUTER PRAXIS" [click], at that time "computer" is the big title on the cover and Tele Match is kept with small font. Since "HAPPY COMPUTER" can't be considered a game magazine in early '80 there was no other VG mag in German until the publication of "ASM" (Aktueller Software Markt) [click].

German magazine - Games contents: 100%

TILT
(c) Edition Mondiales
Type: Multiformat

First issue: September/October 1982

Last issue: January 1994

The first French videogame magazine has, again, an official relation to US 'Electronic games' magazine. And it is even better. A slick and colourful publication with more than thirty game reviews every month. Long descriptions, one colourful screenshot (at least) for every game, ratings, all including great adverts. Software coverage is from Atari, Mattel and Coleco to Commodore, Spectrum, Mac and coin-op. It can compete with all the best and most known British and US magazines of that era for sure.

French magazine - Games contents: 100%

TV GAMER
(c) Boytonbrook
Type: Multiformat

First issue: Summer 1983

Last issue: January 1985

A British magazine built like an American magazine. Console coverage is very good with many games reviews plus colour screenshots. In the beginning they review all the available Atari Vcs and Intellivision games and then they also look at the launch titles for the Vectrex and Colecovision. Computer coverage starting from the fourth issue become however always more important. It will become integral part of 'Big k' magazine from February 1985. In europe before 1985 if 'Crash' was top for spectrum games and 'PCG' (although multiformat) was top for commodore games this magazine can be considered the best for 'console' users.

UK magazine - Games contents: 100%

VIDEO GAME UPDATE / COMPUTER ENTERTAINER
(c) The Video Game Update
Type: Multiformat

First issue: January 1, 1982

Last issue: July 1990

A newsletter which deserve to be placed in this magazine list. Every month it featured the most comprehensive listing of upcoming releases for every platform; the number of games reviews, b/w screenshots and even articles/interviews must be seen to be believed. Its quality is also superb. This is the best source for researching month (!) and year about a game first release including platform, name change and unreleased games. Name changes through the years following the dilemma computer games or console games. This is the REAL encyclopedia of videogames (forget about C&VG or CGW) from early days to Nintendo and Sega. If you want to search for a particular game/machine there is no doubt you must search in this newsletter/magazine at first. As a newsletter you understand is rather atypical and I think it deserve to be here.

US magazine - Games contents: 100%

VIDEO GAMES
(c) Pumpkin Press
Type: Multiformat

First issue: August 1982

Last issue: Fall 1984 [SUMMER FALL 1984]

Another excellent American videogame magazine. It's a typical US mag, colourful and oriented on console videogames and coin-op mostly. But here we have also excellent articles about programmers, history of videogames with an excellent layout. In terms of 'new' games reviews is perhaps inferior to the 'top two' US mags: Electronic Games and Electronic Fun but it's superior for its articles and news. It worth more than a quick look.

US magazine - Games contents: 100%

VIDEO GAMES PLAYER / COMPUTER GAMES
(c) Carnegie
Type: Multiformat

First issue: Fall 1982

Last issue: January/February 1985 [COMPUTER GAMES]

This bi-monthly American publication is one of the best magazines of its time if what you want are simple videogame reviews. The reviews section is in fact the best part of the magazine: many games reviewed (good computer games coverage also) all with colourful screenshots and ratings. Unfortunately there're not many pages and articles inside are not very interesting either. In that times, there were many videogames magazines worst than VGP but there were also a few better. When it become 'Computer Games' there was also an Italian translation.

US magazine - Games contents: 100%

VIDEOGAMING ILLUSTRATED
(c) Ion International
Type: Multiformat

First issue: August 1982

Last issue: March 1984

They call themselves the magazine for the 'serious' videogame player. This is one of the best publications of that time although it's not the best as a simple games review magazine. We have everything from console games to computer games, from games strategies to new games for console and computer. We have also articles from Isaac Asimov, articles you couldn't usually find in other magazines about the 'censored' games and they were the first to talk about the end of the Intellivision, Coleco and telling doubts about the new Adam. Great 'inside the industry' articles like the 'fall of Imagic'. Without doubt the most advanced videogame magazine of its time (similar to modern 'edge' magazine) but as a game publication it was too ahead for its times.

US magazine - Games contents: 100%

VIDEOGIOCHI
(c) Jackson
Type: Multiformat

First issue: January 1983

Last issue: May 1987 [VIDEOGIOCHI NEWS]

The first Italian magazine exclusively oriented to videogames. Excellent, especially the 'al bar' (arcade games) section. Always full of interesting news. This is a great magazine for console coverage although is poor for computer gaming and aimed to younger people. The short lived Jackon's sister mag 'HOME COMPUTER' [click] tried to fill the gap but it's mostly technical. Overall very similar to the American magazines of that time (it's almost an unoffical Italian version of US 'Electronic Games' magazine in effect). The editorial staff (Studio Vit) left the magazine in the first half of 1986 to start the Italian translation of 'Zzap!64' magazine; from that time 'Videogiochi' changes format and quality goes down very much until its inevitable death.

Italian magazine - Games contents: 100%

VIDIOT
(c) Creem
Type: Multiformat

First issue: September/October 1982

Last issue: August/September 1983

Don't have any prejudice reading the awful title. This is not a magazine for 12 years old vIDIOTs. Let's call it a magazine for an 'out of the rules' videogame player with, for example, many photo of famous singers while they were playing at videogames. Every month we have, in fact, about 6 pages devoted to MTV and all the latest videos. Its best part are the fantastic colour photos for the latest coin-op but for the complete absence of computer gaming and the poor coverage for console games it wasn't enough for the average videogame player who used to buy a single videogame magazine in a month.

US magazine - Games contents: questionable

WINNING AT VIDEO AND COMPUTER GAMES
(c) AIM Publications
Type: Multiformat

First issue: Late 1983 (?)

Last issue: Summer 1984 (?)

A lackluster and strange publication where you don't understand the reason of the 'winning at' caption in the title of the magazine as its contents are mostly hardware reviews (although from a playful point of view) and articles about videogaming in general. The various listings in basic language (still related video game) to be re-typed on the computer are the predominant part. Also the lack of reviews, not many pages (mostly in B/N) makes perhaps one of weakest publications related to videogames for the period.

UK magazine - Games contents: 70%

YOUR 64 (& VIC 20)
(c) Sportscene
Type: Commodore

First issue: June/July 1984

Last issue: October 1985

This is one of the three Commodore oriented magazines which can belong to this list. It's not 100% games oriented at first but in early '85 following the success of 'Zzap!64' this magazine is mostly games oriented. Sportscene (then Dennis publishing) is a guarantee and the overall quality of the magazine is naturally really good. Despite this, it didn't sell much (but a circulation of 38k seems much to me) and it will become integral part of 'Your Commodore' [click] magazine, an Argus mostly technical (in that period however) publication.

UK magazine - Games contents: Games contents: 40% (1984); 70% (late 1985)

YOUR SPECTRUM
(c) Sportscene
Type: Spectrum

First issue: January 1984

Last issue: December 1985

Sportscene's magazine for Zx Spectrum. It's not 100% games oriented but it's more a game magazine than a technical magazine. Both sections are however brilliant like its commodore 64 sister mag. I would consider it the best as 'all in one' magazine for Spectrum. Probably its bigger problem was that it couldn't compete with Newsfield's 'Crash' magazine as games mag only, at least until its natural evolution to: 'Your Sinclair ' [click].

UK magazine - Games contents: 40% (1984); 70% (late 1985)

ZZAP!64
(c) Newsfield
Type: Commodore

First issue: May 1985

Last issue: November 1992

Newsfield's sister mag. Exclusively oriented to commodore 64 videogames it is the first commodore magazine that didn't consider more serious arguments at all. The first editorial staff is in practice the same of 'Personal computer games'. An excellent publication but a little inferior if you compare it with the other Newsfield mag 'Crash'. Later it also covered the 16 bit commodore Amiga. However the magazine goes down in terms of quality from the end of the '80s and after until it changes its name in 'Commodore Force'. There was also an italian translation named Zzap! [click] which run from May 1986 but it covered also other 8 bit machines like Spectrum and Amstrad.

UK magazine - Games contents: 100%