PC Zone magazine to close its doors.

[Dcode]

Link.

The long running PC Zone magazine will be printing its final issue. The mag has been in production since 1993 and during the mid to lates 90's had some of the funniest reviews written for games I had read.

I stopped reading at the first sign of trouble, when they started printing previews written for console mags.

Nonetheless the late 90's and early 00's stuff was magic. I was in envy at the stories of Quake II deathmatch sessions, missed out by yours truly due to the lack of an internet connection. Zone always brought me joy growing up as a young lad and fond memories remain.

I guess the massive influence of high speed internet, digital distribution and the popularity of HD consoles are the cause of the demise. It truly is the end of an era.

Edit: Can admin please remove prefix.

 

[SheepDip]

I'd still have bought it if it weren't ****, but around Unreal 2 time it went all "industry *****" and ceased to be critical when it was important.

 

[Dcode]

A good article with some history.

The quality slowly declined in the past 5 years.

The final nail for me was console previews printed in a PC games mag. All the good writers moved on. Will Porter now freelances for PC Gamer UK which ain't a bad mag at all these days. Well I have not read since Oct '09 lol.

 

[Psycho_Sam]

Its a shame as I liked PC Zone but I think game magazines are over-priced.

 

[Dcode]

Its true you can get reviews and demo's online but PC Zone used to be a good read for the banter.

 

[SheepDip]

Yeah it used to be

 

[Crusher]

What about the dutch version? PC Zon Benelux, will it close too?
edit: oh, it seems it went solo. It's now named Gamez.

 

[JCoquillon]

I used to read PC Zone religiously every month. I agree the prices became ludicous (why they couldn't at least offer a cheaper version without the cover disk I don't know.

But for me what made PC Zone was the sense of humour. They had a knack for writing a review in a way that would actually make you smile and even laugh out loud.

Not that lame internet LOL which is used for any expression of amusement, but a genuine vocalised laugh that appears from nowhere and escapes from your mouth before you can stop it and results in the other people on the bus looking at you as if you are crazy.

 

[Dcode]

But for me what made PC Zone was the sense of humour. They had a knack for writing a review in a way that would actually make you smile and even laugh out loud.

Not that lame internet LOL which is used for any expression of amusement, but a genuine vocalised laugh that appears from nowhere and escapes from your mouth before you can stop it and results in the other people on the bus looking at you as if you are crazy.

Could not be any truer.

 

[Ralfst3r]

Dutch version went under years ago. Shame to see it go, but the new media caught up to it.

 

[Crusher]

Dutch version went under years ago.

Oh, didn't know that. I used to buy PC Gameplay. Similar to PC zone, also with some good laughs sometimes.

 

[[TW]Wilsonam]

Now just exactly what result DID everyone expect when Future bought PC Zone? Leave it sitting around competing with PC Gamer and all the other titles? I don't think so! Some of them had to go... its called "rationalization".

 

[Harb]

I progressed from Amiga Power (which still is the funniest games magazine) to PC Zone and it felt like natural progression. Along with Paul Rose's Digitiser on C4 Teletext they were the three funniest and most honest publications in games journalism.

The other magazines at the time smacked of the 'exclusive' culture. Exclusive reviews that were always glowing in content, much like the propaganda publications around today. I remember some of the brutal reviews that Stuart Campbell wrote for Amiga Power, publishers were so incensed they ended up having to buy their own games as they weren't sent any towards the end. Stuart Campbells 1996 1% review of Kick Off '96 is legendary.

Also some might remember the Culky videos that came with PC ZOne when they started doing CDs on the front.

YouTube - Culky EA - Colin Culk Goes To Electronic Arts

YouTube - Culky's Painting

 

[Dcode]

Hahaha nice videos.

Did a google for the Stuart Campbell 1% review of Kick Off '96 and came up with this.

 

[Harb]

Hahaha nice videos.

Did a google for the Stuart Campbell 1% review of Kick Off '96 and came up with this.

That's the one

I can't really see anyone in the mainstream games press now having the balls to do that

Also from memory there were a couple of other great Stuart Campbell reviews, one for a Rugby Game and the other I think was Rise of the Robots

 

[Dcode]

Its a great read, you can tell this guy is passionate about games.

Pretty much sums it up how it is now.

 

[Psycho_Sam]

Lol that review is a classic.

 

[gusone]

I actually subscribe to both PC Gamer and PC Zone. Those plus Metal Hammer and Classic Rock are my reading material for when I have a ****. Now I am down a mag I am going to have to go to the loo 25% less or face having to go staring at the shower.

A sad day for my colon.

You can call it rationalisation but when they are only selling 11,000 copies a month I think 'pointless non-business' or 'throwing money down the drain' would be more appropriate.

 

[The Masta]

"You've got the idiot public, who fell for hype over gameplay time after time after time"

sound familiar

 

[Grobut]

sound familiar

Where are we going? and why am i in this handbasket?