:Crash (magazine)

File:Crash Smash.png

Crash was launched in 1983 in Ludlow, Shropshire by Roger Kean, Oliver Frey and Franco Frey. The trio had met the previous year when they were working for newspaper publisher Alan Purnell, learning how to write and produce a magazine from scratch. Franco Frey had worked for an electronics company, and had been asked by one of his business contacts if could get hold of video games. Kean remembers that "The High Street was ignorant of computer games" and they wanted to source titles and sell them. They set up a mail order catalogue called Crash Micro Games Action and advertised in contemporary computer magazines such as Computer and Video Games.{{cite magazine|title=Crash Micro Games Action|magazine=Computer and Video Games|page=116|date=August 1983|number=22|url=http://live.worldofspectrum.org/infoseek/magazines/computer--video-games/22#116|access-date=23 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200430134529/http://live.worldofspectrum.org/infoseek/magazines/computer--video-games/22#116|archive-date=30 April 2020|url-status=dead}} It was immediately successful, so by late 1983, they decided to launch a dedicated magazine, forming the company Newsfield to do so.{{Cite web |last1=Mason |first1=Graeme |title=The story of Crash magazine |work=Eurogamer |date=12 March 2017 |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2017-03-12-the-story-of-crash-magazine |language=en |access-date=6 January 2019}} Kean and Oliver Frey wanted a catchy title for the magazine, choosing "Crash" after J. G. Ballard's novel of the same name.{{Cite web|url=http://www.outofprintarchive.com/articles/interviews/out-of-print/Roger_Kean_interview.html|title=Roger Kean interview|website=Out-of-Print Archive}}

Though he had regularly played video games throughout the 1970s, the middle-aged Kean realised that the target market for the magazine was teenagers and young men, and the writing needed to accommodate this. Consequently, he hired teenage staff writer Matthew Uffindel and the pair recruited local schoolchildren to review the games, including Ben Stone and Robin Candy. To produce screenshots, a camera was set up to directly capture the television set or monitor that the Spectrum was plugged into. The film was then processed in-house, printed and delivered to a local print shop to prepare the final page.

The first issue was intended to be published in November 1983, in time for the pre-Christmas trade, but owing to a conflict with retailers WH Smith it was published in February the following year.{{Cite web|url=http://www.worldofspectrum.org/interviews/KeanRoger.htm|title=Interview with Roger Kean – May 1998|last=Bee|first=Philip|date=May 1998|website=World of Spectrum|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200430140336/http://www.worldofspectrum.org/interviews/KeanRoger.htm|archive-date=30 April 2020|url-status=dead}} The magazine maintained focus squarely on Spectrum gaming. It was an instant hit thanks to Oliver Frey's artwork and Kean's writing, assisted by Uffindel. Kean and the Frey brothers would continue to be involved with the magazine throughout its lifetime.{{cite web|url=http://www.crashonline.org.uk/cat02/index.htm |title=CRASH Catalogue 2 – Index |publisher=Crash Online |access-date=2 October 2013}}{{cite web | url=http://www.nonowt.com/magfold/crashfol/crash01.html | title=The History of Crash – Issue No. 1 | publisher=Nonowt eZine X | access-date=4 April 2006}}

Reviewers would give their direct opinions on whether a game was good or not, regardless of advertising or any pressure from software houses. Though publishers sometimes tried to bribe the magazine editors to give games good reviews, the children would not do that, and once gave a game a low score of 9%. This honesty gave Crash a good reputation and made it highly influential in the games industry.{{cite web|url=https://www.gremlinarchive.com/index.php/2016/05/31/crash-magazine-jack-the-nipper/|title=Crash Magazine : Jack the Nipper|work=Gremlin Archive|access-date=23 November 2018}} If a game was awarded a "Crash Smash" (an overall rating of 90% or above), the industry believed it was genuinely good and it would sell well. The logo was used in advertisements for games, big and small.https://worldofspectrum.net/pub/sinclair/games-adverts/Compilations/CartoonCollection.jpg {{Bare URL image|date=August 2024}}https://worldofspectrum.org//pub/sinclair/games-adverts/b/Batman-TheMovie.jpg {{Bare URL image|date=August 2024}}https://worldofspectrum.org//pub/sinclair/games-adverts/g/GraphicAdventureCreatorThe_3.jpg {{Bare URL image|date=August 2024}} Notable Crash Smashes included Jet Set Willy,{{cite web|url=http://www.crashonline.org.uk/04/jetset.htm|title=Jet Set Willy|publisher=Crash Online|access-date=23 November 2018}} Sabre Wulf{{cite web|url=http://www.crashonline.org.uk/06/sabre.htm|title=Sabre Wulf|publisher=Crash Online|access-date=23 November 2018}} Sabre Wulf arrived too late for a full review and received no percentage score, but was considered a Crash Smash nevertheless. and Head over Heels.{{cite web|url=http://www.crashonline.org.uk/39/headheels.htm|title=Head over Heels|publisher=Crash Online|access-date=23 November 2018}} In 1986, Gremlin Graphics published a compilation, Four Crash Smashes, which featured Spy Hunter, Alien 8, Dun Darach and Night Gunner.{{cite magazine |title=Software Reviews|magazine=Computer and Video Games|issue=57|publisher=EMAP|date=July 1986|page=32|url=https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/page.php?issue_id=1508&page=32|access-date=21 June 2024}}

In October 1986, Crash reported sales of over 100,000 copies.{{cite news|url=https://www.ibtimes.co.uk/classic-zx-spectrum-magazine-crash-resurrected-through-kickstarter-campaign-1632831|title=Classic ZX Spectrum magazine Crash resurrected through Kickstarter campaign|work=International Business Times|date=31 July 2017|access-date=22 November 2018}} Its ABC figure of 101,483 copies a month for the period of January to June were claimed by the magazine to be higher than any other British computer magazine.{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/gaming/crash-magazine-zx-spectrum-kickstarter-comeback-a7871381.html|title=Crash Magazine making comeback thanks to Kickstarter|newspaper=The Independent|date=1 August 2017|access-date=22 November 2018}}{{cite web|url=http://www.crashonline.org.uk/33/editrl.htm|title=Issue 33 Editorial|work=Crash Online|access-date=6 December 2018}}

By 1989, rival Spectrum magazine Your Sinclair regularly came with a free cassette attached to the cover that contained a complete game and various demos. Crash had occasionally featured cassettes on the cover, but began to lag in circulation. It was relaunched that June with a free cover-mounted cassette with a number of complete games, which continued as a regular feature. This came at the expense of page count and editorial content, both of which were reduced.{{cite magazine|title=The Shape of Thrills to Come|magazine=Crash|date=June 1989|number=65|page=5|url=http://live.worldofspectrum.org/infoseek/magazines/crash/65#4|access-date=26 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200508130847/https://live.worldofspectrum.org/infoseek/magazines/crash/65#4|archive-date=8 May 2020|url-status=dead}} Kean was annoyed by having to put tapes on the cover to keep up with the competition, as it increased costs and obscured Frey's cover artwork.

Newsfield was suffering increasing financial difficulties by the early 1990s. The last edition of Crash published by the company was in September 1991. Following the company's liquidation, the magazine was relaunched by Europress that December, continuing until the final issue in April 1992. After this, Crash was bought by EMAP, publisher of Sinclair User, who merged the two magazines. In practice, this meant little more than the appearance of the Crash logo on the front cover.

In May 2016, No. 2 King Street, Ludlow was awarded a Blue plaque as the premises of Newsfield while it was publishing Crash and ZZap!64 from 1984–9, which both hired pupils from Ludlow Church of England School alongside professional journalists.{{Cite web|url=https://retrocomputingnews.com/2016/05/19/top-british-gaming-publishers-recognised-with-blue-plaque/|title=TOP BRITISH GAMING PUBLISHERS RECOGNISED WITH BLUE PLAQUE|date=19 May 2016|website=Retro Computing News|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190502003901/https://retrocomputingnews.com/2016/05/19/top-british-gaming-publishers-recognised-with-blue-plaque/|archive-date=May 2, 2019}}

In 2017, the magazine was commemorated in a special exhibition in Ludlow Buttercross Museum documenting Newsfield's contribution to the local industry.{{cite news|url=https://retrocomputingnews.com/2017/04/06/aliens-over-ludlow-newsfield-invades-the-buttercross/|title=Aliens Over Ludlow : Newsfield Invades the Buttercross|date=6 April 2017|work=Retro Computing News|access-date=7 January 2019|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190107042752/https://retrocomputingnews.com/2017/04/06/aliens-over-ludlow-newsfield-invades-the-buttercross/|archive-date=January 7, 2019}} The same year, a special edition of the magazine was issued following a Kickstarter campaign that raised £12,000. Kean, Oliver Frey and Nick Roberts all returned to contribute to this issue.{{cite news|url=https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2017-07-31-crash-magazine-returns-with-a-crowdfunded-annual|title=Crash magazine returns with a crowdfunded annual|work=Eurogamer|date=31 July 2017|access-date=23 November 2018}} The following year, a similar campaign led to the 2019 Crash annual – issue 100.{{cite news|url=http://www.indieretronews.com/2018/09/crash-annual-2019-issue-100-is-aiming.html|title=Crash Annual 2019 – Issue 100|work=Indie Retro News|date=September 2018|access-date=22 November 2018}}

Image:Crash18.PNG

Crash featured distinctive cover art, mostly drawn by Oliver Frey. Much of his work was published in book form for the first time in 2006.{{cite book | title=The Fantasy Art of Oliver Frey | author=Roger Kean | isbn=1-902886-06-2 | year=2006 | publisher=Thalamus}}

The cover of issue 18, July 1985, which depicted a scantily clad sorceress with a man on his knees in collar and chains, was considered provocative by some shops who moved it to the top shelf. Issue 31 in August 1986 was criticised for the front cover featuring staff writer Hannah Smith in a swimsuit mud wrestling with an alien. The cover of issue 41, June 1987, was a particularly violent image depicting two barbarians fighting, with one about to slit the throat of another. The picture was deemed too strong by W H Smith and that issue was relegated to the top shelves.{{cite magazine|date=October 2001|title=The Magazine Game|url=https://retrocdn.net/images/3/3c/Edge_UK_102.pdf|issue=102|magazine=Edge}} However, these controversial covers helped boost the sales of Crash, particularly doubling the circulation from 1985 to 1986.

Much editorial content (such as previews and responses to readers' letters) was credited to Lloyd Mangram, a fictional character, although written by members of the editorial staff.[http://www.nvg.ntnu.no/sinclair/faq/whereis2.html#M Lloyd Mangram] at the Spectrum FAQ He was created by the team simply to make the magazine look more important and professional by appearing to have a greater number of writers, and named after golfer Lloyd Mangrum. On one occasion, Mangram was depicted visually in the magazine by a sketch of a man wearing a paper bag over his head with holes cut for eyes,{{cite magazine|title=Lloyd Mangram's Playing Tips|magazine=Crash|date=April 1987|number=39|page=60|url=http://live.worldofspectrum.org/infoseek/magazines/crash/39#60|access-date=1 December 2018|archive-date=1 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181201185343/http://live.worldofspectrum.org/infoseek/magazines/crash/39#60|url-status=dead}} and was reported to work on a Hermes typewriter.{{cite magazine |title=Reader's Awards |magazine=Crash |date=April 1990 |number=75 |page=25 |url=http://live.worldofspectrum.org/infoseek/magazines/crash/75#24 |access-date=1 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200516125634/https://live.worldofspectrum.org/infoseek/magazines/crash/75#24 |archive-date=16 May 2020 |url-status=dead }}

The "Playing Tips" section featured solutions to games cheats to make them easier. Candy was a regular host of this section in its early years. Issue 27 in April 1986 included a special "Robin Candy's Playing Tips" supplement of cheats and game modifications, including a room editor for the Crash Smash game Sweevo's World.{{cite web|url=http://www.worldofspectrum.org/infoseek.cgi?regexp=%5ERobin+Candy%27s+Playing+Tips%24&pub=%5ECrash%24&loadpics=1|title=Robin Candy's Playing Tips|publisher=World of Spectrum|access-date=26 November 2018|archive-date=2 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190502003850/http://www.worldofspectrum.org/infoseek.cgi?regexp=%5ERobin+Candy%27s+Playing+Tips%24&pub=%5ECrash%24&loadpics=1|url-status=dead}} Following Candy's departure, Hannah Smith ran the section as a self-styled "girlie tipster", establishing a rivalry with fictional Melissa Ravenflame from Computer and Video Games.{{cite magazine|title=Hannah Smith's Playing Tips|magazine=Crash|number=30|page=61|date=July 1986|url=http://live.worldofspectrum.org/infoseek/magazines/crash/30#60|access-date=23 November 2018|archive-date=24 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181124055317/http://live.worldofspectrum.org/infoseek/magazines/crash/30#60|url-status=dead}} Nick Roberts began his role in the magazine editing this section after Smith, and stayed for the remainder of its run, working out POKEs (alterations to the game's machine code in memory that allowed a player to cheat) using a Multiface, a Spectrum hardware add-on. The magazine also covered technical information and stories about future hardware and peripherals in its "Tech Niche" and "Tech Tips" sections, the latter frequently written by Simon N Goodwin.{{cite web|url=http://www.crashonline.org.uk/31/loki.htm|title=Dreamware|publisher=Crash Online|access-date=26 November 2018}}{{cite web|url=http://simon.mooli.org.uk/publications.txt|title=Publications|publisher=Simon N Goodwin|access-date=1 December 2018}} In 1988, a special "Tech Tape" was released, containing utilities and programs associated with this section.{{cite web|url=http://www.worldofspectrum.org/infoseekid.cgi?id=0011437|title=Crash Tech Tape|publisher=World of Spectrum|access-date=26 November 2018}}

Crash included the occasional column which seemed unusual for a computer magazine. Its first year saw the launch of both the Lunar Jetman strip (written and illustrated by John Richardson, based on the character from the games by Ultimate Play the Game){{cite web|url=http://www.jediman.free-online.co.uk/jetman/jetman_interview.htm|title=Interview with John Richardson|publisher=Jedi's Paradise|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190502003857/http://www.jediman.free-online.co.uk/jetman/jetman_interview.htm|archive-date=May 2, 2019|access-date=23 November 2018}} and The Terminal Man, an original piece of fiction written by Kelvin Gosnell and illustrated by Oliver Frey.{{cite web|url=http://www.paulgravett.com/articles/article/oliver_frey|title=Interview with Oliver Frey|work=Paul Gravett|access-date=23 November 2018}} Later years would see a brief revival of The Terminal Man, as well as Mel Croucher's comic story Tamara Knight, both of which ended mid-run. After the closure of Newsfield's short-lived lifestyle magazine LM, Crash inherited its video reviews for a short period.{{cite magazine|title=LM Closes Down|magazine=Crash|page=7|number=41|date=June 1987|url=http://live.worldofspectrum.org/infoseek/magazines/crash/41#6|access-date=1 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200516134302/https://live.worldofspectrum.org/infoseek/magazines/crash/41#6|archive-date=16 May 2020|url-status=dead}}{{cite magazine|title=Video Reviews|magazine=Crash|pages=108–109|date=July 1987|url=http://live.worldofspectrum.org/infoseek/magazines/crash/42#108|access-date=1 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200516134707/https://live.worldofspectrum.org/infoseek/magazines/crash/42#108|archive-date=16 May 2020|url-status=dead}}{{cite magazine|title=Forum|magazine=Crash|page=[https://archive.org/details/crash-magazine-44/page/n39 40]|date=September 1987|number=44|url=https://archive.org/details/crash-magazine-44}}

The August 1985 issue of Crash featured "Unclear User", a spoof on rival magazine Sinclair User. This led to a successful injunction being taken out against the magazine two days before the official publication date on the grounds of copyright infringement.{{cite web | url=http://www.crashonline.org.uk/24/apology.htm | title=Unclear User – apology | access-date=5 April 2006 | publisher=Crash Online}} Copies were withdrawn from newsagents and an apology published in the following issue. Readers were also offered a back issue with the offending pages removed at a reduced price and priority delivery.{{cite magazine|title=Publisher's Statement|magazine=Crash|date=September 1985|number=20|pages=7,111|url=http://live.worldofspectrum.org/infoseek/magazines/crash/20#110|access-date=26 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200516135736/https://live.worldofspectrum.org/infoseek/magazines/crash/20#110|archive-date=16 May 2020|url-status=dead}}

Starting in 1984, the magazine published an annual readers awards article, based on votes from the readers.

• Zzap!64, sister magazine focusing on the Commodore 64
• Amtix, sister magazine focusing on the Amstrad CPC

{{Reflist}}

• [http://www.crashonline.org.uk/ Crash magazine: The Online Edition]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20181123112053/http://live.worldofspectrum.org/infoseek/magazines/crash/ Crash archives] at World of Spectrum
• [https://archive.org/details/crash-magazine Crash] at the Internet Archive
• [http://www.nvg.ntnu.no/sinclair/industry/mags/crash.htm Crash profile] at Planet Sinclair

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Category:Video game magazines published in the United Kingdom

Category:Defunct video game magazines published in the United Kingdom

Category:ZX Spectrum magazines

Category:Magazines established in 1984

Category:Magazines disestablished in 1992

Category:Monthly magazines published in the United Kingdom

Category:1984 establishments in the United Kingdom

Category:1992 disestablishments in the United Kingdom