Chris Stead
{{Short description|Australian video games journalist}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2014}}
{{Use Australian English|date=April 2014}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Chris Stead
| image =
| caption =
| nickname = The Captain
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1979|04|06|df=y}}
| birth_place = Sydney
| known_for = {{ubl|Game Informer|GamePro|Grab It Indie Games Magazine|Old Mate Media}}
| occupation = Video games journalist
| spouse =
| website =
}}
Chris Stead (born 6 April 1979{{cn|date=March 2024}}) is an Australian video games journalist, editor and publisher. He is best known for founding the Australian editions of Game Informer and GamePro magazines and their websites. In 2013 he won the inaugural MCV Pacific Journalist of the Year award.{{cite web |url=http://www.mcvuk.com/news/read/mcv-pacific-awards-the-finalists-and-winners-announced/0115391/ |title=MCV Pacific Awards: The finalists and winners announced |author=Harris, Leigh |date=9 December 2010 |accessdate=14 February 2014}} In 2014, he launched Grab It Indie Games Magazine.{{cite news|publisher=MCV|url=http://www.mcvpacific.com/news/read/ex-game-informer-editor-launches-ios-games-mag/0126922|title=ex-Game Informer editor launches iOS games mag|date=23 January 2014|accessdate=15 February 2014|first=David|last=Wildgoose|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140221223655/http://www.mcvpacific.com/news/read/ex-game-informer-editor-launches-ios-games-mag/0126922|archive-date=21 February 2014|url-status=dead}} In 2015 he launched the print and digital book publishing company Old Mate Media.
Early life
Stead was born in Sydney, Australia and is the oldest of five children.{{cn|date=March 2024}} He studied Molecular Biology and Genetics at Sydney University, graduating in 2000.{{cn|date=March 2024}}
Career
=Early career=
Stead's first published work appeared in N64 Gamer magazine in 1997. During this time he also contributed to Hyper, PC PowerPlay and GameSpot, amongst others. In 2000, he signed with ACP Magazines as Staff Writer for the launch of Official PlayStation Magazine.{{cite news|publisher=Australian Gaming Database|url=http://www.retrogamingaus.com/wiki/index.php?title=Official_PlayStation_2_Magazine_Australia_(ACP) |title=Official PlayStation 2 Magazine Australia (ACP) |date=1 November 2001 |accessdate=15 February 2014}}
=GamePro=
In 2003 Stead signed on with IDG to launch the Australian edition of GamePro magazine as senior staff writer, with veteran editor Stuart Clarke.{{cite web |url=http://www.computerworld.com.au/mediareleases/5782/australian-gamepro-appoints-editor/ |title=Australian GamePro appoints editor |date=23 September 2003 |accessdate=15 February 2014}} Stead later become deputy editor, and then editor prior to his departure in 2007.
=Gameplayer=
Soon after departing IDG, Stead signed on with Derwent Howard to launch a new gaming website called Gameplayer as editor-in-chief. After two years, he left the site to contribute to IGN, Official PlayStation Magazine and the Australian version of Official Xbox Magazine.
=Game Informer=
In 2009, Chris Stead re-signed with Derwent Howard to launch an Australian edition of Game Informer magazine.{{cite news|publisher=Kotaku|url=http://www.kotaku.com.au/2009/11/game-informer-magazine-launches-aussie-edition/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091106115139/http://www.kotaku.com.au/2009/11/game-informer-magazine-launches-aussie-edition/|url-status=dead|archive-date=6 November 2009|title= Game Informer launches Australian edition |date=3 November 2009|accessdate=15 February 2014|first=David|last=Wildgoose}} The magazine picked up the 2011{{cite news|publisher=The Australian|url=http://blogs.theaustralian.news.com.au/mediadiary/index.php/theaustralian/comments/vogue_australia_is_magazine_of_the_year/|title=Vogue Australia is Magazine of the Year|date=4 November 2012|accessdate=15 February 2014|first=Sally|last=Jackson|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304062006/http://blogs.theaustralian.news.com.au/mediadiary/index.php/theaustralian/comments/vogue_australia_is_magazine_of_the_year/|archive-date=4 March 2016|url-status=dead}} and 2012{{cite news|publisher=Influencing|url=http://influencing.com.au/#reader-story-42394-panel|title=Australian Magazine Awards 2012 celebrates the best of the industry |date=1 November 2012|accessdate=15 February 2014|first=Tim|last=Lince}} Australian Magazine Award for the Computing & Games category, and the 2013 MCV Pacific Award for Print Publication of the Year.{{cite news|publisher=Gamepresso|url=http://gamespresso.com/2013/05/10/mcv-pacific-awards-winners-who-would-you-have-preferred/|title=MCV Pacific Awards Winners, Who Would You Have Preferred?|date=10 May 2013|accessdate=15 February 2014|first=Alex|last=Connellan|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222162510/http://gamespresso.com/2013/05/10/mcv-pacific-awards-winners-who-would-you-have-preferred/|archivedate=22 February 2014|df=dmy-all}} In January 2014, Stead left after completing the 51st issue.
=Grab It Indie Games Magazine=
In February 2014, Stead released the first issue of Grab It Indie Games Magazine.{{cite news|publisher=OXCGN|url= http://xboxoz360.wordpress.com/2014/02/13/love-indie-gaming-grab-it-is-the-app-for-you/|title=Love Indie Gaming? 'Grab It' is the App for you |date=13 February 2014|accessdate=15 February 2014|first=Jayden|last=Perry}}{{cite news|publisher=Kotaku |url=http://www.kotaku.com.au/2013/12/a-new-gaming-magazine-enters-the-fray/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131224025135/http://www.kotaku.com.au/2013/12/a-new-gaming-magazine-enters-the-fray/|url-status=dead|archive-date=24 December 2013|title=A New Gaming Magazine Enters the Fray|date=2013-12-23|accessdate=2014-02-15|first=Jeremy|last=Ray}} In October 2014, Grab It was a finalist in the Digital Magazine Awards 2014, ultimately receiving a highly commended accolade.{{cite news|publisher=Grab It|url= http://grabitmagazine.com/blog/post/grab-it-a-finalist-in-the-digital-magazine-awards/|title=Grab It a Finalist in the Digital Magazine Awards |date=29 October 2014|accessdate=21 January 2020}} Eight episodes of the magazine were released, as well as standalone episode based around the game Nihilumbra. The eighth and final episode of Grab It Magazine is notable for also doubling as the indie guide to PAX AUS 2014.{{cite news|publisher=YouTube|url= https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Div24eev-VE|title=Grab It Twitch Interview - All About Our PAX AUS Edition |date=15 May 2015|accessdate=21 January 2020}}
Ahead of the launch of issue 1, Stead spoke with MCV about his motivations behind leaving Game Informer to launch Grab It Indie Games Magazine, noting that "it's difficult to talk about indie games in a commercial media outlet in any meaningful way.{{cite news|publisher=MCV|url=http://www.mcvpacific.com/news/read/ex-game-informer-editor-launches-ios-games-mag/0126922|title=ex-Game Informer editor launches iOS games mag|date=2014-01-23|accessdate=2014-02-15|first=David|last=Wildgoose|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140221223655/http://www.mcvpacific.com/news/read/ex-game-informer-editor-launches-ios-games-mag/0126922|archive-date=21 February 2014|url-status=dead}}
=Old Mate Media=
In January 2015, Stead began publishing fiction and non-fiction print and digital books under his company name, Old Mate Media.{{cite news|publisher=Reading With Your Kids|url= https://readingwithyourkids.com/old-mate-media-is-helping-writers-become-published-authors/|title=Old Mate Media is helping writers become published authors |date=24 June 2017|accessdate=21 January 2020}} As well as publishing books authored by Stead, the Old Mate Media label provides editing, design and publishing services to independent authors.{{cite news|publisher=Old Mate Media|url= https://oldmatemedia.com/shop/|title=Buy Books, Apps and Magazines from Old Mate Media |date=24 June 2017|accessdate=21 January 2020}}
=Finder=
Since February 2015, Stead has been active as an editor for Australian comparison site Finder.{{cite news|publisher=Finder|url= https://www.finder.com.au/author/chrisstead|title=Chris Stead |date=21 January 2020|accessdate=21 January 2020}} In 2016, Stead was nominated for Best Gaming Journalist at "The Lizzies" (IT Journalism Awards).{{cite news|publisher=Gusworld|url= https://www.gusworld.com.au/blog/2017/05/12/full-list-of-2016-it-journalism-awards-winners-updating-live-lizzies/|title=Full List Of 2016 IT Journalism Awards Winner |date=12 May 2017|accessdate=21 January 2020}}
Books written by Chris Stead
The books written by Chris Stead have been published through Amazon and many other online stores.{{cite news|publisher=Amazon|url= https://www.amazon.com/Chris-Stead/e/B017YYK06S |title=Chris Stead Author Profile |date=21 January 2020|accessdate=21 January 2020}}
- The Little Green Boat (Book 1 The Wild Imagination of Willy Nilly Series) -2015
- Follow the Breadcrumbs (Book 2 The Wild Imagination of Willy Nilly Series) - 2016
- My Birthday Cake Needs a New Home - 2016
- Fastest Kid in the World (Book 3 The Wild Imagination of Willy Nilly Series) - 2016
- A Very Strange Zoo - 2016
- Can You See the Magic - 2016
- Nintendo Switch - The Complete Insider's Guide - 2017
- Adam Exitus (Book 1 Adam X series) - 2017 (written with Nick Adbilla)
- The Making of Monument Valley - 2017
- What is Cryptocurrency: Your Complete Guide to Bitcoin, Blockchain and Beyond - 2018
- Christmas Chimney Challenge (Book 4 The Wild Imagination of Willy Nilly Series) - 2018
- Let the Sad Thoughts Out - 2020
- Ultimate at Home Activities Guide for Kids - 2020
- Adam Exiled (Book 2 Adam X series) - 2020 (written with Nick Adbilla)
- Nintendo Switch Gaming Guide - 2020
- Gentle George - 2020 (written with Ken MacKenzie)
- Sony PS5 Gaming Guide - 2020
- Adam Nexus (Book 3 Adam X series) - 2020 (written with Nick Adbilla)
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.grabitmagazine.com Grab It Magazine website]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Stead, Chris}}
Category:Journalists from Sydney