Computer Games Magazine
{{Short description|Monthly computer gaming magazine 1988–2007}}
{{for|similarly named periodicals|Computer Games (disambiguation)#Publications}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}}
{{Infobox magazine
| title =
| image_file = Computergamesmagazine.jpg
| image_caption = A sample issue of Computer Games Magazine
| frequency = Monthly
| category = Computer and video game console magazine
| publisher = theGlobe.com
| founded =
| firstdate = October 1988 (as Games International);{{cite web| url=https://archive.org/details/GamesInternational|title=Games International (All Issues)|website=Internet Archive| access-date=December 26, 2018}} October 1990 (as Strategy Plus)
| finaldate = April 2007 (Issue 197)
| country = United States
| based = Fort Lauderdale, Florida
}}
Computer Games Magazine was a monthly computer and console gaming print magazine, founded in October 1988 as the United Kingdom publication Games International. During its history, it was known variously as Strategy Plus (October 1990, Issue 1{{cite web| url=https://archive.org/details/StrategyPlus|title=Strategy Plus: All Issues|website=Internet Archive| access-date=December 26, 2018}}) and Computer Games Strategy Plus,{{cite web| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070315180025/http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=13122| url=https://www.gamedeveloper.com/game-platforms/report-computer-games-magazine-massive-shut-down|title=Report:Computer Games Magazine, Massive Shut Down|date=March 13, 2007|author1=Dobson, Jason|author2=Gifford, Kevin|work=Gamasutra|archive-date=March 15, 2007|url-status=live}} but changed its name to Computer Games Magazine after its purchase by theGlobe.com. When it closed down in April 2007, it held the record for the second-longest-running print magazine dedicated exclusively to computer games with 197 issues, behind only Computer Gaming World. In 1998 and 2000, it was the United States' third-largest magazine in this field.
History
The magazine's original editor-in-chief, Brian Walker, sold Strategy Plus to the United States retail chain Chips & Bits in 1991. Based in Vermont and owned by Tina and Yale Brozen, Chips & Bits retitled Strategy Plus to Computer Games Strategy Plus after the purchase.{{cite book|editor=Wolf, Mark J. P.| author=Gish, Harrison|title=The Encyclopedia of Video Games: The Culture, Technology, and Art of Gaming| section=Computer Games Magazine|date=August 16, 2012|isbn=031337936X|publisher=ABC-CLIO|pages=131, 132|volume=1}} Its circulation rose to around 130,000 monthly copies by the mid-1990s.{{cite journal|author=Bauman, Steve|journal=Computer Games Magazine|title=A Decade of Gaming|date=November 2000|issue=120| pages=56–58, 60, 62, 66, 68, 70–76}} By 1998, Computer Games Strategy Plus was the United States' third-largest computer game magazine, with a circulation of 184,299. According to editor-in-chief Steve Bauman, this number rose to 220,000 in 1999.{{cite web| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000817175052/http://www.gamecenter.com/News/Item/0,3,0-2558,00.html| url=http://www.gamecenter.com/News/Item/0,3,0-2558,00.html|title=Imagine Shuts Down PC Games|work=CNET Gamecenter|date=March 10, 1999|author=Asher, Mark|archive-date=August 17, 2000|url-status=dead}} Chips & Bits was purchased by theGlobe.com in January 2000,{{cite web| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000817114845/http://www.gamecenter.com/News/Item/0,3,0-3644,00.html| url=http://www.gamecenter.com:80/News/Item/0,3,0-3644,00.html|title=Theglobe.com Buys Chips & Bits|date=January 18, 2000|author=Asher, Mark|work=CNET Gamecenter|archive-date=August 17, 2000|url-status=dead|access-date=July 8, 2019}} alongside Computer Games Strategy Plus and its publishing division, Strategy Plus, Inc.
By March 2000, Computer Games{{'}} circulation had reached 240,000 copies; roughly 300,000 units of each issue were printed per month. It remained the United States' third-biggest computer game magazine by that date, according to Yale Brozen, and the publication's Ed Mitchell estimated that it was Vermont's largest magazine in any field. Its official website, cdmag.com, averaged one million unique visits per month by early 2000.{{cite web | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000414024944/http://www.vermontguides.com/2000/3-mar/mar3.htm | url=http://www.vermontguides.com/2000/3-mar/mar3.htm | title=Games People Play | author=Vaughan-Hughes, Pip | date=March 2000 | work=Business People Magazine | archive-date=April 14, 2000 | url-status=live}} The magazine experienced major growth during 2000: tracking firm BPA International recorded its average circulation from July–December as 374,576 copies, while the December issue rose to 450,515. Computer Games Magazine was subsequently redesigned, starting from its June 2001 issue.{{cite press release | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031024044955/http://www.cdmag.com/articles/031/125/010501-04.html | url=http://www.cdmag.com:80/articles/031/125/010501-04.html | title=Computer Games Magazine unveils new look | date=April 30, 2001 | location=New York City | publisher=Computer Games Magazine | archive-date=October 24, 2003 | url-status=dead | access-date=July 8, 2019 }}
Computer Games Magazine launched a sister publication, MMO Games Magazine, in 2006.{{cite web | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070731011411/http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=8566 | url=https://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=8566 | title=Computer Games To Launch MMO-Themed U.S. Print Magazine | date=March 17, 2006 | author=Maragos, Nich | archive-date=July 31, 2007 | work=Gamasutra | url-status=dead}} On March 13, 2007, both publications were shut down by theGlobe.com, after that company was hit with a multimillion-dollar judgement in a lawsuit resulting from the e-mail spam of MySpace.
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20050402030812/http://www.cdmag.com/articles/ Computer Games content from 1996–2001]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20140109053236/http://mmogamesmag.com/ MMO Games Magazine website]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20070316040904/http://www.gamesite.gr/ Greek Computer Games Magazine website & gaming news portal]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20091020011723/http://www.computergamesmagazine.com.mx/ Computer Games Magazine for Mexico website]
- [https://archive.gamehistory.org/folder/9d04d369-f4ba-413c-b0e3-d50271f157a4?sortField=date&sortDir=asc Archived issues] at Video Game History Foundation Digital Archive
Category:Defunct computer magazines published in the United States
Category:Home computer magazines
Category:Magazines established in 1988
Category:Magazines disestablished in 2007
Category:Defunct video game magazines published in the United States