Official UK PlayStation 2 Magazine
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| Editor | Mike Goldsmith Sam Richards Richard Keith Stephen Pierce Tim Clark (issue 56 to 76) George Walter (acting ed) (issue 77 to 78) Nick Ellis (issue 79 to 94) Andy Hartup (issue 95 to 100) |
|---|---|
| Categories | Gaming |
| Frequency | 13 issues a year |
| Publisher | Future Publishing UK |
| First issue | November 2000 |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
PlayStation 2 Official Magazine – UK (often abbreviated to OPS2) was launched in November 2000 as the sequel publication to the Official UK PlayStation Magazine, originally priced £4.99, to coincide with the launch of the PlayStation 2 console. Each month the magazine came with a cover mounted playable demo DVD. It ran for 100 issues, with the last going on sale in the month of June, 2008. The magazine was commonly abbreviated ‘OPS2’. It had 4 design changes in its lifetime: 1 to 25, 26 to 41, 42 to 89 & finally 90 to 100.
The first game to be reviewed was Tekken Tag Tournament, which received 8/10.
The last game to be reviewed was SBK08 Superbike World Championship, which earned 7/10.
Contents |
[edit] Sales & Success
The magazine would go on to become the UK's Best Selling PlayStation 2 magazine, peaking with 197,348 readers in 2002.
[edit] Target Demographic
In the beginning OPS2 was designed for the early adopter - encompassing hardcore gamers & previous readers crossing over from the original Official UK PlayStation Magazine. This ran from issue 1 (November 2000) to 25 (November 2002). Starting from issue 26, the magazine was set the task of attracting a more mass market, mainstream audience. This included a full redesign.[1] From issue 34, OPS2 changed again - however this time retaining its recent redesign. In a drastic attempt to attract a more young male demographic - similar to that of the independent PlayStation magazines of the 90's - the publication decided to review readers girlfriends & their mothers; increase the babe count, even to the point of including bare breasts; & hardcore pornography. It received a mixed response from readers, & failed to considerably increase the readership. In turn, the magazine featured another redesign from issue 42. OPS2 would retain this middle ground for the next 3 years, neither employing an overly male nor hardcore adult gamer stance. In the final year, as the PlayStation 2 entered a more family friendly stage, OPS2 changed once more; this time for its final time. Starting from issue 90 the magazine would focus on new PS2 owners & the younger gamer.
[edit] Regulars
- Spy - News & the latest announcements
- Monitor - Previews, as voted for by the readers
- Features
- Reviews
- Next Month
- Letters
- Replay - looking at previously reviewed titles, review A to Z, cheats
- Comedown - DVD & Music reviews
- On the Disc
[edit] Awards
In 2004 the publication won the prestigious Industry Dinner Magazine of the Year Award.
In 2004 the publication won MCV's Magazine Team of the Year Award.
[edit] 10/10
OPS2 gave a total of 18 games full marks. They were (not in chronological order)...
- Black
- Burnout 3: Takedown
- Burnout Revenge
- Final Fantasy XII
- Grand Theft Auto: Double Pack
- Grand Theft Auto: Vice City
- Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
- Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories (PSP)
- Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty
- Ōkami
- Pro Evolution Soccer 3
- 'Pro Evolution Soccer 4
- 'Pro Evolution Soccer 5
- Pro Evolution Soccer 6
- Resident Evil 4
- Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3
- Soul Calibur 2
- Tekken: Dark Resurrection (PSP)
- Timesplitters 2
[edit] Controversies
- OPS2 #34: Enter the Matrix, which features on its cover, is awarded 8/10. The game is reviewed using unfinished code.
- OPS2 #35: Tomb Raider: The Angel of Darkness, which features on its cover, is awarded 8/10. AOD is largely regarded as the worst in the series by the press, receiving a Metacritic average of 52. The reviewer spends most of the review criticising the game before struggling to justify the score. The score is later dropped to a 6. This review is also ridiculed in issue 62's Did We Really?, and again in issue 82, where the following was written about the game: "We must have been mesmerised by Lara's pert polygonal buttocks when we gave this 8/10. In hindsight, this is pants."
- OPS2 # 39: Rate Your Mate. In an attempt to appeal to the popularity of lad culture with the then recent launches of popular lads magazines Zoo Weekly & Nuts (magazine), OPS2 asked readers to send in photos of their girlfriends for review. The first women to be rated receives 7/10. It lasts one issue.
- OPS2 #34 to OPS2 #39: Rhythm Nation. In another failed attempt to appeal to the youth demographic, the publication begins to review Porn DVDs. None of them are any good.
- OPS2 #67: 50 Cent: Bulletproof is awarded 8/10. The game is regarded as substandard to average elsewhere, with a Metacritic average of 47.[2]
[edit] References
- ^ http://www.futureplc.com/future/news/tradenews_story.jsp?type=news&ref=1554&year=2002&month=10</
- ^ http://www.metacritic.com/games/platforms/ps2/50centbulletproof?q=50%20cent%20bulletproof</
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