PlayStation Official Magazine
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 PlayStation Official Magazine cover from November 2008 issue |
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| Editor | Tim Clark (issues 1 to 39) Ben Wilson (issues 40 to present) |
|---|---|
| Categories | Computer and video games |
| Frequency | Monthly |
| First issue | Winter 2006 |
| Company | Future Publishing |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Website | Future Publishing Site |
The Official PlayStation Magazine,[1] generally abbreviated as OPM, is a magazine based in the United Kingdom that covers PlayStation news, [2] originally created in Winter 2006. Although the first issue was distributed in three-month intervals, from Issue 2 onward, it became a monthly segment. As of Issue 7 (June 2007), the magazine comes with a playable Blu-ray Disc; it primarily covers PlayStation 3 games and material. However, it additionally also covers PlayStation Portable and PlayStation 2 material. The magazine covers PlayStation lifestyle and all aspects of High Definition media, although not in great detail.
Contents |
[edit] OPM-OPSM2
The magazine, not to be confused with the Official UK PlayStation 2 Magazine (OPS2), mainly concentrates on giving information about PlayStation 3, PlayStation Portable, and to a lesser extent, PlayStation 2 games, as well as other general PlayStation related news.
Although the majority of the main staff originated from OPS2, several of the review scores for PS2 and PSP games, such as Ōkami, Black, TimeSplitters 2, LocoRoco, and Tekken: Dark Resurrection have been changed.
[edit] Blu-ray Disc
From June 1, 2007 onwards, the magazine has been released with a Blu-ray Disc containing PS3-related content. This disc contains game demos for PlayStation 3 games, and has been received with every issue since.
Although some of the demos are also available on the PlayStation Network, there will be some exclusive content on certain discs. It has also been stated that the magazine will receive exclusive content in the future to be published on the disc.
[edit] Structure
The magazine's design follows the same approximate structure each issue. Recurring segments include:
- The Big 10, in which the ten most momentous PlayStation-related pieces of news are discussed
- Agenda, which contains the game sales charts for all three major PlayStation platforms as well as a Personal column and regulars like Culture, where PlayStation super fans show off their art, models and tributes."
- Previews and reviews sections
- Directory, which houses a "Buyer's Guide" for games for the main platforms as well as for HDTVs
[edit] Reviews
Usually, one member of the team is assigned to review a certain new game, although on occasion other staff members will provide "2up" or a second opinion. Sometimes there are also pie charts to describe the contents, or what you do in the game. Also used are score poles to compare reviews, as well as describing the influences. And as with the "2up" segment, there is a "dev talk" article giving a short statement from the games developer. Reviews are scored out of ten.
The magazine also presents its "highest accolade", the Gold Award, to any game that its staff believe "demonstrates significant innovation, near-flawless gameplay, great graphics and long-lasting appeal." Games do not necessarily have to have a perfect 10 out of 10 score to receive it; those that have received this award include FIFA 09, Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots[3], Mirror's Edge, Grand Theft Auto IV, Warhawk, The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, Siren: Blood Curse, Uncharted: Drake's Fortune, Soulcalibur IV, LittleBigPlanet, Resistance 2, Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction, Infamous, BioShock, Uncharted 2: Among Thieves, Killzone 2, Assassin's Creed II, Heavy Rain, and Red Dead Redemption for the PlayStation 3; Tomb Raider Anniversary for the PlayStation 2; and God of War: Chains of Olympus and Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions for the PlayStation Portable.
[edit] The main team
The team listed on the magazine's first double page consists of:
- Tim Clark - Editor-in-chief*
- Ben Wilson - Editor*
- Mark Wynne - Art editor
- Steve Gallagher - Deputy art editor
- Sarah Ditum - Production editor*
- Leon Hurley - Commissioning editor*
- Rachel Penny - News editor
- Nathan Ditum - Associate editor*
- David Boddington - Content producer
- James Jarvis - Assistant producer
*Denotes staff members who used to be part of Official PlayStation 2 Magazine UK.
(All team members are accurate as of Issue 44.)
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[edit] References
- ^ Official Website
- ^ Interactive Sample of Magazine
- ^ [http://kotaku.com/5008693/first-official-metal-gear-solid-4-review The first MGS4 review.]
