PlayStation Official Magazine – UK explained

PlayStation Official Magazine – UK
Frequency:Monthly
Category:Computer and video games
Company:Future Publishing
Firstdate:Winter 2006
Finaldate:May 2021
Country:United Kingdom
Language:English
Issn:1752-2102
Oclc:85482095

PlayStation Official Magazine – UK,[1] generally abbreviated as OPM, was a magazine based in the United Kingdom that covered PlayStation news[2] created in 2006. Although the first issue was distributed in three-month intervals, from Issue 2 onward, it became a monthly segment. From Issue 7 to Issue 84,[3] the magazine came with a playable Blu-ray disc; it primarily covered PlayStation 4, PlayStation 4 Pro, PlayStation VR and PlayStation 5 games and material. It also covered PlayStation Vita material. The magazine covered PlayStation, as well as all aspects of HD media in lesser detail.

On 30 April 2021, GamesRadar+ announced that the Official PlayStation Magazine title would end, citing "along with Sony we felt that the Official PlayStation Magazine had finally earned a well-deserved retirement", and the magazine would be relaunched as Play. Staff would remain the same, while subscribers to OPM would continue to be subscribed with the issues number resetting.[4]

Official UK PlayStation Magazine

Official UK PlayStation Magazine
Editor Title:Editor-in-Chief
Frequency:13 issues a year
Category:Gaming
Publisher:Future Publishing UK
Firstdate:November 1995
Language:English
Country:United Kingdom
Issn:1367-4471
Oclc:390817337
Finaldate:March 2004
Finalnumber:108

The Official UK PlayStation Magazine was a magazine launched in November 1995 to coincide with the launch of the PlayStation console. It ran for 108 issues, with the last hitting news stands in March 2004. The first issue sold 37,000 copies. Roughly midway through its run the abbreviations in the magazine changed from PSM to OPM (this was mainly because another magazine by the name of PSM2 was launched in the 4th quarter of 2000, and so as not to cause confusion, the abbreviations of the official magazine were changed to OPM). It had 3 design changes in its lifetime: 1 to 51, 52 to 72, and finally 73 to 108.

The first game to be reviewed was Wipeout, which received 8/10. The last game to be reviewed was Ford Truck Mania, which garnered 7/10.

The magazine would go on to become not only the best selling PlayStation magazine in the United Kingdom, but the best selling videogames magazine in the world.[5] [6] By mid-1997, PSM was selling over 150,000 issues a month. In the month of February 1999, issue 42 (cover game: Metal Gear Solid), according to ABC the magazine managed a record 453,571, beating the UK's biggest lads magazines FHM, Maxim and Loaded.

Official UK PlayStation 2 Magazine

Official UK PlayStation 2 Magazine
Publisher:Future Publishing UK
Language:English
Category:Gaming
Editor Title:Editor
Frequency:13 issues a year
Firstdate:December 2000
Finaldate:July 2008
Finalnumber:100
Country:United Kingdom
Issn:1472-3123
Oclc:223301420

Official UK PlayStation 2 Magazine (often abbreviated to OPS2) was launched in December 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 July 2008. The magazine was commonly abbreviated OPS2. It had four design changes in its lifetime: 1 to 25, 26 to 41, 42 to 89, and 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 , which earned 7/10. The magazine would go on to become the UK's best selling PlayStation 2 magazine, peaking with 197,348 readers in 2002.[7]

Target demographic

In the beginning OPS2 was designed for the early adopter – encompassing hardcore gamers and previous readers crossing over from the original Official UK PlayStation Magazine. This ran from issue 1 (December 2000) to 25 (October 2002). Starting from issue 26, the magazine was set the task of attracting a more mass market, mainstream audience. This included a full redesign.[8] 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 '90s – the publication decided to "review" readers girlfriends and their mothers and increased the number of scantily-clad women, even to the point of including bare breasts. It received a mixed response from readers, and 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 three 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 and the younger gamer.

Awards

Regular features

The magazine's design follows the same approximate structure each issue. Recurring segments include:

OPM

From issues #1 to #51, the magazine followed a set format every month:

OPS2

Demo disc

Each month the publication comes with a cover mounted playable demo disc — a first for a console magazine. The disc contains game demos and other PlayStation-related content which have to be downloaded and installed onto the PS3's hard drive.

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.

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, FIFA 11, ,[9] Mirror's Edge, Grand Theft Auto IV, Warhawk, , , , , Soulcalibur IV, LittleBigPlanet, Resistance 2, , , Infamous, BioShock, , Killzone 2, Assassin's Creed II, Heavy Rain, and Red Dead Redemption for the PlayStation 3; for the PlayStation 2; and and for the PlayStation Portable.

The only game to receive a 0 rating was the DVD version of Time Traveler.

Editorial staff

As of Issue 140, the team listed on the magazine's first page consists of:

Top Ten Readers Poll

In issue 50 (October 2010), the magazine published the results of the readers poll on the greatest PlayStation title ever released.[10]

NumberGame
1
2Metal Gear Solid
3Final Fantasy VII
4
5
6
7
8Shadow of the Colossus
9Red Dead Redemption
10Resident Evil 4

Desert Island Games

In the final March 2004 issue, the magazine published their list of the official top 10 PlayStation games of all time.[11]

No.GamePublisher (PAL)DeveloperRelease (PAL)
1scope=rowISS Pro Evolution 2KonamiKCE Tokyo2001
2scope=rowMetal Gear SolidKonamiKCE Japan1999
3scope=rowTomb RaiderEidos InteractiveCore Design1996
4scope=rowGran Turismo 2SCEEPolyphony Digital2000
5scope=rowTony Hawk's Pro Skater 2ActivisionNeversoft2000
6scope=rowResident Evil 2Virgin InteractiveCapcom1998
7scope=rowPaRappa the RapperSCEENanaOn-Sha1997
8scope=rowMedal of HonorElectronic ArtsDreamWorks Interactive1999
9scope=rowCircuit BreakersMindscapeSupersonic Software1998
10scope=rowTekken 2SCEENamco1996

Hall of Fame

With the new look, the magazine published their Hall of Fame for each platform.[12]

NumberPS3PS4PS5PS VRPSVita
1The Last of UsDemons SoulsRez InfiniteTearaway
2Grand Theft Auto VThe Last GuardianMiles MoralesThumperPersona 4: Golden
3Astro's PlayroomKeep Talking and Nobody ExplodesRayman Legends
4Red Dead RedemptionGrand Theft Auto VMortal Kombat 11StatikVelocity 2X
5JourneyPersona 5Dirt 5Little Big Planet
6Mass Effect 2 – Game of the Year EditionThe PathlessStar Wars Battlefront Rogue One: X-Wing VR MissionSuper Meat Boy!
7Dark SoulsHorizon Zero DawnNBA 2K21Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD Remaster
8Call of Duty 4: Modern WarfareBloodborneObserver System: ReduxGravity Rush
9Portal 2Injustice 2Metal Gear Solid HD Collection
10FarpointSpelunky
11BioShock InfiniteStreet Fighter VDevil May Cry 5The Playroom VRSteins;Gate
12Destiny: The CollectionGodfallWerewolves Within Hotline Miami
13Dishonored 2FIFA 21PlayStation VR WorldsCrypt of the Necrodancer
14Heavy RainTitanfall 2HavenTumble VRDownwell
15LittleBigPlanet 2The Last of Us RemasteredGnog
16Overwatch
17Tekken 7
18Nioh
19 Special Edition
20Dark Souls III
21The Witness
22Dirt 4
23Yakuza 0
24Inside
25What Remains of Edith Finch

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Magazine Subscriptions & more – PlayStation Official Magazine – Print – My Favourite Magazines. www.myfavouritemagazines.co.uk/. 9 May 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180509174751/https://www.myfavouritemagazines.co.uk/gaming/official-playstation-magazine-subscription/. 9 May 2018.
  2. http://www.myfavouritemagazines.co.uk/samplers/opsm_sampler.htm Interactive Sample of Magazine
  3. Web site: Gander . Matt . 2013-06-03 . Official PlayStation Magazine drops demos discs . Games Asylum . https://web.archive.org/web/20161008200456/http://www.gamesasylum.com/2013/06/03/official-playstation-magazine-drops-demos-discs . 2016-10-08 . bot: unknown . 2018-03-23.
  4. Web site: Welcome to PLAY: your new PlayStation magazine! . Ian . Dean . 30 April 2021 . . May 4, 2021 . 7 May 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210507010111/https://www.gamesradar.com/uk/play-magazine-faq/ . live .
  5. February 1999 . Official UK PlayStation Magazine . Official UK PlayStation Magazine . . 42 . Archive.org.
  6. December 2000 . Official UK PlayStation Magazine . Official UK PlayStation Magazine . . 65.
  7. Web site: Billings . Claire . 7 April 2003 . Future Bolsters Official PS2 Magazine's Editorial Line-Up . . CampaignLive.co.uk . 2024-07-16 . 16 July 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240716060417/https://www.campaignlive.co.uk/article/future-bolsters-official-ps2-magazines-editorial-line-up/176424 . live .
  8. Web site: Future PLC . 2011-02-09 . https://web.archive.org/web/20071023053138/http://www.futureplc.com/future/news/tradenews_story.jsp?type=news&ref=1554&year=2002&month=10 . 2007-10-23.
  9. Web site: Ashcraft . Brian . 12 May 2008 . First Official Metal Gear Solid 4 Review . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20120928221353/http://kotaku.com/5008693/first-official-metal-gear-solid-4-review . 28 September 2012 . 9 May 2018 . Kotaku.
  10. Official UK PlayStation Magazine issue 50, Future Publishing, October 2010
  11. Official UK PlayStation Magazine . 108 . . March 2004 . 60 . Desert Island Games. .
  12. For example, in Official UK PlayStation Magazine issue 107, Future Publishing, March 2015