First Issue release
date: August 1989 |
Final issue release
date: May 2000 |
Publisher: Future
Publishing |
Coverage: Until 1995
coverage was primarily focussed upon games. This slowly changed to
serious software. |
Country published:
United Kingdom |
No. of issues: 136
(149 including ST/Amiga Format) |
Medium: Paper |
Status: Dead |
Web Address:
None |
|
Amiga Format is by far the most popular Amiga magazine in the
world. While its rivals disappeared Amiga Format slowly plodded
along, covering the latest developments while providing a link to
the glory days of the Amiga. It is one of the few magazines that
can honestly say it has stuck by the Amiga through thick and
thin.
The magazine first appeared during July 1988 under the banner
ST/Amiga Format. At the time the 16-bit market and Future
Publishing itself was still in its infancy, making a
single-platform magazine risky. Magazines appeared and disappeared
almost overnight, so the decision was taken to cover the two most
popular 16-bit formats.
In August 1989 the magazine split to better cover the individual
markets, becoming Amiga Format and ST Format. Two events preceded
this action- the 16-bit market had come into its own, indicating
the 8-bit era was over. In addition, the sale of the multi-platform
magazine, ACE to Emap gave Future Publishing the staff required to
operate two magazines. At the time ST Format was considered to be
the most viable of the two. This was soon to change when Amiga
Format made a number of influential deals with Commodore to have
the magazine bundled with every Amiga sold in the UK. Magazine
sales quickly rose to a peak of 161,256 and AF becomes the
best-selling "male interest" magazine during the second half of
1992, riding the wave of the Amigas golden era. During this period
it also spawned spin-off titles, Amiga
Power, Amiga Shopper, and a
series of Amiga Format Specials dedicated to specific
interests.
It soon became clear during the dark days of 1994 that the Amiga
golden era was over. Announcing massive losses, Commodore finally
entered liquidation sparking uncertainty in the Amiga market. Amiga
Format cocooned itself, refusing to admit that the PC was becoming
the platform of choice for the home market. Faced with growing
uncertainty the magazine grew stagnant allowing CU Amiga Magazine to become the worlds' biggest
selling magazine- a title that had been previously held by Amiga
Format for over 5 years. For a time it even seemed that Amiga
Format would leave CU as the sole UK Amiga magazine. However, the
promotion of Ben Vost to editor signalled a change of direction to
cover more technical issues. The final Amiga Format was a leaner
beast, aimed more at the home hobbyist than the die-hard gamer. In
contrast to the magazines glory days, the magazine sold just 11,146
copies a month (ABC July-December 1999).
As the sole UK magazine Amiga Format became vitally important in
keeping the Amiga in the public eye, and the only way for Amiga
users who do not have internet access to read the latest news. Its
continued publication during the 1998 - 1999 period should not be
undervalued for keeping the Amiga market alive in these difficult
times.
Title |
Date (first to last issue) |
ST Amiga Format |
June 1988 - July 1989 |
ST Format |
Aug 1989 - Sept 1996 |
Amiga Format |
August 1989 - May 2000 |
BACK |