Official UK PlayStation Magazine

Infobox Magazine
title = Official UK PlayStation Magazine


image_caption = Issue 108 (March 2004) - The final edition of Official UK PlayStation Magazine
publisher = Future Publishing UK
language = English
category = Gaming
editor = Steve Jarratt (issue 1 to 7)
Rob Pegley (issue 8 to 42)
Mike Goldsmith (issue 43 to 63)
Mark Donald (issue 64 to 76)
Richard Keith (issue 77 to 97)
Ryan Butt (issue 98 to 108)
editor_title = Editor-in-Chief
frequency = 12 issues a year (later increased to 13)
firstdate = October 1995
country = United Kingdom

The "Official UK PlayStation Magazine" was debuted in October 1995, priced £4.99, to coincide with the launch of the PlayStation console. The first issue sold 37,000 copies. Each month the publication came with a cover mounted playable demo disc - a first for a console magazine. It ran for 108 issues, with the last hitting news stands in February 2004. 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, & so as not to cause confusion, the abbreviation's of the official mag were changed to OPM). It had 3 design changes in its lifetime: 1 to 51, 52 to 72 & 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.

ales & Success

The magazine would go on to become not only the best selling PlayStation magazine in the United Kingdom, but the best selling PlayStation magazine in the world. By mid 1997, PSM was already selling well over 150,000 issues a month. In the month of January 1999, the February edition, issue 42, managed a record 453,571 ABC figure - beating the UK's biggest lads magazines FHM, Maxim & Loaded. Metal Gear Solid graced the cover alongside a playable demo.

Editorial Policy

Under the guidance of Rob Pegley, the magazine had a no nonsense attitude to pre-agreed scores in exchange for cover exclusives or compromising of editorial judgement for the sake of a first look. They made a habit of 'nailing' other publications for such acts. Written in every issue was the following promise:

Fact: The Official PlayStation Magazine is the world's best selling videogames magazine. The only magazine with an official demo CD every month. PSM is also the best written and most clearly designed magazine on the shelves. This market leading position means that we can review games honestly and protect our readers interests, giving real opinions rather than compromise our views in a pursuit on an exclusive review or cover.PSM is the only magazine which "really" matters within in the PlayStation industry for one reason - what we print is the truth. Whether it's about games, the industry and all things PlayStation, our writing is opinionated, honest and always informed. Links with Sony provide exclusive information and game demos, but do not compromise our editorial independence - guaranteed.PSM is written in an adult manner. Free from technical jargon, but with necessary expertise that PlayStation owners demand.PSM drops the usual in jokes and infantile humour for quality. We tell you the latest news, talk to the most important people in the industry, discuss the most relevant issues and review the most exciting games on the planet.

Regulars

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

* StartUp - featuring a quick run through of the games featured on the cover disc & editor's letter.
* Update - News, interviews & first looks. With each page, a 'Loading Bar' percentage increased.
* PrePlay - Previews
* Letters (this was later moved to the back of the magazine in a section called 'Down Loading')
* Features
* PlayTest - Reviews
* Cheats (later called 'Top Secret', a special section which was printed on recycled paper)
* Down Loading
* On the CD - Demo game controls
* Next Month

Awards

In 1997 & 1998 the publication won Future Publishing's Internal Magazine of the Year Award.

In 1998 & 1999 it won the prestigious Industry Dinner Magazine of the Year Award.

Future Publishing Awarded the magazine with its own internal 'Innovation of the Year'.

Reader Awards

Voted by readers through the Playstation Powerline service, the first awards in 1998 were won by Final Fantasy VII. Featured in the Top 10 were , Resident Evil & Tomb Raider 2.

In issue 98, which was billed as the 'Reader Issue', OPM readers voted Metal Gear Solid as the Best Game on PlayStation. Final Fantasy VII was second, Final Fantasy VIII third, Final Fantasy IX fourth & Gran Turismo 2 fifth.

10/10

PSM gave a total of 22 games the much vaunted 'perfect 10'. They were (not in order)...

* Driver 2
* Final Fantasy VII
* Final Fantasy VIII
* Gran Turismo
* Gran Turismo 2
* ISS Pro Evolution 2
* Metal Gear Solid
* Pro Evolution Soccer
* Quake II
* Resident Evil 3
* Silent Hill
*
*
* Tekken 2
* Tekken 3
* TOCA World Touring Cars
* Tomb Raider
* Tomb Raider 2
* Tomb Raider 3
*
* Tomb Raider Chronicles
* V-Rally 2

Controversies

* PSM#8: The cover has a warped 'Official PlayStation' title to give it a cinematic effect to accompany an exclusive review of Resident Evil. The practice has not been continued since due to rumoured concern from Sony.

* PSM#46: , which features on its cover, is awarded 9/10. The game is lambasted elsewhere & is largely regarded as abysmal in the press. It is rumoured that the journalist was taken on a tour of the Skywalker Ranch. [http://worldofstuart.excellentcontent.com/driv3r.htm] The magazine's editorial staff apologised for the review in a later issue.

* Tomb Raider and its subsequent sequels appear on the magazine's cover a total of 8 times. The 5 games continually garner 10/10 scores & multiple page spreads. Tomb Raider Chronicles' score is later dropped to an 8.

References

External links

* [http://worldofstuart.excellentcontent.com/driv3r.htm The Controversy of PSM#46]
* [http://www.futurenet.com/futureonline Future Publishing Official Site]
* [http://uk.playstation.com Official UK PlayStation Site]