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Future's UK numbers down in 2008, 19 laid off from US offices [update]
Gamesindustry.biz reports that Future Publishing's numbers in the UK were almost uniformly down in 2008. The only magazines in the publisher's stable that saw sizable increases in readership were Playstation: The Official Magazine and PSW (which is unofficial, incidentally). Playstation: The Official Magazine in particular did well, adding over 7,500 new readers. The only other magazine to see any growth at all was Official Nintendo Magazine, which increased its readership by an incredible 41 people. All other Future gaming publications in the UK, including stalwarts like PSM 3, Edge, Official Xbox Magazine and PC Gamer, saw significant decreases in readership.Additionally, VG247 is reporting that 19 employees are being laid off from Future's San Francisco and New York offices. A Future UK spokesperson referred to the laid off employees as "redundancies," saying, "These changes were made in line with Future's stated strategy of focusing on structure and costs in a severe global economic downturn." The report does not specify which departments the layoffs affected.The news comes in the wake of lower revenues and readerships for Future's US publications and an increase in users on Future's websites. It raises the question: Just what kind of future there is for Future's print business?(Update: We've confirmed via a Future US employee -- who wishes to remain anonymous -- that none of the 19 positions eliminated were from editorial. Sales and marketing were the only departments affected.)Source -- VG247 - Future lays off 19 staff from SF and NY officesSource -- gi.biz - Circulations slide for majority of Future games magazines
Future's future in print not looking bright in the US
Despite an uptick in UK magazine sales it seems that Future Publishing is not seeing quite as encouraging numbers in the US. Its magazines in the region (Nintendo Power and the official Microsoft and Sony mags) have seen the company's revenue fall by 2% over the last three months, calling into question how sustainable that particular medium is in the current economic climate. Print advertising revenues fell by 4% during the same period, while online advertising revenue increased by 25%. 2 million new users have been accessing its web content (which includes GamesRadar) since September, bringing the total to over 20 million. A far larger reach than is realistically possible with a magazine. All the signs are pointing to the death of print media in the US; you need only think back a few weeks to the closure of EGM to realize that. Future is putting on a brave face, stating that it will "remain confident that we're in the best shape we can be to deal with whatever challenges lie ahead and are on track to deliver against expectations for the full year." The company's gaming section is proving to be less resilient to the economic crisis than its other sectors, such as music or technology. With almost a third of its entire library devoted to video games, however, this decline is certainly troubling.
Killzone 2 reviewed in this month's OPM UK
Looking to find out the real scoop on Killzone 2? It'll be a little while before our review is up, but the UK won't have to wait that long. The first UK magazine review will be revealed in the next issue of the Official PlayStation Magazine, which will be on shelves on Tuesday, January the 20th. That's tomorrow, in case you're wondering.To make the event even more special the magazine will come in a "highly collectible" holographic wallet, complete with a Helghast trooper which changes color as it catches the light. That should tide you over until Killzone 2's release on February 27th, right? If not, don't forget the demo will be out shortly before then.[Via Press Release]
Future Publishing experiences increase in gaming mag sales
If you're an aspiring print gaming journalist, you could probably use a hug right about now. The recent, foreseen collapse of EGM served as undeniable evidence that that particular periodical niche isn't exactly thriving -- but everything isn't doom and gloom in the gaming mag universe. Future Publishing, owner of PlayStation: The Official Magazine and the Official Xbox Magazine, recently divulged a few surprising facts in their preliminary annual finance report -- despite near-universal hardships for the rest of the magazine industry, Future's profits and circulation numbers soared in 2008.In an interview with MCV, Future CEO Stevie Spring chalks the success up to the strength of the industry that many of Future's magazines cover -- console video games. According to Spring, readers of the console-specific mags were "aided and abetted by all three consoles being in uplift mode the world over." Sadly, the same can't be said for The Official Ceramic Cat Magazine, one of Future's lesser-known specialty publications.
Simply Knitting mag shows how to knit a Sackperson
All right kids, if you want a really good homemade Sackboy or Sackgirl then you better get Grandma a copy of Simply Knitting issue 49. The British magazine has a spread all about how to knit a Sackperson for your personal enjoyment. The loveable little tike which is featured in the mag can be seen posted above; it's a design made by Alan Dart. If you're thinking of making one and picking up a copy, be prepared to shell out £4.49.[via press release]
Sony and Future create clever yet eerie Resistance 2 ads
Extra! Extra! Read all about it! Sony and Future360 team up to create 50s style news bulletin to advertise Resistance 2. Featured ads running in local UK newspapers all this month and in nine Future Publishing mags including Official PlayStation Magazine, PlayStation Magazine 3 and T3. Read all about it!"America Under Attack," headlines read! Eight detailed pages explain how the Chimera won San Francisco, Chicago. Extra! Read all about it! Only five cents, sir.[via press release]
Official Nintendo Magazine launching down under
Cheer up, Aussies and Kiwis -- even though your local Club Nintendo appears to have gone completely AWOL (checking ... nope, still nothing), you'll shortly be getting your very own version of Official Nintendo Magazine, basically the UK equivalent of Nintendo Power. That's ... almost as good. Right?Like its Brit cousin, Official Nintendo Magazine - Australia and New Zealand will be assembled by the talented folks at Future, the same name behind such excellent time-wasting periodicals as N64 Magazine, Amiga Power, and Arcade, and who currently churn out Edge. The first issue, a special edition no less, should be hitting shelves in December for AU$8.95.[Via press release]
Europe's Qore dubbed Official PlayStation Magazine HD
Back in September we got word that a European version of Qore would hit sometime in 2009. We now know a few more details regarding the service. Revealed by a Future Publishing job listing, the digizine will be called "Official PlayStation Magazine HD." It's not as original as "Qore," but at least it'll easily find its audience. The service, as described by the job listing, will be a "new weekly paid-for download delivered direct to PS3 owners via the PlayStation Network Store." It sounds a lot like Qore, except for that "weekly" bit. [Via Kotaku, thanks Wilester!]
Future making Qore-like PS3 product for UK
Future Publishing and Sony UK announced today that it will deliver an "on-console digital magazine" for Europe in early 2009. The thing doesn't have a name, but for all intents and purposes it sounds like Future's US digital magazine, Qore.This would explains why Qore hasn't been available to the European audience since it launched back in June. No word yet if the UK version will have a new host or if Veronica Belmont will be taking lessons from a dialect coach for the gig.
European Qore-a-like coming in 2009
Sony UK and Future Publishing have today announced that they will be working together to deliver an "on-console digital magazine" for the PSN in the region. It doesn't have a name yet, but chances are it will be very similar to Qore, which is also produced by Future Publishing in the US. This magazine will be made available in the UK in early 2009, with other European countries getting their hands on it later in the year. Hopefully we'll get some more solid date and price info soon.It will feature "news, reviews, features and downloadable content on games, movies and more." Which sounds very similar to Qore (except for reviews, perhaps). We suspect this will be well received once it's released. Europeans have been asking for a Qore of their own for months, and it seems Sony has been listening. We're just wondering who the British equivilent of Veronica Belmont is going to be ...[Via press release]
Next-gen.biz to become Edge Magazine Online
GamesIndustry.biz is reporting that Future's news portal Next-Gen.biz will be re-branded as the online version of the prestigious British magazine Edge on Monday, just in time for E3. There's no word on whether the change will affect the site's editorial focus, but Future spokesman Will Guyatt told GI.biz that the newly branded site will "do what Edge has done for year's in print, but online." Great news for those of us who love the magazine's thoughtful content but don't want to shell out the big bucks to import a subscription.Next-Gen has been reprinting selected Edge magazine articles online since last May, and the magazine's previous web address currently redirects to Next-Gen's site. The move represents the re-death of the Next Generation brand, which was originally put out to pasture with the closing of the well-respected American magazine in 2001. On the plus side, when someone says "next-gen" from now on, we won't have to parse whether they mean the adjective or the web site. That was getting confusing!
