Bit-tech
Encyclopedia
bit-tech.net is an online magazine
for computer hardware enthusiasts, gamers and case modders, based in the UK
. It was founded in 2000, became a fully professional online publication in 2005 , and announced its acquisition by Dennis Publishing
in October 2008 . Dennis Publishing then partnered the site with existing monthly publication Custom PC
magazine, making bit-tech the online version of the magazine. The two editorial teams have been totally integrated.
The website caters specifically for the computer hardware enthusiast market, providing reviews and articles
on higher end hardware and computer games. Bit-tech is also prominent in the custom case modding
scene, providing a focus point for professional and amateur case modders. Much of the site’s content and writing style revolve around this particular reader-base, and its regular readers have been responsible for some of the most well known case mods, such as Orac3 and the Blackmesa HL2 mod.
could see new ideas from the team and discuss them in the forums, due to the relatively small presence of modding at the time.
It has since diversified and, along with the trend-setting case mods, bit-tech now also features detailed reviews of computer hardware
as well as computer
and video games, industry news and editorials. There is now increased coverage of console games, though PC games are still the major focus.
Wil Harris
was Editor-in-Chief of bit-tech for almost six years and in February 2007, he announced that he was stepping down the end of March 2007 to move onto a fresh challenge. At the time, Wil's successor was not announced and it was not until April 2007 that Tim Smalley announced that he would be taking over as Editor with immediate effect. After Tim had successfully integrated the site into the Dennis Publishing technology portfolio, he stood down as Editor in April 2010 after launching a new consumer technology website at Dennis, Expert Reviews, at the start of the year. Alex Watson took over as bit-tech's Editor with immediate effect and was replaced by James Gorbold in December 2010.
comparisons - something that has split the enthusiast's community on many occasions.
bit-tech continues to expand its hardware content in 2009, whilst remaining committed to its enthusiast style in conjunction with its sister title Custom PC magazine.
bit-tech has been host to some of the most popular and striking mods on the Internet, including the BlackMesa Mod (currently on show at Valve
), Anemone Mod, Macro Black and Lian-Li GOO Mod.
bit-tech employs a percentage scoring system with 'Approved' and 'Premium' awards. Unlike many review sites, bit-tech uses the full range of this scale and scores poor games harshly, with 50% used to represent average games. While the writing style of the site often leans towards New Games Journalism, this has mostly been downplayed since the site was bought by Dennis Publishing and the current writing style is similar to that of partnered magazine, Custom PC Magazine
as the site and magazine are written by the same editorial team.
Recently the site has moved to embrace the indie games community and has run several features exploring and supporting this side of the PC industry. Several prominent independent developers, including Introversion Software
and writers from Free Radical Design
have written columns for the site which explore a number of issues in and around the games industry.
As of 2011 bit-tech's games section has been rebranded as bit-gamer and has begun to be spun off into a separate games website.
Online magazine
An online magazine shares some features with a blog and also with online newspapers, but can usually be distinguished by its approach to editorial control...
for computer hardware enthusiasts, gamers and case modders, based in the UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. It was founded in 2000, became a fully professional online publication in 2005 , and announced its acquisition by Dennis Publishing
Dennis Publishing
Dennis Publishing Ltd. is an independent publisher. It was founded in 1974.As of April 2010 the company publishes 31 magazine or online titles, predominately in the UK....
in October 2008 . Dennis Publishing then partnered the site with existing monthly publication Custom PC
Custom PC
Custom PC is a UK based computer customization magazine published by Dennis Publishing Ltd. It contains information on top performance hardware and gaming as well as monthly news related to these topics. The first issue was released in October 2003 and it is published monthly. Audited circulation...
magazine, making bit-tech the online version of the magazine. The two editorial teams have been totally integrated.
The website caters specifically for the computer hardware enthusiast market, providing reviews and articles
Article (publishing)
An article is a written work published in a print or electronic medium. It may be for the purpose of propagating the news, research results, academic analysis or debate.-News articles:...
on higher end hardware and computer games. Bit-tech is also prominent in the custom case modding
Case modding
Case modification is the modification of a computer chassis , or a video game console chassis. Modifying a computer case in any non-standard way is considered a case mod...
scene, providing a focus point for professional and amateur case modders. Much of the site’s content and writing style revolve around this particular reader-base, and its regular readers have been responsible for some of the most well known case mods, such as Orac3 and the Blackmesa HL2 mod.
History
Originally bit-tech.net was designed to be a small site where people who were interested in case moddingCase modding
Case modification is the modification of a computer chassis , or a video game console chassis. Modifying a computer case in any non-standard way is considered a case mod...
could see new ideas from the team and discuss them in the forums, due to the relatively small presence of modding at the time.
It has since diversified and, along with the trend-setting case mods, bit-tech now also features detailed reviews of computer hardware
Computer hardware
Personal computer hardware are component devices which are typically installed into or peripheral to a computer case to create a personal computer upon which system software is installed including a firmware interface such as a BIOS and an operating system which supports application software that...
as well as computer
Computer Games
"Computer Games" is a single by New Zealand group, Mi-Sex released in 1979 in Australia and New Zealand and in 1981 throughout Europe. It was the single that launched the band, and was hugely popular, particularly in Australia and New Zealand...
and video games, industry news and editorials. There is now increased coverage of console games, though PC games are still the major focus.
Wil Harris
Wil Harris
Wil Harris is a British technology writer and entrepreneur based just outside of Oxford. He founded, with Justin Gayner, the video network ChannelFlip, former editor in chief of the bit-tech enthusiast website and has contributed to TrustedReviews. Harris resigned from his post at bit-tech at the...
was Editor-in-Chief of bit-tech for almost six years and in February 2007, he announced that he was stepping down the end of March 2007 to move onto a fresh challenge. At the time, Wil's successor was not announced and it was not until April 2007 that Tim Smalley announced that he would be taking over as Editor with immediate effect. After Tim had successfully integrated the site into the Dennis Publishing technology portfolio, he stood down as Editor in April 2010 after launching a new consumer technology website at Dennis, Expert Reviews, at the start of the year. Alex Watson took over as bit-tech's Editor with immediate effect and was replaced by James Gorbold in December 2010.
Hardware Reviews
bit-tech is known for reviewing computer components in a less than traditional manner, where it chooses to focus on real-world benefits in real applications instead of small (or theoretical) advances in performance. In some cases, this resulted in apples-to-orangesApples and oranges
A comparison of apples and oranges occurs when two items or groups of items are compared that cannot be validly compared.The idiom, comparing apples and oranges, refers to the apparent differences between items which are popularly thought to be incomparable or incommensurable, such as apples and...
comparisons - something that has split the enthusiast's community on many occasions.
bit-tech continues to expand its hardware content in 2009, whilst remaining committed to its enthusiast style in conjunction with its sister title Custom PC magazine.
Modding Content
bit-tech first became widely known for its community of PC case modders who would re-shape and decorate PC hardware into a variety of more creative forms. Although the site has since expanded to include hardware and games reviews it still runs regular modding coverage including a Mod of the Month competition and regular project logs.bit-tech has been host to some of the most popular and striking mods on the Internet, including the BlackMesa Mod (currently on show at Valve
Valve
A valve is a device that regulates, directs or controls the flow of a fluid by opening, closing, or partially obstructing various passageways. Valves are technically pipe fittings, but are usually discussed as a separate category...
), Anemone Mod, Macro Black and Lian-Li GOO Mod.
Games Reviews
bit-tech uses an arguably more in-depth review model than many other review sites and has a strong focus on PC titles, though console and handheld reviews are increasingly common. PC game reviews do not just provide a commentary of gameplay but also include graphical analysis and a breakdown of how the game will look on different hardware. This review model means that PC game reviews are typically much longer than reviews from other sites, though console reviews are a more traditional length.bit-tech employs a percentage scoring system with 'Approved' and 'Premium' awards. Unlike many review sites, bit-tech uses the full range of this scale and scores poor games harshly, with 50% used to represent average games. While the writing style of the site often leans towards New Games Journalism, this has mostly been downplayed since the site was bought by Dennis Publishing and the current writing style is similar to that of partnered magazine, Custom PC Magazine
Custom PC Magazine
Custom PC magazine is a monthly computer enthusiasts magazine, based in the UK and part of Dennis Publishing. In 2008 Dennis Publishing acquired bit-tech.net and it became the online counter-part of Custom PC Magazine....
as the site and magazine are written by the same editorial team.
Recently the site has moved to embrace the indie games community and has run several features exploring and supporting this side of the PC industry. Several prominent independent developers, including Introversion Software
Introversion Software
-History:The company was founded in 2001 by three friends, Chris Delay; Mark Morris; and Thomas Arundel, who met when they were undergraduates at Imperial College London...
and writers from Free Radical Design
Free Radical Design
Crytek UK, formerly known as Free Radical Design, is a video game developer based in Nottingham, United Kingdom, probably best known for Second Sight and the TimeSplitters series. After going into financial administration, it was announced on February 4 2009 that the studio had been acquired by...
have written columns for the site which explore a number of issues in and around the games industry.
As of 2011 bit-tech's games section has been rebranded as bit-gamer and has begun to be spun off into a separate games website.
Staff
- Publisher - Paul Rayner
- Group Editor - James Gorbold
- Deputy Editor - Clive Webster
- Games Editor - Joe Martin
- Senior Staff Writer - Anthony Leather
- Staff Writer - Harry Butler
- Staff Writer - Paul Goodhead