Games for Windows: The Official Magazine
Encyclopedia
Games for Windows: The Official Magazine was a monthly computer game magazine published by Ziff Davis Media
, licensing the Games for Windows
brand from Microsoft Corporation. It was the successor to Computer Gaming World
. The first issue was released in November 2006. As of the April/May 2008 issue, the magazine is no longer offered in print and the editorial staff will be integrated with 1UP
.
According to Ziff Davis, the magazine was to be a "rebirth" of the Computer Gaming World
magazine, which had lost news stand presence over the past few years. Furthermore, according to the editorial staff of CGW/GFW, the magazine would essentially remain unchanged and was in no way subject to Microsoft's influence, something reflected in the language of the legal agreement between Ziff Davis and Microsoft (akin to how the content of Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine (OPM) was not influenced by Sony
in any way, outside of demo disc content).
For the last several years, Computer Gaming World coverage had overwhelmingly been on Windows-only games due to the relative lack of games which support other operating systems. According to the editors of the magazine from an August 2006 podcast, the idea of a Windows Games-exclusive magazine began when Microsoft sought to establish Windows as a viable gaming platform (particularly at E3 2006), akin to its console brother, the Xbox
. The editors of CGW approached Microsoft with the idea of a platform-focused magazine not unlike OPM or Nintendo Power
, who then started a bidding war among different publishers for the rights to do so. Eventually, Ziff-Davis won the rights and because the company already had a computer gaming-based magazine, sought to re-launch the current publication in its current form.
The final editorial staff included Editor-in-Chief Jeff Green, senior editor Sean Molloy, news editor Shawn Elliott, and reviews editor Ryan Scott. Editor Darren Gladstone left the magazine in December 2007 to work for PC World
.
The cover of the premiere issue of GFW was considered an homage to the cover of the first issue of CGW, with the prominence of a dragon on both covers.
Located at 1UP.com
, the editors of the magazine continued to host the weekly GFW Radio podcast
, hosted by the editorial staff. After the departure of several key staff members, including Jeff Green and Shawn Elliott, the last episode was broadcast on September 17, 2008.
Ziff Davis
Ziff Davis Inc. is an American publisher and Internet company. It was founded in 1927 in Chicago by William B. Ziff, Sr. and Bernard G. Davis. Throughout most of its history, it was a publisher of hobbyist magazines, often ones devoted to expensive, advertiser-rich hobbies such as cars,...
, licensing the Games for Windows
Games for Windows
Games for Windows is a brand owned by Microsoft and introduced in 2006 to coincide with the release of Windows Vista. The brand represents a standardized technical certification program and online service for Windows games, bringing a measure of regulation to the PC game market in much the same way...
brand from Microsoft Corporation. It was the successor to Computer Gaming World
Computer Gaming World
Computer Gaming World was a computer game magazine founded in 1981 by Russell Sipe as a bimonthly publication. Early issues were typically 40-50 pages in length, written in a newsletter style, including submissions by game designers such as Joel Billings , Dan Bunten , and Chris Crawford...
. The first issue was released in November 2006. As of the April/May 2008 issue, the magazine is no longer offered in print and the editorial staff will be integrated with 1UP
1UP.com
1UP.com is a video game website owned by IGN Entertainment, a division of News Corporation. Previously, the site was owned by Ziff Davis before being sold to UGO Entertainment in 2009....
.
According to Ziff Davis, the magazine was to be a "rebirth" of the Computer Gaming World
Computer Gaming World
Computer Gaming World was a computer game magazine founded in 1981 by Russell Sipe as a bimonthly publication. Early issues were typically 40-50 pages in length, written in a newsletter style, including submissions by game designers such as Joel Billings , Dan Bunten , and Chris Crawford...
magazine, which had lost news stand presence over the past few years. Furthermore, according to the editorial staff of CGW/GFW, the magazine would essentially remain unchanged and was in no way subject to Microsoft's influence, something reflected in the language of the legal agreement between Ziff Davis and Microsoft (akin to how the content of Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine (OPM) was not influenced by Sony
Sony
, commonly referred to as Sony, is a Japanese multinational conglomerate corporation headquartered in Minato, Tokyo, Japan and the world's fifth largest media conglomerate measured by revenues....
in any way, outside of demo disc content).
For the last several years, Computer Gaming World coverage had overwhelmingly been on Windows-only games due to the relative lack of games which support other operating systems. According to the editors of the magazine from an August 2006 podcast, the idea of a Windows Games-exclusive magazine began when Microsoft sought to establish Windows as a viable gaming platform (particularly at E3 2006), akin to its console brother, the Xbox
Xbox
The Xbox is a sixth-generation video game console manufactured by Microsoft. It was released on November 15, 2001 in North America, February 22, 2002 in Japan, and March 14, 2002 in Australia and Europe and is the predecessor to the Xbox 360. It was Microsoft's first foray into the gaming console...
. The editors of CGW approached Microsoft with the idea of a platform-focused magazine not unlike OPM or Nintendo Power
Nintendo Power
Nintendo Power magazine is a monthly news and strategy magazine formerly published in-house by Nintendo of America, but now run independently. As of issue #222 , Nintendo contracted publishing duties to Future US, the U.S. subsidiary of British publisher Future.The first issue published was...
, who then started a bidding war among different publishers for the rights to do so. Eventually, Ziff-Davis won the rights and because the company already had a computer gaming-based magazine, sought to re-launch the current publication in its current form.
The final editorial staff included Editor-in-Chief Jeff Green, senior editor Sean Molloy, news editor Shawn Elliott, and reviews editor Ryan Scott. Editor Darren Gladstone left the magazine in December 2007 to work for PC World
PC World (magazine)
PC World is a global computer magazine published monthly by IDG. It offers advice on various aspects of PCs and related items, the Internet, and other personal-technology products and services...
.
The cover of the premiere issue of GFW was considered an homage to the cover of the first issue of CGW, with the prominence of a dragon on both covers.
Located at 1UP.com
1UP.com
1UP.com is a video game website owned by IGN Entertainment, a division of News Corporation. Previously, the site was owned by Ziff Davis before being sold to UGO Entertainment in 2009....
, the editors of the magazine continued to host the weekly GFW Radio podcast
Podcast
A podcast is a series of digital media files that are released episodically and often downloaded through web syndication...
, hosted by the editorial staff. After the departure of several key staff members, including Jeff Green and Shawn Elliott, the last episode was broadcast on September 17, 2008.