PC Format
Encyclopedia
PC Format is a computer magazine published in the United Kingdom by Future Publishing
, and licensed to other publishers in countries around the world. In publication since 1991, it is part of Future Publishing's Format series of magazines that include articles about games, entertainment and how to get the most out of the platform. Despite the occasional mention of alternatives, PC Format takes the term 'PC
' to mean a Microsoft Windows
-based computer.
, animation, web design
, and others - many of which were not very common on the PC at the time.
PC Format has included a cover disk or cover CD, as many other computer magazines. Initially these were in 5¼" and 3½" inch floppy disk
formats; this standard progressed to CD-ROM
and DVD-ROM as technology advanced. Now however, the CD version does not exist, and only the DVD version remains. You cannot buy the magazine on its own without a disk.
PC Format has prided itself on being unbiased with its reviews, and has frequently given low scores to blockbuster, but poor quality, games. It uses the full range of 0-100% for its game reviews, rather than having 50% for a bad game and 100% for a great game. The magazine rarely awards anything between 30% and 50%, only showing radical scores for games since mediocre games are difficult to review. Scores over 90% are very rarely granted. If a game scores above 90% it receives a PCF Gold award. Before the magazine was redesigned in January 2007, the magazine also awarded 80% plus scores with a high score or top gear award.
Immediately prior to PC Format' s launch, the Format series encompassed three platforms - Commodore Format
, ST Format
and Amiga Format
. The magazines in the 'Format' series today are MacFormat
(launched 1993), Linux Format
(launched 2000), and PC Format.
PCFormat's website is part of the TechRadar.com network of sites, Future Publishing's technology portal.
and Modding
articles, keeping in line with the new performance hardware and gaming focus.
The magazine has gradually shifted its focus away from games, concentrating more on hardware. As of the September 2010 issue, typically no more than four games are reviewed each month.
Future Publishing
Future plc is a media company; in 2006, it was the sixth-largest in the United Kingdom. It publishes more than 150 magazines in fields such as video games, technology, automotive, cycling, films and photography. Future is the official magazine company of all three major games console manufacturers...
, and licensed to other publishers in countries around the world. In publication since 1991, it is part of Future Publishing's Format series of magazines that include articles about games, entertainment and how to get the most out of the platform. Despite the occasional mention of alternatives, PC Format takes the term 'PC
Personal computer
A personal computer is any general-purpose computer whose size, capabilities, and original sales price make it useful for individuals, and which is intended to be operated directly by an end-user with no intervening computer operator...
' to mean a Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows is a series of operating systems produced by Microsoft.Microsoft introduced an operating environment named Windows on November 20, 1985 as an add-on to MS-DOS in response to the growing interest in graphical user interfaces . Microsoft Windows came to dominate the world's personal...
-based computer.
Details
Aimed at a reader with an age of around 30, PCF is far more irreverent and opinionated than its competition, edging it towards being a lifestyle magazine as well as a computing one. In its earlier days, it promoted itself as a PC entertainment magazine - meaning it was not aimed at the business market, and it was not aimed at solely games. This included content such as video editingNon-linear editing system
In video, a non-linear editing system is a video editing or audio editing digital audio workstation system which can perform random access non-destructive editing on the source material...
, animation, web design
Web design
Web design is the process of planning and creating a website. Text, images, digital media and interactive elements are used by web designers to produce the page seen on the web browser...
, and others - many of which were not very common on the PC at the time.
PC Format has included a cover disk or cover CD, as many other computer magazines. Initially these were in 5¼" and 3½" inch floppy disk
Floppy disk
A floppy disk is a disk storage medium composed of a disk of thin and flexible magnetic storage medium, sealed in a rectangular plastic carrier lined with fabric that removes dust particles...
formats; this standard progressed to CD-ROM
CD-ROM
A CD-ROM is a pre-pressed compact disc that contains data accessible to, but not writable by, a computer for data storage and music playback. The 1985 “Yellow Book” standard developed by Sony and Philips adapted the format to hold any form of binary data....
and DVD-ROM as technology advanced. Now however, the CD version does not exist, and only the DVD version remains. You cannot buy the magazine on its own without a disk.
PC Format has prided itself on being unbiased with its reviews, and has frequently given low scores to blockbuster, but poor quality, games. It uses the full range of 0-100% for its game reviews, rather than having 50% for a bad game and 100% for a great game. The magazine rarely awards anything between 30% and 50%, only showing radical scores for games since mediocre games are difficult to review. Scores over 90% are very rarely granted. If a game scores above 90% it receives a PCF Gold award. Before the magazine was redesigned in January 2007, the magazine also awarded 80% plus scores with a high score or top gear award.
Immediately prior to PC Format
Commodore Format
Commodore Format was a British magazine for users of the Commodore 64 home computer. All sixty-one issues of the magazine were produced by Future Publishing. These came towards the end of the machine's commercial life - from October 1990 until October 1995....
, ST Format
ST Format
ST Format was a computer magazine in the UK covering the Atari ST during the late 1980s and early 1990s. Like other members of the Future Publishing Format stable - PC Format and Amiga Format, for instance, it combined software and hardware reviews with columnists, letters pages and a cover...
and Amiga Format
Amiga Format
Amiga Format was a British computer magazine for Amiga computers, published by Future Publishing. The magazine lasted 136 issues from 1989 to 2000. The magazine was formed when, in the wake of selling ACE to EMAP, Future split the dual-format title ST/Amiga Format into two separate publications...
. The magazines in the 'Format' series today are MacFormat
MacFormat
MacFormat is a the UK's biggest computer magazine aimed at Macintosh users. It is published monthly by Future Publishing, and has been since 1993.-Content:...
(launched 1993), Linux Format
Linux Format
Linux Format was the UK's first Linux-specific magazine, and is currently the best-selling Linux title in the UK. It is also exported to many countries worldwide. It is published by Future Publishing...
(launched 2000), and PC Format.
PCFormat's website is part of the TechRadar.com network of sites, Future Publishing's technology portal.
Content
The main content of the magazine includes previews and reviews of the latest games, software and hardware reviews, computing news, a wide range of tutorials and a technical help section. It also includes left-field and investigative features on wider computing culture. Since the redesign, the magazine has focused more on games (PLAY) and performance hardware (WIRED), instead of the greater range previously explored. There is now also a much greater emphasis on OverclockingOverclocking
Overclocking is the process of operating a computer component at a higher clock rate than it was designed for or was specified by the manufacturer, but some manufacturers purposely underclock their components to improve battery life. Many people just overclock or 'rightclock' their hardware to...
and Modding
Modding
Modding is a slang expression that is derived from the verb "modify". Modding refers to the act of modifying a piece of hardware or software or anything else for that matter, to perform a function not originally conceived or intended by the designer...
articles, keeping in line with the new performance hardware and gaming focus.
The magazine has gradually shifted its focus away from games, concentrating more on hardware. As of the September 2010 issue, typically no more than four games are reviewed each month.
Format as of January 2007
- DOWNLOAD: Technology and PC news, previously included monthly Guerilla Testing for solving often irrelevant computing issues (What are the best gloves to wear whilst fitting a graphics card?)
- UPLOAD: Readers' letters and monthly competition.
- PLAY: Games previews and reviews. Includes features such as in-depth guides, recommended games and a "Replay" review.
- WIRED: Hardware reviews, includes a main in-depth supertest comparison with benchmarks, a smaller "roundup" group test and technology previews. As of 2008, PC modding features; overclockingOverclockingOverclocking is the process of operating a computer component at a higher clock rate than it was designed for or was specified by the manufacturer, but some manufacturers purposely underclock their components to improve battery life. Many people just overclock or 'rightclock' their hardware to...
tips, "I Am The Mod", Quick Fix tutorials and custom hardware guide found in the now defunct "HOTWIRED" section are found here.
- FEATURES: Not an individual section of the magazine, but every issue comes with in-depth game or hardware articles that are featured in either PLAY or WIRED.
- REGULAR ITEMS:
- Welcome
- Disc Pages
- "Ask Luis": Readers' computing questions are answered by Technology writer Luis Villazon. Includes "Luis and Ned" cartoon strip.
- Jims Black Hole: Science News (previously Jackass Science)
- Next Month preview
The PC Format Team
- Editor: Alan Dexter. Past editors include Adam Ifans, Bob Wade, Mark Higham, Dan Slingsby, Adam Oxford, Dan Hutchinson, James Binns and Richard Longhurst.
- Technical Editor: Dave James
- Staff Writer: Henry Winchester
- Operations Editor and Commissioning Editor, Games: Chris Thornett
- Technology Writers: Jeremy Laird, Luis Bozo Villazon,
- New Media Editor: Jeremy Ford
- Art Editor: Matt Orton
- Designer: Rachel Long