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Publisher: Paradox Group, later EMAP
Origin: Vic Computing (October 1981)
Coverage: Mix of technical bits and games, since 1986 mainly games
Launch date: October 1983
Launch Price: 85p
Launch Editor: Dennis Jarrett
Peak circulation figure: +112.000 (1993)
Last issue: October 1998 as CU Amiga
For lots of CU background info look here.
Mail:zzapback@gmail.com
Zzapback 2004
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COMMODORE USER
Looking back, Commodore User was actually a pretty good computer(games) magazine. It wasn't much in the early years ('83-'85) though. It wasn't so bad, it was just that Zzap!64 (the new rival) was so much more FAB in comparison. Look for example at the two scans below from May 1985, and compare it to the looks of Zzap's first issue that came out that very same month.
For years ('85-'88) Zzap ruled supreme over CU, in popularity and circulation. But when the rivalry between EMAP & Newsfield really took off, CU got better and better. Not only that, but EMAP were also happy to invite most former 'famous' Zzap staff and hire them to at least write for them (freelance) or to join the CU team. Gary Penn, Julian Rignall and Steve Jarratt after leaving Newsfield all wrote at one stage or another for Commodore User. (even all of them at the same time for a couple of issues - while Gordon Houghton was struggling keeping up the original Zzap spirit over at Newsfield)
There's much more to say and to show about Commodore User, and also about the rivalry between them and Zzap (and EMAP/Newsfield) so I'll add more scans and info later on.
Don't forget to check out CU's ScreenScene, it's software reviewing pages.
(reviews of Elite, Airwolf and others)
Enjoy!
Click on the two links below to take a closer look at the Screen Scene.
Screen Scene May 1985 part I
Screen Scene May 1985 part II
(Jpg's are +/- 500 kb each, 1000x1500 pixels, opening in a new window) Scanned by Mort
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