{{Short description|Monthly computer gaming magazine 1988–2007}} {{for|similarly named periodicals|Computer Games (disambiguation)#Publications}} {{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}} {{Infobox magazine | title = | image_file = Computergamesmagazine.jpg | image_caption = A sample issue of Computer Games Magazine | frequency = Monthly | category = Computer and video game console magazine | publisher = [[theGlobe.com]] | founded = | firstdate = October 1988 (as ''Games International'');<ref>{{cite web| url=https://archive.org/details/GamesInternational|title=Games International (All Issues)|website=Internet Archive| access-date=December 26, 2018}}</ref> October 1990 (as ''Strategy Plus''<ref name=archivesp/>) | finaldate = April 2007 (Issue 197) | country = United States | based = [[Fort Lauderdale, Florida]] | website = [http://www.cgonline.com cgonline.com]<ref>{{cite web |title=Computer Games Online |url=http://www.cgonline.com/index.php |access-date=November 10, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070225144216/http://www.cgonline.com/index.php |archive-date=February 25, 2007}}</ref> | issn = 0955-4424 }}
'''''Computer Games Magazine''''' was a monthly [[Video game|computer and console gaming]] print [[magazine]], founded in October 1988 as the [[United Kingdom]] publication '''''Games International'''''. During its history, it was known variously as '''''Strategy Plus''''' (October 1990, Issue 1<ref name=archivesp>{{cite web| url=https://archive.org/details/StrategyPlus|title=Strategy Plus: All Issues|website=Internet Archive| access-date=December 26, 2018}}</ref>) and '''''Computer Games Strategy Plus''''',<ref name=gamasutra>{{cite web| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070315180025/http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=13122| url=https://www.gamedeveloper.com/game-platforms/report-computer-games-magazine-massive-shut-down|title=Report:''Computer Games Magazine'', Massive Shut Down|date=March 13, 2007|author1=Dobson, Jason|author2=Gifford, Kevin|work=Gamasutra|archive-date=March 15, 2007|url-status=live}}</ref> but changed its name to ''Computer Games Magazine'' after its purchase by [[theGlobe.com]].<ref name=encyclopedia /> When it closed down in April 2007, it held the record for the second-longest-running print magazine dedicated exclusively to computer games with 197 issues, behind only ''[[Computer Gaming World]]''.<ref name=gamasutra /> In 1998 and 2000, it was the United States' third-largest magazine in this field.<ref name=circulation /><ref name=peopleplay />
==History== The magazine's original editor-in-chief, Brian Walker, sold ''Strategy Plus'' to the United States retail chain Chips & Bits in 1991. Based in [[Vermont]] and owned by Tina and Yale Brozen, Chips & Bits retitled ''Strategy Plus'' to ''Computer Games Strategy Plus'' after the purchase.<ref name=encyclopedia>{{cite book|editor=Wolf, Mark J. P.| author=Gish, Harrison|title=The Encyclopedia of Video Games: The Culture, Technology, and Art of Gaming| section=''Computer Games Magazine''|date=August 16, 2012|isbn=031337936X|publisher=ABC-CLIO|pages=131, 132|volume=1}}</ref> Its circulation rose to around 130,000 monthly copies by the mid-1990s.<ref name=decade>{{cite journal|author=Bauman, Steve|journal=Computer Games Magazine|title=A Decade of Gaming|date=November 2000|issue=120| pages=56–58, 60, 62, 66, 68, 70–76}}</ref> By 1998, ''Computer Games Strategy Plus'' was the United States' third-largest computer game magazine, with a circulation of 184,299. According to editor-in-chief Steve Bauman, this number rose to 220,000 in 1999.<ref name=circulation>{{cite web| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000817175052/http://www.gamecenter.com/News/Item/0,3,0-2558,00.html| url=http://www.gamecenter.com/News/Item/0,3,0-2558,00.html|title=Imagine Shuts Down ''PC Games''|work=CNET Gamecenter|date=March 10, 1999|author=Asher, Mark|archive-date=August 17, 2000|url-status=dead}}</ref> Chips & Bits was purchased by [[theGlobe.com]] in January 2000,<ref name=bought>{{cite web| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000817114845/http://www.gamecenter.com/News/Item/0,3,0-3644,00.html| url=http://www.gamecenter.com:80/News/Item/0,3,0-3644,00.html|title=Theglobe.com Buys Chips & Bits|date=January 18, 2000|author=Asher, Mark|work=CNET Gamecenter|archive-date=August 17, 2000|url-status=dead|access-date=July 8, 2019}}</ref> alongside ''Computer Games Strategy Plus'' and its publishing division, Strategy Plus, Inc.<ref name=peopleplay />
By March 2000, ''Computer Games''{{'}} circulation had reached 240,000 copies; roughly 300,000 units of each issue were printed per month. It remained the United States' third-biggest computer game magazine by that date, according to Yale Brozen, and the publication's Ed Mitchell estimated that it was Vermont's largest magazine in any field. Its official website, cdmag.com, averaged one million unique visits per month by early 2000.<ref name=peopleplay>{{cite web | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000414024944/http://www.vermontguides.com/2000/3-mar/mar3.htm | url=http://www.vermontguides.com/2000/3-mar/mar3.htm | title=Games People Play | author=Vaughan-Hughes, Pip | date=March 2000 | work=Business People Magazine | archive-date=April 14, 2000 | url-status=live}}</ref> The magazine experienced major growth during 2000: tracking firm [[BPA Worldwide|BPA International]] recorded its average circulation from July–December as 374,576 copies, while the December issue rose to 450,515. ''Computer Games Magazine'' was subsequently redesigned, starting from its June 2001 issue.<ref name=redesign>{{cite press release | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031024044955/http://www.cdmag.com/articles/031/125/010501-04.html | url=http://www.cdmag.com:80/articles/031/125/010501-04.html | title=''Computer Games Magazine'' unveils new look | date=April 30, 2001 | location=[[New York City]] | publisher=Computer Games Magazine | archive-date=October 24, 2003 | url-status=dead | access-date=July 8, 2019 }}</ref>
''Computer Games Magazine'' launched a sister publication, ''MMO Games Magazine'', in 2006.<ref name=mmo>{{cite web | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070731011411/http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=8566 | url=https://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=8566 | title=''Computer Games'' To Launch MMO-Themed U.S. Print Magazine | date=March 17, 2006 | author=Maragos, Nich | archive-date=July 31, 2007 | work=[[Gamasutra]] | url-status=dead}}</ref> On March 13, 2007, both publications were shut down by theGlobe.com, after that company was hit with a multimillion-dollar judgement in a lawsuit resulting from the [[Email spam|e-mail spam]] of [[MySpace]].<ref name=gamasutra/>
==''MMO Games Magazine''== ''MMO Games Magazine'' (formerly ''Massive Magazine'')<ref name=gii/> was a short-lived computer magazine that focused on the [[massively multiplayer]] online gaming market. It was published by the media conglomerate [[theGlobe.com]] as a sister publication to ''Computer Games'' magazine.<ref name=gii/> The magazine's website was launched in June 2006, and the first issue hit newsstands that September.<ref name=gii>{{cite news|title=Computer Games Magazine to Launch New MMO Publication|url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/computer-games-magazine-to-launch-new-mmo-publication|accessdate=December 17, 2015|work=GamesIndustry International|date=March 17, 2006}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Massive Magazine Launches Massive Website| url=https://www.gamesetwatch.com/2006/06/massive_magazine_launches_mass.php|author=Carless, Simon|date=June 20, 2006| accessdate=June 28, 2007}}</ref> In January 2007 the magazine began to be published quarterly.<ref name=gii/> Despite the build-up, only three issues went to press. In March 2007, theGlobe.com was forced to cease operation of its print media, including ''MMO Games'', as a result of an unfavorable ruling in a spam lawsuit.<ref>{{cite web|title=Game Mags Gone Because of MySpace Spam? | url=http://gigagamez.com/2007/03/13/game-mags-gone-because-of-myspace-spam/|date=March 13, 2007|accessdate=June 27, 2007}}</ref>
== References == {{Reflist}}
== External links == * [https://web.archive.org/web/20050402030812/http://www.cdmag.com/articles/ ''Computer Games'' content from 1996–2001] * [https://web.archive.org/web/20140109053236/http://mmogamesmag.com/ ''MMO Games Magazine'' website] * [https://web.archive.org/web/20070316040904/http://www.gamesite.gr/ ''Greek Computer Games Magazine'' website & gaming news portal] * [https://web.archive.org/web/20091020011723/http://www.computergamesmagazine.com.mx/ ''Computer Games Magazine for Mexico'' website] * [https://archive.gamehistory.org/folder/9d04d369-f4ba-413c-b0e3-d50271f157a4?sortField=date&sortDir=asc Archived issues] at [[Video Game History Foundation]] Digital Archive
[[Category:Defunct computer magazines published in the United States]] [[Category:Home computer magazines]] [[Category:Magazines established in 1988]] [[Category:Magazines disestablished in 2007]] [[Category:Defunct video game magazines published in the United States]] [[Category:Magazines published in Vermont]] [[Category:Defunct magazines published in Florida]]