View source for Zzap!64

{{short description|Computer games magazine}}
{{multiple issues|
{{primary sources|date=June 2021}}
{{More citations needed|date=February 2008}}
}}
{{Infobox magazine |
| image_file = Zzap64 issue1.jpg | image_size = 200px | image_caption = Issue 1 (May 1985)
| editor = [[Chris Anderson (entrepreneur)|Chris Anderson]]<ref>{{cite web|last=Anderson|first=Chris|url=http://www.the-commodore-zone.com/articlelive/authors/8/Chris-Anderson|title=The Commodore Zone for C64 emulators, games and articles|work=The-commodore-zone.com|date=20 September 2006|access-date=3 February 2017}}</ref><br />[[Roger Kean]]<ref name="zzap64.co.uk">{{cite web|url=http://www.zzap64.co.uk/zzaphistory.html|title=The History of Zzap!64|work=Zzap64!|date=5 November 1999 |access-date=3 February 2017}}</ref><br />[[Gary Penn]]<ref name="zzap64.co.uk"/><br />Ciarán Brennan<ref name="zzap64.co.uk"/><br />[[Julian Rignall]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.meanmachinesmag.co.uk/biography/1/julian-rignall.php |title=The Mean Machines Archive - Staff - Julian Rignall|work=Mean Machines|access-date=3 February 2017}}</ref><br />Gordon Houghton (issues 40-50)<ref name="theburrow.zzap64.co.uk">{{cite web|url=http://theburrow.zzap64.co.uk/zzap/index.html |title=The Burrow - Gordon Houghton's Zzap!64 pages|work=The Burrow|access-date=3 February 2017}}</ref><br />Stuart Wynne<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.zzap64.co.uk/cgi-bin/displayeditorials.pl?editor=Stuart+Wynne&displayeditor=Display |title=Zzap! Editorials|work=Zzap64!|access-date=3 February 2017}}</ref><br />Phil King<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.zzap64.co.uk/cgi-bin/displayeditorials.pl?editor=Phil+King&displayeditor=Display|title=Zzap! Editorials|work=Zzap64!|access-date=3 February 2017}}</ref><br />Steve Shields<ref name="ReferenceA">{{cite web|url=http://theburrow.zzap64.co.uk/zzap/zzapers/wherearetheynow.html|title=The Burrow - Gordon Houghton's Zzap! - Where are they now? page|work=The Burrow|access-date=3 February 2017}}</ref>
| frequency      = Monthly
| circulation    = 77,483 (Jan 1987)
| category       = [[Computer magazine]]
| company        = [[Newsfield Publications Ltd]]<br />[[Europress]] Impact
| firstdate      = May 1985
| finaldate      = November 1992
| finalnumber    = 90
| country        = [[United Kingdom]]
| language       = [[English language|English]]
| based          = [[Yeovil]]
| issn           = 0954-867X
}}
'''''Zzap!64''''' is a computer games magazine covering games for computers manufactured by [[Commodore International]], especially the [[Commodore 64]] (C64). It was published in the UK by [[Newsfield Publications Ltd]] and later by [[Europress|Europress Impact]].
The magazine launched in April, with the cover date May 1985,<ref name="hist">{{cite web | url=http://www.zzap64.co.uk/zzaphistory.html | title=The History of Zzap!64 | publisher=The Def Guide to Zzap!64 | access-date=23 May 2006}}</ref> as the sister magazine to ''[[CRASH (magazine)|CRASH]]''. It focused on the C64 for much of its shelf life, but later incorporated [[Amiga]] game news and reviews. Like ''CRASH'' for the [[ZX Spectrum]], it had a dedicated cult following amongst C64 owners and was well known for its irreverent sense of humour as well as its extensive, detailed coverage of the C64 scene. The magazine adopted an innovative review system that involved the use of the reviewers' faces, artistically rendered by in-house artists [[Oli Frey]] and Mark Kendrick, to express their reaction to the games.<ref name="render">{{cite web|url=http://www.zzap.w2s.co.uk/team/index.html|title=Zzap!Back - Meet the team|work=ZZAP!Back|access-date=14 September 2011|archive-date=2 April 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120402115541/http://www.zzap.w2s.co.uk/team/index.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> These eventually evolved into static cartoons as the magazine began catering for a younger market. High-quality games were indicated in reviews via the "Gold Medal" award, the logo was used as a selling point for games, big and small.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://worldofspectrum.org//pub/sinclair/games-adverts/b/Batman-TheMovie.jpg | title=Batman | website=worldofspectrum.org}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web | url=https://worldofspectrum.org//pub/sinclair/games-adverts/g/GraphicAdventureCreatorThe_3.jpg | title=Graphic Adventure Creator | format=JPG}}</ref>
By 1992, the magazine had changed so dramatically in design and editorial direction that then-publisher Europress decided to relaunch the magazine. Thus, issue 91 of ''Zzap!64'' became issue 1 of ''[[Commodore Force]]'', a magazine that itself lasted until March 1994.<ref name="hist"/>
==History==
The first issue of ''Zzap!64'', dated May 1985, was released on 11 April 1985. Its inaugural editorial team included editor [[Chris Anderson (entrepreneur)|Chris Anderson]], Software Editor Bob Wade, freelance writer Steve Cooke (who joined the staff from the recently folded ''[[Personal Computer Games]]''), and reviewers [[Gary Penn]] and [[Julian Rignall]], who won their jobs after having placed as finalists at a video game competition. The editorial headquarters was in [[Yeovil]], more than 120 miles from Newsfield's headquarters in [[Ludlow]]; the team was relocated to Ludlow after three months to cut costs, and Anderson and Wade left the staff after declining to make the move.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.zzap64.co.uk/cgi-bin/displayarticle.pl?article=1|title=The Detailed History of Zzap!|website=www.zzap64.co.uk|access-date=2020-04-20}}</ref> Anderson would later found [[Future plc|Future Publishing]] and the [[TED (conference)|TED Conference]].
As the Amiga gained popularity in the UK, ''Zzap!64'' began to publish occasional reviews of Amiga games. The Amiga coverage became a fixed feature of the magazine in issue 43 (November 1988),<ref name="ReferenceD">{{Cite web|url=http://www.zzap64.co.uk/cgi-bin/displayarticle.pl?article=3|title=The Detailed History of Zzap! - Part 3|website=www.zzap64.co.uk|access-date=2020-04-20}}</ref> when the title was renamed to ''Zzap!64 Amiga''.
The magazine experienced controversy in 1989, when three out of four reviewers (Gordon Houghton, Kati Hamza and Maff Evans) were fired and replaced during production of issue 50 (June 1989). The only one remaining, Paul Rand, had been employed at ''Zzap!64'' a mere two months. Issue 50's editorial mentioned nothing of what happened,<ref name="ReferenceD"/> and the issue featured content from the three fired reviewers without discussing their fates.
Issue 74 (June 1991) saw the dropping of all Amiga coverage (the word "Amiga" was dropped from the name in 1990), and the magazine became completely devoted to the C64 once more.<ref name="zzap64.co.uk"/> Four months later the publisher Newsfield declared bankruptcy and publication was suspended for a month. Europress Impact (a satellite company of Europress launched by Roger Kean, Oliver Frey and Jonathan Rignall) became the new publisher of ''Zzap!64'', beginning with issue 79 (December 1991).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.zzap64.co.uk/zzaped91.html|title=Zzap! Editorials 1991|work=Zzap64!|access-date=3 February 2017}}</ref>
Issue 90 (November 1992) was the last official ''Zzap!64'' issue. From the following month, the magazine was replaced by ''Commodore Force''.<ref name="zzap2">{{cite web|url=http://www.zzap64.co.uk/zzaped92.html|title=Zzap! Editorials 1992|work=Zzap64!|access-date=3 February 2017}}</ref>
===In Italy===
The Italian edition (just titled ''Zzap!''), authorised by the original publisher, was not limited to Commodore 64 games, but it also reviewed games for other 8-bit machines like the [[ZX Spectrum]], [[MSX]], [[Amstrad CPC]], and [[Atari 8-bit computers]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.zzap64.co.uk/cgi-bin/displaypage.pl?issue=026&page=061&magazine=zzap|title=Redirecting|website=www.zzap64.co.uk|access-date=2020-04-20}}</ref> Around 80% of the content was translated with the remainder written in Italy.<ref name="zzap64.co.uk"/> From issue 1 (May 1986) to issue 73 (December 1992) it was released as an actual magazine; with issue 74 (January 1993) it became an inset of [[The Games Machine (Italy)|the Italian version of The Games Machine]] until December 1993 when it stopped being published.<ref name="italianmagazine">{{cite web|url=http://www.zzap.it/ | title=Progetto Zzap! Italia - all Italian issues of Zzap! in downloadable format|work=Xenia Edizioni|access-date=25 February 2011}}</ref>
From 1996 to 1999, ''Zzap!'' became an online magazine, a PC gaming website with a different "cover" each month and a mailbag, which reviewed games with the same style of the original magazine.<ref name="onlineitalianmagazine">{{cite web|url=http://www.zzap.it/storia.htm|title=Le abbiamo viste tutte - Italian article on the rebirth of Zzap! as a gaming website|language=it|work=Paolo Besser|access-date=25 February 2011}}</ref>
In 2002, a special "issue 85", dedicated to then recently released games for 8-bit machines, was released in PDF format.<ref name="italianissue85">{{cite web| url=http://www.zzap64.co.uk/zzap107/zzap!85ita-video.pdf|title=Zzap! issue 85|language=it|work=Xenia Edizioni|access-date=25 February 2011}}</ref>
In 2021, the ''Airons'' cultural association in [[Vigevano]] resumed the publication of a new ''Zzap!'' magazine, founded by a group of former editors. The magazine is published aperiodically and only sent via mail to the members; it focuses on retrogaming and new games for 8- and 16-bit systems, still made by enthusiasts and small independent software houses.<ref>{{cite web|title=Zzap! la storica rivista di retrogaming, ritorna alle stampe grazie ad Airons Vigevano|date = 17 May 2021|url = https://www.vigamusmagazine.com/233526/zzap-la-storica-rivista-di-retrogaming-ritorna-alle-stampe-grazie-ad-airons-vigevano/}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.thegamesmachine.it/news-videogiochi-pc-ps4-xbox-wii-u-app/206570/zzap-airons-vigevano/|title = Zzap! Torna davvero, grazie alla Airons di Vigevano|date = 17 May 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.gamesvillage.it/7061944/zzap-ritorna-associazione-culturale-airons/|title = Zzap! Ritorna grazie all'Associazione Culturale Airons|date = 17 May 2021}}</ref>
==Commemorative issues==
In March 2002, a special "Issue 107" of ''Zzap!64'' was published digitally in [[Portable Document Format|PDF]] format, later receiving a limited print run of 200 copies. Originally intended as a fan project based on a suggestion by journalist Cameron Davis in a ''Zzap!64'' discussion forum, a number of ex-Newsfield writers later volunteered to join the project, including former editors Gordon Houghton, Robin Hogg and [[Paul Glancey]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://theburrow.zzap64.co.uk/zzap/zzap107/zzap107.html|title = The Burrow - Gordon Houghton's Zzap! Issue 107 page}}</ref>
The special issue reflected the C64's continuing popularity in the 21st century as a platform for retro gamers and hobbyists, with the majority of reviews focusing on recently released C64 games. The magazine's design was based on "classic era" ''Zzap!64'', and the front cover was based on an illustration by former Newsfield artist Oli Frey, significantly revised by designer Craig Grannell.
Another special issue of ''Zzap!64'' was created in July 2005 to celebrate the magazine's twentieth anniversary.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/news240605retrogayer|title = Zzap!64 tribute planned|website = [[Eurogamer]]|date = 24 June 2005}}</ref> Dubbed ''The Def Tribute to Zzap!64'', it was professionally printed and given away with issue 18 of ''[[Retro Gamer]]'' magazine. Although more celebratory and retrospective in design than issue 107, it nevertheless featured a great deal of new content, including a foreword and articles by former Newsfield director and ''Zzap!64'' editor Roger Kean and new material from former editors Gary Penn and Chris Anderson. The front cover and centerfold featured rare illustrations by Oli Frey from his pre-Newsfield days.
Fusion Retro Books licensed the rights to use the ZZAP! and Crash trademarks from Future Publishing, creating a series of Annuals funded through Kickstarter and published in time for Christmas. Roger Kean was involved in editing and compiling the issues alongside Chris Wilkins. The Annuals up to 2022 featured new and specially commissioned Oli Frey cover artwork.
Fusion Retro Books then negotiated the transfer of the remaining Newsfield trademarks for future use.
Since March 2021, a new bimonthly volume of Zzap! 64 has been available through Patreon subscriptions. This is a 66-page A5 magazine, published bi-monthly by Fusion Retro Books. Original staff member Robin Hogg is part of the reviewing team, with artist Simon Butler contributing the regular Gallery section looking at artwork. The Technical Bit In The Middle now focuses on modern hardware and other upgrades for the computer, with a regular section dedicated to the MEGA65 computer.
==Staff==
{{div col|colwidth=15em}}
*[[Chris Anderson (entrepreneur)|Chris Anderson]]<ref name="ReferenceA"/>
*Bob Wade<ref name="ReferenceA"/>
*[[Roger Kean]]<ref name="ReferenceA"/>
*[[Gary Penn]]<ref name="theburrow.zzap64.co.uk"/>
*[[Julian Rignall]]<ref name="theburrow.zzap64.co.uk"/>
*[[Gary Liddon]]<ref name="ReferenceA"/>
*Sean Masterson<ref name="ReferenceA"/>
*[[Steve Jarratt]]<ref name="ReferenceB">{{cite web|url=http://theburrow.zzap64.co.uk/zzap/towers/towers.html |title=The Burrow - Gordon Houghton's Zzap! Towers pages - index|work=The Burrow|access-date=3 February 2017}}</ref>
*Dan Gilbert<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.zzap4.co.uk/cgi-bin/displayarticle.pl?article=2 | title=Unknown}}{{Dead link|date=March 2022 | fix-attempted=yes}}</ref>
*[[Paul Glancey]]<ref name="theburrow.zzap64.co.uk"/>
*Matthew "Maff" Evans<ref name="theburrow.zzap64.co.uk"/>
*Kati Hamza<ref name="theburrow.zzap64.co.uk"/>
*Robin Hogg<ref name="ReferenceC">{{cite web|url=http://theburrow.zzap64.co.uk/zzap/towers/towers2.html|title=The Burrow - Gordon Houghton's Zzap! Towers pages|work=The Burrow|access-date=3 February 2017}}</ref>
*Mark Caswell<ref name="zzap2"/>
*Carl Rowley<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.zzap64.co.uk/cgi-bin/displayarticle.pl?article=5|title = The Detailed History of Zzap! - Part 5}}</ref>
*Gordon Houghton<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.crashonline.org.uk/59/challenge.htm|title = CRASH 59 - CRASH Challenge}}</ref>
*Ciarán Brennan
*Richard Eddy<ref name="ReferenceA"/>
*Lucy Hickman<ref name="ReferenceA"/>
*Stuart Wynne<ref name="ReferenceA"/>
*"Footy" Phil King<ref name="ReferenceB"/>
*Steve Shields<ref name="ReferenceA"/>
*Dominic Handy (aka Paul Sumner)<ref name="ReferenceA"/>
*Warren Lapworth<ref name="ReferenceB"/>
*Paul Rand<ref name="theburrow.zzap64.co.uk"/>
*Nik Wild<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.zzap64.co.uk/cgi-bin/displayarticle.pl?article=3|title = The Detailed History of Zzap! - Part 3}}</ref>
*Massimo Valducci<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.gamebase64.com/oldsite/zzap_ratings.htm|title=The Gamebase Collection|website=www.gamebase64.com}}</ref>
{{div col end}}
==Columnists==
*[[Jeff Minter]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.the-commodore-zone.com/articlelive/articles/87/1/Minter-Mania/Page1.html|title=Minter Mania|work=The-commodore-zone.com|date=4 December 2007|access-date=3 February 2017}}</ref> - He left early, disagreeing about the bad review of his game ''Mama Llama'' but returned to write a diary of the production of Iridis Alpha.<ref name="ReferenceE">{{Cite web|url=http://www.zzap64.co.uk/zzap13/daily_llama01.html|title = The Daily Llama. Part 1}}</ref>
*[[Andrew Braybrook]] - Wrote diaries on the production of his games ''[[Paradroid]]''<ref name="ReferenceE"/> and ''[[Morpheus (1987 video game)|Morpheus]]'', titled ''Mental Procreation''<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.zzap64.co.uk/mentalprocre.html|title = Diary of a Game - Morpheus - Mental Procreation}}</ref>
*Martin Walker - following suit for his game ''[[Citadel]]'', titled ''Walker's Way''<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.zzap64.co.uk/walkersway.html|title=Walkers Way - Diary of a Game|website=www.zzap64.co.uk}}</ref>
*[[Apex Computer Productions]] - the Rowlands Brothers, John & Steve, doing the same for their game ''[[Creatures (1990 video game)|Creatures]]''<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://archive.org/details/zzap64-magazine-062/page/n29/mode/2up|title = ZZap!64 Magazine Issue 062|date = June 1990}}</ref>
==References==
{{Reflist}}
== Further reading ==
{{refbegin}}
* {{Cite magazine |last1=Hayward |first1=David |title=Happy Birthday |magazine=[[Micro Mart]] |issue=1359 |page=64 |date=2015-04-23 |url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=f6h&AN=102256808&site=ehost-live |issn=1473-0251 |via=[[EBSCOhost]] }}
{{refend}}
==External links==
*[[iarchive:zzap64-magazine|Archived Zzap!64 magazines]] on the [[Internet Archive]]
*[https://patreon.com/zzapmagazine Patreon for ZZAP! 64 Magazine]
{{Commodore 8-bit computer magazines}}
[[Category:1985 establishments in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:1992 disestablishments in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Commodore 8-bit computer magazines]]
[[Category:Defunct video game magazines published in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Magazines disestablished in 1992]]
[[Category:Magazines established in 1985]]
[[Category:Monthly magazines published in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Video game magazines published in the United Kingdom]]