Sinclair User
 Cover from 1987 | |
| Former editors | Apr 1982: John Sterlicchi May '82 - Jan '84: Nigel Clark Feb '84 - May '86: Bill Scolding Jun '86 - Apr '88: David Kelly Mar '88 - May '89: Graham Taylor Jun '89 - Nov '90: Jim Douglas Dec '90 - Apr '92: Garth Sumpter May '92 - May '93: Alan Dykes |
|---|---|
| Categories | Computer magazines |
| Frequency | Monthly |
| Circulation | 96,000 (July 1984) |
| First issue | April 1982 |
| Final issue Number | April 1993 134[1](133rd issue[2]) |
| Company | ECC Publications (Apr 1982 - Aug 1984) EMAP(Sep 84 - May 1993) |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| ISSN | 0262-5458 |
Sinclair Userwas a magazine dedicated to theSinclair Researchrange ofhome computers,most specifically theZX Spectrum(while also occasionally coveringarcade games). Initially published by ECC Publications, and laterEMAP,it was published in theUKbetween 1982 and 1993, and was the longest running Sinclair-based magazine. The magazine contained news, game reviews, previews, tips, help guides, columns, readers' letters, and cover-mountedgame demos.
History
[edit]
In earlier years, the magazine built up personality cults around some of its "hilariously" monikered staff, including Bill "Incorruptible" Scolding, John "Disgusting" Gilbert, Chris "Lunchbreaks" Bourne, Claire "Ligger" Edgely, Richard Price (writer of the "Gordo Greatbelly" adventure tips section), and columnist Andrew Hewson (founder ofHewson Consultantssoftware).
Under David Kelly's editorial tenure, the magazine began to focus more on the gaming scene, and featured more colour graphics under designer Gareth "the Mad Celt". By the time of editor Graham Taylor, the magazine included the cartoon character Kamikaze Bear, and the tone of the publication changed from a semi-serious magazine to something aimed more at children.[3]
High-quality games were indicated in reviews via the "Sinclair User Classic" award, the logo was used as a selling point for games, big and small.[4]
In May 1992 the former rival publicationCRASHwas notionally subsumed intoSinclair Userbut in practice this meant little more than the addition of theCrash!logo to the magazine's cover page.
Timex Sinclair User
[edit]
A short-lived[5]spin-off known asTimex Sinclair Userwas also published for theAmericanmarket, where versions of Sinclair computers were marketed under theTimex Sinclairname.[5][6]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^"April 1993, Issue 134".sinclairuser.com.Sinclair User Magazine Online.Archivedfrom the original on 2021-04-13.Retrieved2022-06-27.
- ^Sinclair User skipped issue 97 with the April 1990 magazine being assigned issue number 98 incorrectly, instead of 97. This error was then propagated until the final issue.
- ^"Sinclair User Magazine at Simplyeighties.com".www.simplyeighties.com.Retrieved2022-04-26.
- ^"Sinclair User".World of Spectrum.
- ^ab"Archived copy".Archivedfrom the original on 2012-01-13.Retrieved2011-03-13.
{{cite web}}:CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^"Timex Sinclair User".Archivedfrom the original on 2011-03-19.Retrieved2011-03-13.
External links
[edit]- Archived Sinclair User magazineson theInternet Archive
- Sinclair User Magazine Online,unofficial archive.
- Video game magazines published in the United Kingdom
- Defunct computer magazines published in the United Kingdom
- ZX Spectrum magazines
- Magazines established in 1982
- Magazines disestablished in 1993
- Monthly magazines published in the United Kingdom
- 1983 establishments in the United Kingdom
- 1993 disestablishments in the United Kingdom
- Magazines published in London