PlayStation Official Magazine – UK


PlayStation Official Magazine – UK, generally abbreviated as OPM, is a magazine based in the United Kingdom that covers PlayStation news, originally created in Winter 2006. Although the first issue was distributed in three-month intervals, from Issue 2 onward, it became a monthly segment. From Issue 7 to Issue 84, the magazine came with a playable Blu-ray Disc; it primarily covers PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 4 games and material. However, it additionally also covers PlayStation Vita material. The magazine covers PlayStation lifestyle, as well all aspects of High Definition media in lesser detail.

''Official UK PlayStation Magazine''

The Official UK PlayStation Magazine is a now-defunct magazine, launched in November 1995 to coincide with the launch of the PlayStation console. It ran for 108 issues, with the last hitting news stands in March 2004. The first issue sold 37,000 copies. Roughly midway through its run the abbreviations in the magazine changed from PSM to OPM. It had 3 design changes in its lifetime: 1 to 51, 52 to 72, and finally 73 to 108.
The first game to be reviewed was Wipeout, which received 8/10. The last game to be reviewed was Ford Truck Mania, which garnered 7/10.
The magazine would go on to become not only the best selling PlayStation magazine in the United Kingdom, but the best selling videogames magazine in the world. By mid-1997, PSM was selling over 150,000 issues a month. In the month of February 1999, issue 42, according to ABC the magazine managed a record 453,571, beating the UK's biggest lads magazines FHM, Maxim and Loaded.

''Official UK PlayStation 2 Magazine''

Official UK PlayStation 2 Magazine was launched in December 2000 as the sequel publication to the Official UK PlayStation Magazine, originally priced £4.99, to coincide with the launch of the PlayStation 2 console. Each month the magazine came with a cover-mounted playable demo DVD. It ran for 100 issues, with the last going on sale in the month of July 2008. The magazine was commonly abbreviated OPS2. It had four design changes in its lifetime: 1 to 25, 26 to 41, 42 to 89, and finally 90 to 100.
The first game to be reviewed was Tekken Tag Tournament, which received 8/10. The last game to be reviewed was , which earned 7/10. The magazine would go on to become the UK's best selling PlayStation 2 magazine, peaking with 197,348 readers in 2002.

Target demographic

In the beginning OPS2 was designed for the early adopter – encompassing hardcore gamers and previous readers crossing over from the original Official UK PlayStation Magazine. This ran from issue 1 to 25. Starting from issue 26, the magazine was set the task of attracting a more mass market, mainstream audience. This included a full redesign. From issue 34, OPS2 changed again – however this time retaining its recent redesign. In a drastic attempt to attract a more young male demographic – similar to that of the independent PlayStation magazines of the '90s – the publication decided to “review“ readers girlfriends and their mothers and increased the amount of scantily-clad women, even to the point of including bare breasts. It received a mixed response from readers, and failed to considerably increase the readership. In turn, the magazine featured another redesign from issue 42. OPS2 would retain this middle ground for the next three years, neither employing an overly male nor hardcore adult gamer stance. In the final year, as the PlayStation 2 entered a more family-friendly stage, OPS2 changed once more; this time for its final time. Starting from issue 90 the magazine would focus on new PS2 owners and the younger gamer.

Awards

The magazine's design follows the same approximate structure each issue. Recurring segments include:
From issues #1 to #51, the magazine followed a set format every month:
Each month the publication comes with a cover mounted playable demo disc — a first for a console magazine. The disc contains game demos and other PlayStation-related content which have to be downloaded and installed onto the PS3's hard drive.
Although some of the demos are also available on the PlayStation Network, there will be some exclusive content on certain discs. It has also been stated that the magazine will receive exclusive content in the future to be published on the disc.

Reviews

Usually, one member of the team is assigned to review a certain new game, although on occasion other staff members will provide "2up" or a second opinion. Sometimes there are also pie charts to describe the contents, or what you do in the game. Also used are score poles to compare reviews, as well as describing the influences. And as with the "2up" segment, there is a "dev talk" article giving a short statement from the games developer. Reviews are scored out of ten.
The magazine also presents its "highest accolade", the Gold Award, to any game that its staff believe "demonstrates significant innovation, near-flawless gameplay, great graphics and long-lasting appeal." Games do not necessarily have to have a perfect 10 out of 10 score to receive it; those that have received this award include FIFA 09, FIFA 11, ', Mirror's Edge, Grand Theft Auto IV, Warhawk, ', ', ', ', Soulcalibur IV, LittleBigPlanet, Resistance 2, ', ', Infamous, BioShock, ', Killzone 2, Assassin's Creed II, Heavy Rain, and Red Dead Redemption for the PlayStation 3; ' for the PlayStation 2; and ' and for the PlayStation Portable.
The only game to receive a 0 rating was the DVD version of Time Traveler.

Editorial staff

As of Issue 140, the team listed on the magazine's first page consists of:
In issue 50, the magazine published the results of the readers poll on the greatest PlayStation title ever released.
NumberGame
1'
2Metal Gear Solid
3Final Fantasy VII
4'
5'
6'
7
8Shadow of the Colossus
9Red Dead Redemption
10Resident Evil 4

Desert Island Games

In the final March 2004 issue, the magazine published their list of the official top 10 PlayStation games of all time.
No.GamePublisher DeveloperRelease
1ISS Pro Evolution 2KonamiKCE Tokyo2001
2Metal Gear SolidKonamiKCE Japan1999
3Tomb RaiderEidos InteractiveCore Design1996
4Gran Turismo 2SCEEPolyphony Digital2000
5Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2ActivisionNeversoft2000
6Resident Evil 2Virgin InteractiveCapcom1998
7PaRappa the RapperSCEENanaOn-Sha1997
8Medal of HonorElectronic ArtsDreamWorks Interactive1999
9Circuit BreakersMindscapeSupersonic Software1998
10Tekken 2SCEENamco1996

Hall of Fame

With the new look, the magazine published their Hall of Fame for each platform.
NumberPS3PS4PS VRPSVita
1The Last of Us'Rez InfiniteTearaway
2Grand Theft Auto VThe Last GuardianThumperPersona 4: Golden
3''Keep Talking and Nobody ExplodesRayman Legends
4Red Dead RedemptionGrand Theft Auto VStatikVelocity 2X
5JourneyPersona 5'Little Big Planet
6Mass Effect 2 – Game of the Year EditionStar Wars Battlefront Rogue One: X-Wing VR MissionSuper Meat Boy!
7Dark SoulsHorizon Zero Dawn'Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD Remaster
8Call of Duty 4: Modern WarfareBloodborne'Gravity Rush
9Portal 2Injustice 2'Metal Gear Solid HD Collection
10''FarpointSpelunky
11Bioshock InfiniteStreet Fighter VThe Playroom VRSteins;Gate
12'Destiny: The CollectionWerewolves WithinHotline Miami
13'Dishonored 2PlayStation VR WorldsCrypt of the Necrodancer
14Heavy RainTitanfall 2Tumble VRDownwell
15LittleBigPlanet 2The Last of Us RemasteredGnog'
16Overwatch
17Tekken 7
18Nioh
19 Special Edition
20Dark Souls III
21The Witness
22Dirt 4
23Yakuza 0
24Inside
25What Remains of Edith Finch