Hyper (magazine)
Encyclopedia
Hyper is a multi-platform Australian video game magazine
. Australia's longest running gaming magazine, it has been in publication since 1993, and was released the same month as the better known UK
magazine Edge. It is currently edited by David Wildgoose.
Hypers sister magazine is the PC game-oriented PC PowerPlay
, also published by Next Media.
On April 28th, 2010, Hyper Magazine released its 200th issue. Daniel Wilks was the then editor of Hyper since 2007 and the 200th issue was his last. He then passed the baton onto deputy editor Darren Wells, after the success of the 200th issue release.
The launch issue of the magazine was created in two months with Clarke as editor, Andrew Humphreys as deputy editor, and Aaron Rogers as art director.
Despite numerous competitors entering the market at various stages, such as ACP's Gamestar, Australian GamePro, and the relaunched Megazone, all these titles folded within 12 months of launch while Hyper remained a strong title.
Since its inception, Hyper has developed and maintained a reputation for being independent and honest with its readers. It is known for its irreverent sense of humour and both entertaining and informative features, reviews, and previews.
, DVD
movies, arcade and classic games, and features in-depth interviews with industry professionals and articles on game-related content such as computer hardware and video game music.
The magazine contains regular sections such as: news, features, previews, reviews, opinion pieces, and a letters page.
The website has hosted an internet forum
since 1996 that serves as a link between editors and readers of the magazine.
Dan Toose (1997–1999) - currently works as a game designer for Creative Assembly
in Brisbane
Eliot Fish (1999–2004) - currently works for Good Game
at the ABC
Cam Shea (2005–2007) - currently holds the post of Games Editor at IGN
Australia
Daniel Wilks - (2007–2010) - until recently (September 2010) was editor of the Official Nintendo Magazine
Anthony Fordham - (2010)
Dylan Burns - (2010)
David Wildgoose - (2011-current)
Ben Mansill - co-creator of Byteside
Maurice Branscombe - currently works as a TV producer on Good Game
Darren Wells - now editor of Official Xbox Magazine (Australian Edition)
Magazine
Magazines, periodicals, glossies or serials are publications, generally published on a regular schedule, containing a variety of articles. They are generally financed by advertising, by a purchase price, by pre-paid magazine subscriptions, or all three...
. Australia's longest running gaming magazine, it has been in publication since 1993, and was released the same month as the better known UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
magazine Edge. It is currently edited by David Wildgoose.
Hypers sister magazine is the PC game-oriented PC PowerPlay
PC PowerPlay
PC PowerPlay is Australia's only dedicated PC games magazine. Also available in New Zealand, PC PowerPlay focuses on news and reviews for upcoming and newly released games on the Microsoft Windows platform. The magazine also reviews computer hardware for use on gaming computers...
, also published by Next Media.
History
Hyper was launched in 1993 by Next Media with Stuart Clarke in the editor's seat. Clarke had previously edited Megazone, a multi-platform magazine published by Sega Ozisoft. When Clarke left Megazone and the title became defunct, he was asked by Next Media publisher, Phil Keir, to start a new multi-platform gaming magazine. Clarke recounted the events in Hyper's 100th issue:"Just as I was starting to relax, Phil Keir, owner of Next Media and publisher of Rolling Stone, rang me at home one night to ask a few questions. Before I knew it he had asked me to set up a brand new games magazine - one that I created and controlled completely! So after a few nano-seconds of thought I said, 'Um, okay then'. One of the first decisions was to make it a true multi-format title, covering the best games on all platforms." - Stuart Clarke, February 2002 issue 100 of Hyper.
On April 28th, 2010, Hyper Magazine released its 200th issue. Daniel Wilks was the then editor of Hyper since 2007 and the 200th issue was his last. He then passed the baton onto deputy editor Darren Wells, after the success of the 200th issue release.
"I started on the magazine about six years ago, and during that time we had competition come and go, as well as all the horror stories and nay-saying that print was dead," says Wilks. "I'll admit there were a few times that I thought the end days may have been coming - especially during the peak of the GFC when every publishing company seemed to be shedding staff and magazines like it was going out of style, but I've always believed that the magazine could weather anything thrown at it. All of us who have worked on Hyper feel the same way. 200 is a pretty huge milestone for a magazine."
The launch issue of the magazine was created in two months with Clarke as editor, Andrew Humphreys as deputy editor, and Aaron Rogers as art director.
Despite numerous competitors entering the market at various stages, such as ACP's Gamestar, Australian GamePro, and the relaunched Megazone, all these titles folded within 12 months of launch while Hyper remained a strong title.
Since its inception, Hyper has developed and maintained a reputation for being independent and honest with its readers. It is known for its irreverent sense of humour and both entertaining and informative features, reviews, and previews.
Features
In addition to coverage of all current major video game systems and game releases, Hyper also covers animeAnime
is the Japanese abbreviated pronunciation of "animation". The definition sometimes changes depending on the context. In English-speaking countries, the term most commonly refers to Japanese animated cartoons....
, DVD
DVD
A DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions....
movies, arcade and classic games, and features in-depth interviews with industry professionals and articles on game-related content such as computer hardware and video game music.
The magazine contains regular sections such as: news, features, previews, reviews, opinion pieces, and a letters page.
The website has hosted an internet forum
Internet forum
An Internet forum, or message board, is an online discussion site where people can hold conversations in the form of posted messages. They differ from chat rooms in that messages are at least temporarily archived...
since 1996 that serves as a link between editors and readers of the magazine.
Former Editors
Stuart Clarke (1993–1996)Dan Toose (1997–1999) - currently works as a game designer for Creative Assembly
Creative Assembly
The Creative Assembly is a British video game developer established in 1987 by Tim Ansell and based in the West Sussex town of Horsham. An Australian branch is also operated from Fortitude Valley, Queensland...
in Brisbane
Eliot Fish (1999–2004) - currently works for Good Game
Good Game
Good Game is an Australian video gaming talk show television programme created by Janet Carr and Jeremy Ray currently on ABC2. It premiered on ABC on 19 September 2006...
at the ABC
Cam Shea (2005–2007) - currently holds the post of Games Editor at IGN
IGN
IGN is an entertainment website that focuses on video games, films, music and other media. IGN's main website comprises several specialty sites or "channels", each occupying a subdomain and covering a specific area of entertainment...
Australia
Daniel Wilks - (2007–2010) - until recently (September 2010) was editor of the Official Nintendo Magazine
Anthony Fordham - (2010)
Dylan Burns - (2010)
David Wildgoose - (2011-current)
Former Deputy Editors
Andrew Humphreys - currently works as an authorBen Mansill - co-creator of Byteside
Maurice Branscombe - currently works as a TV producer on Good Game
Good Game
Good Game is an Australian video gaming talk show television programme created by Janet Carr and Jeremy Ray currently on ABC2. It premiered on ABC on 19 September 2006...
Darren Wells - now editor of Official Xbox Magazine (Australian Edition)