The
Official UK PlayStation Magazine launched in October/November 1995, to coincide with the launch of the
PlayStationThe PlayStation is a 32-bit fifth generation video game console released by Sony Computer Entertainment in December ....
console. The first issue sold 37,000 copies. Each month the publication came with a cover mounted playable demo disc - a first for a console magazine. It ran for 108 issues, with the last hitting news stands in March 2004. Roughly midway through its run the abbreviations in the magazine changed from
PSM to
OPM (this was mainly because another magazine by the name of
PSM2 was launched in the 4th quarter of 2000, & so as not to cause confusion, the abbreviations of the official mag were changed to OPM).
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The
Official UK PlayStation Magazine launched in October/November 1995, to coincide with the launch of the
PlayStationThe PlayStation is a 32-bit fifth generation video game console released by Sony Computer Entertainment in December ....
console. The first issue sold 37,000 copies. Each month the publication came with a cover mounted playable demo disc - a first for a console magazine. It ran for 108 issues, with the last hitting news stands in March 2004. Roughly midway through its run the abbreviations in the magazine changed from
PSM to
OPM (this was mainly because another magazine by the name of
PSM2 was launched in the 4th quarter of 2000, & so as not to cause confusion, the abbreviations of the official mag were changed to OPM). It had 3 design changes in its lifetime: 1 to 51, 52 to 72 & finally 73 to 108.
The first game to be reviewed was
WipeoutWipeout is the first in a series of futuristic racing video games developed and published by Psygnosis. It was originally released in 1995 for Sony PlayStation and PCs running MS-DOS, and in 1996 for Sega Saturn and Amiga with ppc hardware...
, which received 8/10.
The last game to be reviewed was
Ford Truck Mania, which garnered 7/10.
Sales & Success
The magazine would go on to become not only the best selling PlayStation magazine in the United Kingdom, but the best selling PlayStation magazine in the world. By mid 1997, PSM was selling over 150,000 issues a month. In the month of February 1999, issue 42, managed a record 453,571
ABCIn the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland, the Audit Bureau of Circulations certifies and audits the circulations of major publications, including newspapers and magazines. It also audits attendance figures for trade and consumer exhibitions within the UK.- History :The Audit Bureau of...
figure - beating the UK's biggest lads magazines
FHM,
Maxim &
Loaded.
Editorial Policy
Under the guidance of Rob Pegley, the magazine had a no nonsense attitude to pre-agreed scores in exchange for cover exclusives or compromising of editorial judgement for the sake of a first look. They made a habit of 'nailing' other publications for such acts. Written in every issue was the following promise:
Fact: The Official PlayStation Magazine is the world's best selling videogames magazine. The only magazine with an official demo CD every month. PSM is also the best written and most clearly designed magazine on the shelves. This market leading position means that we can review games honestly and protect our readers interests, giving real opinions rather than compromise our views in a pursuit on an exclusive review or cover.
PSM is the only magazine which really matters within in the PlayStation industry for one reason - what we print is the truth. Whether it's about games, the industry and all things PlayStation, our writing is opinionated, honest and always informed. Links with Sony provide exclusive information and game demos, but do not compromise our editorial independence - guaranteed.
PSM is written in an adult manner. Free from technical jargon, but with necessary expertise that PlayStation owners demand.
PSM drops the usual in jokes and infantile humour for quality. We tell you the latest news, talk to the most important people in the industry, discuss the most relevant issues and review the most exciting games on the planet.
Regulars
From issues #1 to #51 the magazine followed a set format every month.
- StartUp - featuring a quick run through of the games featured on the cover disc & editor's letter.
- Update - News, interviews & first looks. With each page, a 'Loading Bar' percentage increased.
- PrePlay - Previews
- Letters (this was later moved to the back of the magazine in a section called 'Down Loading')
- Features
- PlayTest - Reviews
- Cheats (later called 'Top Secret', a special section which was printed on recycled paper)
- Down Loading
- On the CD - Demo game controls
- Next Month
Awards
In 1998 & 1999 it won the prestigious Industry Dinner Magazine of the Year Award.
Reader Awards
Voted by readers through the PlayStation Powerline service, the first awards in 1998 were won by
Final Fantasy VIIis a console role-playing game developed by Square and published by Sony Computer Entertainment as the seventh installment in the Final Fantasy series. It was released in 1997 for the Sony PlayStation, in 1998 for Microsoft Windows-based personal computers, and released on the PlayStation Network...
. Featured in the Top 10 were
Broken SwordBroken Sword: The Shadow of the Templars is a third-person, point-and-click adventure computer game released to the PC on November 5, 1996. It was released on the PlayStation in December that same year and on the GBA March 19, 2002. It has also been ported to the Palm OS by Astraware, and to the...
,
Resident EvilResident Evil, known in Japan as , is a video game series and media franchise consisting of comic books, novelizations, films, and a variety of collectibles, including action figures, strategy guides and publications...
&
Tomb Raider 2.
In issue 98, which was billed as the 'Reader Issue',
OPSM readers voted
Metal Gear Solidis a stealth action video game directed and written by Hideo Kojima. The game was developed by Konami Computer Entertainment Japan and first published by Konami in 1998 for the PlayStation video game console. It is the sequel to Kojimas early MSX2 computer games Metal Gear and Metal Gear 2: Solid...
as the Best Game on PlayStation.
Final Fantasy VIIis a console role-playing game developed by Square and published by Sony Computer Entertainment as the seventh installment in the Final Fantasy series. It was released in 1997 for the Sony PlayStation, in 1998 for Microsoft Windows-based personal computers, and released on the PlayStation Network...
was second,
Final Fantasy VIIIis a console role-playing game released for the PlayStation in 1999 and for Windows-based personal computers in 2000. It was developed and published by Square as the Final Fantasy series' eighth title, doing away with magic point-based spell-casting and the first title to consistently use...
third,
Final Fantasy IXis a console role-playing game developed and published by Square as the ninth installment in the Final Fantasy series. It was released in 2000 and is the third and last numbered Final Fantasy game for Sony's PlayStation...
fourth &
Gran Turismo 2Gran Turismo 2 is a driving simulator / racing game for the Sony PlayStation. Gran Turismo 2 was developed by Polyphony Digital and published by Sony Computer Entertainment in 1999. The games serves as a sequel to Gran Turismo...
fifth.
10/10
OPSM gave a total of 22 games a 'perfect 10'.
- Driver 2
Driver 2: The Wheelman is Back is the second installment of the Driver video game series.-Gameplay:...
- Final Fantasy VII
is a console role-playing game developed by Square and published by Sony Computer Entertainment as the seventh installment in the Final Fantasy series. It was released in 1997 for the Sony PlayStation, in 1998 for Microsoft Windows-based personal computers, and released on the PlayStation Network...
- Final Fantasy VIII
is a console role-playing game released for the PlayStation in 1999 and for Windows-based personal computers in 2000. It was developed and published by Square as the Final Fantasy series' eighth title, doing away with magic point-based spell-casting and the first title to consistently use...
- Gran Turismo
- Gran Turismo 2
Gran Turismo 2 is a driving simulator / racing game for the Sony PlayStation. Gran Turismo 2 was developed by Polyphony Digital and published by Sony Computer Entertainment in 1999. The games serves as a sequel to Gran Turismo...
- ISS Pro Evolution 2
ISS Pro Evolution 2 is the fourth video game in the ISS series and the second installment of the ISS Pro Evolution series produced by Konami specially for Playstation.It is the first ISS Pro game with a proper license, some players having real names — e.g. Beckham instead of Deckham...
- Metal Gear Solid
is a stealth action video game directed and written by Hideo Kojima. The game was developed by Konami Computer Entertainment Japan and first published by Konami in 1998 for the PlayStation video game console. It is the sequel to Kojimas early MSX2 computer games Metal Gear and Metal Gear 2: Solid...
- Pro Evolution Soccer
Pro Evolution Soccer is a football video game series developed by Konami ....
- Quake II
Quake II, released on December 9, 1997, is a first-person shooter computer game developed by id Software and distributed by Activision. It is not a sequel to Quake; it merely uses the name of the former game due to id's difficulties in acquiring a trademark for alternative titles.The soundtrack for...
- Resident Evil 3
- Silent Hill
is a survival horror video game franchise, developed and published by Konami. The first four games in the series were created by Team Silent, which has since disbanded...
- Spyro 2
- Spyro: Year of the Dragon
Spyro: Year of the Dragon is a platform game developed by Insomniac Games and published by Sony Computer Entertainment for the PlayStation. The game was released in North America on November 30, 2000. Year of the Dragon is the third installment in the Spyro series and the last Spyro game to be...
- Tekken 2
Tekken 2 is the second installment in the popular Tekken fighting game series. It was first released in arcades in 1995, and later released for the PlayStation in 1996...
- Tekken 3
Tekken 3 is the third installment in the Tekken fighting game series. It was the first game released on Namco's System 12 hardware . It was the last installment of Tekken for the PlayStation...
- TOCA World Touring Cars
- Tomb Raider
Tomb Raider is a video game developed by Core Design and published by Eidos Interactive. It was originally released in 1996 for the Sega Saturn followed shortly thereafter for MS-DOS and PlayStation versions. Tomb Raider was also released into the mobile gaming market, for Windows Mobile...
- Tomb Raider 2
- Tomb Raider 3
- Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation
Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation is the fourth video game in the Tomb Raider series. It was developed by Core Design and published by Eidos Interactive...
- Tomb Raider Chronicles
Tomb Raider Chronicles is the fifth game in the Tomb Raider series and the sequel to Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation. It was developed by Core Design and published by Eidos Interactive. The game was originally released in 2000 for PC, Sega Dreamcast and PlayStation.- Storyline :Tomb Raider...
- V-Rally 2
Controversies
- OPSM#46: Star Wars: The Phantom Menace, which features on its cover, is awarded 9/10. The game is lambasted elsewhere & is largely regarded as abysmal in the press. It is rumoured that the journalist was taken on a tour of the Skywalker Ranch
Skywalker Ranch is the name of the workplace of film director and producer George Lucas in secluded but open country near Nicasio, California in Marin County. The ranch is located on Lucas Valley Road, although Lucas is not related to the road's namesake, a turn-of-the-century landowner in the area...
. The magazine's editorial staff apologised for the review in a later issue.
External links