Games - Computer Gaming World

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	Games - Computer Gaming World

Computer Gaming World (CGW) is the oldest video game publication still in continuous circulation. Founded in 1981 by Russell Sipe as a bimonthly newsletter. It is currently the oldest computer-related consumer publication still in distribution. It is also the oldest digital gaming magazine still in existence. CGW was eventually purchased by Ziff Davis, a large publishing house, and became the cornerstone of a series of digital-gaming-related magazines.

The publication is currently lead by Jeff Green, a veteran games journalist. A unique feature of Computer Gaming World is its policy of requiring its writers to finish every game they review. While it may seem that this is not unique, it is an, otherwise, unduplicated policy in the video game magazine world.

Content

CGW is published 12 times a year, and features reviews, previews, news, features, letters, strategy, and columns dealing with computer games. While console games are occassionally touched on, these are primarily the territory of CGW's sister magazine Electronic Gaming Monthly.

Currently, two of its most popular features are "Scorched Earth", a final-page column/rant written by former Executive Editor Robert Coffey, and "Tom vs. Bruce" a unique, "duelling-diaries" piece in which writers Tom Chick and Bruce Geryk log their gameplay experience as each tries to best the other at a given game. "Tom vs. Bruce" sometimes features a guest appearance by Erik Wolpaw, formerly of Old Man Murray.

However, the core of CGW is still its erudite, witty and accurate reviews; these are the reason that many more hardcore PC gamers read the magazine.

The reviews are based on a simple five-star structure, with five stars marking a truly outstanding game, and one star signalling virtual worthlessness. On very rare occasions, immensely abysmal games have been reviewed: Postal² by Robert Coffey, Mistmare by Jeff Green, and Dungeon Lords by Denice Cook, three games which "...form an unholy trinity of the only games in CGW history to receive zero-star reviews."

Circulation

According to Computer Gaming World has a circulation of 301,459 as of 2003, making it one of the most popular computer magazines in the United States. The circulation is said by Ziff Davis to have expanded since this measurement. In this regard, it is slightly behind industry arch-rival PC Gamer. It should be noted, however, that magazine circulation numbers are highly subjective, despite the seemingly straightforward connection between publication and distribution.

Awards

In 1988, CGW won the Origins Award for Best Professional Adventure Gaming Magazine of 1987.

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