Amiga Format

Amiga Format
source
Title	Amiga Format
Caption	Cover example featuring a software review
Editor	Various
Category	Computer magazine
Company	Future plc
Firstdate	1989
Finaldate	2000
Country	United Kingdom
Language	English

Amiga Format was a British monthly computer magazine covering the Amiga line of home computers, launched in 1989 and published until 2000. It reported on hardware, software, gaming, development, and the user community, providing reviews, tutorials, coverdisks, and features for owners of the Amiga 500, Amiga 1200, Amiga 600, Amiga 2000, and related platforms. The magazine sat alongside contemporaries such as Amiga Power, CU Amiga, The One, Zzap!64, and publishers including Future plc and EMAP in a crowded periodical market.

History

Amiga Format began publication in 1989 amid the commercial prominence of the Commodore International Commodore Amiga range and the ongoing competition with platforms like the Atari ST and the IBM PC. Early issues coincided with the releases of systems such as the Amiga 500 and events including the World of Commodore expos and the European Computer Trade Show. The title chronicled milestones such as the launch of the Amiga 1200, the bankruptcy of Commodore UK, and the corporate aftermath involving entities like Escom, Gateway 2000, and subsequent acquisitions by smaller concerns. Throughout the 1990s the magazine adapted coverage as the Amiga community intersected with developments from companies and projects such as PPC (PowerPC) accelerators, MorphOS, AROS, and hobbyist groups present at gatherings like Amiga reunion shows and Demoscene events.

Content and Features

Regular editorial content included hands-on hardware tests of devices from manufacturers such as Phase5, Click Here!, and Individual Computers, alongside software reviews of games from studios like Team17, Psygnosis, Bullfrog Productions, LucasArts, and productivity tools from publishers such as Electronic Arts and Core Design. Each issue typically featured in-depth tutorials on programming for operating systems including AmigaOS, guides to using utilities like Workbench, and coverage of graphics tools referencing applications such as Deluxe Paint, Scala, and tracker software used by artists in the Demoscene. The magazine was noted for its coverdisks containing demos, full games, patches, and utilities curated from contributors and companies such as Rainbow Arts, Ocean Software, Ubi Soft, and independent developers within the shareware community. Features often explored interoperability with peripherals from manufacturers like Commodore, Samsung, and Seagate, and interfaced with concepts and events from the wider computing milieu such as the European software market.

Publication and Circulation

Published by Future plc in the United Kingdom, the title circulated during a period when print magazines competed with rivals including Amiga Power and CU Amiga for readers in the United Kingdom, Germany, Netherlands, and other European markets. The magazine’s lifecycle mirrored industry shifts following the collapse of Commodore International and the rise of PC-compatible systems from vendors such as Dell, Compaq, and Hewlett-Packard. Circulation figures fluctuated with market demand, the success of coverdisk content, and the presence of major software releases from companies like Sega and Nintendo that shaped consumer interest. The final issues appeared in 2000 as publishers consolidated titles and communities migrated to online forums, mailing lists, and websites run by enthusiasts and organizations such as AmiNet and various fan-run archives.

Notable Contributors and Interviews

The magazine featured work from journalists, reviewers, and developers who became prominent in computing and games industries, with interviews and articles referencing figures associated with studios and institutions including Team17, Psygnosis, Bullfrog Productions, LucasArts, Ocean Software, Electronic Arts, Core Design, Gremlin Graphics, and influential demo groups from the Demoscene. Contributors wrote about hardware engineers and designers linked to companies like Commodore, Phase5, and Wolfgang. High-profile interviews covered personalities involved in major projects tied to the platform and its peripherals, and the magazine regularly profiled independent creators, disk magazine editors, and community organizers who appeared at events such as Games Convention and E3 regional shows.

Legacy and Influence

Although print production ceased in 2000, the magazine’s archives, coverdisks, and editorial voice influenced preservation efforts, emulation projects, and retrocomputing movements that involve organizations and projects like WinUAE, FS-UAE, MorphOS, AROS, and numerous online repositories maintained by volunteer groups. The cultural footprint extended into retrospectives by historians and publications covering the history of personal computing, with references to the magazine in discussions of the European home computer era, the evolution of gaming magazines, and the Demoscene subculture. Former staff and contributors went on to careers in technology, games, and publishing at companies and outlets including Future plc, Eurogamer, IGN, and independent studios, maintaining the magazine’s influence on how platform-specific journalism shaped community cohesion during the 1990s.

Category:Computer magazines Category:British magazines Category:Amiga-related publications