Audiences leveraged and brands redefined as Future's games site is relaunched.
March 14, 2006
[This unedited press release is made available courtesy of Game Developer and its partnership with notable game PR-related resource Games Press]
Author: Future
South San Francisco, CA (March 13, 2006) Future, a leading US publisher of enthusiast magazines, has launched the global video- and computer-games site GamesRadar ( www.gamesradar.com) in the United States and the United Kingdom, with active plans to expand into France, Italy and additional licensee territories shortly. The launch marks another major step forward in Future's continuing online expansion efforts.
GamesRadar ( www.gamesradar.com) instantly generates website visitor traffic within the Top 10 of all Gaming Information sites worldwide (as defined by comScore Media Metrix, December 2005). In the US, the website leverages audience from Future's sector-leading websites, Cheat Planet (cheatplanet.com) and Next Generation (next-gen.biz), as well as its console and PC games print publications, Official Xbox Magazine, PSM: 100% Independent PlayStation 2 Magazine, and PC Gamer magazine. Cheat Planet currently attracts 3.32 million monthly unique visitors in the US and more than 6.37 million monthly unique visitors worldwide. (comScore Media Metrix, December 2005)
The US launch of GamesRadar signals a complete redefinition of the worldwide brand, with localized versions of www.gamesradar.com available to those in participating countries where Future operates, as well as among those in participating licensee territories.
"GamesRadar's strong showing among advertisers demonstrates that the market is willing to invest in an online property with Future's editorial and technology behind it," stated Simon Whitcombe, Group Publishing Director for Future's Youth Division, "We are proud that our launch partners include publishers such as 2K Games, Atari, Konami, LucasArts, Majesco and Sony Computer Entertainment of America, among others."
The editorial voice of GamesRadar will be overseen from the US by Stephen Pierce, former Editor-in-Chief of Official PlayStation 2 Magazine UK, and will deliver the very best breaking game news, previews of upcoming hardware and software, purchasing advice, cheats and strategies, exclusive features, and online community discussion areas for Sony's PlayStation 2 and the anticipated PlayStation 3, Xbox and Xbox 360, PC game playing, Nintendo's GameCube and forthcoming Nintendo Revolution, the Nintendo DS handheld and Sony PlayStation Portable (PSP).
Editorial Director Stephen Pierce stated, "GamesRadar.com will connect with both hardcore and casual gamers. The website's striking tabloid headlines, irreverent and intelligent tone, easy-to-navigate content, smart search technology, and high-resolution video content are crafted for today's game playing enthusiasts." Mr. Pierce added, "Current game sites simply feel archaic as compared to what readers will experience on GamesRadar."
Future US has assembled a "Games A-Team" to create GamesRadar:
Simon Whitcombe, current Group Publishing Director for Future's Youth Division, served as Publisher of IGN.com, currently owned by NewsCorp, from its launch in 1997 through 2000.
David Cooper, current Publisher of GamesRadar, formerly served as VP of Sales and Publisher for The NFL Superbowl Program and Director of League Advertising Sales and Special Programs for ESPN.com.
Mark Kramer, current Director of Internet Operations for Future US, Inc., most recently served as Director of eBusiness Applications and Technology at XM Satellite Radio.
Stephen Pierce, current Editorial Director for GamesRadar, previously held the position of Editor-in-Chief of the market-leading Official PlayStation 2 Magazine for Future plc in the United Kingdom.
Jason Michaels, current Director of Marketing for Future's games properties, served as Director of Marketing for IGN.com and later as its Publisher.
In total, Future recruited a staff of 25-plus people for the launch of GamesRadar in the US, with additional staff serving other countries.
GamesRadar and Future's sector-leading games titles Official Xbox Magazine, PSM: 100% Independent PlayStation 2 Magazine, and PC Gamer will be leveraged for integrated media advertising plans and packages.
About Future
Future US is a leading US publisher of cutting-edge games, computing, action sports and musician magazines, which sell in excess of 2.5 million copies per month. Future's publications reach a young, active, affluent audience and rank 11th among audited newsstand publishers in gross newsstand revenue. Its market-leading titles include Official Xbox Magazine, PSM: 100% Independent PlayStation 2 Magazine, PC Gamer, Maximum PC, MacAddict, Scrapbook Answers, Future Snowboarding Magazine, Snowboard Journal, Snowboard Trade News, Skateboard Trade News, Skateboard Buyer's Guide, Guitar World, Guitar One, Future Music, Guitar World Acoustic, Bass Guitar, Guitar World Legends, Pregnancy, House DIY, Decorating Spaces, Women's Health Fitness and Men's Edge. Future also publishes Cheat Planet.com, the third largest games information destination online, as well Next Generation, the leading US game-industry news website. Future is based in the San Francisco Bay Area, with offices in New York, Atlanta, Los Angeles and San Diego.
About Future plc
Future plc is an international special-interest media group with offices in the UK, US, France and Italy. Founded in 1985 with one UK magazine, today it creates over 150 special-interest publications, websites and events, with strong portfolios in the computing, games, music, automotive, sports, crafts and leisure sectors. Over 100 international editions of Future's magazines are also published under licence in 30 other countries across the world. Future employs over 1,500 people worldwide. The company is listed on the London Stock Exchange (symbol FUTR).
CONTACT : Drew Kerr 212-849-8255
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