The new, soon to debut logo
UK trade magazine MCV reports that Future’s stranglehold on the games magazine sector might well be loosened in the coming months, as the proposed buy-out of rival outfit Highbury catches the attention of the Office of Fair Trading.
The deal, which would gift Future Publishing almost total coverage of every inch of games magazine shelf space in the UK, was openly criticised by pundits when it was announced, with many fearing for the independence and integrity of the games media sector.
The OFT comments, “Made on the basis of concerns that the combination of the largest supplier of computer games magazines in the UK with its largest competitor may be expected to lead to a substantial lessening of competition in the UK.”
The planned melding of Highbury onto Future has been referred to the Competition Commission which will publish its findings in September of this year.
The deal, which would gift Future Publishing almost total coverage of every inch of games magazine shelf space in the UK, was openly criticised by pundits when it was announced, with many fearing for the independence and integrity of the games media sector.
The OFT comments, “Made on the basis of concerns that the combination of the largest supplier of computer games magazines in the UK with its largest competitor may be expected to lead to a substantial lessening of competition in the UK.”
The planned melding of Highbury onto Future has been referred to the Competition Commission which will publish its findings in September of this year.
Companies:
Future Publishing
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Comments
SPInGSPOnG 14 Apr 2005 16:44
1/8
Oh, poor Future. S**t new logo, and now their plans of world domination looking under threat.
Still, serves them right. I know Ingham is widely reported to be a megalomaniac, but owning the whole games magazine sector in the UK is just not healthy. Remember when future was about making quality magazines in stead of shovelling cheapest to produce "official" s**t.
They revolutionised the industry when they invented the idea of cover mounted tapes/discs. But now their dire tripe relies on the official tie-in to make their discs must haves. The magazines are little short of toilet paper.
Still, serves them right. I know Ingham is widely reported to be a megalomaniac, but owning the whole games magazine sector in the UK is just not healthy. Remember when future was about making quality magazines in stead of shovelling cheapest to produce "official" s**t.
They revolutionised the industry when they invented the idea of cover mounted tapes/discs. But now their dire tripe relies on the official tie-in to make their discs must haves. The magazines are little short of toilet paper.
Ditto 14 Apr 2005 17:07
2/8
OFT wrote:
substantial lessening of competition in the UK
I would have thought that was an understatement.
Go OFT, although they're normally pretty useless.
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DoctorDee 14 Apr 2005 17:17
3/8
Adam M wrote:
Go OFT, although they're normally pretty useless.
And Greg usually gets his way.
NiktheGreek 14 Apr 2005 17:37
4/8
If it wasn't so expensive and utterly futile, I'd suggest that the Spong team try a magazine venture.
Joji 14 Apr 2005 19:30
5/8
The mag market is far too crowded for all the shelf space given to it. Gamesmag wise I get Edge, Games (though not future's mag) and NGC the rest I don't care about.
Don't care about their logo either to be honest.
Don't care about their logo either to be honest.
Pilot13 14 Apr 2005 20:18
6/8
I used to buy Edge religiously but since practically everyone quit because Future wanted it to be 'more mainstream' and it's eventual redesign, it's being going in the down hill direction. Fast.
Ditto 15 Apr 2005 16:20
7/8
I don't get any games magazines any more. I used to get Nintendo Official Magazine in 1998, and I bought it again for a year last year.
The problem with that magazine is that the writers don't appear to have been able to grow up. Considering the demographic, probably 7 - 16 year olds, I find it socially irresponsible for this magazine to champion swearing and homophobia. This is the main reason I stopped buying it.
I've been getting Personal Computer World for years and years and years now, so I just stick with that.
The problem with that magazine is that the writers don't appear to have been able to grow up. Considering the demographic, probably 7 - 16 year olds, I find it socially irresponsible for this magazine to champion swearing and homophobia. This is the main reason I stopped buying it.
I've been getting Personal Computer World for years and years and years now, so I just stick with that.
Joji 15 Apr 2005 19:56
8/8
Dude to you long enough to notice but NMS is a terrible teen gamers mag. It's full of drivel which is written in a kind of Mean Machines way but not as good. To be honest I should be even mentioning the two mag in the same sentence. Mean Machines was a top class mag and very few mags are like it anymore.
NMS is stuck in a Nintendo timewarp. The very design of the rag hasn't changed much in all these years along with the stagnant content. It appeals to young gamers but with nintendo's stance on spreading the gaming net across more ages the mag should be revamped, especially if their very name graces it's cover. Maybe though it's crap the fact it hasn't changed much is a double edge sword for it these days.
As for Future, it's only a matter of time before the gaming mag market goes out like dot com companies if they write crap and less people buy and more look online. I know Edge isn't as good as it was but their is little like it on the newsstand. Games tm is on par if not better than it I feel.
If OFT wanna investigate Future then let them.
NMS is stuck in a Nintendo timewarp. The very design of the rag hasn't changed much in all these years along with the stagnant content. It appeals to young gamers but with nintendo's stance on spreading the gaming net across more ages the mag should be revamped, especially if their very name graces it's cover. Maybe though it's crap the fact it hasn't changed much is a double edge sword for it these days.
As for Future, it's only a matter of time before the gaming mag market goes out like dot com companies if they write crap and less people buy and more look online. I know Edge isn't as good as it was but their is little like it on the newsstand. Games tm is on par if not better than it I feel.
If OFT wanna investigate Future then let them.