DC-UK
 DC-UK #16, November 2000 | |
| Editor | Caspar Field, Keith Stuart, Lee Hart |
|---|---|
| Categories | Video games magazines |
| Frequency | Monthly |
| First issue | August 1999 |
| Final issue — Number |
March 2001 20 |
| Company | Future plc |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| ISSN | 1467-5250 |
DC-UK was a Dreamcast video game magazine published by Future plc in the United Kingdom. Its first issue was published in August 1999 and it ran until 2001. The magazine was launched by ex-Edge deputy editor Caspar Field, who edited the first seven issues. After his departure to launch the children's Dreamcast magazine, Mr Dreamcast,[1] associate editor Keith Stuart took over until issue 19. At this point, then-deputy editor Lee Hart took over for the single issue that remained.
At launch, DC-UK changed the prevailing Future plc games magazine running order of the time, which went news - previews - features - reviews - tips - letters, by rearranging some of the major sections. This resulted in a running order of reviews - news - features - previews - tips - letters. The magazine also offered some additional content, such as interviews with game developers and attempts at unusual features, such as creating cocktails themed around famous Sega characters. Following Field's departure, DC-UK reverted to the standard Future plc format, which was used until the magazine's closure. The upbeat feel of the magazine, however, continued throughout every issue, and prior to being revised the title was nominated for the 1999 InDin Magazine of the Year award.
Sales of DC-UK, particularly during the early months of its existence, were strong[2] – often coming close to those of the Official Dreamcast Magazine (UK) despite the latter selling with a cover-mounted disc featuring demo versions of games. DC-UK had in fact started life as Future Publishing's pitch for the rights to the UK Dreamcast magazine license. However, Sony Computer Entertainment Europe (SCEE), from which Future held the rights to the Official UK PlayStation Magazine, objected, leading Future to withdraw its bid for the Dreamcast deal.
In March 2000 Future published the first issue of the short-lived DC-UK spin-off title DC-TIPS. Both DC-TIPS and DC-UK's sales began to suffer[3] during early 2000 as British public interest in Dreamcast declined during the run-up to PlayStation 2's November 2000 arrival in Europe.
Website
During the magazine's run it was supported by a website at dc-uk.co.uk. This closed on 8 March 2001, shortly after the magazine's last issue had gone on sale, with the message 'Goodbye folks!'.
References
- ↑ "We'd Like To Say Hi To Mr. Dreamcast". GameSetWatch. Think Services. 2006-09-28. Retrieved 2009-02-14.
- ↑ "New titles and Internet magazines maintain circulation growth and diversification at Future UK". Press Release. Future plc. 2000-02-11. Archived from the original on 2007-10-23. Retrieved 2009-02-14.
- ↑ Vickers, Amy (2001-02-16). "Future axes 350 jobs as magazines close". The Guardian. London: Guardian Media Group. Retrieved 2009-02-14.