''ACE'' (Advanced Computer Entertainment) was a multi-format
computer and video game magazine first published in the
United Kingdom by
Future Publishing and later acquired by
EMAP
Ascential plc, formerly EMAP, is a British business-to-business media business specialising in exhibitions & festivals and information services. It is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is a constituent of the FTSE 250 Index.
History
Ric ...
.
History
ACE launched in October 1987, roughly the same time as Ludlow-based publisher
Newsfield's own multi-format magazine ''
The Games Machine''.
The magazine staff consisted mainly of ex-''
Amstrad Action
''Amstrad Action'' was a monthly magazine, published in the United Kingdom, which catered to owners of home computers from the Amstrad CPC range and later the GX4000 console.
It was the first magazine published by Chris Anderson's Future Publishin ...
'' (AA) and ''
Personal Computer Games'' staff, including launch co-editors Peter Connor and Steve Cooke. Andy Wilton, ex-AA, was brought in as Reviews Editor, while Dave Packer and Andy Smith were hired as Staff Writers. Trevor Gilham, another ex-AA member, held the position of Art Editor.
Between June and July 1989 (issues 21 and 22) the magazine was sold to EMAP, and Future Publishing redeployed the original ''ACE'' staff to work on their ''
Amiga Format'' and ''
ST Format'' titles.
Content
Coverage initially included
Atari ST
The Atari ST is a line of personal computers from Atari Corporation and the successor to the Atari 8-bit family. The initial model, the Atari 520ST, had limited release in April–June 1985 and was widely available in July. It was the first pers ...
,
Amiga
Amiga is a family of personal computers introduced by Commodore in 1985. The original model is one of a number of mid-1980s computers with 16- or 32-bit processors, 256 KB or more of RAM, mouse-based GUIs, and significantly improved graphi ...
,
C64
The Commodore 64, also known as the C64, is an 8-bit home computer introduced in January 1982 by Commodore International (first shown at the Consumer Electronics Show, January 7–10, 1982, in Las Vegas). It has been listed in the Guinness Wo ...
,
ZX Spectrum and
Amstrad CPC, but also included newer machines as they were released. Although games features were the mainstay, other articles on graphics and computer music were featured. A cover cassette, and later a floppy disk, was included with the magazine featuring games demos.
Regular editorial features included Interface; News, Letters, The Blitter End. The Specials; features and Gameplay; Screen Test, Arcades, Tricks 'n' Tactics, Adventures.
Screen Test
Screen Test was the games review section. Games were rated (out of ten) on Visual effects, Audio, IQ Factor, Fun Factor and an overall rating. Games were seen by all the reviewers, and the overall rating was notable for scoring games out of 1000 rather than the usual percentage or mark out of 10. Also introduced was the Predicted Interest Curve graph where the game was given a line graph predicting the long term interest in the game over many months.
See also
*
Video game journalism
*
Video game industry
References
External links
Profile of ''ACE'' magazineat Amiga History
''ACE'' Magazine Archiveat the
Internet Archive
{{Future plc
1987 establishments in the United Kingdom
1992 disestablishments in the United Kingdom
Defunct computer magazines published in the United Kingdom
Magazines established in 1987
Magazines disestablished in 1992
Mass media in Bath, Somerset
Monthly magazines published in the United Kingdom
Video game magazines published in the United Kingdom