''Atari User'' was a British

computer magazine Computer magazines are about computers and related subjects, such as computer network, networking and the Internet. Most computer magazines offer (or offered) advice, some offer Programming language, programming Tutorial, tutorials, reviews of the ...

aimed at users of

Atari Atari () is a brand name that has been owned by several entities since its inception in 1972. It is currently owned by French publisher Atari SA through a subsidiary named Atari Interactive. The original Atari, Inc. (1972–1992), Atari, Inc., ...

home computers, and published by

Database Publications Europress was a British magazine and software publisher based in Adlington, near Macclesfield, Cheshire. Their magazine publishing business was previously known as Database Publications. The software division was renamed in 1999 to Actualize. His ...

(later known as Europress) between 1985 and 1988. ''Atari User'' was a general-interest computer magazine, containing

games A game is a structured form of play, usually undertaken for entertainment or fun, and sometimes used as an educational tool. Many games are also considered to be work (such as professional players of spectator sports or games) or art (such ...

reviews as well as

type-in program A type-in program or type-in listing was computer source code printed in a home computer magazine or book. It was meant to be entered via the keyboard by the reader and then saved to cassette tape or floppy disk. The result was a usable game, ...

s, tutorials and hardware projects. As with Database's other publications, its appearance was somewhat

conservative Conservatism is a cultural, social, and political philosophy that seeks to promote and to preserve traditional institutions, practices, and values. The central tenets of conservatism may vary in relation to the culture and civilization i ...

in comparison with its more games-oriented contemporaries, such as '' Computer and Video Games (C&VG)''. The editorial style was equally restrained and relatively formal. Andre Willey was one of the early editors of this magazine after being promoted from Technical Editor.

History

Early editions primarily focused on the

Atari 8-bit family The Atari 8-bit family is a series of 8-bit home computers introduced by Atari, Inc. in 1979 as the Atari 400 and Atari 800. The series was successively upgraded to Atari 1200XL , Atari 600XL, Atari 800XL, Atari 65XE, Atari 130XE, Atari 800XE, ...

(400/800/XL/XE) and the newly launched

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 ...

range (although they included news of other Atari products such as the relaunched

Atari 2600 The Atari 2600, initially branded as the Atari Video Computer System (Atari VCS) from its release until November 1982, is a home video game console developed and produced by Atari, Inc. Released in September 1977, it popularized microprocessor- ...

and

Atari 7800 The Atari 7800 ProSystem, or simply the Atari 7800, is a home video game console officially released by Atari Corporation in 1986 as the successor to both the Atari 2600 and Atari 5200. It can run almost all Atari 2600 cartridges, making it one o ...

consoles). As the popularity of the ST increased, it was given its own pull-out section called "Atari ST User". From the April 1987 issue onward, ''

Atari ST User ''Atari ST User'' was a British computer magazine aimed at users of the Atari ST range. It started life as a pull-out section in ''Atari User'' magazine. From March 1986 onwards it became a magazine in its own right, outliving its parent by a numb ...

'' was spun off as a magazine in its own right and went on to outlive its parent by a number of years. After the split, ''Atari User'' was almost entirely oriented towards the 8-bit computers. Until late 1987, when ''

Page 6 ''Page 6'' (subtitled ''Atari Users Magazine'' and later known as ''Page 6 Atari User'', then ''New Atari User'') was an independent British publication aimed at users of Atari home computers. It was published between 1982 and 1998. The magazi ...

'' magazine became available on newsstands, ''Atari User'' was the only British magazine with dedicated (or even significant) support for the 8-bit Atari line to be sold in shops. Following publication of the final issue in November 1988, Database sold the 'Atari User' name (but not 'Atari ST User') to the publishers of ''Page 6'' magazine, an independent rival. ''Page 6'' was briefly renamed ''Page 6 Atari User'', before settling on ''New Atari User''. Despite the name, ''New Atari User'' was to all intents and purposes the same magazine as ''Page 6''; it had virtually no editorial continuity with the old ''Atari User''.

References

{{Reflist

External links

Archived Atari User magazines on the Internet Archive __NOTOC__ 1985 establishments in the United Kingdom Defunct computer magazines published in the United Kingdom Atari 8-bit computer magazines Atari ST magazines Magazines established in 1985 Magazines disestablished in 1988 Video game magazines published in the United Kingdom

History

See also

References

External links