''Joystick'' (formerly ''Joystick Hebdo'') was a French

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 ...

that published monthly issues on

PC game A personal computer game, also known as a PC game or computer game, is a type of video game played on a personal computer (PC) rather than a video game console or arcade machine. Its defining characteristics include: more diverse and user-deter ...

s. It was founded in 1988 by Marc Andersen, who later left in November 1995. Originally published in the form of a 32-page weekly magazine in 1988 and 1989, it saw monthly 148-page issues (and more) past 1990. It initially sold with one or more

floppy disk A floppy disk or floppy diskette (casually referred to as a floppy, or a diskette) is an obsolescent type of disk storage composed of a thin and flexible disk of a magnetic storage medium in a square or nearly square plastic enclosure lined w ...

s and then later with several

CD-ROM A CD-ROM (, compact disc read-only memory) is a type of read-only memory consisting of a pre-pressed optical compact disc that contains data. Computers can read—but not write or erase—CD-ROMs. Some CDs, called enhanced CDs, hold both comput ...

s, and finally, until April 2012, a DVD that included complete copies of

video game Video games, also known as computer games, are electronic games that involves interaction with a user interface or input device such as a joystick, controller, keyboard, or motion sensing device to generate visual feedback. This fee ...

s. In 2012, ''Joystick'' ceased distribution. Despite 80,000 unique visitors per month to ''Joystick'''s website, it was closed in March 2002 due to the lack of profitability. It reopened in early 2008 as a summary of the magazine, including video game reviews and video game news; it would be updated irregularly until June 2012.

History

The first issue of ''Joystick Hebdo'' was published on 9 November 1988 and contained cheat-code listings, game testings and reviews. Sometime between November 1989 and January 1990, ''Joystick Hebdo'' rebranded as ''Joystick'' and began selling monthly issues. In June 1993, ''Joystick'' was purchased by Hachette Digital Presse. In 2003, Hachette Digital Presse was acquired by

Future The future is the time after the past and present. Its arrival is considered inevitable due to the existence of time and the laws of physics. Due to the apparent nature of reality and the unavoidability of the future, everything that currently ...

. During this time, many editors left ''Joystick'' and created the independent publication ''

Canard PC ''Canard PC'' is an independent magazine founded in France in 2003 devoted to PC gaming and published monthly. The title ''Canard PC'' is a paronym, derived from ''Canard WC'', which is the French name for Toilet Duck. ''Canard PC''s independenc ...

''. In 2011, MER7 (formerly Future France) was

liquidated Liquidation is the process in accounting by which a company is brought to an end in Canada, United Kingdom, United States, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, Italy, and many other countries. The assets and property of the company are redistrib ...

, causing the last issue of ''Joystick'' to release on 23 November 2012. On 8 February 2013, based on a decision by the Paris Commercial Court,

Anuman Interactive Microids (formerly Microïds) is a French video game developer and publisher based in Paris. Founded in 1985 by Elliot Grassiano, it attained early success with games published through Loriciel in France and other partners (including Activision ...

acquired the ''Joystick'' brand and announced ''Joystick Replay'' in March 2013. On 17 May 2018, ZQSD.fr and Anuman launched a

podcast A podcast is a program made available in digital format for download over the Internet. For example, an episodic series of digital audio or video files that a user can download to a personal device to listen to at a time of their choosing ...

series to commemorate the magazine. It showcases interviews with former ''Joystick'' writers and editors.

Joystick Replay

In March 2013, Anuman Interactive announced ''Joystick Replay'', a game label that repurposes retro PC games for the modern age. It has published remakes of games such as ''

Darkstone ''Darkstone: Evil Reigns'' (''Darkstone'' in North America) is an action role-playing video game developed by Delphine Software International for Microsoft Windows and PlayStation. In 2014, the French publisher Anuman Interactive launched a remak ...

'', ''Fire & Forget'', ''

Moto Racer ''Moto Racer'', mislabeled as ''Moto Racer Gold'', is an arcade style motorcycle racing game developed by Delphine Software International and published by Electronic Arts for Microsoft Windows and PlayStation. The game was originally to be publ ...

'', '' North Vs South'', '' Prehistorik'', ''Prohibition 1930'' and ''Titan''.

Controversy

On 3 July 2012, in the "Summer Special" issue of that year, Kévin Bitterlin, a former journalist for ''Joystick'', wrote in a review for the 2013

Tomb Raider ''Tomb Raider'', also known as ''Lara Croft: Tomb Raider'' from 2001 to 2008, is a media franchise that originated with an action-adventure video game series created by British gaming company Core Design. Formerly owned by Eidos Interactive, th ...

game "Subjecting one of the most iconic figures in video games to such torture is just great. And I daresay it is quite exciting." Many outraged reactions launched a debate on

sexism in video games Sexism in video gaming is prejudiced behavior or discrimination based on sex or gender as experienced by people who play and create video games, primarily women. This may manifest as sexual harassment or in the way genders are represented in ...

in France.

References

External links

* {{Authority control 1988 establishments in France 2012 disestablishments in France Defunct magazines published in France French-language magazines Magazines established in 1988 Magazines disestablished in 2012 Monthly magazines published in France Video game magazines published in France Magazines published in Paris