ABC Results Jan-Jun 2005:Edge Magazine Bucks Gaming Slump
The majority of titles in the UK’s gaming market saw declines in the six months to June, with only a handful of titles making an increase in sales.
Future’s Edge magazine put in a good performance adding 13.2% to its circulation year on year. The title now commands sales of 28,790. The publisher’s Official UK Xbox Magazine also performed well, adding 1.8% in the same period, reaching just over 85,000. Meanwhile, Future’s Games Master and PSM2 magazines added 0.2% and 0.3% to their circulation figures respectively, sitting at 55,388 and 45,276.
Future’s NGC Magazine saw the largest percentage decline in circulation, shedding 42.6% year on year in the six months to June. The title’s total sales now stand at 13,670.
Highbury Entertainment’s Cube was also badly hit, with the slump in Britain’s gaming market claiming 27% of its circulation, while Emap’s sole gaming title, Nintendo Official Magazine UK suffered a similar fate, shedding 18.1% of its circulation in the six months to June.
Future Publishing’s Official Playstation 2 magazine remains the market leader. However, a 24.9% downturn in sales year on year could be the beginning of the end for the title, with the successor to the Playstation 2 games console due to hit the shelves within the next 12 months, signaling the end of the title’s life.
| Gaming Magazines: Jul-Dec 2004 Year On Year Comparisons | |||||
| Title | Publisher | Jan 04-Jun 04 | Jan 05-Jun 05 | Actual Change | % Ch |
| Cube | Highbury Entertainment | 29,172 | 21,302 | -7,870 | -27.0 |
| Edge | Future Publishing | 27,464 | 31,078 | 3,614 | 13.2 |
| GamesMaster | Future Publishing | 55,254 | 55,388 | 134 | 0.2 |
| NGC Magazine | Future Publishing | 23,804 | 13,670 | -10,134 | -42.6 |
| Nintendo Official Magazine UK | Emap Active | 46,108 | 37,760 | -8,348 | -18.1 |
| Official Playstation 2 Magazine | Future Publishing | 177,450 | 133,242 | -44,208 | -24.9 |
| Official UK Xbox Magazine | Future Publishing | 83,549 | 85,072 | 1,523 | 1.8 |
| P2 | Highbury Entertainment | 18,929 | 15,638 | -3,291 | -17.4 |
| PC Gamer | Future Publishing | 57,748 | 48,326 | -9,422 | -16.3 |
| PC Zone | Future Publishing | 41,073 | 32,632 | -8,441 | -20.6 |
| Play | Highbury Entertainment | 54,109 | 46,567 | -7,542 | -13.9 |
| PSM2 | Future Publishing | 45,147 | 45,276 | 129 | 0.3 |
| PSW (Formerly Playstation World) | Future Publishing | 56,834 | 50,618 | -6,216 | -10.9 |
| XBM | Highbury Entertainment | 29,559 | 26,376 | -3,183 | -10.8 |
The figures listed in NewsLine’s ABC reports are those reported by the Audit Bureau of Circulations (ABC) as at Thursday 18 August 2005. Late submissions and changes may be made after this date, and will thereafter be amended in MediaTel’s Press database.
ABC: 01442 870 800 www.abc.org.uk