Escape – First Issue Review

After several weeks of delay due to the fact that the original first issue ‘crossed the boundaries of good taste’, Friday saw the launch of Dennis Publishing’s Escape magazine – an A4, glossy, perfect bound title, with a cover price of £2.50, aimed at lads with an interest in computers. The title according to its introduction is a reflection of what men aged 18-34 are really up to on their home computers!

With a guideline ‘Not suitable for under-18s’, and the ‘strapline’ -‘The magazine for cruisers, not loosers’- the title is littered with topless women – ‘The Net’s Top 20 Horny Babes’ is perhaps the least overtly pornographic item in the magazine; other features include, ‘Birds on the Wire’ – a guide to the best on-line sex pages including Instant Wank Line, Live Centerfold and Talk To Me Live-Live Adult Service. One can only wonder at what the first aborted issue may have contained. Whilst suggesting it is a reflection of male Internet users’ habits, the title would appear much more to be an initiation to pornography on the Net.

Borrowing the feel of Loaded the title appears to have a much more hard core approach, with an initial flick through giving more of a top shelf publication feel rather than a computer title.

Whilst there are articles on Eric Cantona, rallying and Wallace & Gromit, along with a number of games reviews it is difficult to imagine the title being bought for these items. As a saving grace the title does have good Internet, games and Multimedia listings.

The title has 108 pages, 14 of which are given over to advertising – virtually all games software companies. This first issue also has a free ‘101 Urban Myths’ booklet.

Dennis Publishing: 0171 631 1433