Amstrad Action
Amstrad Action was the longest-running news-stand UK Amstrad magazine, published monthly between October 1985 and June 1995.
It was the first title published by Future Publishing, which has subsequently grown to become the UK's fifth largest magazine publishing company. Broad-based coverage of all things CPC, together with an irreverent writing style, made 'AA' a perennial favourite and at its peak it recorded ABC circulation figures in excess of 38,000.
AA was one of the first magazines to have a software cassette mounted to the front cover. Such covermounts (of tapes or discs) latterly became almost obligatory for computer magazines. Though AA's covertapes were initially for special issues only, Christamas and AA birthdays, the magazine eventually began to issue one every month - containing user listings, utilities, and demos or full versions of commercial games.
Contents
History
Published by Future Publishing, a company set up by Chris Anderson (ex-Personal Computer Games and Zzap!64 editor). Launch Editor, Peter Connor, also an ex-PCG staff member, shared the writing duties with the only other staff writer, Bob Wade. Bob, another ex-PCG/Zzap!64, was given the title ‘Software Editor’ and would review the vast majority of the games featured, with Peter giving a second opinion. Trevor Gilham, Art Editor, would complete the four man team.
Issue 1 (dated October 1985) was released in September 1985 with the cover price of £1; 1 pence for every one of the 100 pages. It took the new publication a few issues to find its readers, but with the help of a bumper 116 page Christmas 1985 issue with a cover mounted tape, the circulation figures grew rapidly.
In October 1986 Amstrad Action split into three separate publications. AA still catered for the CPC range, while 8000 Plus and PC Plus focused on the Amstrad PCW and PC range respectively.
AA finally gave in to reader’s pleas to have a permanent cover tape. An announcement was made, in AA66, that the following issue would, not only contain a cover tape, but contain more colour and be printed on different paper. Review pages were also slightly re-designed.
April 1992 and the ABC (Audit Bureau of Circulation) figures showing, yet another, increase: 37,120 - The highest ABC since July-December 1988’s 38,457.
AA 100 looked at the top 100 products for the CPC and also a trip down memory lane, including past editors and staff. As circulation figures wind down further still there was a drastic drop in page numbers from 60 to 36 in July 1994's AA106. More compact issues mean no superfluous columns or features. AA107 became the first issue with only one member of official staff.
AA111 and no credits list, although we could deduct that the new editor was Karen Levell, who answered the Reaction letters and confirmed her appointment as editor. June 1995 and although everything appeared as normal in AA117, with AA118 advertised in the next month box, this is the last AA ever.
AA staff and contributors
Editors
- Pete Connor
- Matt Nicholson
- Jim Nagel
- Bob Wade
- Steve Carey
- Rod Lawton
- Linda Barker
- Dave Golder
- Tim Norris
- Karen Levell
- probably some more
Other full-time editorial staff
- Richard Monteiro (technical editor)
- Pat McDonald (technical editor)
- Adam Waring (technical editor)
- Adam Peters (staff writer)
- Simon Forrester (staff writer)
- Rebecca Lack (production editor)
- lots and lots more
Freelance writers
- The Pilgrim aka Steve Cooke (adventure columnist)
- The Balrog aka Stuart Whyte (adventure columnist)
- Jerry Glenwright (PD columnist)
- Caroline Lamb aka Steve Williams (PD columnist)
- Tim Blackbond (PD columnist)
- Keith Woods (PD columnist)
- David Crookes (fanzine columnist)
- Richard Wildey (reviewer)
- Angela Cook (reviewer)
- Richard Fairhurst (technical writer)
Links
- Amstrad Action scans - every issue online (currently offline)
- Future Publishing
- Wikipedia entry for Future Publishing
- Amstrad Action
- Coverscans of every issue
Covers
| [[/index.php/Image:Amstrad_Action_001.jpg|[[Image:]]]] Issue 001 |
[[/index.php/Image:Amstrad_Action_002.jpg|[[Image:]]]] Issue 002 |
[[/index.php/Image:Amstrad_Action_003.jpg|[[Image:]]]] Issue 003 |
[[/index.php/Image:Amstrad_Action_004.jpg|[[Image:]]]] Issue 004 |
| [[/index.php/Image:Amstrad_Action_005.jpg|[[Image:]]]] Issue 005 |
[[/index.php/Image:Amstrad_Action_006.jpg|[[Image:]]]] Issue 006 |
[[/index.php/Image:Amstrad_Action_007.jpg|[[Image:]]]] Issue 007 |
[[/index.php/Image:Amstrad_Action_008.jpg|[[Image:]]]] Issue 008 |
| [[/index.php/Image:Amstrad_Action_009.jpg|[[Image:]]]] Issue 009 |
[[/index.php/Image:Amstrad_Action_010.jpg|[[Image:]]]] Issue 010 |
[[/index.php/Image:Amstrad_Action_011.jpg|[[Image:]]]] Issue 011 |
[[/index.php/Image:Amstrad_Action_012.jpg|[[Image:]]]] Issue 012 |
| [[/index.php/Image:Amstrad_Action_013.jpg|[[Image:]]]] Issue 013 |
[[/index.php/Image:Amstrad_Action_014.jpg|[[Image:]]]] Issue 014 |
[[/index.php/Image:Amstrad_Action_015.jpg|[[Image:]]]] Issue 015 |
[[/index.php/Image:Amstrad_Action_016.jpg|[[Image:]]]] Issue 016 |
| [[/index.php/Image:Amstrad_Action_017.jpg|[[Image:]]]] Issue 017 |
[[/index.php/Image:Amstrad_Action_018.jpg|[[Image:]]]] Issue 018 |
[[/index.php/Image:Amstrad_Action_019.jpg|[[Image:]]]] Issue 019 |
[[/index.php/Image:Amstrad_Action_020.jpg|[[Image:]]]] Issue 020 |
| [[/index.php/Image:Amstrad_Action_021.jpg|[[Image:]]]] Issue 021 |
[[/index.php/Image:Amstrad_Action_022.jpg|[[Image:]]]] Issue 022 |
[[/index.php/Image:Amstrad_Action_023.jpg|[[Image:]]]] Issue 023 |
[[/index.php/Image:Amstrad_Action_024.jpg|[[Image:]]]] Issue 024 |
| [[/index.php/Image:Amstrad_Action_025.jpg|[[Image:]]]] Issue 025 |
[[/index.php/Image:Amstrad_Action_026.jpg|[[Image:]]]] Issue 026 |
[[/index.php/Image:Amstrad_Action_027.jpg|[[Image:]]]] Issue 027 |
[[/index.php/Image:Amstrad_Action_028.jpg|[[Image:]]]] Issue 028 |
| [[/index.php/Image:Amstrad_Action_029.jpg|[[Image:]]]] Issue 029 |
[[/index.php/Image:Amstrad_Action_030.jpg|[[Image:]]]] Issue 030 |
[[/index.php/Image:Amstrad_Action_031.jpg|[[Image:]]]] Issue 031 |
[[/index.php/Image:Amstrad_Action_032.jpg|[[Image:]]]] Issue 032 |
| [[/index.php/Image:Amstrad_Action_033.jpg|[[Image:]]]] Issue 033 |
[[/index.php/Image:Amstrad_Action_034.jpg|[[Image:]]]] Issue 034 |
[[/index.php/Image:Amstrad_Action_035.jpg|[[Image:]]]] Issue 035 |
[[/index.php/Image:Amstrad_Action_036.jpg|[[Image:]]]] Issue 036 |
| [[/index.php/Image:Amstrad_Action_037.jpg|[[Image:]]]] Issue 037 |
[[/index.php/Image:Amstrad_Action_038.jpg|[[Image:]]]] Issue 038 |
[[/index.php/Image:Amstrad_Action_039.jpg|[[Image:]]]] Issue 039 |
[[/index.php/Image:Amstrad_Action_040.jpg|[[Image:]]]] Issue 040 |
| [[/index.php/Image:Amstrad_Action_041.jpg|[[Image:]]]] Issue 041 |
[[/index.php/Image:Amstrad_Action_042.jpg|[[Image:]]]] Issue 042 |
[[/index.php/Image:Amstrad_Action_043.jpg|[[Image:]]]] Issue 043 |
[[/index.php/Image:Amstrad_Action_044.jpg|[[Image:]]]] Issue 044 |
| [[/index.php/Image:Amstrad_Action_045.jpg|[[Image:]]]] Issue 045 |
[[/index.php/Image:Amstrad_Action_046.jpg|[[Image:]]]] Issue 046 |
[[/index.php/Image:Amstrad_Action_047.jpg|[[Image:]]]] Issue 047 |
[[/index.php/Image:Amstrad_Action_048.jpg|[[Image:]]]] Issue 048 |
| [[/index.php/Image:Amstrad_Action_049.jpg|[[Image:]]]] Issue 049 |
[[/index.php/Image:Amstrad_Action_050.jpg|[[Image:]]]] Issue 050 |
[[/index.php/Image:Amstrad_Action_051.jpg|[[Image:]]]] Issue 051 |
[[/index.php/Image:Amstrad_Action_052.jpg|[[Image:]]]] Issue 052 |
| [[/index.php/Image:Amstrad_Action_053.jpg|[[Image:]]]] Issue 053 |
[[/index.php/Image:Amstrad_Action_054.jpg|[[Image:]]]] Issue 054 |
[[/index.php/Image:Amstrad_Action_055.jpg|[[Image:]]]] Issue 055 |
[[/index.php/Image:Amstrad_Action_056.jpg|[[Image:]]]] Issue 056 |
| [[/index.php/Image:Amstrad_Action_057.jpg|[[Image:]]]] Issue 057 |
[[/index.php/Image:Amstrad_Action_058.jpg|[[Image:]]]] Issue 058 |
[[/index.php/Image:Amstrad_Action_059.jpg|[[Image:]]]] Issue 059 |
[[/index.php/Image:Amstrad_Action_060.jpg|[[Image:]]]] Issue 060 |
| [[/index.php/Image:Amstrad_Action_061.jpg|[[Image:]]]] Issue 061 |
[[/index.php/Image:Amstrad_Action_062.jpg|[[Image:]]]] Issue 062 |
[[/index.php/Image:Amstrad_Action_063.jpg|[[Image:]]]] Issue 063 |
[[/index.php/Image:Amstrad_Action_064.jpg|[[Image:]]]] Issue 064 |
| [[/index.php/Image:Amstrad_Action_065.jpg|[[Image:]]]] Issue 065 |
[[/index.php/Image:Amstrad_Action_066.jpg|[[Image:]]]] Issue 066 |
[[/index.php/Image:Amstrad_Action_067.jpg|[[Image:]]]] Issue 067 |
[[/index.php/Image:Amstrad_Action_068.jpg|[[Image:]]]] Issue 068 |
| [[/index.php/Image:Amstrad_Action_069.jpg|[[Image:]]]] Issue 069 |
[[/index.php/Image:Amstrad_Action_070.jpg|[[Image:]]]] Issue 070 |
[[/index.php/Image:Amstrad_Action_071.jpg|[[Image:]]]] Issue 071 |
[[/index.php/Image:Amstrad_Action_072.jpg|[[Image:]]]] Issue 072 |
| [[/index.php/Image:Amstrad_Action_073.jpg|[[Image:]]]] Issue 073 |
[[/index.php/Image:Amstrad_Action_074.jpg|[[Image:]]]] Issue 074 |
[[/index.php/Image:Amstrad_Action_075.jpg|[[Image:]]]] Issue 075 |
[[/index.php/Image:Amstrad_Action_076.jpg|[[Image:]]]] Issue 076 |
| [[/index.php/Image:Amstrad_Action_077.jpg|[[Image:]]]] Issue 077 |
[[/index.php/Image:Amstrad_Action_078.jpg|[[Image:]]]] Issue 078 |
[[/index.php/Image:Amstrad_Action_079.jpg|[[Image:]]]] Issue 079 |
[[/index.php/Image:Amstrad_Action_080.jpg|[[Image:]]]] Issue 080 |
| [[/index.php/Image:Amstrad_Action_081.jpg|[[Image:]]]] Issue 081 |
[[/index.php/Image:Amstrad_Action_082.jpg|[[Image:]]]] Issue 082 |
[[/index.php/Image:Amstrad_Action_083.jpg|[[Image:]]]] Issue 083 |
[[/index.php/Image:Amstrad_Action_084.jpg|[[Image:]]]] Issue 084 |
| [[/index.php/Image:Amstrad_Action_085.jpg|[[Image:]]]] Issue 085 |
[[/index.php/Image:Amstrad_Action_086.jpg|[[Image:]]]] Issue 086 |
[[/index.php/Image:Amstrad_Action_087.jpg|[[Image:]]]] Issue 087 |
[[/index.php/Image:Amstrad_Action_088.jpg|[[Image:]]]] Issue 088 |
| [[/index.php/Image:Amstrad_Action_089.jpg|[[Image:]]]] Issue 089 |
[[/index.php/Image:Amstrad_Action_090.jpg|[[Image:]]]] Issue 090 |
[[/index.php/Image:Amstrad_Action_091.jpg|[[Image:]]]] Issue 091 |
[[/index.php/Image:Amstrad_Action_092.jpg|[[Image:]]]] Issue 092 |
| [[/index.php/Image:Amstrad_Action_093.jpg|[[Image:]]]] Issue 093 |
[[/index.php/Image:Amstrad_Action_094.jpg|[[Image:]]]] Issue 094 |
[[/index.php/Image:Amstrad_Action_095.jpg|[[Image:]]]] Issue 095 |
[[/index.php/Image:Amstrad_Action_096.jpg|[[Image:]]]] Issue 096 |
| [[/index.php/Image:Amstrad_Action_097.jpg|[[Image:]]]] Issue 097 |
[[/index.php/Image:Amstrad_Action_098.jpg|[[Image:]]]] Issue 098 |
[[/index.php/Image:Amstrad_Action_099.jpg|[[Image:]]]] Issue 099 |
[[/index.php/Image:Amstrad_Action_100.jpg|[[Image:]]]] Issue 100 |
| [[/index.php/Image:Amstrad_Action_101.jpg|[[Image:]]]] Issue 101 |
[[/index.php/Image:Amstrad_Action_102.jpg|[[Image:]]]] Issue 102 |
[[/index.php/Image:Amstrad_Action_103.jpg|[[Image:]]]] Issue 103 |
[[/index.php/Image:Amstrad_Action_104.jpg|[[Image:]]]] Issue 104 |
| [[/index.php/Image:Amstrad_Action_105.jpg|[[Image:]]]] Issue 105 |
[[/index.php/Image:Amstrad_Action_106.jpg|[[Image:]]]] Issue 106 |
[[/index.php/Image:Amstrad_Action_107.jpg|[[Image:]]]] Issue 107 |
[[/index.php/Image:Amstrad_Action_108.jpg|[[Image:]]]] Issue 108 |
| [[/index.php/Image:Amstrad_Action_109.jpg|[[Image:]]]] Issue 109 |
[[/index.php/Image:Amstrad_Action_110.jpg|[[Image:]]]] Issue 110 |
[[/index.php/Image:Amstrad_Action_111.jpg|[[Image:]]]] Issue 111 |
[[/index.php/Image:Amstrad_Action_112.jpg|[[Image:]]]] Issue 112 |
| [[/index.php/Image:Amstrad_Action_113.jpg|[[Image:]]]] Issue 113 |
[[/index.php/Image:Amstrad_Action_114.jpg|[[Image:]]]] Issue 114 |
[[/index.php/Image:Amstrad_Action_115.jpg|[[Image:]]]] Issue 115 |
[[/index.php/Image:Amstrad_Action_116.jpg|[[Image:]]]] Issue 116 |
| [[/index.php/Image:Amstrad_Action_117.jpg|[[Image:]]]] Issue 117 |
