Play (PRC magazine)

Play (simplified Chinese: 家用电脑与游戏; pinyin: Jiāyòng Diànnǎo Yǔ Yóuxì; "Home Computer and Game") was a Chinese game-and-software oriented magazine founded in October 1993[3][4] and first officially published in June 1994 by Popular Science Press (科学普及出版社; Kēxué Pŭjí Chūbănshè). The magazine was originally named Jiāyòng Diànnǎo Yǔ Yóuxìjī (家用电脑与游戏机; lit. "Home Computer and Game Console"), and focused on both PC games and console games. In January 2001 it was renamed to its current name and its coverage shifted to focus on PC games exclusively, making it the first specialized PC gaming magazine in China.[5] Subsequently Play became one of the most important gaming magazines in mainland China.[6][7]

Play
EditorLiu Wei[1]
CategoriesVideo games
FrequencyMonthly
Circulation185,000[2]
PublisherPopular Science Press
First issueJune 1994
Final issue
Number		Dec. 2013
231[3][4]
CountryChina
Based inBeijing
LanguageMandarin Chinese
Websitehttp://www.joyplay.cn
ISSN1009-6183

In October 2013, a tweet from Play's official microblog, announced that the November-December issue (Issue #231[3][4]) would be released as a combined issue with a farewell-like statement.[6][8] According to Gamersky.com, the stoppage in publishing came due to both human and environmental factor: Reader preference for quantity rather than quality of information; Too much advertisement content; The increased role of internet-based video game journalism; and a general lack of a distinctive character.[9] Following only one year after the closure of the prominent journal Diànzǐ Yóuxì Ruǎnjiàn, the shutdown of Play after nearly 20 years of continual publication has been regarded in context with the earlier shutdown of big-name Western magazines like Electronic Gaming Monthly, GamePro, and Nintendo Power as an example of the global nature of the decline in printed publications.[1]

Historical timeline
  • October 1993 - State Science and Technology Commission approves the founding of Jiāyòng Diànnǎo Yǔ Yóuxìjī (家用电脑与游戏机; lit. "Home Computer and Game Console") as a Popular Science Press publication.[2]
  • June 1994 - The magazine's premier issue is released and publications continue bi-monthly.[2]
  • January 1995 - Release schedules are increased to make the magazine a monthly publication, and growing circulation figures place the publication among the top 10 most widely read Chinese periodicals.[2]
  • January 2001 - The magazine is renamed to Jiāyòng Diànnǎo Yǔ Yóuxì (家用电脑与游戏; lit. "Home Computer Game") and shifts emphasis solely to the PC game market.[2] At this point it also adopts its English moniker, Play.
  • January 2002 - The magazine becomes a full-color publication.[2]
  • 2003 - The magazine is honored by GAPP who award it prestigious Jin Ling Awards for Best Game-Related Media and Chinese Game Industry's Most Influential annual game-related media. The magazine is subsequently granted exhibition space at the prestigious ChinaJoy conference.[2]
  • October 2013 - The magazine announced its final issue for November-December 2013.[1][2]

References
  1. Squires, Jim. This Week in China: Print is Dead. Gamezebo. 15 November 2013.
  2. Staff. 《家用电脑与游戏》杂志今年内或将停刊. China Daily. 9 October 2013
  3. Staff. "《家用电脑与游戏》正式停刊主编微博告别". People's Daily (via China Daily). 15 November 2013.
  4. Staff. "《家用电脑与游戏》停刊主编发微博告别". PCGames (via China Daily). 15 November 2013.
  5. "1994年－ 中国内地游戏产业的"元年"" [1994 — "The first year" of game industry of Chinese Mainland] (in Chinese). Sina Corp. 12 December 2008. Retrieved 5 November 2013.
  6. 游民·superwave (12 October 2013). "时代的悲歌 论《家用电脑与游戏》的倒掉" [Elegy of era Discuss about falling of Home Computer Game] (in Chinese). gamersky.com. p. 1. Retrieved 5 November 2013.
  7. "见证 一本游戏杂志的消亡" [Witness, die out of a game magazine]. Netease (in Chinese). Retrieved 5 November 2013.
  8. Official microblog announcement. Sina Weibo. 8 October 2013
  9. "时代的悲歌 论《家用电脑与游戏》的倒掉" [Elegy of an era: discussions about the downfall of Home Computer Game]. Gamersky (in Chinese). 12 October 2013. p. 2. Retrieved 5 November 2013.
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