''Atari User'' was a British
computer magazine
Computer magazines are about computers and related subjects, such as networking and the Internet. Most computer magazines offer (or offered) advice, some offer programming tutorials, reviews of the latest technologies, and advertisements.
Hi ...
aimed at users of
Atari home computers, and published by
Database Publications (later known as Europress) between 1985 and 1988.
''Atari User'' was a general-interest computer magazine, containing
games
A game is a structured form of play, usually undertaken for entertainment or fun, and sometimes used as an educational tool. Many games are also considered to be work (such as professional players of spectator sports or games) or art (su ...
reviews as well as
type-in program
A type-in program or type-in listing was computer source code printed in a home computer magazine or book. It was meant to be entered via the Keyboard (computing), keyboard by the reader and then saved to Compact Cassette (data), cassette tape or ...
s, tutorials and
hardware
Hardware may refer to:
Technology Computing and electronics
* Electronic hardware, interconnected electronic components which perform analog or logic operations
** Digital electronics, electronics that operate on digital signals
*** Computer hard ...
projects. As with Database's other publications, its appearance was somewhat
conservative
Conservatism is a cultural, social, and political philosophy that seeks to promote and to preserve traditional institutions, practices, and values. The central tenets of conservatism may vary in relation to the culture and civilization in ...
in comparison with its more games-oriented contemporaries, such as ''
Computer and Video Games (C&VG)''. The editorial style was equally restrained and relatively formal. Andre Willey was one of the early editors of this magazine after being promoted from Technical Editor.
History
Early editions primarily focused on the
Atari 8-bit family
The Atari 8-bit family is a series of 8-bit home computers introduced by Atari, Inc. in 1979 as the Atari 400 and Atari 800. The series was successively upgraded to Atari 1200XL , Atari 600XL, Atari 800XL, Atari 65XE, Atari 130XE, Atari 800XE ...
(400/800/XL/XE) and the newly launched
Atari ST range (although they included news of other Atari products such as the relaunched
Atari 2600
The Atari 2600, initially branded as the Atari Video Computer System (Atari VCS) from its release until November 1982, is a home video game console developed and produced by Atari, Inc. Released in September 1977, it popularized microprocess ...
and
Atari 7800
The Atari 7800 ProSystem, or simply the Atari 7800, is a home video game console officially released by Atari Corporation in 1986 as the successor to both the Atari 2600 and Atari 5200. It can run almost all Atari 2600 cartridges, making it one ...
consoles). As the popularity of the ST increased, it was given its own pull-out section called "Atari ST User". From the April 1987 issue onward, ''
Atari ST User'' was
spun off as a magazine in its own right and went on to outlive its parent by a number of years.
After the split, ''Atari User'' was almost entirely oriented towards the 8-bit computers. Until late 1987, when ''
Page 6
''Page 6'' (subtitled ''Atari Users Magazine'' and later known as ''Page 6 Atari User'', then ''New Atari User'') was an independent British publication aimed at users of Atari home computers. It was published between 1982 and 1998. The maga ...
'' magazine became available on
newsstands, ''Atari User'' was the only British magazine with dedicated (or even significant) support for the 8-bit Atari line to be sold in shops.
Following publication of the final issue in November 1988, Database sold the 'Atari User' name (but not 'Atari ST User') to the publishers of ''Page 6'' magazine, an independent rival.
''Page 6'' was briefly renamed ''Page 6 Atari User'',
before settling on ''New Atari User''.
Despite the name, ''New Atari User'' was to all intents and purposes the same magazine as ''Page 6''; it had virtually no editorial continuity with the old ''Atari User''.
See also
*''
Antic
Alphanumeric Television Interface Controller (ANTIC) is an LSI ASIC dedicated to generating 2D computer graphics to be shown on a television screen or computer display. Under the direction of Jay Miner, the chip was designed in 1977-1978 by ...
''
*''
ANALOG Computing
''ANALOG Computing'' (an acronym for Atari Newsletter And Lots Of Games) was an American computer magazine devoted to the Atari 8-bit family of home computers. It was published from 1981 until 1989. In addition to reviews and tutorials, ''ANAL ...
''
References
{{Reflist
External links
Archived Atari User magazines on the Internet Archive
__NOTOC__
1985 establishments in the United Kingdom
Defunct computer magazines published in the United Kingdom
Atari 8-bit computer magazines
Atari ST magazines
Magazines established in 1985
Magazines disestablished in 1988
Video game magazines published in the United Kingdom