''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. ...

aimed at users of

Atari Atari () is a brand name that has been owned by several entities since its inception in 1972. It is currently owned by French holding company Atari SA (formerly Infogrames) and its focus is on "video games, consumer hardware, licensing and bl ...

home computer Home computers were a class of microcomputers that entered the market in 1977 and became common during the 1980s. They were marketed to consumers as affordable and accessible computers that, for the first time, were intended for the use of a s ...

s, 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 Structure, structured type of play (activity), play usually undertaken for entertainment or fun, and sometimes used as an Educational game, educational tool. Many games are also considered to be Work (human activity), work (such as p ...

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 by the reader and then saved to cassette tape or floppy disk. The result was a usable game, ut ...

s, tutorials and hardware projects. As with Database's other publications, its appearance was somewhat

conservative Conservatism is a cultural, social, and political philosophy and ideology that seeks to promote and preserve traditional institutions, customs, and values. The central tenets of conservatism may vary in relation to the culture and civiliza ...

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 computers The Atari 8-bit computers, formally launched as the Atari Home Computer System, are a series of home computers introduced by Atari, Inc., in 1979 with the Atari 400 and Atari 800. The architecture is designed around the 8-bit MOS Technology 650 ...

(400/800/XL/XE) and the newly launched

Atari ST Atari ST is a line of personal computers from Atari Corporation and the successor to the company's Atari 8-bit computers, 8-bit computers. The initial model, the Atari 520ST, had limited release in April–June 1985, and was widely available i ...

range (although they included news of other Atari products such as the relaunched

Atari 2600 The Atari 2600 is a home video game console developed and produced by Atari, Inc. Released in September 1977 as the Atari Video Computer System (Atari VCS), it popularized microprocessor-based hardware and games stored on swappable ROM cartridg ...

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 the ...

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'') was a British magazine aimed at users of Atari 8-bit computers and Atari ST home computers. The first issue was in 1982, and it was renamed to ''Page 6 Atari User'' and then ''New Atari User'' be ...

'' magazine became available on

newsstand A newsagent's shop or simply newsagent's or paper shop (British English), newsagency (Australian English) or newsstand (American English, American and Canadian English) is a business that sells newspapers, magazines, cigarettes, snacks and oft ...

s, ''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''.

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 Computer magazines published in the United Kingdom

History

See also

References

External links