''Atomic'' (or ''Atomic MPC'') was a monthly
Australia
Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country comprising mainland Australia, the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania and list of islands of Australia, numerous smaller isl ...
n magazine and
online community
An online community, also called an internet community or web community, is a community whose members engage in computer-mediated communication primarily via the Internet. Members of the community usually share common interests. For many, on ...
that focused on
computing
Computing is any goal-oriented activity requiring, benefiting from, or creating computer, computing machinery. It includes the study and experimentation of algorithmic processes, and the development of both computer hardware, hardware and softw ...
and
technology
Technology is the application of Conceptual model, conceptual knowledge to achieve practical goals, especially in a reproducible way. The word ''technology'' can also mean the products resulting from such efforts, including both tangible too ...
, with a great emphasis on
gaming
Gaming may refer to:
Games and sports
The act of playing games, as in:
* Legalized gambling, playing games of chance for money, often referred to in law as "gaming"
* Playing a role-playing game, in which players assume fictional roles
* Playing ...
,
modding
Modding (from "modifying") is the act of modifying hardware, software, or anything else to perform a function not originally intended by the designer, or to achieve bespoke specification or appearance. The term is often used in reference to vid ...
and
computer hardware
Computer hardware includes the physical parts of a computer, such as the central processing unit (CPU), random-access memory (RAM), motherboard, computer data storage, graphics card, sound card, and computer case. It includes external devices ...
. ''Atomic'' was marketed at technology enthusiasts and covered topics that were not normally found in mainstream PC publications, including video card and
CPU
A central processing unit (CPU), also called a central processor, main processor, or just processor, is the primary processor in a given computer. Its electronic circuitry executes instructions of a computer program, such as arithmetic, log ...
overclocking
In computing, overclocking is the practice of increasing the clock rate of a computer to exceed that certified by the manufacturer. Commonly, operating voltage is also increased to maintain a component's operational stability at accelerated sp ...
,
Windows registry
The Windows Registry is a hierarchical database that stores low-level settings for the Microsoft Windows operating system and for applications that opt to use the registry. The kernel, device drivers, services, Security Accounts Manager, a ...
tweaking, and
programming
Program (American English; also Commonwealth English in terms of computer programming and related activities) or programme (Commonwealth English in all other meanings), programmer, or programming may refer to:
Business and management
* Program m ...
. The magazine's strapline was 'Maximum Power Computing', reflecting the broad nature of its technology content.
In November 2012 publisher
Haymarket Media Group
Haymarket Media Group is a private media company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It has publications in the consumer, business and customer sectors, both print and online. It operates exhibitions allied to its own publications, and p ...
announced that Atomic would close and be merged into sister monthly title ''PC & Tech Authority'' (beginning with the February 2013 issue of PCTA), although the Atomic
online forums would continue to exist in their own right and under the Atomic brand.
In 2018,
nextmedia
Nextmedia Pty Limited (styled as nextmedia) is an Australian media company which publishes special interest magazines in the sport, humor, and hobby (among others). The company is headquartered in Sydney and owned by The Forum Media Group, a Ge ...
, the successor of Haymarket Australia sold its computing assets to Future. ''PC & Tech Authority'' print content was absorbed into
APC and online content was absorbed into
TechRadar
''TechRadar'' is an online technology publication owned by Future plc. It has editorial teams in the United States, United Kingdom, and Australia that provide news and reviews of tech products and gadgets. It was launched in 2008 and expanded t ...
but the Atomic forums remained available until 11 June 2020.
History
With a small team of writers led by magazine founder and ex-editor Ben Mansill, who is also the founder of the magazine's only competitor, ''
PC PowerPlay'', the first issue of ''Atomic'' was published in February 2001. This team consisted of John Gillooly, Bennett Ring, Tim Dean and Daniel Rutter. Gillooly and Ring later left the magazine.
''Atomic'' was originally published by AJB Publishing, but in July 2004 AJB was acquired by UK publisher
Haymarket Media
Haymarket Media Group is a private media company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It has publications in the consumer, business and customer sectors, both print and online. It operates exhibitions allied to its own publications, and pr ...
. The magazine was edited in 2005 and 2006 by Ashton Mills, who in the past has contributed to ''
PC Authority'', ''Atomic's'' sister publication. In 2006, Logan Booker took over as editor. In April 2005, ''Atomic'' reached the milestone of 50 issues, and the January 2006 issue celebrated its fifth birthday. Logan Booker announced at the end of August 2007 he would be stepping down, issue 81 being his last as editor. In October 2007, David Hollingworth became the new editor of the magazine.
Ben Mansill announced in October 2007 that he would be leaving Haymarket Media to pursue other interests in the publishing industry.
''Atomic'' celebrated then release of its 100th issue on April 8, 2009. In late 2012 the magazine merged with ''PC & Tech Authority''. In 2013,
nextmedia
Nextmedia Pty Limited (styled as nextmedia) is an Australian media company which publishes special interest magazines in the sport, humor, and hobby (among others). The company is headquartered in Sydney and owned by The Forum Media Group, a Ge ...
acquired Haymarket Australia which effectively made ''PC & Tech Authority'' a sister title to ''PC PowerPlay''.
The ''Atomic'' site and forums
''Atomic's'' online forums were launched on the same day as the magazine. They had various PC gaming and technology sections, as well as a general chat area known as the "Green Room". As of January 2006, approximately 3,600,000 posts had been made across the forums' twenty-one sections. An active community section organises 'meets' and other events regularly.
Readers and subscribers to the magazine, as well as members of the online Atomic community were colloquially referred to as Atomicans.
In mid-2005, the site was revamped to include regular content, both unique to the site and taken from the magazine, including daily reviews and news.
Moderation was employed to ensure that illegal or distasteful content was not posted.
The forums were finally shut down in the 11th of June, 2020. It was totally offline on 24 June.
Events
At the end of 2005 ''Atomic'' hosted "''Atomic'' Live", a PC gaming and technology expo in Sydney, Australia. The event culminated in the evening with a presentation of industry awards and a celebration of the magazine's 5th birthday.
Although a subsequent ''Atomic'' Live was announced in early 2006, it was postponed due to key product launch delays in the PC and gaming industry.
Between 2010 and 2011 Atomic MPC hosted events across Australia including the 2010 Power to the PC Tour, Atomic Unlocked 2010, Revolver Sydney 2011 and Revolver Melbourne 2011.
On 12 November 2011, ''Atomic'' and
Monash University
Monash University () is a public university, public research university based in Melbourne, Victoria (state), Victoria, Australia. Named after World War I general Sir John Monash, it was founded in 1958 and is the second oldest university in the ...
’s Faculty of Information Technology presented AtomicCon 2011 at the university's
Caulfield campus for technology and gaming enthusiasts. The event included presentations by Australian game publishers and suppliers of information technology equipment, and participants were able to play recently released games.
Atomic charity
Since inception, ''Atomic'' and the community focussed on raising money for charity, usually the
Multiple Sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease resulting in damage to myelinthe insulating covers of nerve cellsin the brain and spinal cord. As a demyelinating disease, MS disrupts the nervous system's ability to Action potential, transmit ...
Society, chosen because of moderator and unofficial community organiser 'Gramyre' (Allison Reynolds) having the disease. This was achieved via auctions of various items, and a community member 'Nodnerb' (Brendon Walker) once sang ''
I'm a Little Teapot
"I'm a Little Teapot" is an American novelty song describing the heating and pouring of a teapot or a whistling tea kettle. The song was originally written by George Harry Sanders and Clarence Z. Kelley and published in 1939. By 1941, a ''Newswe ...
'' while wearing a
ballet tutu
A tutu is a dress worn as a costume in a classical ballet performance, often with attached bodice. It may be made of tarlatan, muslin, silk, tulle, gauze, or nylon. Modern tutus have two basic types: the Romantic tutu is soft and bell-shaped, re ...
on national television for charity.
["Noddy does the Teapot in Tutu",https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bF3UsAEpznU&list=PLInPGjLiJukbm69CTLK_lo0UuUALL_aYq, You Tube]
References
External links
''Atomic''Archived Atomic magazineson the
Internet Archive
The Internet Archive is an American 501(c)(3) organization, non-profit organization founded in 1996 by Brewster Kahle that runs a digital library website, archive.org. It provides free access to collections of digitized media including web ...
{{DEFAULTSORT:Atomic (Magazine)
Future plc
2001 establishments in Australia
2012 disestablishments in Australia
Computer magazines published in Australia
Defunct computer magazines
Defunct magazines published in Australia
Home computer magazines
Magazines established in 2001
Magazines disestablished in 2012
Monthly magazines published in Australia
Video game magazines published in Australia