Play (Chinese magazine)

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

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]

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]

  1. ^ a b 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. ^ a b c 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. ^ a b c 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. ^ a b 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.