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Amstrad Computer User

Amstrad Computer User
ACU8703-001.jpg
Amstrad Computer User #28, March 1987
Editor Gareth Jefferson (Aug/Sep '84)
William Poel (Oct/Nov '84)
Simon Rockman (Jan/Feb '84-Mar '89)
Mark Evans (Apr '89)
Duncan Evans (May '89-Jun '89)
Carlo Jolly (Jul '89-Sep '89)
Guy Matthews (Oct '89-May '90)
Chris Knight (Jun '90-May '92)
Categories Video game magazine
Frequency Monthly
Circulation 63,599 (Jan to Jun 1987)
First issue August/September 1984
Final issue
— Number
May 1992
90
Company Amsoft
Avralite Ltd
Focus Magazines Ltd
MCM Ltd/MCPC Ltd
HHL Publishing
Country United Kingdom
Language English
ISSN 0952-3049

Amstrad Computer User was the official magazine for the Amstrad CPC series of 8-bit home computers. This monthly publication, usually referred to as ACU by its readers, concentrated more on the hardware and technical side of the Amstrad range, although it had a small dedicated games section as well.

ACU ran from August 1984 to May 1992, producing 90 issues in total. Originally a bi-monthly Amstrad User's club newsletter titled CPC464 User, it was renamed to Amstrad Computer User when the CPC664 was released in 1985. Its successor was CPC Attack, which was launched in June 1992.

Amstrad Computer User started out as CPC464 User (subtitled ‘The Official AMSTRAD Mirco Magazine’) and the first issue was dated August September 1984 and was 32 pages long. Published by Amsoft, a division of Amstrad, the first couple of issues were not made available to the general public, but only to members of the Amstrad User Club. CPC464 User’s only editorial credit in the launch issue was Consultant Editor Gareth Jefferson. Content in these early months included News, Overview (an in-depth look at the CPC464), Q&A, Software Reviews, Listings, Programming and more. Early games featured included Roland in the Caves and Roland on the Ropes.

The Jan/Feb 1985 issue 3, with slightly renamed title, Amstrad CPC464 User, was the first issue to go on sale to the general public costing 95p and 84 pages long. Simon Rockman is credited as editor along with other contributors.

From issue 4 onwards Amstrad CPC464 User went monthly. Sorcery, from Virgin Games, is the first game to receive 5 stars in all ratings, Graphics, Playability, Addictiveness and Overall.

May 1985's issue 6 features the newly released Amstrad CPC 664 (basically a 464 with a disk drive instead of a cassette deck) on the cover and in depth analysis and features inside.

Following the release of the CPC 664, the June issue is the first to display the renamed title; the familiar Amstrad Computer User. The Gallup software chart is published for the first time. Topping the top 20 chart is Virgin’s Sorcery. Anne Coker joins the magazine as Assistant Editor.


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