|   
 
               
                | First issue: Autumn/Winter 
                  1992 | Final issue: March 
                  1994 |   
                | Publisher: Europress/Impact 
                  Magazines | Coverage: Games |   
                | Country published: 
                  United Kingdom | No. of issues: 16 |   
                | Medium: Paper | Status: Dead |   
                | Web Address: None |  |  Amiga Force was a relative later comer to the Amiga, launched towards 
              the end of 1992 by Europress Impact. Its brief life span lasted 
              for just 16 issues before being dragged down with its publishers. 
              Despite the lateness of its arrival the concept behind the magazine 
              stretches back to the tail end of the 8-bit computer boom.In 1988 a Commodore magazine called Zzap! began to cover the growing 
              Amiga market. This would continue until 1991 when it becomes clear 
              that the Amiga has grown beyond the coverage of a dual format magazine. 
              Zzap! is forced to choose one platform and drop the other. In direct 
              contrast to CU Amiga/64, it chooses to revert back to 64-only coverage. 
              An idea sparks that will eventually result in the launch of an Amiga 
              equivalent of Zzap!
 This idea finally becomes reality when Newsfield enter liquidation 
              and are bought by Europress, becoming the subsidiary, Europress 
              Impact. The first issue of Amiga Force, dated Autumn/Winter 1992, 
              goes on sale around September of that year. The magazine switches 
              to monthly publication soon after.
 The first issue of Amiga Force shows many similarities to other 
              Europress Impact titles. It is almost a spitting image of sister 
              magazine, Sega Force. The similarity stretch far beyond the aesthetic, 
              both magazines share a similar target audience. Like Europress' 
              Amiga Action magazine, Amiga Force was aimed at the games market. 
              However, it had more of a console-feel to it, using bright distinctive 
              colours, as well as focussing upon action rather than puzzle games. 
              It became clear that the magazine was aimed at a slightly younger 
              market than Amiga Action (roughly 8 - 14), the game player who was 
              unwilling or unable to spend £4 on a magazine. At the price 
              of £1.95 (or £2.25 during 1994), the 84 page magazine 
              was sold as a soft games title. This is contrasted by Amiga Power's 
              die-hard gamer image. The magazine target range is emphasized through 
              the choice not to mount coverdisks on an issue.
  From the makers of Zzap! 64Despite the magazines Zzap! 64 origins it was never able to live up 
            to its predecessor. For a start the market was completely different, 
            more competitive and commercial than in previous years. The magazines 
            console feel meant that it only scratched the surface of the Amigas 
            power, treating it simply as a games machine. This style only became 
            appropriate with the launch of the CD32 during 1993. The magazine 
            was a mere shadow of the Newsfield heyday with a few issues featuring 
            cover art that had  previously graced Crash and Zzap! 64. The 
            fantastic Oli Frey artwork (usually made up of blood and guts) had 
            been toned down for the 90's. Although impressive it had become dated, 
            lacking the buzz that other Newsfield titles had.Over time the editorial staff changed. The first few issues were 
              written by the Zzap!/ Commodore Force team. The expansion of Impact 
              Magazine (formerly Europress Impact) resulted in Amiga Force and 
              Sega Force Mega being farmed off to a team in Newton Abbey. Under 
              the editorship of Chris Marke the magazine took on a style of its 
              own.Unfortunately the magazine still patronized its readers. In issue 
              15 the PD section reviewed a Spectrum game, passing it off as an 
              Amiga title. Failing to mention the game was being run under an 
              emulated Spectrum. Perhaps they didn't think their readers could 
              understand what an emulator is!
 
  In January 1994 the magazine was handed back to the Impact team 
              in Ludlow. The editor, Chris Marke could not hide his obvious bitterness 
              at the move, stating the Newton Abbey team were moving onto bigger 
              and better things. The issue 15 next month page displayed a 'Software 
              Failure' and rebooted, to be relaunched in issue 16 as a competitive 
              title once again. Under the editorship of Nick Roberts the magazine 
              took on a new life, adding a spine rather than using stapled pages, 
              a fresh new look and a feature on Codemasters. The rating system 
              was given an overhaul, ending the ridiculous high scoring that had 
              plagued previous issues. Future issues promised original features, 
              such as 'The AF Challenge'. A quest to find the best Amiga game 
              players. These were to be special challenges played in different 
              schools and colleges each month.
 
  Unfortunately the March 1994 edition was the last issue of Amiga 
              Force published when, for the second time the Ludlow-based publisher 
              went bust. Even if this had not happened it is doubtful that the 
              Amiga market would have been able to support a floppy-less magazine 
              during the next year.
      
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