On Friday 14th July, around 100 people gathered in London to celebrate what would have been legendary PC games magazine PC Zone’s 30th birthday – if it hadn’t have been closed in November 2010 – with the first issue out in April 1993.
Current and ex-games journalists and magazine/website editors, Future Publishing and Dennis Publishing employees, PR people, fans, friends and partners met up through organiser Richie Shoemaker (currently editor of industry magazine MCV/Develop) and sponsors The Indie Stone (via Project Zomboid writer and ex-PC Zone contributor/editor Will Porter) and Game Republic (via Jamie Sefton as PC Zone writer and editor from 2002 – 2008).
“The PC Zone Classic” was a wonderful opportunity to catch up with old friends and colleagues from their period at the magazine, reminisce about ridiculously fun times on magazines and websites when everyone was younger, braver and stupider, and remember folks we have lost along the way including Duncan “Mr Cursor” MacDonald and Senior Online Editor Gareth Ramsay.
Jamie Sefton explains: “It was kind of overwhelming to have so many PC Zone alumni in one place, many of whom have since gone on to establish hugely successful careers in games or other creative industries – Dave Woods, Suzy Wallace, Paul “Prezzer” Presley, Steve Hill, Will Porter, Charlie Brooker, Martin Korda, John “Log” Blyth, Steve Hogarty, Rhianna Pratchett, Warren Chrismas and Richie Shoemaker – to name just a few.”
Stories heard on the night included memorable messy trips to the E3 games conference in Los Angeles, expensive/embarrassing photoshoots for PC Zone Supertests, encounters with Dennis Publishing’s formidable founder Felix Dennis, PR escapades in various nefarious London nightspots, magazine deadline woes and scurrilous industry gossip from the time.
That enthusiasm and love for games and the magazine was infused by its relationship with its readers, who we hoped and knew felt they belonged to this unique club – and it was lovely to meet a few of them on the night, and thank them for remembering us.
For those that worked on or with it, PC Zone was more than just a magazine, it was – as Paul Presley once said in an issue – “a family of scoundrels, egotists, health risks and fanatics…the most brilliantly talented, creative and dedicated individuals that ever created magazines. Zone was a place to be… a post-nightclub, chill-out room, a pre-pub drinking lounge, and a home where you were always welcome.” Sefton adds “That enthusiasm and love for games and the magazine was infused by its relationship with its readers, who we hoped and knew felt they belonged to this unique club – and it was lovely to meet a few of them on the night, and thank them for remembering us.”
The magazine may be gone, but the spirit and camaraderie of PC Zone is still very much alive in 2023!
If you like this post, please help us by sharing it!