In times when the traditional video game press, on paper and sold in kiosks, has practically disappeared from the map (only with some glorious exception that barely resists), products aimed at the nostalgic waterline of the most veteran players are, however, in very good health. They know it well in Made with Pixelswho publish not only a magazine dedicated to retro (‘Pixels‘), but also official continuations of kiosk icons such as ‘microhobby‘ and now, ‘Micromania‘… in sheet format!
Two-year hiatus. In January 2024, just over 24 months ago, the veteran ‘Micromania‘, the magazine of microcomputers first, PC later, which would accompany several generations of gamers. Its first issues, in traditional format, covered current 8-bit machines such as Spectrum 48K, Amstrad CPC and Commodore 64. They revolutionized newsstands with their second stage, the most iconic, in a tabloid format that multiplied the content and served as a bridge to 16 bits. A third stage, again in a traditional format, would focus on the PC world.
A mixed return. In this new incarnation the format will be somewhat smaller: 25cm x 35cm, that is, larger than any other magazine, but without reaching the brutal excess of the original. The magazine will be bimonthly, and can be purchased in digital format in PDF (5.99 euros), in paper (11.99) or both (13.99). The layout and design are inevitably reminiscent of the original style and the contents will be comparable: analysis in the classic style of Amiga, Atari ST, MS-DOS, Game Boy, NES, Master System, Mega Drive, SNESm, etc., arcade games, news on the current retro scene, solutions and maps…
What’s in number one. For now, the contents of the first issue that we know are:
- Cover dedicated to Monkey Island, with report on Ron Gilbert and the complete saga
- Two gift posters on the central pages of each issue in giant size
- Damned Castile Requiem– Exclusive review and downloadable demos for Mega Drive and Dreamcast
- Interviews with original editors of Hobby Press (Microhobby, Micromanía, Hobby Consolas)
- Reunion with Turbo Girlset of the first cover in sheet format, 38 years ago
Who is behind. Without a doubt, this is the most interesting detail of this proposal: behind the writing of the magazine there are a good number of names from the classic age of video game journalism in Spain, which guarantee that the style of the reviews and articles will be in line with what was done then. It is directed by José Luis Sanz, who was already in charge of ‘Hobby Consolas’, and he is accompanied by Marcos García, who directed magazines, paradoxically, in the competition: ‘Superjuegos’ and ‘Revista Oficial Playstation’, among others. They are joined by editors such as Jesús Martínez del Vas, José Luis Rodríguez, J. Luis Molina and Juanjo Muñoz, among others.
Bet on the past. As it could not be otherwise, the magazines that survive on paper, with few exceptions, rely on retro content, or at least retro has a strong presence in their pages. In addition to the aforementioned Hecho con Pixels titles, publications such as the Spanish edition of ‘Retro Gamer’, also by Axel Springer, are added. The new incarnation of ‘Micromanía’ is aimed, obviously, at those who bought it at the time: a juicy market of forty-somethings looking to return to even the most spectacularly uncomfortable format in the history of our newsstands.
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