"As a brand, Next Generation helped to define an era of massive growth and unprecedented creativity in the game industry. Future believes the coming of a new generation of consoles and the spread of new platforms, such as online and mobile, signify another such era."
-Next-gen.biz
This site can now reveal that Future Publishing will be re-launching the Next Generation brand as a free web site -- next-gen.biz -- in June. There are currently no plans to re-launch the print version of the magazine, which was published by Imagine Publishing between 1995 and 2001.
The official announcement will come in a press release any day now, but the Web site reveals a lot of information about the new incarnation. The site will be managed by editor-in-chief Colin Campbell and consultant editor Christian Svensson, who co-created the Next Generation Online site back in 1995, and published by Future USA.
Besides the two editors, most of the content will come from freelance contributors, which the site is actively seeking. The site says it's looking for writers that "have strong opinions" and are "stylish, original and witty."
In another major departure from the rest of the game journalism crowd, the new Next Generation "will not be offering product reviews as such," according to the Web site. It's not exactly clear what this means, but my source tells me that the site's focus will be more on the development and business sides of the industry rather than consumer-oriented, "X-out-of-ten" reviews. My source also mentioned that important names from Next Generation's past may be involved in the new site.
That's about all I can reveal for now (probably more than I should reveal, in fact). Personally, I couldn't be more excited that this important and influential name in game journalism is coming back, albeit in a slightly different form. Look for continuing coverage of this exciting development after the official announcement.
Update: (May 8, 2005, 3:30 PM): Some small details were changed to protect the identity of my source.
Update: (May 8, 2005, 5:15 PM): Added some background information about the print mag and the editors.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
I look forward to it. NextGen was like a US Edge -- and that's a good thing.
ReplyDeletehuzzah!
ReplyDeletealthough i still miss the print mag, especially as i can't afford an overseas subscription to the edge...
Wow... Very cool. Big ups to your source, and to you, for sharing this info. Good stuff indeed.
ReplyDeleteHahaha! Awsome! I've got the goosebumps. Thanks for the info, much obliged.
ReplyDeleteI can't wait! Next Gen was the best gaming mag ever...and no one ever came to fulfill the void it left. I just hope it stays as mature and interesting as it once was.
ReplyDeleteTHANK YOU! Damn, it was an incredible let down to see NextGen web site (although DailyRadar did a respectible job in taking it's place) and then NextGen mag go belly up. I am also glad that Chris is involved with this. Here's hoping that the new version captures the writing style, wit and professionalism of the former.
ReplyDeleteI can't say enough about how much Next Generation influenced me and made me want to become a bad writer (and I'm a very bad bad writer). I even put out a gaming newsletter called the Daily JayDar in response to next gen and then the Daily Radar. Thanks to Colin for bringing this back.
ReplyDeleteMan that would be great and Chris Melissinos I have to strongly disagree with you. Daily Radar was an abomination, they took all the credibility that Next Generation had gathered and did a G.W. Bush on it leaving Next Generation and empty shell, a husk of credibility if you will.
ReplyDelete