Computer picture games

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Computer picture games
logo
description Computer game magazine
language German
publishing company Computer Bild Digital GmbH ( Germany )
Headquarters Hamburg
First edition November 3, 1999
attitude 7th August 2019
Frequency of publication per month
Sold edition 27,846 copies
( IVW  Q1 / 2019)
Range 0.95 million readers
( MA 2019 I )
Editor-in-chief Dirk Kuchel
Web link computerbild.de/cbs/
ISSN (print) 1439-9571

The Computer Bild Spiele (short- CBS ) was a German sister magazine of the computer image . It was published by Axel Springer SE . Since it was launched on the market in 1999 at an introductory price of DM 2 with a 256-page first edition, the computer game magazine has reported on the latest games for computers , game consoles and mobile devices. The CBS saw itself as a multi-platform magazine. The CBS appeared monthly, usually the first Wednesday of the month, and was discontinued in August 2019.

history

The Computer Bild Spiele , like its sister magazine Computer Bild, was mainly aimed at computer beginners. While in the first few years only self-created word constructs (such as "game improvement program" instead of patch ) were used, the company has also increasingly used common "technical terms" (cheats, patch, add-on, etc.) and in the service section to explain. In each issue there were also articles on general topics such as: "How do I install a game?" included. In addition, each issue contained a “test mirror” in which the magazine's ratings were compared with those of others.

From 2018 Dirk Kuchel was editor-in-chief. Axel Telzerow was editor-in- chief of Computer Bild Spiele from 2012 to 2017 and since the departure of Kai Diekmann in 2017 also publisher. The editor-in-chief was Hans Martin Burr (also editor-in-chief of Computer Bild ) until 2012 , who took over the position from Frank Surholt (since 2003) in 2009. The first editor-in-chief from 1999 to 2003 was Harald Kuppek, who was also editor-in-chief of Computer Bild . Kai Diekmann , the former editor-in-chief of Bild , was the publisher of CBS until 2016 .

In the first few years of its existence, the CBS only tested games that were recommended by the USK for people up to 16 years of age. Since the introduction of the binding legal age limit for computer games, the CBS had switched to testing games that were "not approved for young people" and that could only be sold to people over the age of 18. The editors made an exception. B. Doom 3 . The then editor-in-chief Frank Surholt declined a test of the game because of sometimes excessive depictions of violence.

With the 3/2008 edition, on the occasion of the 100th edition, there was a relaunch in which, for example, the rating system was extensively changed.

After the number of copies continued to fall, the publisher decided that the print edition of the magazine would be discontinued and that it would appear for the last time in August 2019. The editorial team should only be active in the field of computer game journalism for the website computerbild.de.

Output types

  • Computer picture games console special
  • Computer Bild Spiele silver edition (with 1 DVD), from issue 11/2014 without data carrier
  • Computer Bild Spiele Gold-Edition (with 2 DVDs), from 03/2019 edition with code to activate downloads instead of data carriers
  • Computer picture games iPad edition (with extra game for iPad)

The CD-ROM version was discontinued from issue 8/2007 due to the outdated technology.

Since issue 3/2011, there has been an edition without a DVD in addition to the gold edition and the silver edition, which instead contains a small console special. However, apart from the special console section, this edition was identical to the other two editions. Since issue 6/2011 there has been an iPad edition in addition to the gold edition, the silver edition and the console special edition, which has the same content as a gold edition. In addition to the normal games, there was also an extra game for the iPad.

content

In the computer picture games new releases were tested, games and also the latest hardware .

magazine

The main categories of the printed edition of Computer Bild Games were:

  • Up-to-the-minute: reports on innovations from the computer and games industry.
  • Game tests: tests and introducing new games.
  • Cheap games: Presentation of cheap games (often older titles).
  • Game tricks: Help and cheats for new games.
  • Hardware : testing of printers , screens etc.
  • Advice: General advice. This section also includes the topic “How to install a game”.
  • Professional corner: Instructions e.g. B. for assembling computers or configuration for DSL .
  • Service: competitions, letters to the editor and legal questions to a lawyer.
  • The last page: preview of the next issue and imprint

Booklet DVDs

Various full versions of games were found on the DVDs . These are usually made up of at least one or two former full price games and a selection of cheaper casual games , open source games or slightly modified shareware . Often they were advertised as “full versions” without informing the buyer more precisely about their licensing, for example as freeware or copy-protected software. These were supplemented by a changing number of test and demo versions.

The DVDs also contained game trailers as well as the latest drivers and other software such as firewalls and anti-virus software . The DVD edition, which finally replaced the CD edition with edition 08/2007 , contained significantly more full versions or shareware and game trailers than its predecessors. Particularly attractive full versions were included in the editions with “Gold DVD”.

Finally, a registration code was required from the CBS website for the more attractive full versions, which was only available for a limited time and in limited quantities.

With the 03/2019 edition, the DVDs have been omitted completely. All full versions had to be activated on the website using a registration code. Depending on the game, you received a download link or a registration code on the website with which the game could be activated on a platform such as Steam or Uplay.

Scoring system

A rating system consisting of numerous percentage-weighted individual grades was used for the game tests. The individual grades were again given as intermediate grades, from which the test result between grades “1” and “6” is finally calculated. For all games tested (regardless of the platform), 70% of the overall rating was calculated from a gaming fun rating . Evaluation criteria such as:

  • Starting the game
  • Fascination of the game world
  • graphic
  • Sound

and other (slightly) weighted criteria.

30% of the evaluation resulted from a functional test with 25 PC configurations (for PC games). Only those configurations were included in the evaluation that at least met the minimum requirements described by the manufacturer. In addition, the setting options and other (slightly) weighted criteria, such as memory function, language or service, were evaluated for PC games . In the case of console games, equal importance was attached to setting options (button assignment, level of difficulty, etc.) and saved games .

Edition

The circulation sold fell from 699,346 copies in the first quarter of 2000 to 27,846 copies in the first quarter of 2019. A decrease of 96 percent.

Development of the number of copies sold
Development of the number of subscribers

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ message. Golem.de, October 6, 1999; Retrieved December 10, 2007
  2. ↑ dwdl.de
  3. ↑ gameswirtschaft.de
  4. ↑ horizont.net
  5. ↑ Uwe Mantel: Springer pulls the plug on "Computer Bild Spiele". In: DWDL . June 3, 2019, accessed June 3, 2019 .
  6. ↑ Springer discontinues “Computer Bild Spiele” as a print magazine, editorial team continues to write for Computerbild.de , Meedia.de , June 3, 2019
  7. ↑ a b Daniel houses: Computer picture games: Adé CD. In: Clap Club | The people magazine for the communications industry. February 1, 2019, accessed April 5, 2019 .
  8. ↑ Computer Bild Spiele ivw.eu
  9. ↑ according to IVW , fourth quarter in each case ( details on ivw.eu )
  10. ↑ according to IVW , fourth quarter in each case ( details on ivw.eu )