GamesRadar+
 | |
Type of site | Video game website |
|---|---|
| Owner | Future plc |
| URL | www |
| Commercial | Yes |
| Registration | Optional (free) |
GamesRadar is an entertainment website primarily featuring video game related news, previews, reviews, videos, and guides. Since November 2014 the site has also included a TV, films and sci-fi section, bringing in content from Future's entertainment brands Total Film and SFX. It is owned and operated in the UK and US by worldwide publisher Future plc (including Future US).[3][4]
Format and style
GamesRadar publishes numerous articles each day, including official video game news, reviews, previews and interviews with publishers and developers. One of the site's features was their "Top 7" lists, a weekly countdown detailing both positive or negative aspects of video games themselves, the industry and/or culture.[5] Now, they are better known for lists of greater depth segmented by genre, platform, or theme. These are divided into living lists, for consoles and platforms that are still active, and legacy lists, for consoles and platforms that are no longer a target for commercial game development.[6]
History
The site launched a free iPhone app in January 2011, allowing users to browse their cheats and game guides.[7]
In 2007 the State of Texas filed a lawsuit against GamerRadar's parent company Future plc and another site owner for violating the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act.[8] The lawsuit alleges that the site "failed to include necessary disclosures and obtain parental consent before collecting personal information from children."[9] The owner of the other websited settled in March 2008,[10] though the final disposition against Future plc is not public record.[11]
By Early 2012, many of the long-standing writers and editors were either laid off or had moved on to other careers, including many recurring hosts and guests of the site's "TalkRadar" podcast, which at the time ended at episode 198 in February that same year.[12] In November 2012 Keith Walker became the new publisher at Future and thus GamesRadar, looking to improve "digital growth".[13] By December 2012 the site underwent a drastic new redesign including new layout, interface and regular features along with new staff members and successor to TalkRadar podcast titled "RadioRadar".[14] Many of the original members of TalkRadar went on to produce the Laser Time podcast network, including appearances with current GamesRadar employees.
In May 2014 it was reported that Future intended to close the websites of Edge, Computer and Video Games and their other videogame publications.[15] In December 2014, it was confirmed that the C&VG website would close and its content would instead be published at GamesRadar,[16] and in January 2015, it was announced that the same would happen to the Edge website.[17]
References
- ^ "FuturePlc.com WHOIS, DNS, & Domain Info - DomainTools". WHOIS. Retrieved 2016-07-16.
- ^ "Alexa Ranking". Alexa Internet. Retrieved 18 April 2015.
- ^ GamesRadar and Cheat Planet readership tops 3.2m // GamesIndustry.biz Archived September 11, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Future plc Archived May 27, 2006, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "GamesRadar Top 7 Compendium". Retrieved 2010-10-10.
- ^ "GamesRadar's Games List Articles Explained". Retrieved 2016-02-05.
- ^ "GamesRadar Releases iPhone App". Edge Magazine. 2011-01-18. Retrieved 2014-08-27.
- ^ Androvich, Mark (6 December 2007). "Texas files lawsuit against Future US". Retrieved 30 July 2014.
- ^ Vijayan, Jaikumar (7 December 2007). "Texas AG sues two sites for children's privacy violations". Retrieved 30 July 2014.
- ^ Rose Proskauer (28 May 2008). "Texas Attorney General Settles One of First State COPPA Enforcement Actions". Proskauer. Retrieved 30 July 2014.
- ^ "Privacy: State Law Approaches to Address Digital Food Marketing to Youth" (PDF). Public Health Advocacy Institute. p. 2. Retrieved 30 July 2014.
- ^ "The Slow Bleeding Out of Future's GamesRadar". Front Towards Gamer. 2012-02-19. Retrieved 2014-08-26.
- ^ "New publisher for Future's CVG and GamesRadar". gamesindustry.biz. Retrieved 2014-08-27.
- ^ "Future US Announces the Launch of the New GamesRadar". EDN. 2012-12-11. Retrieved 2014-08-26.
- ^ Dring, Christopher (29 May 2014). "Future plans 170 UK job cuts as it sells bikes and craft magazines". MCV. Newbay Media. Retrieved 2015-01-29.
- ^ Dring, Christopher (19 December 2014). "Official: Future will close CVG website, news and reviews now coming to GamesRadar+". MCV. Newbay Media. Retrieved 2015-01-29.
- ^ "Edge is moving to GamesRadar+". Edge. Future plc. 29 January 2015. Retrieved 2015-01-29.