So what exactly is Amigactive? Put simply, it's a new Amiga magazine - with the emphasis on new. It will be published by Pinprint Publishing, based in the heart of cosmopolitan Bournemouth, UK, and will be a full colour monthly magazine with a covermounted CD. It will be distributed through the newsstands and by subscription. There will be some overseas distribution, the details of which we will post soon.

The last few years have been hard on the Amiga market, with numbers dwindling by the day. Some people may question the wisdom of a new magazine launch in this environment, but our reasoning can be summed up by two statements:

1. The market is going to expand.

Amiga, now under the ownership of Gateway, are putting into action a very serious plan to revive the platform's fortunes. We know enough about these plans to feel confident that the market for Amiga magazines will shortly become a growth industry. We want to be there first.

2. The market needs us now.

The success of these plans to a significant degree rides on the ability of the current Amiga market to add unique value to the new Amigas. We believe that the UK market has been badly damaged by under-representation in the newsstands, and this must be corrected to help ensure the success of those plans. Recent months have seen a worrying decline in sales and in morale. We hope that a new magazine will help drive home the message that changes are coming and will help keep up interest in the current market.

We want to help support the market and in turn hope that we are supported by readers and advertisers. However, we do expect to earn that support, and aim to give you in return a magazine which you will really appreciate.

Amigactive is about the present and the future. We want to keep you informed about the changes that will take place in the Amiga world, but we equally want to equip you for the current market. We will bring you reviews of all the latest products you can use on your Amiga, and we will help to show you how to use them. We will be emphasising the creative side of the Amiga, with plenty of information on how to get your Amiga working for you.

Amigactive will have the highest production values - top designers, skilled writers, and the best CD-ROM in the business. It will bring a new look to Amiga magazines with fresh presentation and a feature rich content. There will be a real emphasis on hands-on demonstrations of what you can do with your computer, and a close eye on the real cream of the Amiga market.

Amigactive recognises that current Amiga users want to get the most out of their machines, and this will be reflected in the magazine. When we find a really good product, we'll tell you exactly what you need to know about it and what it can do for you.

Amigactive is a magazine with a serious approach, but that does not mean we are forgetting games - it's just that the same rules hold. Games are vital to the future of the Amiga, but only good games. Serious games will get serious reviews, but the sad truth is that at the moment that will not take a lot of pages. If you want to read long reviews of bad games, you've come to the wrong place - we'll find other, more productive ways to fill the pages.

Lastly, Amigactive is your magazine. We aim to be a strong complement to the magazines out there already, both in the UK and internationally. We want to give you what you want, and we're waiting for you to tell us what that is. If you have any burning desires, thoughts on Amigactive in general, or even if you just fancy shooting the breeze, we'd love to hear from you.

Thanks!
The Amigactive team.