| Editor | David Hollingworth |
|---|---|
| Categories | Computer magazine |
| Frequency | Monthly |
| Circulation | 29,948 |
| First issue | 2001 |
| Company | Haymarket Media |
| Country | Australia |
| Language | English |
| Website | http://www.atomicmpc.com.au/ www.atomicmpc.com.au |
| ISSN | 1444-8998 |
Atomic (or Atomic MPC) is a monthly Australian magazine and online community dedicated to computing and technology, with an emphasis on gaming, modding and computer hardware. Atomic is marketed at technology enthusiasts and covers a number of topics that are not normally found in mainstream PC publications. Such topics include, but are not limited to, video card and CPU overclocking, Windows registry tweaking and programming. The magazine's strapline is 'Maximum Power Computing', reflecting the broad nature of its technology content.
Contents |
With a small team of writers led by magazine founder and ex-editor Ben Mansill, who is ironically also the founder of the magazine's only competitor, PC Powerplay, the first issue of Atomic was published in February 2001. This team consisted of John Gillooly, Bennett Ring, Tim Dean and Daniel Rutter. John Gillooly and Bennett Ring have since left the magazine.
Atomic was originally published by AJB Publishing, but in July 2004 AJB was acquired by UK publisher Haymarket Media.[1] The magazine was edited in 2005 and 2006 by Ashton Mills, who in the past has contributed to PC Authority, Atomic's sister publication. In 2006, Logan Booker took over as editor. In April, 2005 Atomic reached the milestone of 50 issues, and the January 2006 issue celebrated its fifth birthday. Logan Booker announced at the end of August 2007 he would be stepping down, issue 81 being his last as editor.[2] In October 2007, David Hollingworth introduced himself to the Atomic community as the new Editor of the magazine.[3]
Ben Mansill announced in October 2007 that he would be leaving Haymarket Media to pursue other interests in the publishing industry.[4]
Atomic recently celebrated the release of their 100th issue on April 8, 2009.
The magazine has a wide range of writers, both freelance and full-time staff. As of issue 88 (published April 2008), they included:
Atomic's online forums were launched on the same day as the magazine. They have various PC gaming and technology sections, as well as a general chat area known as the "Green Room". As of January 2006, approximately 3,600,000 posts had been made across the forums' 21 sections. An active community section organises 'meets' and other events regularly.
Readers and subscribers to the magazine, as well as members of the online Atomic community are colloquially referred to as Atomicans.[5]
In mid-2005 the site was revamped to include regular content, both unique to the site and taken from the magazine. Now, daily reviews and news feature on the Atomic site.
Due to the essentially corporate aspect of the forums, moderation is necessary to protect certain interests of Haymarket Media, in order to ensure that illegal or distasteful content is not posted.[6] Moreover, the administrators and moderators of Atomic strive to foster a secure, welcoming environment for all ages, in which personal attacks, racism, sexism and pornography are forbidden.
At the end of 2005 Atomic ventured into new territory by hosting "Atomic Live", a PC gaming and technology expo in Sydney, Australia.[7] The event culminated in the evening with a presentation of industry awards and a celebration of the magazine's 5th birthday.
Although a subsequent Atomic Live was announced in early 2006, it was postponed due to key product launch delays in the PC and gaming industry.[8]
Since inception Atomic and the community has focussed on raising money for charity, usually the MS Society.[9] Achieving this has been via auctions of various items, and a notable community member 'Nodnerb' once sang 'I'm a little Teapot' on national television while wearing a tutu for charity.[10]