The first issue of PTOM. |
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| Editor-in-chief | Gary Steinman |
|---|---|
| Categories | Gaming |
| Frequency | 13 issues a year |
| Publisher | Future US |
| First issue | September 1997 |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
PlayStation: The Official Magazine (PTOM) is a magazine originally known as PlayStation Magazine (PSM). After Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine was canceled, Sony Computer Entertainment announced on October 1, 2007 that PSM would become "PlayStation: The Official Magazine". It is published 13 times a year by Future Publishing.
As of the 2007 Holiday issue, the magazine is officially PlayStation: The Official Magazine. The last PSM issue was December 2007. While it did retain the same staff for a period of time lasting from December 2007 until January 2008, it has since then lost its remaining core editors, making PTOM a completely different magazine from the former PSM.
From the July 2008 issue to the June 2009 issue, PTOM included promotional codes for free downloads of Qore, a subscription-based interactive online magazine. The free Qore did not include some of the features in the paid-for edition, such as playable demos.
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Prior to becoming the official magazine, PSM was an independently published video game magazine specializing in all Sony video game consoles and handheld gaming platforms. PSM was published by Future Publishing, who also publishes the PlayStation Official Magazine (UK).
The magazine launched with the September 1997 issue, which featured Final Fantasy VII for the PlayStation on the cover. Since then, it has consistently outsold every other PlayStation-dedicated magazine both in the U.S. and abroad (according to independent ABC audits). This is largely due to the magazine's large base of subscribers.
PSM celebrated ten years of publication with its 2007 issue. By this time, the magazine had been through several redesigns, most recently with its June 2006 issue. Also over its history, the magazine had sponsored side content such as cover-mounted DVDs, websites, online forums, and near the end, a PSM podcast.
PSM had covered the PlayStation 3 since its announcement.
In the early years, PSM had an anime-styled mascot named Banzai Chibi-Chan illustrated by Robert DeJesus. He was featured prominently through the issues and even inspired apparel and other accessories. He was later dropped though. The reason stands that he was too childish and gave some the wrong impression about the magazine.
A smiley face with an eye patch was used before it too was dropped. The face was notable for its inclusion on lid sticker inserts including the first issue. After the original Lid Stickers a few other lid stickers appeared throughout the magazines life span. Other inserts included tip sheets and memory card stickers with different game themes instead of the demo discs competitor OPM was known for.
PSM's UK-based sister magazine is PSM3, another Future Publishing publication.
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