Amiga Force was a relative later comer to the Amiga, launched towards
the end of 1992 by Europress Impact. Its brief life span lasted for just
16 issues before being dragged down with its publishers. Despite the lateness
of its arrival the concept behind the magazine stretches back to the tail
end of the 8-bit computer boom.
In 1988 a Commodore magazine called Zzap! began to cover the growing
Amiga market. This would continue until 1991 when it becomes clear that
the Amiga has grown beyond the coverage of a dual format magazine. Zzap!
is forced to choose one platform and drop the other. In direct contrast
to CU Amiga/64, it chooses to revert back to 64-only coverage. An idea
sparks that will eventually result in the launch of an Amiga equivalent
of Zzap!
This idea finally becomes reality when Newsfield enter liquidation
and are bought by Europress, becoming the subsidiary, Europress Impact.
The first issue of Amiga Force, dated Autumn/Winter 1992, goes on sale
around September of that year. The magazine switches to monthly publication
soon after.
The first issue of Amiga Force shows many similarities to other Europress
Impact titles. It is almost a spitting image of sister magazine, Sega Force.
The similarity stretch far beyond the aesthetic, both magazines share a
similar target audience. Like Europress' Amiga Action magazine, Amiga Force
was aimed at the games market. However, it had more of a console-feel to
it, using bright distinctive colours, as well as focussing upon action
rather than puzzle games. It became clear that the magazine was aimed at
a slightly younger market than Amiga Action (roughly 8 - 14), the game
player who was unwilling or unable to spend £4 on a magazine. At
the price of £1.95 (or £2.25 during 1994), the 84 page magazine
was sold as a soft games title. This is contrasted by Amiga Power's die-hard
gamer image. The magazine target range is emphasized through the choice
not to mount coverdisks on an issue.
Over time the editorial staff changed. The first few issues were written
by the Zzap!/ Commodore Force team. The expansion of Impact Magazine (formerly
Europress Impact) resulted in Amiga Force and Sega Force Mega being farmed
off to a team in Newton Abbey. Under the editorship of Chris Marke the
magazine took on a style of its own.
Unfortunately the magazine still patronized its readers. In issue 15
the PD section reviewed a Spectrum game, passing it off as an Amiga title.
Failing to mention the game was being run under an emulated Spectrum. Perhaps
they didn't think their readers could understand what an emulator is!
In January 1994 the magazine was handed back to the Impact team in
Ludlow. The editor, Chris Marke could not hide his obvious bitterness at
the move, stating the Newton Abbey team were moving onto bigger and better
things. The issue 15 next month page displayed a 'Software Failure' and
rebooted, to be relaunched in issue 16 as a competitive title once again.
Under the editorship of Nick Roberts the magazine took on a new life, adding
a spine rather than using stapled pages, a fresh new look and a feature
on Codemasters. The rating system was given an overhaul, ending the ridiculous
high scoring that had plagued previous issues. Future issues promised original
features, such as 'The AF Challenge'. A quest to find the best Amiga game
players. These were to be special challenges played in different schools
and colleges each month.
Unfortunately the March 1994 edition was the last issue of Amiga Force
published when, for the second time the Ludlow-based publisher went bust.
Even if this had not happened it is doubtful that the Amiga market would
have been able to support a floppy-less magazine during the next year.