AREA 5 Presents: Atomix: The World's First Videogame Magazine Designed Specifically for the iPad
matt chandronaitFirst, watch this video. Then download the free app from the App Store. The first issue is available now at only 99¢. It takes a few hours for in-app purchases to show up, but at least you can get your iPad all sycned up and ready to go!
I LOVE IT! How can I subscribe?
Yes, there will be subscription options available soon, but Apple’s announcement for in-app periodical subscriptions came too late for us and instead of delaying the magazine until that part of our app was ready, we just wanted to get it out there. For now you just have to buy each issue. 99¢ ain’t so bad, is it?
What if I don’t own an iPad? Will any of your content be available online?
Yes! Our Facebook page, this blog and the Atomix Tumblr blog will all have content that either didn’t make it into the monthly issues, or that extends what is in the issues, or that we just want to put online for free because we love you.
Do you only cover iOS games?
No. A sampling of what’s in this first issue alone:
- - LA Noire is the cover story
- - Killzone 3 and Marvel Vs. Capcom3 are reviewed
- - Journey helps our “indie cred”
- - We tell you how to make your classic consoles look awesome on modern HDTVs.
Will Atomix be available on Android tablets and phones, iPhone, etc. etc. etc. etc. (times infinity)?
The app right was created straight up for the iPad. Obviously we want to be anywhere and everywhere we can, but as any game developer will tell you: it’s better to take a piece of the pie and savor it rather than trying to shove the whole thing in your mouth and choking. That metaphor actually played a lot better in my head… Anyway, it’s a business decision. The quicker Atomix becomes a success, the quicker we can spend money on creating apps for other platforms. If you want Atomix elsewhere, help us spread the word. Like our Facebook page, follow our Twitter and re-tweet our stuff, run down the street naked with our URLs tattooed across your flesh.
So you’re in English and Spanish? What about Italian, German, Finnish, Klingon?
Atomix is intended as a global product. We have an enormous advantage over print publications in this regard and we intend to exploit it. As soon as we can expand to other languages we will. We are polytheists when it comes to gaming platforms and we are likewise unattached to a single language or region. Our biggest dream is that Atomix becomes successful enough to let us hire translators, editors, and freelance writers for as many other languages as makes financial sense, so tell your friends around the world to get Atomix. Qapla!
So is this what you guys have been up to these past months?
Well, yes and no. AREA 5 has always been a video production company, and we needed to make some pretty critical business-ish type decisions. And, as one might expect, that means how to bring in more money so that we could, in fact, take on another risky project. Videogame editorial has always been our first and best love, but even the big guys out there will tell you that it generally pays like shit—at least under the old formulas. Advertising-based media delivery is old-world thinking, and while it can work if your volumes are large enough to overcome the every-increasing squeamishness of potential advertisers for verifiable metrics, it’s nearly impossible to make a go of it if advertising-based content production is the only pillar of your business. Fortunately, AREA 5 has never been a content-only company. We provide video production services and it has been those services which have kept us viable. Serendipitously, when Atomix approached us about building the majority of the content for their soon-to-be-ready iPad magazine, we were comfortable enough to jump in.
What if I want to advertise in Atomix?
If someone wants to advertise in Atomix, they’ll have ample opportunity. We didn’t bother with advertisers for this first issue since we figured a working proof-of-concept would be a lot more attractive then what might be. If you’re interested in getting a custom, interactive ad in one of our upcoming issues, email: sales (at) atomixmag.com
How else can I get in touch with Atomix?
info (at) atomixmag.com or feedback (at) atomixmag.com
Reader Comments (51)
Aight then im promoting like a beast cause this needs to be everywhere, and its soo limited right now. i dont have the money or will to buy an ipad. Maybe a lil now but it'll be for one thing. u guys
The problem with this is... most "Gamers" are like me... poor.
We spend all our money on Videogames. The only people in the industry who really have iPads are those who make games or possibly review them. A lot of gamers like myself have iPods though.
I really have always loved the Area 5 and earlier work you guys have done and have no deal with paying for your app. But the iPad barrier to entry is way to high for most people. Sorry.
Same here - don't own an iPad; may buy one soon. Will try and remember this magazine if I do! Shame it can't be viewed on my iphone or online etc......
Believe me, we've been very poor while starting up AREA 5. We get it, we honestly do, but we couldn't wait until the magazine was ready to launch on every platform so we chose to target iPad first. If this thing blows up you better believe it will appear everywhere else we can put it :)
YES! This is such a great idea. I was wondering what you guys had been up to lately. Finally, my iPad has a worthy magazine to download. Cheers. I'm posting this wherever I can.
Hope you don't mind, but I am going to post this on my blog. I am sold! great job guys.
Congrats on the launch I can't wait to try this out on my iPad2 whenever my Apple Store decides to have some in supply. I have been a fan of your collected works since the ZD days anyone that complains about .99 is crazy.
Fantastic business model I hope it all works out.
Since this is pretty much a direct competitor to EGM, will you guys still be doing content for them? Anyhoo, good luck. If I had an iPad, I'd subscribe.
Just purchased an iPad 2 at launch, so I'm beyond eager to download and purchase Atomix. Bravo, Area 5!
Good luck guys! I've been missing all of your opinions on games and such, something tells me you are going to blow "The Daily" out of the water :D
Too bad Atomix writing abilities in Spanish are so awful. This was the first Mexican multiplatform videogame magazine and it was the worst as often did such things as reviewing never-to-be-released games, and translating and publishing English Wikipedia articles for it's reviews. It's a shame because you guys at Area 5 are so awesome.
¡Saludos desde México!
Saw this on Jay Frechette's Twitter so I decided to check it out, or at least I tried to but after excitedly typing in "Atomix" to the app store search on my iPad I discovered it's not available in the UK.
Is this going to be a US only thing or are you guys planning on releasing it in other territories soon?
I have an iPad, but why should I pay for this when I could just access IGN or Gamespot from Safari for free?
Make the app free and ad-supported and then you're talking.
I feel a deep-seated urge to buy an iPad now.
Echo what Rafael asked...Does this mean Area 5 is done working with EGM/EGMi?
Great, my Ipad 2 is on its way, waiting for it every day! 0,99 is a good price folks, but can i get the App also in Germany?
YAHBMA (Yet another half-baked magazine app)
Okay so I downloaded the app and brought the first issue and so far I have been trying to download it for hours. *sigh*
I wonder why nobody learns from other peoples mistakes. Several other magazine apps on the iPad have had same issue. Where downloads didn't work well. Specifically I know 'Project' have since issued several fixes.
And yet here we have another magazine where downloads fail over and over again. Move app to background? Download fails. iPad sleeps? Download fails. Sit and keep iPad alive until download is almost complete? Download fails. And of course downloads have to start from scratch each and every time.
Forcing users to spend more time trying to get a download to go though, than they will reading the magazine, is not going to help sales.
This is the future of gaming magazines! Brilliant! Now I wish I actually had an iPad.
I just downloaded the app and have tried to download the first issue about 15 times. The app crashes every time the download gets to 100%. Any ideas?
Just like back when CO-OP first started, I'm more than happy to support you guys on your latest endeavor. I get hours of entertainment at work listening to you guys joining in RebelFM most weeks, and I watched the CO-OP show all the way to its end. This magazine gives me an easy way to support you every issue, and it's probably the cheapest in-app purchase of any digital magazine yet. You'll definitely have my purchase every issue. Good luck guys.
I downloaded the app and bought the in-app content. But I can't seem to download it. Whenever the download is finished (i.e., the download gauge has turned completely blue), the app crashes/closes. When I restart, I have to start the download from scratch just to see it again crash in the end.
In any case, I would have preferred the option to stream rather than download the contact anyway since I mostly use my iPad at home.
I am on iPad1 with the latest iOS and I am downloading from the German app store. Hopefully, I'll get it to work soon.
I wish this was out for something other then iPad. I don't have nor want an iPad.
I am a customer that wants to give you my money (I paid for the 401 Episode). But I cant since you released this for iPad only. Hopefully you will make the content available in a desktop app in the near future....
@edgefusion ... it should be available worldwide! Lemme know if you're unable to get it. I don't know what I can do, but having that info can still help :)
A few things! First--everyone thanks for giving our magazine a go if you are able! If you don't have an iPad, hopefully you'll stick with us on our Facebook page, websites, etc. and get the freebies we'll be posting. If you have another platform--iPhone, Andorid, etc., we very much WANT an app for you, but it will depends on the success of the iPad version as to how soon we're able to make that happen. More programmers=bigger budget, of course :)
For those if you having issues downloading the issue (ha?), SUPER sorry about that! A few simple things to try: make sure you have enough free space. A lot of people are running into issue by having a full iPad. You really do need almost 500 Megabytes free. Sorry, but we're committed to quality and have a lot of hi-res art and video in the mag. We're working on ways to decrease the file size of each issue, but this seems to be the most frequent problem.
Other people are able to solve their problems simply by rebooting.
Still others are able to get the issue by deleting the app and re-downloading it. I apologize if you have to go through all that hassle! HOpefully, if you're one of the unlucky ones that has to do all that you'll think it was worth it. ANd if not... well, at least it was only 99¢, yeah?
The magazine is fucking awesome! Love my iPad, love Area 5. Keep up the great work!
I really enjoy the area 5 commentary and perspective on games, so I'm a little disappointed by this. I do not have an iPad, nor have I felt at all compelled to get one. I'm not a tablet or an apple hater; I have an iPhone and an Android phone. Even if the magazine comes to these platforms eventually I don't want to read a magazine on such a small screen. I was hoping the next big thing would be like... co-op. I know another video review show is anti-climatic and not really anything new, but I feel totally left out by the decision to go in this direction. Oh yeah, and I don't have a facebook profile either, but even if I did it seems like those are just scraps from the table.
I do however hope it's successful, because at least then the success could snowball into something that doesn't have a $500 barrier of entry. I applaud your forward thinking, and I know you can't please everyone.
It's so sad that I wouldn't be able to enjoy your work guys! ;(
Cos the magazine is awesome & it's amazing to see, you, Area5 guys back to work & your most superb production (I sooooo missed you guys); but NO f-ing way Im gonna get an iPad! (Instead Im buying HP Slate - a Full-functioning PC, not an iPad -- iOS-smth-like-PC crap).
So I hope you would make an app for a Mac or iPhone soon.
@Adam and @gearge svanidze ... honestly, that was our biggest concern with this project: those people we knew would be left out in the cold. If this is successful enough to do an iPhone and Android phone app, you can be assured that we will format the content for those devices, specifically. It'll be more work for us, but we won't just be pushing the same layouts and designs across multiple devices. Obviously we'll have to duplicate assets where possible in order to save on costs and cut down on development time, but in the end WE know we'd hate that so we wouldn't expect anyone else to enjoy it, either ;). For now, yeah, some scraps from the table--and we're genuinely sorry about that--but who knows where this could go? Popularity=possibility. And, yes, even a Slate app would be ideal should that prove economically feasible--I can't commit to anything unless the BUSINESS of it makes sense. Which is a sad phrase that I hate even putting into writing, but one thing two years of helping run this business has taught me is that reality has a nasty way of asserting itself if you avoid it for too long.
It's good to see you guys are back again. I've been an avid follower since the 1up days. As much as I would love to support you guys, like most other gamers here, I don't own an iPad. iPad owners are niche market and iPad gamers are even rare so I hope this takes off so you could put this on other platforms. I would love to see a PC/Mac version of it more than a mobile version of it though. Good luck guys =]
@Matt
Yeah I tried deleting the app and redownloaded it as it was crashing when issue download was complete. Now it wants another payment for me to download issue one. Even though I can see the purchase of the issue on my iTunes account.
I just bought it, but it´s taking long to download.
Is this magazine your work or you are just freelancing? Do you manage all the content of the magazine? Do you have creative control?
I wish you would just stick to video content - in the fashion of co-op and the 1up show - like you used to :(
I will never buy an iPad and I can get most of this information on regular gaming websites for free. However, good luck with it and all the best.
glad to hear from you guys again!
Unfortunately, I do not own a Ipad....
Please bring this magazine to the computers not in our pockets...
Also, is Area5 still associated with the EGM magazine on top of ATOMIX?
Just installed the app, and downloading the first issue.
It is good to see you guys back. Always love your works guys.
I've been a fan from the 1up days as well. I think it's a bad idea to push a iPad only Magazine App right now. The magazine should have been a Universal app and it should look the same on all iOS devices. That's why the iOS works. Most games play on iPhone, iPod touch, and iPads. Sure the graphics look better on iPhone 4 and iPad 2 but the game still works on iPhone 3G and iPod touch.
This mag should be no different. You guys are out of touch. Your core gaming audience is iPod touch users and you should give them the same experience as your iPad 2 users. The great thing about the iPhone and iPod touch is the ability to browse the internet and view the full desktop webpage. Mobile versions take away from that experience. Again, I'm a long time fan. I do not have an iPad, I have an iPhone 4. Make the Magazine a universal app and take my 99 cents.
PS - I want more 1up shows, co-op etc. I'm missing my gaming news fix.
It's great area5 is finally back, been following you guys since season one of the 1up Show. I don't own or intend to buy an iPad, but I will follow your other stuff related to this project. That being said, I have absolutely zero interest in reading a publication on my iphone (not to say I won't support you guys!). The screen and interface aren't conducive to publications so I can see why the ipad was a more logical choice. I do hope you guys do something similar to EGMi in the future and have a browser based version.
Good luck guys, I can't wait to read this mag.
The teaser looks great - if magazines like this are a taste of things to come, the tablet delivery method is sure to boom.
I don't own one though, so I guess I'll miss out for a while still.
A suggestion that shouldn't take too long to produce, would be a flash based version of the magazine for PC - to keep the animations and other doodads you've implemented to the iPad version. Atleast it sounds faster than switching over to a different console/phone system.
I've wanted an iPad since the 1st generation launch, and Atomix is what finally pushed me over the edge (though Swords & Sworcery helped too). I am now the happy owner of a 1st gen iPad and the Atomix app (and S&S).
I'm very impressed with issue #1. My only minor gripes:
1) It's a little weird how the text scrolls before the pictures when you slide an article up and down. Nothing major, and I got acclimated to it quickly, but...still a bit odd.
2) The formatting on a few articles was a little hard to follow. I think the Dead Rising 2 article was the worst offender. I often didn't know when I was supposed to switch from one column of text to the other.
I look forward to reading future issues - keep up the great work!
It's a smart move.
Gamer + iPad owner = likely to have disposable income (I.e. Not likely to worry too much about coughing up 99c once a month.
Good luck guys!!
:)
I wanted to check the magazine out so i downloaded the app.
Problem is that while it says everywhere that an issue is 99 cents, the app says that it's 6 dollars.
I might buy the first issue anyway to check it out, but I probably will not be back if the price stays there.
I'm in Norway by the way. I guess that's the reason for the price difference.
@jagadish ... I would question your judgement of a "niche" market :). There are well, WELL over the 15 million that there were at the end of 2010 and some analysts think there will be over 70 million iPad owners by the end of 2011. If even 1% of those iPad owners by our magazine, even after Apple's cut of our profits that's more than enough to keep our business afloat. Ref: http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2011/apr/11/tablet-ipad-sales-growth-gartner
Also, I can't find a source to reference for you, but the "majority" of iPad owners have downloaded games on their iPads, so there are many reasons for us to be optimistic :)
Been following you guys since the 1UP Show. Told all my friends about you all. I live in the UK and found your shows funny and very informative. I loved CO-OP and was gutted when it ended. I follow the EGM mag too and enjoy your input in there. Just want to say I've bought the app and will quite happily pay £0.59p or more. Looks great and a very nice design layout. Love my iPad and this works fantastic on it.
Thanks fellas.
Love seeing you guys on a steady new project. Please push for this to come to smartphones... not a single person I know who actually plays games owns an iPad... but many of them own iPhones (and androids of course). Good luck!
Echoing what a few other people have said in that I love your guys' content, but I don't have an ipad. I'm holding out for an android version of Atomix though-- will buy day 1 if it ever comes out.
I have no idea what your demographic is, but this magazine felt really well suited to me. I'm 30, have a career and am interested in games that are interesting. Your magazine seems perfect for me. Is there going to be a subscription model? I'd rather just pay once and get it for a year.
I love all the area 5 content and articles, but the non-Area 5 ones are just an embarrassment. Very poorly translated and barely readable. I don't know how you guys could put so much effort into it and let that slide. I love the concept though and will buy the second issue to see if things have changed. Also, the background scrolling is incredibly annoying and looks horrible.
Well, get it out on Android and I'll be first in line to subscribe!
I just downloaded the Atomix app and the first issue today. Fantastic work all around. Everything downloaded and was up and running in about 60 seconds. The layouts look great and I'm excited to see what new kind of interactive pages you set up. The gestures are intuitive and make this more than a hi-resolution PDF. The inclusion of audio and video make this more than a magazine.
This was my first purchase of magazine content on the iPad. I have looked through the offerings on Zinio and other PDF-style digital editions, but this was the first that drew me in and caused me to click that "buy" button. Why?
1.) This is content designed for a touch interface
2.) The editorial staff has a strong reputation
3.) The promise of 1UP Show/Co-op style video content
4.) The price is right. Of all the digital edition magazines I have looked at, very few seem to get the pricing right. 99 cents an issue seems to be the sweet-spot.
As you have said, it would be nice to get this on other platforms, including Mac and PC, but I understand the need to start with iPad (~15 million user base) and grow from there.
Great works everyone!
Just picked up an Ipad 2 two days ago, and the first app I bought was Atomix. Great magazine so far, and I love seeing the Area 5 team doing what they do best. Also picked up Sword and Sorcery. I'm thinking of getting World of Goo next.
As soon as I have my hands on an ipad2, this is the first thing I'm going to download!
I love your stuff and have felt a bit sad when you guys haven't been around that much. It's heart warming to see you guys back!
I hope you do well enough!
/Mattias, Sweden