Computer Games Magazine

Computer Games Magazine was a computer gaming print magazine. Before 2000 it was known as Computer Games Strategy Plus, prior to 1996 it was called Strategy Plus, and originally it was founded as Games International in the UK in 1988. While its initial focus was on PC strategy games, it covered a wide range of game genres and platforms. The editor-in-chief was first, Brian Walker, from the UK; then Steven Wartofsky, and then later Steve Bauman. Based in Richmond, Vermont, it was the only independent computer gaming magazine in the United States. The magazine was acquired from Brian Walker by Yale Brozen, owner of the mail-order games company Chips 'n Bits, who ran it as a separate business entity from his mail-order business.

Computer Games Magazine included news, interviews, reviews, previews, and a wide variety of feature articles, as well as columns from game developers, industry leaders, academics, and writers within the video game industry. Games were rated on a 5-star system.

Computer Games was the sister publication and creator of MASSIVE Magazine (later renamed MMO Games Magazine), debuting in Fall 2006, and was also affiliated with game retailer Chips & Bits, as well as game auction/trading site GameSwapZone.com.

On March 13, 2007 it was reported that both Computer Games Magazine and MMO Games Magazine were shut down by their publisher, Theglobe.com, after that company was hit with a multi-million dollar judgement in a lawsuit resulting from the e-mail spam of MySpace.

A Greek version of Computer Games Magazine is still in print. This publication is currently on its seventh year of circulation and has been offering a covermount of full game (titles have included Resident Evil 4, Fallout 1 & 2, Icewind Dale, Hitman: Contracts, and more). The publication was originally owned by Hyperpress, a minor publication house but was sold to Motorpress in 2006 (along with the Greek version of GamePro magazine).

On July 10, 2007 a post from an apparent administrator on the Computer Games Magazine website forums (CGOnline.com) indicated that both Computer Games Magazine and MMO Games Magazine would be brought back to the public under a new publisher.

In the October 2007 issue of Games for Windows: The Official Magazine, a letter addressing Computer Games Magazine subscribers informed them that their pre-existing subscriptions had been applied to Games for Windows. It is currently unknown whether the future re-launch of Computer Games Magazine might also use the same subscriptions or require a new one.

In early 2009, CGOnline.com went back online featuring articles from past magazines. Content is continually being uploaded to the archive on the site.