Computer and Video Games
The first issue of Computer and Video Games hit newsstands in November 1981. It stood as the world's first dedicated video game magazine at that moment. Readers found articles about Space Invaders, Chess, and Othello inside its pages. The editors also included advice on how to learn programming for beginners. This launch marked a turning point for home computing enthusiasts who needed guidance. No other publication had focused solely on video games before this date.
Reviewers assigned numerical scores to every game they tested within the magazine. Top-rated titles earned a special C+VG Hit award logo. That logo became a selling point for both big and small releases. In 1992, the team introduced Go!, a handheld gaming supplement bundled with the main print edition. The magazine reached an average circulation of 106,000 copies during the second half of 1986. These changes helped the brand grow beyond simple reviews into practical guides.
Future plc management earmarked CVG for closure in early 2014 alongside other sites under their control. Staff cuts occurred in July before the final shutdown decision arrived. December 2014 brought the official announcement that the website would cease operations. All pages redirected to Gamesradar+ when the site closed on the 26th of February 2015. The original print version had already stopped publishing monthly issues by October 2004. From 2004 onwards, the brand existed only as a web-based entity until its end.
The official YouTube channel offered walkthroughs and news about consoles and events until the final shutdown. One series called GTA V O'clock covered conspiracy theories surrounding Rockstar Games' Grand Theft Auto V. This show ran longer than most other segments on the platform. CVG was among the few publications invited to play Grand Theft Auto V before its public release on the 17th of September 2013. They also received access prior to the PC re-release on the 14th of April 2015. Community engagement remained high through these video formats despite declining print sales.
The annual Golden Joystick Awards began in 1982 as an internal magazine ceremony. Results appeared in the April 1983 issue alongside photos from Berkeley Square. DJ Dave Lee Travis presented the best game of the year award to Jetpac that first year. The event moved online with CVG.com when the website launched in 1999. It grew into the longest running gaming ceremony globally over the following decades. Writers who worked at CVG later helped create Video Games Chronicle in 2019 after the brand ended.
Continue Browsing
Common questions
When did the first issue of Computer and Video Games hit newsstands?
The first issue of Computer and Video Games hit newsstands in November 1981. It stood as the world's first dedicated video game magazine at that moment.
What was the circulation of Computer and Video Games during the second half of 1986?
The magazine reached an average circulation of 106,000 copies during the second half of 1986. This figure reflected its growth beyond simple reviews into practical guides for home computing enthusiasts.
On what date did the Computer and Video Games website cease operations?
All pages redirected to Gamesradar+ when the site closed on the 26th of February 2015. The original print version had already stopped publishing monthly issues by October 2004.
Which game won the best game of the year award from Computer and Video Games in 1983?
DJ Dave Lee Travis presented the best game of the year award to Jetpac that first year. Results appeared in the April 1983 issue alongside photos from Berkeley Square.
When was Grand Theft Auto V released publicly after Computer and Video Games received early access?
CVG was among the few publications invited to play Grand Theft Auto V before its public release on the 17th of September 2013. They also received access prior to the PC re-release on the 14th of April 2015.