Computer Gaming World

While British magazines focused on home computers, Computer Gaming World championed PC gaming in America. Founded in 1981, CGW provided exhaustive coverage of strategy games, RPGs, and simulations with reviews that could stretch for pages. It was gaming journalism for adults who wanted depth.

Fast facts

Founded: 1981.
Founder: Russell Sipe.
Publisher: Golden Empire Publications, Inc. at the start; Ziff Davis Media, Inc. by the end.
Final issue: 2006 (became Games for Windows).

Editorial approach

Characteristic	Description
Review depth	Multi-page analysis
Genre focus	Strategy, RPG, simulation
Technical coverage	Hardware, programming
Tone	Serious, analytical

Signature features

Feature	Purpose
Strategy guides	In-depth game coverage
Industry interviews	Developer insights
Historical articles	Gaming evolution
Reader letters	Community discussion

Genre strengths

Genre	Coverage quality
Strategy	Excellent
RPG	Comprehensive
Simulation	Detailed
Action	Less prioritised

Notable coverage

Key games extensively covered:

Civilization series
Ultima series
Wing Commander
SimCity
X-COM

The Scorpia column

Adventure and RPG columnist:

Detailed walkthroughs
Genre expertise
Reader trust
Long-running feature

Awards

Annual awards recognised:

Game of the Year
Genre categories
Technical achievement
Industry impact

Competition

Magazine	Contrast
CGW	Strategy/RPG depth
PC Gamer	Broader action coverage
GameSpot	Online transition

Decline and end

Factors in closure:

Internet competition
Magazine market contraction
Ziff Davis restructuring
Rebranded to Games for Windows (2006)

Legacy

CGW established:

Serious game criticism
Long-form game writing
Strategy game appreciation
PC gaming culture

America's strategy bible