Future and Panini link up for second issue of Girl Gamer

30/01/08- Future, the special-interest media group - has announced the second issue of Girl Gamer, the UK's first games magazine for girls, produced in a unique publishing partnership with Panini.

The title is an extension of Future's fast-growing Official Nintendo Magazine - and the second issue of Girl Gamer will be included FREE with Easter issues of Panini's monthly title, Bliss - aimed at 12-16 year old girls and the fortnightly Mizz - targeted at 10-14 year old females.

With a print-run of 340,000 copies, the 32-page Girl Gamer will once again champion female focused product on the Nintendo DS and Wii consoles for girl gamers aged 10-16 years old.

Issue 02 will also be available in digital e-zine form via the Bliss, Mizz and Official Nintendo Magazine websites, with combined reach of over 500,000 readers.

The debut issue, which was distributed in November proved a fantastic success with readers and software publishers alike, garnering support and approval from Disney, Ubisoft, Atari, Empire, 505 Games, Koch Media, Eidos and Nintendo. The second issue of Girl Gamer will once again be headed by experienced Future Editor Kate Evans - who previously worked on Official magazines for kids - including Disney and the popular TV channel, Jetix.

Publisher of Girl Gamer and Official Nintendo Magazine, Lee Nutter said:

"The universal appeal and accessibility of Nintendo's DS and Wii consoles means that more and more teenage girls are playing games. Our partnership with Panini's Bliss and Mizz magazines gives us fantastic reach into this audience, delivering relevant game content to 840,000 readers of the print and digital e-zine edition of Girl Gamer."

Jess Tadmor, Marketing Manager of Bliss and Mizz said, " "We are delighted to partner with Future again on the second edition of Girl Gamer. The interest in gaming amongst teenage girls continues to grow and Girl Gamer provides our readers with varied content on some of the hottest games that are in the market."

Issue 2 of Girl Gamer is scheduled to be included with Bliss, on sale 26 March and Mizz, on sale 20 March.

ENDS

About Future

Future plc is an international special-interest media group with offices in the UK and US. Founded in 1985 with one magazine, today it creates over 180 special-interest publications, websites and events, with strong portfolios in the games, technology, music, film and active sectors including sports, automotive and crafts. Future exports, syndicates or licenses its publications to 90 countries internationally. The Company employs more than 1,200 people and is listed on the London Stock Exchange (symbol FUTR).

About Panini

The Panini Group, based in Modena, Italy, is the world leader in the collectable sticker and trading card market, is the fourth largest publisher in Europe of juvenile titles, and is currently developing a series of initiatives in the multimedia sector, both on and off-line, under the trademark Panini Interactive. In 2006, the Panini Group reached a turnover of 579 million Euros, with 706 employees. The company, in addition to its Italian headquarters, has offices in Spain, the UK, France, Germany, Holland, Austria, Turkey, Brazil, Chile and Mexico, with a total network that covers over 100 countries. Further information can be obtained on http://www.paninigroup.com.

For more information

Will Guyatt, Future UK Media Relations Manager, 01225 822517

Jess Tadmor, Mizz and Bliss Marketing Manager, 01892 500100