Games magazine for pre-teen boys joins growing kids portfolio
Future launches ZAP!
20/10/05 - Future's latest launch, ZAP! - a video games magazine for pre-teen boys launches next month and promises to be cool for kids and safe for parents.
Only covering games suitable up to 12 years old, ZAP! will deliver a mix of video game and fun content, fronted by an all-new cast of comic book characters. Blasting off on Thursday 3rd November, with a coverprice of £1.99 - ZAP! is aimed at 7-13 year old boys and immerses readers into the exciting world of ZapBoy and his robot guides.
With definitive games news and reviews for kids across all formats, ZAP! also features gaming cheats, tips and solutions on special cut out and keep cards. Aside from video games coverage ZAP! will offer puzzles, drawing guides, comic strips and special guest interviews. In the launch issue, wannabe villain Dr. Disaster interviews evil genius Dr. Cortex, star of the multi-platinum selling Crash Bandicoot game series - who reveals what it takes to be one of the most feared bad guys in video gaming history.
The 36-page launch issue also features a review of the eagerly-awaited Shadow the Hedgehog video game from Sega and gives readers unmissable playground knowledge on the new XBOX 360, equipping them with the facts to amaze their school mates. Lead character, ZapBoy battles the evil Zom-B in his first-ever comic strip adventure and readers also have the chance to win their very own Dalek!
On sale every three weeks, ZAP! comes with a covermount every issue. Kicking things off in style, issue one comes with FOUR top gifts. The bumper package of freebies contains Sonic the Hedgehog spinners, Spyro the Dragon stickers and Toonami Teen Titan door hangers and a Yoda poster.
Cavan Scott is Editor of ZAP!:
"Zap! is all about fun! The magazine has a fantastic mix of games coverage and exciting boy's stuff that kids will love, whilst parents will feel safe buying it for them. Future's heritage in the games industry means we know what we are talking about when it comes to games and we've managed to secure fantastic access to the biggest games for younger people. ZAP! gives us a chance to work with our own characters and we look forward to taking readers on a rollercoaster ride as we develop ZapBoy's intergalactic adventures."
Publisher Mike Lamond added:
"ZAP! represents the next stage in the growth of the Future Kids' portfolio and is the group's non-licensed magazine. ZAP! is a kids magazine about games, not a games magazine for kids - our first goal has always been to ensure the magazine is fun and includes non-games material as well. We've achieved those objectives and managed to make sure that all the games featured are suitable for its target audience and won't ruffle parental feathers."
ZAP! goes on sale Thursday 3rd November, with a coverprice of £1.99.
ENDS
About Future
Future plc was founded in the UK in 1985. Today, it publishes over 150 special-interest consumer magazines worldwide with strong portfolios in the computing, games, music, automotive, sports, crafts and leisure sectors. It is the fifth largest magazine publisher in the UK. Future employs 1,450 people in offices in the UK, US, France and Italy. Over 100 international editions of Future's magazines are also published under licence in 30 other countries across the world. The company is listed on the London Stock Exchange (symbol FUTR).
For more information:
Will Guyatt, Media Relations Manager, 01225 822517.