New magazine to hit the stands

Computer and video games magazine publisher Paragon Publishing is to launch Gear, a publication that will combine technology, gadgets and fashion.

The magazine is understood to have an initial print run of 100,000. It will be priced at £2.99.

Paragon, the company behind the unofficial Playstation magazine Play, aims to cover technology such as DVDs and MP3, and also iconic fashion items like trainers, bikes and surfboards.

Last month the publisher acquired PC Strategy Games from Crimson Publishing for an undisclosed sum. The magazine has been merged with Paragon Publishing’s own title, Strategy Player.

In April this year, Paragon launched Digital Music Maker, aimed at entry-level computer users. The quarterly magazine followed on from two new titles launched early this year, PC First Aid and Top 100 DVDs.

In the Audit Bureau of Circulations figures (ABCs) for June to December 2000, Play reported a dip of 13.5 per cent period-on-period, and 26.2 per cent year-on-year, to a total circulation figure of 66,174.

Another of Paragon’s publications, Powerstation, reported a circulation decline of 17.5 per cent period-on-period, and 10.6 per cent year-on-year, to a total circulation figure of 41,854.