Atari User was a British magazine aimed at users of Atari computers, and published by Database Publications (later known as Europress) between 1985 and 1988. For the concept Atari (当たり) in the board game of Go, see Atari (go term). ... A computer is a device or machine for processing information according to a program — a compiled list of instructions. ... 1985 is a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1988 is a leap year starting on a Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Support

Early editions primarily focussed on the 8-bit (400/800/XL/XE) computers and the newly-launched 16-bit ST range (although they included news of other Atari products such as the relaunched 2600 and 7800 consoles). Atari built a series of 8-bit home computers based on the MOS Technology 6502 CPU, starting in 1979. ... In computer science, 16-bit is an adjective used to describe integers that are at most two bytes wide, or to describe CPU architectures based on registers, address buses, or data buses of that size. ... The Atari 520 ST The Atari ST was a home/personal computer system released by Atari in 1985. ... Atari 2600 (four-switch version). ... Atari 7800 System The Atari 7800 is a video game console released by Atari. ...

As the popularity of the ST increased, it was given its own pull-out section called Atari ST User. In April 1987, Atari ST User was spun off as a magazine in its own right and went on to outlive its parent by a number of years. 1987 is a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... A spin-off (or spinoff) is a new organization or entity formed by a split from a larger one such as a new company formed from a university research group. ...

Following the split, Atari User was almost entirely oriented towards the 8-bit computers (with brief 2600 coverage). Until late 1987, when Page 6 magazine became available on newsstands, Atari User was the only British magazine with dedicated (or even significant) support for the 8-bit Ataris to be sold in shops. 1987 is a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... A typical newsstand in New York City. ...

Editorial Style

Atari User was a general-interest computer magazine, containing games reviews as well as program listings to be typed in by hand, tutorials and hardware projects. As with Database's other publications, its appearance was somewhat conservative in comparison with its more games-oriented contemporaries, such as Computer and Video Games. The editorial style was equally restrained, and arguably lacking in personality. Games, like most other forms of media, may be categorized into genres based on gameplay, atmosphere, and various other factors. ... This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ... Hardware comprises all of the physical parts of a computer, as distinguished from the data it contains or operates on, and the software that provides instructions for the hardware to accomplish tasks. ... Conservatism or political conservatism is any of several historically related political philosophies or political ideologies. ... Contemporary is an adjective which in its basic form merely means that two individuals, events or movements overlapped in time. ... Cover of C&VG from 1991 Computer And Video Games (C&VG) was a video game magazine in the United Kingdom, published monthly between November 1981 and 2004. ...

Demise

Following publication of the final issue in November 1988, Database sold the 'Atari User' name (but not 'Atari ST User') to the publishers of Page 6 magazine, an independent rival. Page 6 was briefly renamed 'Page 6 Atari User', before settling on 'New Atari User'. Despite the name, New Atari User was to all intents and purposes the same magazine as Page 6; it had virtually no editorial continuity with the old Atari User. For other uses, see November (disambiguation). ... 1988 is a leap year starting on a Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ...