Kill Screen
 | |
| Categories | Computer and video game magazine |
|---|---|
| Year founded | 2009 |
| Country | United States |
| Based in | New York |
| Language | English |
| Website | killscreen.com |
| OCLC number | 892699658 |
Kill Screen is a video games arts and culture company. It produces an eponymous video games magazine and website, and organises events such as the annual two5six games culture conference.[1]
Overview
Kill Screen is a print and online magazine that specializes in literary video games journalism. The magazine originally planned to publish think pieces rather than breaking news.[2] In 2011, the website published short news pieces, reviews, and interviews.[3] PSFK described the magazine's demographic as "25–34-year-old wealthy, urban, culturally elite males".[4]
History
The magazine was founded by Jamin Brophy-Warren and Chris Dahlen,[2] who both wrote for Pitchfork. In a discussion at the March 2009 Game Developers Conference, the two discussed the lack of "high-end, intellectual" magazines about video games and non-blog writers in the style of Tom Wolfe and Chuck Klosterman. Brophy-Warren and Dahlen decided to start Kill Screen.[4] They sought for the magazine to mirror what Rolling Stone and Wired established in their respective industries.[3] Anthony Smyrski of Swindle served as the magazine's creative director. The magazine's authors had previously written for The New Yorker, GQ, Los Angeles Times, The Onion, and The Daily Show. The magazine was originally crowdfunded through Kickstarter[2] in late 2009.[4] The magazine's name is based on the arcade kill screen, the final level of certain arcade games that deteriorates into randomized letters because of a programming error.[4]
Reception
The New Yorker described Kill Screen as "the McSweeney's of interactive media".[5] PSFK called Kill Screen a "novel and elegant twist on modern publishing" with the feel of Monocle and impressive design and writers.[4] Time compared the magazine to Salon, but for video games. Time rated Kill Screen among the best blogs of 2011 and said their review of L.A. Noire could help legitimize the video games medium.[3]
References
- ↑ Kevin Ohannessian (2013-05-08). ""Kill Screen" Looks To Foster Cross-Industry Collaboration Around Games With New Event". Fast Company. Retrieved 2015-09-05.
- 1 2 3 http://www.wired.com/2009/12/killscreen/
- 1 2 3 http://content.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,2075431_2075447_2075602,00.html
- 1 2 3 4 5 http://www.psfk.com/2010/06/kill-screen-magazine-what-does-it-mean-to-play-games.html
- ↑ http://www.newyorker.com/goings-on-about-town/above-and-beyond/poprally