Print media is dead. It's a fact which has been clear for some time, at least in the realm of video games. The internet has rendered the majority of magazines irrelevant, because print can never hope to keep up with the fast-paced nature of the games industry, nor can it be expected to challenge a media which is capable of offering video and audio to the mix. However, while mainstream magazines are falling by the wayside, we're seeing the emergence of more niche examples, of which Lock-On is the latest.
Published by Lost in Cult and featuring the talents of many notable writers — including Ryan Brown, Matt Paprocki, Lewis Parker, Digital Foundry's John Linneman, and Alex Aneil — Lock-On is a lavishly-produced magazine which aims to celebrate the past and present of PlayStation. Within its pages (which smell fantastic, we should add) you'll find old and new rubbing shoulders quite happily.
Classic Sony properties like PaRappa the Rapper, Jade Cocoon, Vib Ribbon, and Castlevania: SotN sit alongside more recent titles like Returnal, Hades, Death Stranding, and the PS5 remaster of Demon's Souls. There's even an in-depth look at the genesis of the PlayStation, including a spread which looks at the various logos Sony toyed with before selecting the one we all know and love today.
While companies like Nintendo and SEGA can call upon several decades of culture and history, Sony — which joined the party relatively late in the mid-'90s — is only now beginning to find itself in the same position, and Lock-On is very much a solid indication of that fact. As well as features on games and hardware, the magazine delves into stuff like the groundbreaking "Double Life" TV campaign that ran in the UK and the process of 'saving' Scott Pilgrim vs. the World from digital purgatory. There's even a feature about the recent stock market shenanigans involving North American retailer GameStop.
In case you weren't aware by now, we really dig Lock-On. It's just a shame that it's now totally sold out following a successful crowdfunding campaign and limited print run. Volume 2 is already in development, so if you like the sound of it, you can pledge your support now and keep this amazing love letter to all things PlayStation going for the foreseeable future.
Comments 14
Please someone has to sell me a copy! This seems right up my alley and I'm sad I can't get it now...I will back Volume 2 but this one seems so good 😭
This looks really cool, but I'm happy enough with my sub to Play magazine. The subscriber edition covers are really cool.
This site not included, I've found myself drifting away from most online media lately, and back towards print. It's less frantic or something. I can't explain it.
Thanks for the awesome write up! Just thought it’d be worth mentioning that it’s still possible to buy digital copies of Volume 001 and there are also still a limited number of soft cover physical copies available over on the Kickstarter for Volume 002 if people are quick!
@AFCC the $55 tier on the kickstarter for the 2nd one comes with the first volume!
@Shepherd_Tallon I can so relate. I just recently subscribed to my first magazine in like decades. Even thinking of getting a national newspaper subscription as well. It's just nice to be able to sit and read something static.
Still subscribed to Play, as long as they have exclusive interviews and in depth articles it's not changing any time soon.
Apart from the misleading opening gambit, great article!
You can still buy the softcover version if you pledge for the next edition as well. I highly recommend thinking about the second issue as well, some great stuff coming up!
This is a proper Bullseye let's have a look at what you could have won moment. I'd really like this. Wonder if they'll redo the first one due to me being sad.
@johncalmc it’s still available on Kickstarter if you’re quick!
If you pledge 40 quid or more you get soft cover issue 1 and 2 only 38 left as of 20th august 16.30pm.
I've chipped in for this bundle.
hurry hurry...
@Andr0idLife mate I was able to talk to the creators themselves and they told me the same! I managed to get both softcover copies <3 Thanks!
@AFCC Fantastic! Glad to hear it! Well worth owning these INCREDIBLE pieces of print media!
That's pretty cool. I used to dig reading Nintendo Power, and there was also a Playstation Magazine I owned a few copies of, one of which came with a demo disc that gave me my first taste of the original Silent Hill.
@Andr0idLife I was just sad that you couldn't get the hardcover versions! But I will get it for Volume 3
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