PC Accelerator: Difference between revisions

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{{Short description|US magazine}}

{{Refimprove|date=September 2008}}

{{More citations needed|date=September 2008}}

[[Image:Killcreekpca.jpg|thumb|200px|March 2000 cover of ''PC Accelerator'' showing developer, [[Stevie Case]].]]

{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}}

{{Infobox magazine

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| image_file = Killcreekpca.jpg<!-- cover.jpg (omit the "file:" prefix) -->

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| image_alt = March 2000 cover of ''PC Accelerator'' showing developer, [[Stevie Case]]

| image_caption = March 2000 cover of ''PC Accelerator'' showing developer, [[Stevie Case]]

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| category = Computer magazine

| frequency = Monthly

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| publisher = [[Imagine Media]]

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| firstdate = September 1998<!-- {{Start date and age|YYYY|MM|DD}} -->

| finaldate = June 2000<!-- {{End date|YYYY|MM|DD}} -->

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| country = USA

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}}

'''''PC Accelerator''''' ('''''PCXL''''') was an American [[personal computer game]] [[magazine]] that was published by [[Imagine Media]] (currently a [[subsidiary]] of [[Future plc]]). It was known for its ''[[Maxim (magazine)|Maxim]]''-like humor and photography.

==History and profile==

'''''PC Accelerator''''' ('''''PCXL''''') was a [[personal computer game]] [[magazine]] that was published by [[Imagine Media]] (currently a [[subsidiary]] of [[Future Publishing]]). It was known for its ''[[Maxim (magazine)|Maxim]]''-like humor and photography. Its last issue was dated June 2000. After the split up of the magazine, [[editor-in-chief]] [[Mike Salmon (journalist)|Mike Salmon]] went on to start the ''[[Official Xbox Magazine]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bigsolutionsgroup.com/who.html|title=The Big Solutions Group: Who We Are | The Big Solutions Group | accessdate=2008-09-21}}</ref> While some of the staff was sent to ''[[PC Gamer]]'', others went on to work for [[Daily Radar]]. In September 2007, a special Fall issue of PCXL was released to newsstands only. This issue was primarily written by the current staff of PC Gamer with contributions by former PCXL staff including Rob Smith and Dan Egger.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.amazon.com/PCXL-Games-Gadgets-Makers-PCGamer/dp/B000VM0F20|title=Amazon.com: PCXL : Games, Gear, Girls, Gadgets From the Makers of PCGamer: Editors of PC XL Magazine: Books | Amazon.com | accessdate=2008-09-21}}</ref>

''PC Accelerator'' was started by Imagine Media in 1998.<ref name=wnews>{{cite news|title=Imagine Media Launches PC Accelerator Magazine|url=http://www.writenews.com/imagine-media-launches-pc-accelerator-magazine-82519982|access-date=27 November 2015|work=The Write News|date=25 August 1998}}</ref> The first issue was published in September 1998.<ref>{{cite web|title=PC Accelerator Issue 01 (September 1998) |url=https://www.retromags.com/files/category/189-pc-accelerator/|work=Retromags|date=29 July 2018 |access-date=25 May 2020}}</ref> The magazine was published on a monthly basis.<ref name=wnews/> Its last issue was dated June 2000.<ref>{{cite news|title=PC Accelerator Closes its Doors|url=http://www.gamespot.com/articles/pc-accelerator-closes-its-doors/1100-2565478/|access-date=3 March 2016|work=GameSpot|date=19 April 2000}}</ref>

After the split up of the magazine, [[editor-in-chief]] Mike Salmon went on to start the ''[[Official Xbox Magazine]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bigsolutionsgroup.com/who.html|title=The Big Solutions Group: Who We Are|work=The Big Solutions Group|access-date=21 September 2008}}</ref> While some of the staff was sent to ''[[PC Gamer]]'', others went on to work for [[Daily Radar]]. In September 2007, a special Fall issue of ''PCXL'' was released to newsstands only. This issue was primarily written by the current staff of ''PC Gamer'' with contributions by former ''PCXL'' staff including Rob Smith and Dan Egger.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://www.amazon.com/PCXL-Games-Gadgets-Makers-PCGamer/dp/B000VM0F20|title=PCXL : Games, Gear, Girls, Gadgets From the Makers of PCGamer: Editors of PC XL Magazine: Books|date=15 September 2007 |publisher=Future Network Usa |access-date=21 September 2008}}</ref>

==Format==

{{Expand section|date=June 2008}}

Games were reviewed on a scale of 0-10. [[Half-Life (video game)|''Half-Life'']] was the only game to receive an 11. This was (in the February 1999 issue, page 86).

==Staff==

*'''Mike Salmon:''' Editor in Chief and writer.

*Rob Smith: Executive Editor who went on to helm ''[[PC Gamer]]''.

*'''RobEd SmithLee:''' Executive EditorWriter who wenteventually onleft to helmenter ''[[PClaw Gamer]]''school.

*Chuck Osborn: A native of [[Austin, Texas]]. Chuck went on to work for ''PC Gamer''.

*Matt Holmes: associate editor.

*'''Ed Lee:''' Writer who eventually left to enter law school.

*Eric Smith: Asst. Art Director, then Art Director after Kyle departed.

*Dan Egger: A junior editor for the magazine.

*'''Chuck Osborn:''' A native of [[Austin, Texas]]. Chuck went on to work for ''PC Gamer''.

*Carrie Shepherd: The managing editor for the publication.

*Quinton Doroquez aka "Q": Original Art Director who designed the layout for the magazine.

*'''Matt Holmes:''' Associate Editor

*Kyle LeBoeuf: Asst. Art Director, then Art Director after Quinton departed.

*Erik Piller: Marketing Manager / Webmaster.

*'''Eric Smith:''' Asst. Art Director, then Art Director after Kyle departed

*Caroline Simpson-Bint: Publisher.

*Caitlyn Meeks: CD-ROM designer, also worked for ''PC Gamer''.

*'''Dan Egger:''' A junior editor for the magazine.

*'''Carrie Shepherd:''' The managing editor for the publication.

*'''Quinton Doroquez aka "Q":''' Original Art Director who designed the layout for the magazine.

*'''Kyle LeBoeuf:''' Asst. Art Director, then Art Director after Quinton departed

*'''Erik Piller:''' Marketing Manager / Webmaster

*'''Caroline Simpson-Bint:''' Publisher

*'''Caitlyn Meeks:''' CD-ROM designer, also worked for ''PC Gamer''.

There were more editors and artists that followed.

==Characters==

*"'''Hector the Scarecrow'''" - Crafted from a coatrack and gas mask. Hector was dangled from the sprinkler system to appear more lifelike and eventually made a fire inspector very, very angry. Hector appeared in six issues.

*"Gia DeCarlo" - An intern who worked at the magazine.

*"Limey the Lima Bean" - Says "Screw you" to everyone.

*"Quake Guy" - Frequent hero of Ed Lee Comic Strips.

*"Laura"

*"Future Guy" - Future Guy lived one year in the future and knew a year in advance that ''PCXL'' was going to get canned.

== ''PC Gamer'' Versus ''PCXL'' matches ==

*"'''Gia DeCarlo'''" - An intern who worked at the magazine.

Every night, the staffs of ''PC Gamer'' and ''PCXL'' would challenge each other to massive team on team ''[[Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six (video game)|Rainbow Six]]'' battles.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pc.ign.com/articles/153/153836p1.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020217223423/http://pc.ign.com/articles/153/153836p1.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 17, 2002|title=IGN: Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Review|work=IGN|access-date=21 September 2008}}</ref>

*"'''Limey the Lima Bean'''" - Says "Screw you" to everyone.

*"'''Quake Guy'''" - Frequent hero of Ed Lee Comic Strips

*"'''Laura'''"

*"'''Future Guy'''" - Future Guy lived one year in the future and knew a year in advance that PCXL was going to get canned.

==Easter Eggs==

There was a game reviewed in the magazine that never existed... and was completely fabricated including screenshots, developer interviews, company website and a developer company front.{{Citation needed|date=September 2008}}

==PC Gamer Versus PCXL matches==

Every night, the staffs of ''PC Gamer'' and PCXL would challenge each other to massive team on team Rainbow Six battles. The PCXL staff rarely won a single match.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pc.ign.com/articles/153/153836p1.html|title=IGN: Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Review | IGN | accessdate=2008-09-21}}</ref>

== References ==

{{reflistReflist}}

==External links==

* [https://web.archive.org/web/20000303021926/http://www.pcxl.com/ PCXL.com (ARCHIVED)]

* [http://arstechnica.com/etc/games/2000/gars-06102000-2.html Interview with former associate editor Matt Holmes]

* [httphttps://arstechnica.com/etc/games/2000/gars-0528200006102000-2.html ArsInterview with Technicaformer homageassociate toeditor ''PCMatt Accelerator''Holmes]

* [https://arstechnica.com/etc/games/2000/gars-05282000.html Ars Technica homage to ''PC Accelerator'']

{{Future plc}}

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[[Category:British video game magazines]]

[[Category:Defunct British computer magazines]]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Pc Accelerator}}

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[[Category:Future plc]]

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[[Category:Monthly magazines published in the United States]]

[[Category:Defunct video game magazines published in the United States]]

[[Category:Defunct computer magazines published in the United States]]

[[Category:Magazines established in 1998]]

[[Category:Magazines disestablished in 2000]]

[[Category:Home computer magazines]]