Jaz Rignall and Paul Glancey are making gaming magazines together again. Their new project, Golden Age, is a subscriber-only print publication about the consoles, computers and arcade machines of the 20th century.
Rignall announced the Kickstarter launch on 5 November. The pair’s credits include Mean Machines, Computer and Video Games and ZZAP! 64, giving the project a direct connection to the magazine era it plans to revisit.
There’s already something to read before deciding whether to back it. The official website offers a free PDF of the 38-page Issue Zero, described as a taste of the planned publication. That’s a sample of a print-focused project, rather than a promise of a regular digital edition.
The campaign’s £48 subscription tier covers six issues planned for 2027. They’re intended to arrive every two months, finishing with a Christmas special. Each A5 issue is planned to have at least 68 pages, with perfect binding and a thicker cover. The subscription reward lists February 2027 as its estimated delivery.
Rignall says the smaller format helps keep production and shipping costs manageable. The editorial approach is intended to favour conversational stories, observations and behind-the-scenes recollections from people who were there, drawing on the style of his book The Games of a Lifetime.
A £36,000 stretch goal would increase issues to 84 pages and fund painted covers. The campaign also offers higher-priced rewards involving personalised stories, framed vintage magazines and a chance to suggest a feature. The covers currently shown are examples, not the final issue covers.
The distinction between a sample and a finished subscription matters here: Issue Zero is available now, while the six-issue run still depends on crowdfunding. The all-or-nothing campaign is due to close on 26 November, and delivery dates remain estimates.
For anyone curious about that old magazine voice finding a new home, the free pilot is the place to start.
