Editing Sinclair User

{{Short description|Computer magazine published until April 1993}}
{{Infobox magazine
|title = Sinclair User
|image_file = sinclair user cover.jpg
|image_caption = Cover from 1987
|editor = 
|editor_title = 
|previous_editor = Apr 1982: John Sterlicchi<br />May '82 - Jan '84: Nigel Clark <br />Feb '84 - May '86: Bill Scolding <br />Jun '86 - Apr '88: David Kelly <br />Mar '88 - May '89: Graham Taylor<br />Jun '89 - Nov '90: Jim Douglas<br />Dec '90 - Apr '92: Garth Sumpter<br />May '92 - May '93: Alan Dykes
|staff_writer = 
|frequency = Monthly
|circulation = 96,000 (July 1984)
|category = [[Computer magazines]]
|company = ECC Publications (Apr 1982 - Aug 1984)<br />[[EMAP]] (Sep 84 - May 1993)
|publisher = 
|firstdate = April 1982
|country = [[United Kingdom]]
|based = 
|language = [[English language|English]]
|website = 
|issn = 0262-5458
|finaldate = April 1993
|finalnumber = 134<ref name="ys93">{{cite web
 |url         = https://sinclairuser.com/134/index.htm
 |title       = April 1993, Issue 134
 |publisher   = Sinclair User Magazine Online
 |work        = sinclairuser.com
 |access-date  = 2022-06-27
 |url-status     = live
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20210413035626/https://sinclairuser.com/134/index.htm
 |archive-date = 2021-04-13
}}</ref> (133rd issue<ref name="issue97">Sinclair User skipped issue 97 with the April 1990 magazine being assigned issue number 98 incorrectly, instead of 97. This error was then propagated until the final issue.</ref>)
}}

'''''Sinclair User''''' was a magazine dedicated to the [[Sinclair Research]] range of [[home computer]]s, most specifically the [[ZX Spectrum]] (while also occasionally covering [[arcade game]]s). Initially published by ECC Publications, and later [[EMAP]], it was published in the [[United Kingdom|UK]] between 1982 and 1993, and was the longest running Sinclair-based magazine. The magazine contained news, game reviews, previews, tips, help guides, columns, readers' letters, and cover-mounted [[game demo]]s.

==History==
[[Image:Sinclair User Early Example FAIR USE ONLY.jpg|left|thumb|The debut issue, representative of the magazine's early style which was more hobbyist and less games-oriented than in later years.]]<!-- See "fair use" rationale for why it is believed more than one example of Sinclair User cover is justified here -->

In earlier years, the magazine built up personality cults around some of its "hilariously" monikered staff, including Bill "Incorruptible" Scolding, John "Disgusting" Gilbert, Chris "Lunchbreaks" Bourne, Claire "Ligger" Edgely, Richard Price (writer of the "Gordo Greatbelly" adventure tips section), and columnist Andrew Hewson (founder of [[Hewson Consultants]] software).

Under David Kelly's editorial tenure, the magazine began to focus more on the gaming scene, and featured more colour graphics under designer Gareth "the Mad Celt". By the time of editor Graham Taylor, the magazine included the cartoon character Kamikaze Bear, and the tone of the publication changed from a semi-serious magazine to something aimed more at children.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sinclair User Magazine at Simplyeighties.com |url=https://www.simplyeighties.com/sinclair-user.php |access-date=2022-04-26 |website=www.simplyeighties.com}}</ref>

High-quality games were indicated in reviews via the "Sinclair User Classic" award, the logo was used as a selling point for games, big and small.<ref>{{Cite web |title= Sinclair User |url=https://worldofspectrum.org//pub/sinclair/games-adverts/b/Batman-TheMovie.jpg |website=World of Spectrum}}</ref>

In May 1992 the former rival publication ''[[CRASH (magazine)|CRASH]]'' was notionally subsumed into ''Sinclair User'' but in practice this meant little more than the addition of the ''Crash!'' logo to the magazine's cover page.

==''Timex Sinclair User''==
[[Image:Timex Sinclair User FAIR USE ONLY.jpg|thumb|''Timex Sinclair User'' was a spin-off for the US market.]]

A short-lived<ref name="worldofspectrum.org">{{cite web|url=http://www.worldofspectrum.org/timex/tsuser.htm |title=Archived copy |access-date=2011-03-13 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120113201437/http://www.worldofspectrum.org/timex/tsuser.htm |archive-date=2012-01-13 }}</ref> spin-off known as ''Timex Sinclair User'' was also published for the [[United States|American]] market, where versions of Sinclair computers were marketed under the [[Timex Sinclair]] name.<ref name="worldofspectrum.org"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.vintage-computer.com/timexsinclairuser.shtml |title=Timex Sinclair User |access-date=2011-03-13 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110319033109/http://www.vintage-computer.com/timexsinclairuser.shtml |archive-date=2011-03-19 }}</ref>

==See also==
*''[[Sinclair Programs]]''
*''[[Your Sinclair]]''
*''[[Computer and Video Games]]''

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[[iarchive:sinclair-user-magazine|Archived Sinclair User magazines]] on the [[Internet Archive]]
*[https://sinclairuser.com/ Sinclair User Magazine Online], unofficial archive

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{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Video game magazines published in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Defunct computer magazines published in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:ZX Spectrum magazines]]
[[Category:Magazines established in 1982]]
[[Category:Magazines disestablished in 1993]]
[[Category:Monthly magazines published in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:1983 establishments in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:1993 disestablishments in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Magazines published in London]]