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{{Short description|Computer magazine published in the UK}}

{{distinguish|Popular Computing}}

{{More citations needed|auto=yes|date=March 2016}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}

{{Infobox magazine
| title = Popular Computing Weekly
| logo =
| logo_size = 180px 
| image_file = Popular Computing Weekly May 1-7 1986, Vol. 5 Issue 18 Cover.jpg 
| image_size = 180px 
| image_alt = Issue cover for Popular Computing Weekly, 1–7 May 1986, Vol 5 No 18
| image_caption = {{date|1986-05-01|DMY}} issue cover
| editor = 
| editor_title = 
| previous_editor =
| staff_writer =
| photographer =
| category = [[Video game]]
| frequency = Weekly
| format = A4
| circulation =
| publisher = {{unbulleted list|[[Sunshine Publications]]|{{Interlanguage link|Focus Publishing|en|Focus Publishing|lt=Focus Publishing|qid=Q108453868}}}}
| paid_circulation =
| unpaid_circulation =
| circulation_year =
| total_circulation =
| founder =
| founded =
| firstdate = {{Start date and age|1982|04|23|df=y}} 
| finaldate = {{Start date and age|1990|06|14|df=y}} 
| finalnumber = 415
| company =
| country = United Kingdom
| based = [[London]]
| language = English
| website = 
| issn = 0265-0509
| eissn =
| oclc = 476459425
}}

'''''Popular Computing Weekly''''' was a [[computer magazine]] in the [[United Kingdom|UK]] published from 1982 to 1990. It was sometimes referred to as ''PCW'' (although that abbreviation is more commonly associated with ''[[Personal Computer World]]'' magazine).

==Overview==
The magazine was first published on 23 April 1982.<ref name="bbcm">{{cite web |date=10 April 2007  |others=Material from David Harrison |title=List of all general computer magazines known to me that were first published at the latest 1985, perhaps 1986 |url=http://wouter.bbcmicro.net:80/bbc/tijdschriften.txt |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120304121050id_/http://wouter.bbcmicro.net:80/bbc/tijdschriften.txt |archivedate=4 March 2012 |accessdate=1 February 2017 |work=BBC Micro dot net |language=en-GB}}</ref> Its subject range was general, covering gaming, business, and [[productivity software]]. The founding company was Sunshine Publications<ref>{{cite news |author=Smith |first=Tony |date=3 January 2013 |title=MEGAGRAPH: 1983's UK home computer chart toppers |url=https://www.theregister.com/2013/01/03/charted_1983_home_computer_sales_in_uk/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200717065941/https://www.theregister.com/2013/01/03/charted_1983_home_computer_sales_in_uk/ |archive-date=17 July 2020 |accessdate=1 February 2017 |work=[[The Register]] |language=en-GB}}</ref> based in London and the launch editor was Duncan Scot.<ref name="bbcm"/> During 1989 it incorporated ''Computer Gamesweek''.

It was noteworthy for being the UK's only national weekly computer magazine of the time, and for its back page being dominated by an advertisement in the form of a comic strip, ''[[Pimania|Piman]]'', by the firm [[Automata UK]] between the years 1983 and 1986.

A further noteworthy feature of the early editions was the high-quality artwork on the magazine covers. These had disappeared by 1983.

One other noteworthy and regular column was about adventure games, notably text adventures. Reviews and cryptic spoilers were eagerly awaited. Readers who had completed the hugely successful text adventure ''[[The Hobbit (1982 video game)|The Hobbit]]'', first released on the [[ZX Spectrum]] were invited to add their names to a "Hobbit Hall of Fame." The magazine folded with issue 415 published in June 1990.<ref name="bbcm"/>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://archive.org/details/popular-computing-weekly Popular Computing Weekly] scanned issues on the [[Internet Archive]]

[[Category:1982 establishments in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:1990 disestablishments in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Video game magazines published in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Weekly magazines published in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Defunct computer magazines published in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Home computer magazines]]
[[Category:Magazines published in London]]
[[Category:Magazines established in 1982]]
[[Category:Magazines disestablished in 1990]]

{{Videogame-mag-stub}}
{{UK-compu-mag-stub}}

Popular Computing Weekly - Revision history

imported>PrimeBOT: /* top */ Task 30: parameter update following a discussion