A Profound Waste of Time is a British contemporary video game magazine. Crowdfunded through Kickstarters, the magazine is self-published by freelance graphic designer Caspian Whistler. The campaign for the first issue in 2016 raised £39,000; only two issues have been published, and a third is being crowdfunded. A Profound Waste of Time has received positive reviews from journalists.

Publication history

Freelance graphic designer Caspian Whistler began making video game zines while studying at University of the Arts London. Exposed to many quality print publications for other areas of the arts, Whistler felt that video game magazines were "bleak" in comparison. He was inspired to create "something celebratory and optimistic" to recapture his love for video games.[1] In an interview with Creative Review, Whistler said that he intended to move away "more reactionary" and mainstream aspects of video game journalism such as review scores and exclusives through a print format, enabling a "different kind" of gaming discussion. He also believed that discussion around the emotional aspects of games was lacking.[2]

Whistler began A Profound Waste of Time (APWOT) while studying graphic design at the Chelsea College of Art as part of a project about zines and counterculture.[2] Although Whistler initially wrote and designed his new side-project himself, he was surprised by the positive response after he posted images of the project on a forum. In 2016 he began crowdfunding the publication of the first issue of A Profound Waste of Time on Kickstarter with the aim of £20,000, raising £39,000.[1][3] The second issue was released five years later in 2021 after its Kickstarter campaign raised £62,165.[4][5] Another campaign for reprints of both issues raised over £89,000 sixteen days before closure.[5][6] Both issues have special editions.[7] A third issue is currently being funded by a Kickstarter campaign and is available for preorder.[8]

Contents

A Profound Waste of Time is a "gaming magazine printed on high-quality paper stock".[1] The magazine has a focus on illustrations, design and words from a variety of different contributors, and does not have any screenshots. Its design was consulted on by Leo Field, it uses various types of printing and commissions various artists; the first issue features cover art of Shovel Knight (2014) by Dan Mumford.[1][2] Whistler focused on using the physical nature of the magazine to its full effect, incorporating booklet inserts, foldouts, tip-ins and holographic covers.[1] Issues include interviews and in-depth feature articles, and the second is almost 200 pages long. Special editions also have effects such as glow-in-the-dark and rainbow effects; the special edition of the third issue will have a thermochromic ink layer.[2][4][8][9]

Known contributors and artists

Issue 1

From [3][6]

Issue 2

From [4][6]

Issue 3

From [8]

Accolades

Year Ceremony Category Result Ref.
2018 Stack Awards Launch of the Year Nominated [2]
Best Use of Illustration
2019 ADC Annual Awards Publication Design Merit Honor [10]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Stuart, Keith (11 March 2022). "Paper view: the return of video game magazines". The Guardian. Retrieved 22 November 2022.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Tucker, Emma (28 November 2018). "The indie mag going beyond gaming's "white guy with a gun" image". Creative Review. Retrieved 22 November 2022.
  3. 1 2 Plunkett, Luke (17 November 2016). "New Games Magazine Is A Profound Waste Of Time". Kotaku. Retrieved 22 November 2022.
  4. 1 2 3 Plunkett, Luke (7 July 2021). "It's 2021, Why Not Read A Video Game Magazine". Kotaku. Retrieved 22 November 2022.
  5. 1 2 McFerran, Damien (30 September 2021). "Acclaimed Video Game Magazine 'A Profound Waste Of Time' Is Getting A Reprint". Nintendo Life. Gamer Network. Retrieved 22 November 2022.
  6. 1 2 3 Damian, Arthur (30 September 2021). "Second life: Gorgeous magazine A Profound Waste of Time gets a reprint". Destructoid. Retrieved 22 November 2022.
  7. ↑ Macgregor, Jody (22 May 2022). "When's the last time you were excited about a Kickstarter?". PC Gamer. Retrieved 22 November 2022.
  8. 1 2 3 Plunkett, Luke (10 November 2022). "It's 2022, Why Not Read A Video Game Magazine". Kotaku. Retrieved 22 November 2022.
  9. 1 2 Tucker, Emma (20 August 2021). "Good Reads: A Profound Waste of Time is a love letter to video games". Creative Review. Retrieved 22 November 2022.
  10. ↑ "ADC AWARDS". oneclub.org. Retrieved 22 November 2022.
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