Atomix Videogame Magazine Launches on the Apple iPad

Atomix and Area 5 create new interactive magazine on video gaming specifically for the iPad.

"Atomix is totally unique in that it takes advantage of iPad features to make it an interactive reading and viewing experience unlike anything else," says Atomix founder Oscar Noriega. "It's a video game magazine that you don't just read, you interact with it, and that's what makes Atomix so amazing," Noriega said. Born as a partnership between the Mexico City-based Atomix (http://atomix.vg) and the San Francisco, CA video production company AREA 5 (http://area5.tv), Atomix on the iPad is a monthly magazine that celebrates videogames and videogame culture.

Atomix magazine immerses readers as they watch, touch, tap, and swipe through each customized article. The best on every platform, including consoles, PC, online, and of course every iOS and portable device are covered in superb detail.

Everything from big budget blockbusters to the smallest independent videogames, Atomix covers them all. Download Atomix and you won't find templates, just original art and videos from some of most talented writers and producers in the business.

"The iPad app is intended as a global product," says Mr. Noriega, "and we knew we needed to release simultaneously to Spanish and English-language markets." That, combined with the need for a heavy video component to the magazine, caused Mr. Noriega to reach out to videogame media veterans AREA 5. Known for creating The 1UP Show at 1UP.com before forming AREA 5 in 2009, AREA 5 then went on to produce the popular CO-OP on Revision3 and will be producing the majority of the content, both written and video, for Atomix.

"We loved the idea from the start," says AREA 5 co-founder Ryan O'Donnell. "We're huge fans of the possibilities inherent in touch-screen devices and we knew even from early versions of the app that Atomix 'got' it."

Oscar and company feel that other iPad videogame magazines haven't got it quite right just yet. "We'll be constantly evolving ourselves, but we knew from the start that we couldn't be a glorified PDF reader," says Mr. Noriega. According to AREA 5 co-founder Matt Chandronait, it also makes no sense to charge four to five dollars an issue for a digital-only product. "We're not limited by local markets. The iPad is worldwide and at ninety-nine cents an issue we're priced for a worldwide audience."

Mr. Noriega also says that for now, at least, they were focused only on making the best iPad app possible, "but our goal is global, and that means every device and every language where it makes sense."