Magazine cover analysis- PC GAMER

Magazine cover analysis- PC Gamer

The title of this magazine is pretty self explanatory, the audience are gamers. It is in block capitals which shows the importance and makes a statement. Also the colours black read and white stand out and with the words in different colours.

Fittingly, the images that are on the cover are taken from games, advertising them, relating to what's written inside. Both of the images on there slightly overlap the masthead, this gives the illusion of it being on top on it, giving it depth as though it is in 3D. The figures are both recognizable to gamers which is why it is on the front cover. This re-enforces the fact that this is a magazine from the gamers to the gamers. The images are also different in the sense that one is pixelated  and looks like something off a computer game whether the other is a cartoon. This also adds depth and variety so you don't feel like you're looking at the same kind of thing on the cover.

The colours used on the cover are bright and bold, and there are a lot of them, but there doesn't seem to be any feminine colours on there so this suggests that this magazines audience base is primarily boys/men.

All of the words that need emphasis are in capital letters. this is stuff like titles, names of games and extra features. This draws attentions to them and then you read the writing underneath in lowercase letters, finding out more information.

Certain words are used to tempt the reader into the magazine for example, 'Expert guide' 'We reveal the secrets of...' 'How to be'. All of this language are designed to make the reader buy into the magazine so they can read these articles, even if they're an exaggeration. It also uses language that only a gamer would know so it shows that this is a magazine for the experienced and someone who knows about games. Wheather it be a quote or specialist vocabulary like "I made a dragon komodo into a bag  :(" This could be referencing a moment in the game or a joke within the game that everyone who has played it has encountered. 'Indie game' is another one, some people didn't know that it was an actual genre of the game, maybe its just been invented or it is a new era of gaming that is referred to as indie, but this is why this magazine is not for novices and is the 'real deal' so to speak.

Magazine cover analysis- ASOS

Magazine cover analysis- Asos

Asos is a fashion magazine, the word itself doesn't mean anything, its a brand name and maybe that's why its become so popular. It is short and simple, maybe reflecting the brands identity, but very big on the page. Nothing is covering it is filled in with bright bold colours which shows its importance. As well as the colours, it has a graffiti like design or writing and gradients within that could duplicate the effect of spray pains or stencils which shows individuality and the fact that it is urban and artistic.

Although this is firstly a fashion magazine, the people on the front cover are the popular girl group 'Haim' so it has music features within the magazine which then amplifies the interest. They are placed centrally and are all close together which shows union, family and friendship, it also makes it seem more relate able and casual and not intimidating like maybe other celebrities are portrayed for example super models.

There aren't any other pictures on the cover which draws more attention to 'Haim'. The other headlines are presented like headlines at a music festival which relates to the time this magazine was issued- in the summer- and is probably also why the girl group is on the front cover. Just under the masthead it reads 'summer smash hits' so this relates back to the festival season were both music and fashion is important. On one side it has names of the upcoming, new and fashionable bands and on the other side it has styles of clothing that are in fashion at that time. This re-enforces the fact that this is a fashion magazine with a music theme, and maybe the music side is bigger due to the fact that it is festival season...

The colours used on the front cover are pink, yellow, black and purple. This symbolises that this is a magazine for girls/women. Also the picture of 'Haim' stands for girl power, they are wearing black and white colours against a pale blue background to make the colours of the writing stand out so they complement each other.

Everything on the cover is in capitals except for the masthead, this makes it stand out. Its a kind of contradiction too because usually we use capitals to emphasize some thing but because the masthead isn't in capitals, its set apart and draws attention to itself. This reflect the type of magazine they aim to be- they stand out but not the stereotypically. They're different.

The titles and writing used on the cover are hardly sentences, they're short and snappy, to the point. This makes everything simple and doesn't give too much away so people would want to read inside. The mention of a popular TV drama 'game of thrones' could tempt the reader into reading as well as the fashion and music features.

Hey guys! My name is Angelina and this is my Media Studies coursework blog for OCR.