PC PowerPlay - Deleted Sections

Deleted Sections

A number of notable sections that used to appear in the magazine included:

• Tutorials. A lengthy article describing in relatively simple terms how something can be done. Usually starts with a paragraph or two why the change is good.
• Briefing. An article which explains the history or use of a specific computer part.
• On the Discs. Usually a two-page description of the software on the DVD. A short summary is given for each demo included.
• Guerrilla Gamer. A fictional writer, Guerrilla Gamer, using the image of Duke Nukem discusses a topic to which he usually has dislike towards.
• Dr claw. A parody of the online gaming/IRC community written in Leet speak from the perspective of an early teen gamer.
• Hack. A short lived comic about the antics of a PC games magazine writing team.
• Flotsam and Jetsam. A roundup of the all latest budget releases that often gave the reviewers a chance to showcase their writing skills by denigrating some of the more crappy titles on the market.
• Generation XX. Meghann O'Neill provided a look at gaming from a female perspective.
• Reshuffle. A review of several Graphics processing unit, where the frames per second and 3DMark points are stated along with a rating out of 5.
• POWERTEST. Powertest is where several hardware items are reviewed for their pros and cons and given a rating out of 10.
• The Beastie. The Beastie was a cheaper version of the Beast using mid-high range parts which are chosen on a "bang for buck" basis. It has been dropped in favour of a extended 'Beast' system.
• Bargain Bin. A selection of old games which were considered good for their time, usually available for under $20, hence the name.
• The Vault/Flashback. This section of the magazine alternates between two types of retrospective examinations. The Vault looks at an older game, greater than 10 years, where a key developer is interviewed and their thoughts are included on how the design process and the time after the game's release went. Examples include the original Doom, the original Ultima, and Commander Keen. Meanwhile, Flashback is a more casual look at a similarly older game, usually approached in a style seen in the Playtest reviews. Examples include The Last Express, Spycraft: The Great Game and Gabriel Knight.
• Yellow Boots. An amusing last page where a non-computer related topic is discussed, from the point of view of a man with a pair of apparently sentient yellow boots, with these tales often involving the author's "Crazy Ex-third flatmate" Victor Ninox.