IPC Magazines and Zone UK have produced the UK’s first lifestyle CD-Rom magazine, called UnZip. This interactive CD features music, film, games, in-depth documentaries, sport, animation, photography, a cartoon strip and the Internet.
Both Mac and PC compatible, UnZip will retail at £15.99 and has a playing time of over 6 hours. The first edition will have a circulation of 20,000 and will be available from major high street stores including record outlets from 2nd June 1995.
UnZip includes six major themed sections; The Music Documentary, Intersection, Pleasuredrome, Checkpoint, Netropolis and Alter State (see attached sheet).
IPC Specialist Group titles NME, Vox and New Scientist are branded throughout three of the sections, with selected IPC archive interviews and editorial also available to download and print out.
UnZip is promoted throughout IPC’s key music and lifestyle titles, as well as an ad campaign running on the Internet and Zone’s own VidZone consoles. Sited at Tower Records and HMV’s flagship stores, these interactive music guides are played over 25,000 times per month, with clients including Coca-Cola, MTV and major record companies.
Linda Lancaster-Gaye, who has IPC Board responsibility for multimedia development, said “IPC’s multimedia strategy is focused on accelerating the Company’s movement up this new media learning curve through the development of exciting new projects, like UnZip.
Working with multimedia experts like Zone UK, is key to meeting our objectives by exploring brand extensions for our leading titles in new media markets. NME, Vox and New Scientist are tailor-made for this new product and will bring all the authority of the magazines to the CD-Rom. We are delighted with this exciting new product and the new market opportunities it presents.”
UnZip was produced using Macromedia’s Director on an Apple Mac, employing the latest technology in software and hardware to provide an environment to explore and enjoy.
Zone’s expertise in producing interactive features for the industry has taught them that the key to good multimedia is the quality of the experience provided. The UnZip team have adopted a new iconography for screen design modelled on ancient symbology to provide inspiration for the 21st century.
For further information or screen shots please contact Ken Frakes or Georgia Hall at Zone on 0171 250 3040 fax 0171 250 3925; or Julie Wilson at IPC Magazines tel 0171 261 5880
