This way the new releases section would become much more informative. They should roll the designers’ comments and concept art into the new releases section, putting them next to each model. To find out more about the codex or the background, you have to turn to Jes’ and Phil’s designer notes in the back of the magazine, which feels a little awkward. This is even more annoying because there is no other specific Chaos Space Marines article in this issue. Sadly most of these tidbits read more like sales pitch and hold only limited information. Each model also comes with an explanation and sometimes a commentary for the close-ups. Each new model or kit is lavishly illustrated with large-sized pictures and close-ups, they’ve even added two fold out pages for the Maulerfiend and Forgefiend. It still is one of the main components of the magazine and feels like a combination of the old, catalogue-style new releases section and the usual flavour of the month article. The new releases section has changed a lot and no, it hasn’t become shorter. Because after all, a fantasy and sci-fi magazine is allowed to look like one. It’s a very clear design and by no means poorly made, but I think most people will prefer the old, more playful design. So I, being a graphic designer in real life, can understand why they changed the logo and the design. One reason for the more minimalistic layout is probably the easier convertion to its digital version, because as from now on, White Dwarf will be available digitally for iPads, too. All of these changes give the magazine a more serious and mature touch. The style of photography changed slightly, most of the model showcases are shot on a dark background now (with a red spotlight in the new releases section, which I don’t like because it distorts the paintjobs). It’s a basic grid layout, with black type and a little bit of dark red for headlines or info boxes on a white background with a very light pergament texture, and almost no other ornaments. While in the old White Dwarf issues each article was designed in its own way, the new White Dwarf shares a common design for the whole magazine. The plain and more modern look of the cover mirrors the changes of the layout of the inside pages. For all of this, they increased the cover price by 1 Pound/Euro/Dollar, depending on where you live. As a bonus, this issue comes with a Horus Heresy poster.
The dimensions changed a little bit, while the old issues were DIN A4, the new ones are 17 mm shorter in height, thus the new size is a more compact 210 x 280 mm. The page count increased from around 128 pages to 156. They are also using a slightly thicker paper, and even added two fold out pages in the New Releases section. The cover has a matte finish, while the logo, the type and the model are glossy, which adds a nice touch. It looks more modern, something you would expect when you look out for gaming magazines on your local newsagent. The new one is plain letters, missing the gold embossed style of the old one. Also gone is the classic White Dwarf logo. Gone is the white background with a cut-out artwork, instead the cover features a close-up of the new Forgefiend model on a dark red background. The first thing you notice is the new cover design. We at Tale of Painters take a good and unbiased look at October’s issue of White Dwarf, and see whether GW’s good old hobby magazine is worth the (increased) cover price once again. After the slow but steady decline in quality amongst the last couple of years, GW realised the problem White Dwarf had, becoming less of a true hobby magazine and more of a monthly sales pamphlet, and this is their answer.
Increased staff, a new experienced editor that comes from outside, every section of the magazine rethought. This is it: The first issue of the new, relaunched White Dwarf.
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