MikroBitti

Mikrobitti (formerly called MB, MikroBitti and MikroBITTI) is a Finnish computer magazine published in Helsinki, Finland.

Mikrobitti

Editor	Mikko Torikka
Categories	Computer magazines
Frequency	Monthly
Circulation	29,553 (2014)
Year founded	1984 (1984)
Company	Alma Talent Oy
Country	Finland
Based in	Helsinki
Language	Finnish
Website	www.mikrobitti.fi
ISSN	0781-2078

History and profile

MikroBITTI was first published in May 1984[1] The original owner and publisher was Tecnopress.[1] Later it was published by Helsinki Media Company.[2] Then the magazine was published monthly by Sanoma Magazines, a division of the Sanoma Group. MikroBitti is aimed mainly for beginner to mid-level computer users.

Risto Hieta became famous by the name "Nordic" as the writer of the "Peliluola" ("The Gaming Den") column in MikroBitti.[3]

The computer platform coverage in MikroBitti has shifted according to the market and public interest over the years. Originally, in the middle 1980s, the magazine covered 8-bit home computers such as the Commodore 64, the MSX line and the ZX Spectrum. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, the focus shifted to 16- and 32-bit home computers such as the Amiga and the Atari ST.

In the 2000s, the magazine was renamed to MB and mainly covered PCs and games consoles. It also reviewed other hardware, such as digital cameras.

In the 8-bit era, MikroBitti was very hobby-oriented, presenting type-in programs for home computers and home electronics projects. Some columns, like the famous Peliluola by Nordic the Incurable, were written in a subculture insider style, and obscure in-jokes such as exploding hamsters were occasionally used. Many of the staff were fans of Star Trek: The Original Series and sometimes even wrote entire articles about the show, which had little or nothing to do with home computers.

In 2015, Sanoma sold MikroBitti to Talentum,[4] which had also acquired Sanoma's other computer magazine Tietokone in 2013. In the process, the magazine was renamed to Mikrobitti. In September 2015 Alma Media Corporation acquired Talentum[5].

Circulation

In 2003 MikroBitti had the largest circulation figures of computer magazines published in the Nordic countries. The 2011 circulation of the monthly was 71,429 copies.[6] Its circulation was 42,866 copies in 2013.[7]

Summer camp

In the 1980s, the MikroBitti staff used to hold an annual summer camp in Lautsia, a small village in the Tavastia Proper region in southern Finland. The camp was open to all MikroBitti readers, with a registration fee, and lasted about a week. Each day consisted of computer programming classes taught by the magazine staff. In the beginning, the class used various 8-bit computers such as the Commodore 64 and the MSX, but these were later replaced with Amiga computers. In the evening, the camp offered common summer camp outdoor activities, although attendees generally spent most of their free time playing computer games.[8] The last summer camp was held in 1991. Jyrki Kasvi, a longtime contributor to MikroBitti, has mentioned having found many summer camp attendees at executive positions in Finnish IT companies.[9]

Mainstream shift

Later, when the magazine grew more popular, its orientation and style became more mainstream. During the middle 2000s the magazine has branded itself more as a technology than a computer magazine. One of the latest moves was the complete removal of games section, and putting the remaining few game reviews and news among other hardware tests and news sections. For gamers this was unfortunate, because MikroBitti had always given large support to unusual games and independent publishers. The game section returned in the December issue, but the number of games reviewed is significantly lower than before. All the changes were related to the magazine HIFI and MikroBitti merging.[1]

When Talentum bought Mikrobitti, the new publisher changed the focus back on computers. In his first editorial, Editor-in-chief Mikko Torikka promised that Mikrobitti won't write about grass cutters and razors unless someone programs one to play Rick Astley's Never Gonna Give You Up[10]. (Soon one of the readers really made a shaver to play the song[11].)

Spin-offs

MikroBitti also produced spin-off magazines: C-lehti, Tietokonepelien vuosikirja, Pelit and Peliasema.[1]

See also

List of magazines in Finland

References

1. Jaakko Suominen (2011). "Game Reviews as Tools in the Construction of Game Historical Awareness in Finland, 1984– 2010: Case MikroBitti Magazine" (PDF). Proceedings of DiGRA 2011 Conference: Think Design Play. Retrieved 9 April 2015.
2. Tuukka Taarluoto (Fall 2007). "Writing Games. A Study of Finnish Video Game Journalism". University of Tampere. Archived from the original on 11 June 2016. Retrieved 2 June 2016.
3. Peliluola Ricostar.net.
4. "Talentum buys MB magazine from Sanoma Media Finlandi". Talentum (in Finnish). Archived from the original on 18 May 2015. Retrieved 16 May 2015.
5. "Alma Media and Talentum announce the combination of the companies".
6. "Circulation Statistics 2011" (PDF). Media Audit Finland. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 July 2019. Retrieved 13 December 2014.
7. "Circulation Statistics 2013" (PDF). Media Audit Finland. 23 June 2014. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 March 2017. Retrieved 12 April 2015.
8. Saarikoski, Petri: Pioneerien leluista kulutuselektroniikaksi. Suomalainen kotimikroharrastus tietotekniikan murroksessa 1980-luvun alusta 1990-luvun puoliväliin. Licenciate's thesis, University of Turku, April 2001.
9. Koko kansan tietokone, NYT week 33/2007.
10. Mikko Torikka. "Nyt sitä taas saa". Mikrobitti (in Finnish). Retrieved 23 August 2017.
11. Jouni Junkkaala. "Partakone soittaa Rick Astleyä". Mikrobitti (in Finnish). Retrieved 23 August 2017.