PC Zone Magazine – December 2005 – Issue 161 – Brothers in Arms: Earned in Blood

Original UK PC Zone Magazine, December 2005, Issue 161, featuring Brothers in Arms: Earned in Blood, Battlefield 2: Special Forces, Pro Evolution Soccer 5, Black & White 2, City of Villains, Call of Duty 2 and much more.

An original British PC gaming magazine published by Future Publishing, offering an extensive selection of game reviews, previews, industry news, hardware coverage and features from the mid-2000s.

This issue is particularly interesting for its coverage of Second World War shooters, tactical military games, football simulations and the rapidly expanding online gaming market.

The magazine features a striking Brothers in Arms: Earned in Blood front cover, accompanied by extensive coverage of Battlefield 2: Special Forces and other major PC releases from late 2005.

It also carries the "Brand New Look!" banner associated with PC Zone's redesigned appearance during this period.

A collectable piece of PC gaming history for enthusiasts of classic computer games, military shooters, vintage gaming publications and Future Publishing magazines.

IMPORTANT: This listing is for the original printed magazine only. Any original cover-mounted CDs, DVDs, demo discs, software, promotional gifts or additional items are no longer included.

Magazine Details

• Magazine: PC Zone

• Issue Number: 161

• Publication Date: December 2005

• Publisher: Future Publishing

• Country: United Kingdom

• Language: English

• Original Cover Price: £5.99

• Format: Printed PC gaming magazine

• Subject: PC Gaming, Video Games, Reviews, Previews, Hardware and Computing

• Condition: Pre-owned, with signs of previous handling and storage

• SKU: 1572

Front Cover – Brothers in Arms: Earned in Blood

The front cover is dominated by dramatic Second World War battlefield artwork from Brothers in Arms: Earned in Blood, the tactical military shooter developed by Gearbox Software.

The artwork depicts two American soldiers in the middle of an intense combat situation.

One soldier is shown crouching close to the ground, wearing a military uniform, combat equipment and headphones.

His expression conveys the tension and confusion of battle.

Behind him stands another soldier wearing a military helmet and carrying a weapon, with his mouth open as though shouting instructions during the fighting.

The background features damaged stonework, battlefield debris and an atmosphere of wartime destruction.

The artwork captures the squad-based combat and cinematic presentation associated with the Brothers in Arms series.

Across the upper section appears the distinctive PC ZONE masthead in large red lettering against a silver-grey background.

The cover also displays the magazine's "Brand New Look!" banner.

The principal headline promotes an exclusive review and demo of Brothers in Arms: Earned in Blood.

A prominent secondary feature advertises Battlefield 2: Special Forces, accompanied by fiery orange explosion artwork.

Additional cover features include Pro Evolution Soccer 5, Black & White 2, City of Villains and a large Free Games promotion.

The December 2005 publication date, Issue 161 identification, barcode, original £5.99 price and Future Publishing logo are visible.

The combination of historical military artwork and bold gaming headlines makes this an attractive issue for collectors of classic PC gaming magazines.

Main Cover Feature – Brothers in Arms: Earned in Blood

Page 62 – Exclusive Review

The magazine's main feature is an exclusive review of Brothers in Arms: Earned in Blood, the sequel to Brothers in Arms: Road to Hill 30.

Developed by Gearbox Software, the game continues the series' emphasis on realistic Second World War infantry combat, squad tactics and battlefield coordination.

The photographed editorial page features a large screenshot showing American soldiers in military uniforms and helmets.

The foreground soldier has dark camouflage markings on his face and carries a rifle, while another soldier stands behind him.

The image captures the game's focus on small-unit combat and the experiences of infantry soldiers during the Second World War.

The accompanying editorial describes the game as Gearbox's WWII squad-based shooter sequel.

The review examines the game's approach to battlefield tactics and its position among other contemporary military shooters.

The issue also places particular emphasis on comparisons with Call of Duty 2, another major Second World War release from 2005.

This original review provides an interesting contemporary perspective on a significant entry in the Brothers in Arms franchise.

Battlefield 2: Special Forces

Page 34 – Special Feature

The magazine includes substantial coverage of Battlefield 2: Special Forces, the expansion to EA and DICE's popular multiplayer military shooter.

The front cover promotes the expansion with an attention-grabbing orange explosion graphic.

The photographed contents page features a screenshot showing an armed soldier positioned in an outdoor military environment.

The expansion introduced additional military factions, specialised equipment and new tactical gameplay opportunities.

Battlefield 2 was one of the most influential multiplayer shooters of 2005, and Special Forces expanded its range of combat scenarios.

The feature provides a useful contemporary reference for collectors interested in the original Battlefield series.

Pro Evolution Soccer 5

Page 66 – Review

The magazine features a review of Pro Evolution Soccer 5, Konami's football simulation.

The front cover prominently promotes the game with a football graphic and an enthusiastic headline comparing it favourably with FIFA.

The photographed contents page includes an in-game screenshot showing a footballer preparing to strike the ball during a match.

The image captures the distinctive graphics and gameplay presentation of football simulations from the PlayStation 2 and early PC gaming era.

Pro Evolution Soccer 5 was particularly well regarded for its realistic passing, player movement and tactical gameplay.

This original review is an interesting item for collectors of Konami football games and the Pro Evolution Soccer franchise.

Black & White 2

Page 74 – Review

The magazine includes a review of Black & White 2, the ambitious strategy and simulation game developed by Lionhead Studios.

The photographed contents page features a large gameplay screenshot showing a giant creature interacting with a settlement.

The scene includes buildings, villagers and an enormous animal towering above the environment.

The artwork reflects the game's distinctive combination of god-game mechanics, city building and creature management.

Black & White 2 allowed players to influence the development of civilisations through their actions and the behaviour of a giant creature.

The review offers an original contemporary assessment of one of Lionhead Studios' major PC releases.

City of Villains

Page 56 – Feature

The magazine includes coverage of City of Villains, the superhero-themed massively multiplayer online role-playing game developed by Cryptic Studios.

The photographed editorial page features a colourful action screenshot showing costumed characters engaged in combat within an urban environment.

The game expanded the world established by City of Heroes, allowing players to create and develop supervillain characters.

The feature examines the appeal of playing as the antagonist within an online superhero setting.

City of Villains is particularly interesting to collectors of early MMORPGs and discontinued online gaming franchises.

Call of Duty 2

Page 24 – Preview

The magazine contains coverage of Call of Duty 2, the Second World War first-person shooter developed by Infinity Ward.

The photographed contents page features a battlefield screenshot showing a military vehicle, soldiers and smoke rising across a war-torn landscape.

The image reflects the game's cinematic depiction of wartime combat.

Call of Duty 2 was one of the major PC releases of late 2005 and played an important role in the continued development of the Call of Duty franchise.

This issue captures contemporary discussion of the game during its original release period.

Additional Gaming News and Features

The photographed contents page confirms an extensive range of additional gaming coverage.

News, Previews and Special Features

• Page 18 – Sam & Max Are Back: News concerning the return of the adventure game characters.

• Page 19 – SWAT 4: The Stetchkov Syndicate: Coverage of the tactical police shooter expansion.

• Page 20 – SiN Episodes: Emergence: News relating to the episodic first-person shooter.

• Page 22 – Turrets Special Report: A gaming feature examining defensive weapons and gameplay.

• Page 24 – Call of Duty 2: Second World War shooter coverage.

• Page 28 – X3: Reunion: Space trading and combat simulation.

• Page 32 – Reality Check: FM2006: Football Manager 2006 feature.

• Page 34 – Battlefield 2: Special Forces: Military shooter expansion coverage.

• Page 38 – Sid Meier's Civilization IV: Strategy gaming coverage.

• Page 42 – Dark Messiah: Fantasy action game preview.

• Page 46 – Age of Empires III: Historical real-time strategy coverage.

• Page 52 – Rise & Fall: Civilizations at War: Historical strategy game preview.

• Page 54 – Peter Jackson's King Kong: Video game adaptation coverage.

These features provide a fascinating overview of the PC gaming industry during the final months of 2005.

PC Game Reviews

The magazine includes a broad selection of contemporary reviews.

The photographed contents page confirms:

• Page 62 – Brothers in Arms: Earned in Blood

• Page 66 – Pro Evolution Soccer 5

• Page 68 – Tiger Woods PGA Tour 06

• Page 69 – World Racing 2

• Page 72 – GT Legends

• Page 73 – GameTrak Golf

• Page 74 – Black & White 2

• Page 78 – Dragonshard

• Page 79 – The Sims 2: Nightlife

• Page 80 – Serious Sam 2

• Page 81 – Dawn of War: Winter Assault

• Page 81 – FIFA Manager 06

• Page 84 – Blitzkrieg 2

• Page 85 – Bet on Soldier

The review section covers military shooters, football games, racing simulations, real-time strategy titles, fantasy games and expansion packs.

This makes the magazine a particularly useful historical reference for enthusiasts of PC gaming during the mid-2000s.

Hardware and Computing

The magazine includes regular hardware and technical coverage.

The photographed contents page lists:

• Page 95 – Hardware News

• Page 96 – Hardware Reviews

• Page 98 – How To

• Page 100 – Dear Wandy

• Page 102 – Watchdog

These sections provide contemporary information about PC technology, hardware developments, computing advice and consumer issues.

They offer an interesting snapshot of the computer hardware market during 2005.

Freeplay – 209 Hours of Free Gaming

The front cover prominently advertises a substantial Freeplay section, promoting 209 hours of free gaming.

The photographed contents page confirms coverage beginning on page 108.

Freeplay Contents

• Page 108 – Demos

• Page 110 – GoldenEye: Source

• Page 110 – MMOGing Exposé

• Page 113 – Garry's Mod

• Page 114 – Freeware

• Page 118 – Mods, Maps and More

• Page 122 – Fight Club

• Page 126 – Get the Most Out of F.E.A.R.

• Page 128 – Abandonware

• Page 129 – How to Make a Game

• Page 133 – Neverquest

The photographed contents page includes a reproduction of a Freeplay feature focusing on F.E.A.R., featuring screenshots, character artwork and gameplay advice.

The section highlights the importance of downloadable content, game modifications, freeware and online gaming communities during this period.

Please note that the Freeplay content is printed editorial material only. Any original cover-mounted software discs or other extras are not included.

Additional Editorial Features

Page 134 – Special Edition

A regular feature covering selected gaming subjects and retrospective material.

Page 136 – Supertest

A comparison feature examining gaming-related products or subjects.

Page 138 – Developer's Commentary

A feature discussing game development and the industry.

Page 142 – Jon Hare

Coverage relating to influential British video game designer Jon Hare, associated with Sensible Software and the Sensible Soccer series.

Page 146 – Dominik Diamond

The magazine includes commentary from British television presenter and gaming personality Dominik Diamond.

The photographed editorial page features an illustrated representation of Diamond alongside a humorous quotation.

These articles add further interest for collectors of British gaming journalism and video game industry history.

Editorial Introduction – "Moral Maze"

The photographed editorial page includes an introduction written by PC Zone editor Jamie Sefton.

The article, titled "Moral Maze", discusses moral decision-making and ethical questions in video games.

It references the portrayal of warfare in games such as Brothers in Arms: Earned in Blood and the broader relationship between realism, violence and player behaviour.

The editorial reflects contemporary debates surrounding the increasingly realistic presentation of conflict in video games.

The page includes a portrait photograph of the editor and a printed signature.

This feature adds historical interest beyond the magazine's game reviews.

Original Back Cover – The Matrix: Path of Neo

The back cover features a full-page advertisement for The Matrix: Path of Neo, the action game based on the Matrix film franchise.

The artwork is predominantly black and dark green.

It features Neo, the central character of The Matrix films, positioned horizontally against a background of glowing green computer-code imagery.

The advertisement uses the distinctive visual style associated with the Matrix franchise.

The game title appears prominently in stylised lettering.

The artwork also includes publisher and platform logos, together with a promotional website address and a coming-soon announcement.

The advertisement is an interesting example of early-2000s video game marketing and adds further collectable appeal for fans of The Matrix franchise.

Original Cover-Mounted Items – Not Included

IMPORTANT: This listing is for the printed magazine only.

PC Zone magazines from this period were commonly sold with cover-mounted software discs containing playable demos, videos, freeware and additional gaming content.

Any original CDs, DVDs, demo discs, software, promotional gifts, supplements, vouchers, inserts or other additional items that may originally have accompanied this issue are no longer included.

Only the original printed magazine shown in the photographs will be supplied.

No playable games, software discs, activation codes or downloadable content are included.

Condition Report – Please Read Carefully

Condition: Pre-owned – showing visible signs of previous handling and storage.

This is an original magazine from December 2005 and should not be considered new or mint.

Front Cover

The original Brothers in Arms: Earned in Blood front cover remains present.

The main artwork, magazine title, issue information and barcode are clearly visible.

Visible signs of wear include:

• Light surface scuffs and handling marks.

• Minor rubbing to the printed finish.

• Slight wear along the cover edges.

• Some light corner wear.

• Minor bending and curvature.

• Small signs of handling around the spine.

• Light surface marks visible under photographic lighting.

The main cover artwork retains its original colour and detail.

Spine and Binding

The side-view photograph shows the magazine retaining its overall shape.

The spine displays some minor rubbing and handling wear.

There is slight curvature consistent with previous storage.

The photographed pages remain attached and the magazine opens normally.

The magazine has not been individually checked page by page, so absolute completeness cannot be guaranteed.

Interior Pages

The photographed interior pages appear generally clean and readable.

Visible imperfections include:

• Light page-edge wear.

• Minor handling marks.

• Slight bending near the centre folds.

• Small corner bends.

• Light creasing consistent with previous reading.

The screenshots, illustrations, text and editorial content remain clear in the photographed pages.

No major interior tears are apparent in the supplied photographs.

Back Cover

The original Matrix: Path of Neo advertisement remains present.

The photographed back cover displays light surface wear and minor marks.

There is slight curvature and some minor edge wear.

The original advertisement artwork remains recognisable.

Overall Condition

A presentable original copy of PC Zone Issue 161, with typical signs of previous ownership and storage.

The magazine retains its distinctive Brothers in Arms front cover, Matrix: Path of Neo back cover and the photographed editorial pages.

Please examine all photographs carefully, as they form an important part of the condition description.

This is a used magazine approximately two decades old, and some age-related imperfections should be expected.

Important – Missing Original Extras

MAGAZINE ONLY – NO ORIGINAL COVER-MOUNTED DISCS OR EXTRAS INCLUDED.

Any original CDs, DVDs, demo discs, software, promotional gifts, supplements, vouchers or other detachable items that may originally have accompanied the magazine are no longer included.

Only the printed magazine pictured is being sold.

Packaging and Postage

UK Orders

The magazine will be carefully packaged and dispatched in a protective hardback envelope to help reduce the risk of bending or damage during transit.

International Orders

International orders will be packaged in a sturdy cardboard mailing-size box for additional protection during shipping.

The photographs show the actual magazine being offered for sale.

Please review all photographs and the condition information before purchasing.

SKU: 1572