Sudoku Pro magazine

I'm excited to announce that Sudoku Pro magazine, packed full of my puzzles, is now back on shelves in the UK in selected independent newsagents. It's been relaunched by its new owners, My Hobby Store, who also publish a range of other specialist interest magazines.

If you were a reader of the old Sudoku Pro before it ceased publication when Accolade Puzzles went into administration then you'll certainly recognise the new version - it contains an almost identical selection of puzzles, with a range of traditional Sudoku variants and Japanese puzzles.

You can also subscribe to the magazine at £22 for 12 issues.

If I see Sudoku Pro in my local newsagents I will certainly pick up a copy, but am somewhat reluctant to subscribe at the moment seeing as I had just renewed by subscription last time when it folded. I visited the Hobby Store out of curiousity and notice that they are selling downloads of issues 28 to 50 for £2.99. I thought it a bit strange to see they had written "N.B these are not back issues of the magazine." when (correct me if I'm wrong) looking at the covers they certainly seem to be back issues. Are you able to shed any light on that?

I wonder whether they will eventually sell individual pdf downloads of the newer issues?

The new publishers have missed a trick surely by not writing to all the old Pro subscribers. Have heard nothing.

Are you still producing this Gareth? Will def buy one if I see it to compare with the incomparable Xtra - prob won't subscribe as more than enough in Xtra every month to keep me happy/busy/puzzling/swearing ....the perfect accompanionment to a month of serious footy watching! Pro will be good for hol time tho when have more time (and might even let the sons do the easier ones).

Have so far gone wrong with the latest issue Minus Killer twice grrrrr - that'll teach me for asking for more! Great puzzle tho.

Hi,

Yes, the all-new Sudoku Pro contains only puzzles made by me (except for issue 51 which is 97% made by me but includes 3 vanilla Sudoku which came from elsewhere - I have no idea why! From issue 52 onwards all of the puzzles are entirely mine again).

I even get to write an "editor's introduction" now, which is quite exciting - someone else wrote the issue 51 one but from issue 52 my thrilling words will welcome you to the magazine! At least I actually talk about the puzzles, rather than something irrelevant which seems to the norm for puzzle mag intros! I've also added Killer Sudoku Pro from issue 52 onwards, and there's an already-excellent mix of puzzles in there anyway - plus now the size is slightly smaller ("regular puzzle magazine size" now) it is even better for carrying in handbags, pockets, etc.

I have to say I'm very excited about the new Sudoku Pro and I really want it to keep going this time, so if you see it and think you'd enjoy the puzzles do please buy it! It's actually much cheaper by subscription at the moment (22 pounds for 12 issues versus 2.95 for a single issue) so it might be a good time to re-subscribe, before they notice and change the subscription price! (The subscription price was set earlier on in the relaunch process so hasn't been updated yet)

I think the new publishers have written to old subscribers, twice - by post. If you've had nothing then maybe you had opted not to receive marketing from other companies - I think I understood that they didn't have the names of those who opted out of that. Those on their email list have received marketing emails too (I certainly have).

Christine, bits of their website are very confusing I agree. What it means to say is that you get a PDF only, not a printed back-issue. They also incorrectly charge postage on downloads, which you then need to email and claim a refund on!

You'd think they'd be selling PDFs of new issues, but they don't seem to yet. I presume that will follow, since I think they have digital copies of all their other magazines available to subscribers.

Hmn, have to say I've not seen Sudoku Pro on the shelves yet. I'll definitely try a copy when I see one but it's unlikely I'll re-subscribe. Sudoko Extra is more than enough and, like Sue, this month is taken up with lots of football matches to watch!

Sudoku Pro is only on the shelves of independent newsagents, not WH Smiths or supermarkets. Quite what defines a newsagent as independent I'm not sure - possibly this includes Londis for example. I have asked a couple of times but either no one knows or it's a state secret. I imagine any newsagent can order it if requested, if you just want copies when you feel like it rather than subscribing.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/14/2010 02:03AM by gareth.

I have a "Beyond Sudoku". I don't know who puts that mag out, but that mag might be similar to "Pro".

Jeff - Beyond Suduko is ok - I have subscribed for a few years but am getting bored with it as it never seems to change. I really like some of the puzzles but leave over half of them untouched now as not really challenging enough. Def not as good as the old Pro (haven't found a new one yet) and not a patch on Xtra which really is the best.

I have looked for new Pro around Oxford but no joy yet. Pity WHS not stocking as our biggest Independent-ish has closed its doors. Am about to retire so think I will subscribe and support you, Gareth. Will just have to give up sleep!

I was in my local town today and picked up a copy of Sudoku Pro on the shelves at Rymans (used to be Partners). They had quite a few copies on the shelves. I will keep buying each copy as I see them (you can never have too many puzzles) but I have to admit Sudoku Xtra has spoilt us for other publications now! It has by far the best variety of puzzles and different levels of challenge.

At last! After visiting dozens of newsagents I finally found a copy of Sudoku Pro! Still not sure about re-subscribing but will at least check out issue 52 for your editorial, Gareth!

Thank you!

I forgot to say that I managed to get a list of ALL newsagents stocking it from the publishers, so if anyone posts their postcode (or emails me it or posts a nearby postcode if they'd rather not reveal where they are!) then I can look it up. I might try and write a web app to do that more easily too, now all the postcode data is free of charge (at data.gov.uk).



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/26/2010 12:37AM by gareth.

Thanks! My postcode is London N4. Nearby postcodes in walking distance are N7, N8, and N22. I found the magazine in N1 (Upper Street, near Highbury and Islington tube).

Have given up in Oxford but am sure its out there somewhere! Have now subscribed as a token of support for the hours of enjoyment that your puzzles give me Gareth. Will still be pleased to hear where I can buy extra copies round here for puzzlemates. It is a shame that it is not more widely/obviously available.

Will also seek out Marilyn's source when the football season starts again - am very jealous of where you live by the way!

Here are the Sudoku Pro stockists whose postcode is 'N'-something. The first one is the one you found, I presume.

I've put the ones you said are in walking distance in bold.

RETAIL 24, 249 UPPER STREET LONDON N1 1RU SUDOKU PRO

UNIT 20, HOXTON STREET LONDON N1 6BJ SUDOKU PRO

CARDWELL NEWS 6 CARDWELL TERRACE HOLLOWAY LONDON N 7 0NH N 7 0NH SUDOKU PRO

KIRAN NEWS 1 NORTH VIEW PARADE TUFNELL PARK ROAD LONDON N 7 0QA N 7 0QA SUDOKU PRO

HESTER 5 HIGH STREET HORNSEY LONDON N 8 7PS N 8 7PS SUDOKU PRO

GLOBAL NEWS 5 BROWNLOW ROAD NEW SOUTHGATE BOUNDS GREEN N 11 2ET N 11 2ET SUDOKU PRO

V NEWS 70 FORE STREET EDMONTON LONDON N18 2SL N 18 2SL N 18 2SL SUDOKU PRO

S T FOOD AND WINE 3 VINCENT ROAD WOOD GREEN LONDON N 22 6NE N 22 6NE SUDOKU PRO



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 06/27/2010 06:25PM by gareth.

Doesn't look like there are any stockists in central Oxford, or even near the centre of Oxford! Here are the ones listed in the OX postcode area:

SANGHERA SUPERMARKET 14 UNDERHILL CIRCUS BARTON ESTATE HEADINGTON OX 3 9LU OX 3 9LU SUDOKU PRO

KELBURNE ROAD NEWS 24 KELBURNE ROAD COWLEY OXFORD OX 4 3SJ OX 4 3SJ SUDOKU PRO

VIVAK 112 BROADWAY DIDCOT OXON OX11 8AL OX11 8AL SUDOKU PRO

BLEWBURY SERVICE STATION LONDON ROAD BLEWBURY OXON OX11 9NU OX11 9NU SUDOKU PRO

REYNOLDS SUPERMARKET 13-15 REYNOLDA WAY ABINGDON OXON OX14 5JT OX14 5JT SUDOKU PRO

JOBLINS GARAGE LAUNTON ROAD BICESTER OXON OX26 6PZ OX26 6PZ SUDOKU PRO

CANNON POOL SERV STAT 92 HAILEY ROAD WITNEY OXON OX28 1HQ OX28 1HQ SUDOKU PRO

SPAR 55 SPAREACRE LANE EYNSHAM OXON OX29 4NL OX29 4NL SUDOKU PRO


Some of the other MyHobbyStore puzzle titles are however stocked nearer the centre of Oxford, so I imagine they could easily stock Sudoku Pro if asked. e.g.
GLOBE NEWSMARKET 99 ST ALDATES OXFORD OX 1 1BT OX 1 1BT JUMBO CROSS

PS And thank you for subscribing!

Well thank you for that Gareth - each and everyone a good bus ride away! Will try the St Aldates store. You need to have a word with your publishers methinks. The average IQ in Oxford probably being a little above the norm you are probably missing a big market for your challenging puzzles. I will ask for it whenever I go into WHS and see if they get the message!

Thx anyway. Looking forward to next issue of Xtra now.

Thanks, Gareth. I recognise most of those addresses apart from Edmonton and Bounds Green which are quite a jaunt away! Maybe they were just out of stock, then, apart from the store on Upper Street. I didn't think to ask any of them if they stock Sudoku Pro, doh!

Could you also please check some Central London postcodes when you have the chance? Those would be WC1, WC2, EC1, EC2.

Sue, I'd swap pretty Oxford for London any time! But hey, let me know if you ever fancy meeting up for a coffee before or after a match.

Bit off topic here, but am visiting London this weekend Marilyn - have just had one of those birthdays with a '0' on the end and am visiting the capital with a couple of friends, stopping overnight and doing the theatre and plenty of sightseeing by way of celebration. Does the Japancentre still stock Japanese puzzle books do you know? Not been in London for a couple of years but I know the last couple of times I was there they didn't have much in stock (not that I am in need of any more puzzles - just seem to be addicted to buying whatever I can find!)

I'm originally from Yorkshire, but living in Nottinghamshire now (since we seem to be swapping a bit more information!). Now England are out of the World Cup just got to see how far Andy Murray goes in Wimbledon and then might be able to get down to a bit more puzzling! Looking forward to issue 8!

Happy birthday Christine - enjoy London trip. Tennis and cricket far more conducive to simultaneous puzzling aren't they - time to fill at change of ends and overs! Cheering on Holland now in footie ........

Would be great to meet you Marilyn - you can show me how to start those loop puzzles you like! Oxford is lovely, yes, but not as much fun as Highbury on match days (and a bit of a trek)! Will message you when season starts. Always intersting to meet fellow addicts.

There are a total of two stockists of Sudoku Pro in WC1, WC2, EC1 and EC2:

MOORFIELDS EYE HOSPITAL 162 CITY ROAD LONDON EC1V 2PD EC1V 2PD SUDOKU PRO

THE PAPER SHOP 80-82 SOUTHAMPTON ROW LONDON WC1B 4BB WC1B 4BB SUDOKU PRO

Laughed my socks off, Gareth! Only two stockists in two of the busiest areas of Central London! I suppose it could have been worse, though, e.g. no stockists! Thanks for the information.

Happy 0th birthday, Christine! I haven't seen puzzle magazines in the Japancentre for a while, but you never know - there might be something if you want to chance a visit. Shame I'm working weekends for a month - we could have met up! Anyhow, enjoy the theatre and celebrations!

I think the reason there are no stockists in the most expensive areas - the centre of London, centre of Oxford, etc - is because these cost a lot of money. It's not because they don't want them there! One reason Accolade folded was because WHS charged them circa £100,000 a year just to hide a few of their magazines away somewhere near the back of the shelves, and wouldn't let them exit the contract early. Getting stocked is phenomenally expensive (just for shelf space, before you add delivery and other costs), and unfortunately Puzzler and Bauer have almost complete control of the UK market. Both are circa £100 million companies, and they don't want anyone else to be able to compete so they fight very hard to refuse shelf space to competitors. At one point Puzzler even had an exclusivity contract with WHS Travel which actually forbode them from stocking any other publisher's puzzle titles. That's how much they fight over shelf space.

What share of the UK market does Bromleigh House have?

Tiny. They're mainly in supermarkets.

Everyone is tiny compared to Puzzler, who have in the high 90s% of the market.

Well, I had no idea that WHS and the big puzzle publishers had such a stranglehold on mag market! What a pity for Accolade and other small specialist people (and their fans!). I did enquire in the WHS in central Oxford and they rang head office who merely confirmed that they would not be stocking it. Well I tried. Meanwhile I still await my first copy to arrive which seems to be taking a wee while methinks.

Finally finally finally have just received my first copy of the new Pro (issue 52)........ a welcome old friend.

Love the compact size. Perfect for handbag/holidays (and relieved not reverted to that awful shiny paper!).

Yes, that shiny paper period was awful. Accolade told me that the printers had messed up and ordered the wrong paper but for some reason I was never told they had to stick with it for the next few issues while they used it all up. Apparently it really damaged the sales too, which is why it carried those "New Improved Paper!" stickers for a while after. Sounds unlikely to me - I imagine Accolade themselves ordered the wrong paper and then got stuck with it.

The new publishers are a completely different company and use different printers so I think it's very unlikely they'd make the same mistake. And they've also switched to a more portable size as you spotted. I'm hoping to mix up the content a bit over the coming issues too, now I have more editorial control than I had before.

Does Bauer have any share of the UK market?

It seems to me that if Puzzler has 90+% of the UK market, that leaves only 10-% for other players.

BTW, what's the difference between puzzler.com and puzzlermedia.com?

Puzzlermedia puts out a leatherbound book called "The Sudoku Collection" of about 200 puzzles. One of the puzzles is "overlap sudoku", another puzzle is "mini sudoku". That book might also have the Sum-doku puzzle.

Jeff

IMO, ukpuzzles.org and wpc.puzzles.com could both have good "grist 4 the mill" for both Xtra and Pro.

Who puts out the "BEYOND SUDOKU" mag?