Condé Nast Digital has launched Gourmet Live for the iPad, the first major magazine publication to be transformed into a new iPad exclusive publication. The monthly print edition of Gourmet magazine ceased publication last year citing declining advertising sales and shifting food interests among the readership, however Condé Nast continued using the Gourmet brand in other multimedia publications and the Epicurious iPad application.
In a blog post, Anil Dash who led the team at Activate developing the app in collaboration with Condé Nast, the new Gourmet Live digital edition is intended to be a re-imagining of Gourmet “as a sort of massively multiplayer magazine.”
Going beyond a simple digital print publication, Gourmet Live includes not only classic stories and recipes but also adds videos, slideshows and tightly integrated social connections that allow readers to share articles and other information with their friends. Content is available at no additional charge and the application also provides a “gameplay” experience whereby readers unlock access to additional stories and content based on the articles that they actually read.
Rewards show up in the form of new custom magazine issues tailored to the readers’ interests that appear on an iBooks-style rewards shelf within the app. Gourmet Live provides mostly original content however the content library also includes stories and articles from previous issues of Gourmet dating back over half a century that may be included in the reward issues.