RIP White Dwarf - you will be missed!

As so it comes to pass, that the venerable old dwarf is being put out to pasture....

White Dwarf, the in-house magazine of Games Workshop has been part of my hobby since I started.

My first issue, which I paid for myself, out of my meagre pocket money was issue 98:

Since then I've bought every issue without fail. Even through the last 10 years or so, when it declined in quality, culminating in the infamous 'Giant' issue of issue 320, and the recent resurgence in quality, I have never stopped.

Since last January I moved over to the digital version, but carried on.  Even in the dark days, I would find inspiration in the photos of the miniatures, from conversion ideas to wanting a new army, WD inspired, cajoled and edited me into purchasing new shiny toys - my Eldar, Blood Angels, Imperial Guard, Empire, Chaos Warriors and Bretonnians armies were all as a result of drooling over studio armies that I wanted to match.

Who can forget, it was through WD that we got Ghazkull Thraka, Iyanden as a ghost ship, the battle for Ichar V, Medusa, and Storm of Chaos? 

It's true that it's nothing like it once was, but what magazine is now? With the increase in rumour sites, sneak peeks such as the first ever pictures of Aspect Warriors are now pored over in minute detail as soon as the rumour mills can grab them.

I would in fact argue that these rumour mills are detrimental to our hobby - each release is almost now greeted with cries of 'well, we know all about this release, what's next? I demand to know!' Rather than getting excited over the kits in front of us.

With rumour control getting silly, it was only a matter of time before GW cracked down, reducing the previews to a trickle only scant week before their release.

Of course with the retirement of White Dwarf, we'll be getting WARHAMMER VISIONS in its place -what will the future hold? Will the quality return, making it a must purchase magazine?

Only time wil tell.

Good bye old friend, you will be missed.

EDIT:

It's now Saturday Morning, and no sign of any change to either The White Dwarf page or the subscription page....  I've also now had it confirmed that whilst the monthly magazine will be called 'Warhammer Visions', there will be a WEEKLY magazine called 'White Dwarf'!  the plot thickens....

EDIT TO THE EDIT:

My sources have confirmed the following:

The Truth... From February, there will be two publications:
1) White Dwarf Weekly. This will be concentrating on new releases, which will now be spread across the month rather than in big 'splashes' once a month (this also means more can be released quickly). The price is to be £2.40, and will be around the 100 page mark, and will concentrate each week on a different faction / game, which will mean if you don't like the content one week, you may like the next... 
2) The new monthly version is called 'Warhammer Visions' and will be ADVERT FREE, but full of hobby content in terms of the return of 'Eavy Metal masterclasses, army tactica, lots of reader's collections and more painting stuff. this will be 240 pages and £7.20.

NOW - the prices.... £2.40 for a weekly is around the same as a copy of 2000ad, or a couple of Sunday newspapers. £7.20 for 240 pages is equivalent to most of the higher-end magazines out there, and is certainly on par with some of the magazine I buy such as Comic Heroes, Empire and most console gaming magazines... 

I have high hopes for these both - if they can pull it off, this could well be the start of something good. I'll give them both a try, and only then, decide whether to bother or not.