It was published by DMV Verlag (Data Media Verlag), one of Germany's most important technical publishers, based in Eschwege. This publisher was also responsible for the prestigious Schneider Magazin.

In Germany, the Amstrad PCW was not sold under the Amstrad brand (it was named "Joyce"), but through Schneider Rundfunkwerke. Therefore, the magazine uses the model name (Schneider Joyce) instead of the PCW acronym.

It was not a conventional monthly magazine; these editions were published as "Sonderhefte" (special issues) of the magazine PC International (also known as Schneider CPC International). This meant each issue was an extensive monograph, almost a book, with superior paper and binding quality. The first issue appeared in 1987, and at least four special editions are known.

TYPICAL CONTENT

These special publications included:

• [#] Complete programs, utilities, listings, and routines for the Amstrad PCW (Joyce).
• [#] Technical articles and tips on programming and advanced PCW usage.
• [#] Tips and tricks that did not fit in the regular monthly magazine, specifically aimed at Joyce users.

The magazine stood out for an exceptionally high technical level, surpassing many English magazines of the time:

• [#] Schneider Hardware: As the German edition, it focused exclusively on the Joyce (8256) and Joyce Plus (8512) models.
• [#] Operating Systems: It included in-depth courses on CP/M 3.0 and Mallard BASIC, along with full sections dedicated to the LocoScript word processor (adapted for German).
• [#] Programming & Electronics: It was famous for publishing schematics to build DIY peripherals, such as interfaces to connect the PCW to industrial or ham radio equipment.
• [#] Type-ins: The included program listings were highly refined, usually consisting of professional management utilities or system tools.

LEGACY

Sonderheft Joyce was fundamental for the German community because it translated and adapted the PCW's complex technical terminology into German, allowing the machine to achieve massive success in small businesses and law firms throughout the late 80s.