EGM Closes, 1up sold to UGO [Archive] - Page 2

josekortez

01-07-2009, 04:51 PM

Agreed 100%. "Celebrating" the end of EGM and their employees being canned is simply embarrassing.

Whoa, whoa, whoa! It would be embarrassing if that's what I said, but I didn't say that.

When did I say that I was celebrating people losing jobs in my post? I said I was happy that the magazine was finito because the content has sucked consistently since they made the editorial changes to it.

bangotango and joedick, how do guys like you add 1 + 1 to equal 3 sometimes in these threads? If you�re going to defame me and make me out to be a beast, make sure that I actually made the statement first. Seriously�

acem77

01-07-2009, 05:04 PM

It's another sad day,
As I keep getting older things that have been familiar are slowly disappearing.

I was really sad when Gamefan(my room of doom got printed in one issue) died off, now EGM! I have never missed an issue since middle school.
The Genesis and Turbo grafx 16 where nextgen with the snes just around the corner.

It was like Christmas every day I came home and had a new issue.
I used one of their articles to make my choice and buy the genesis.
That issue had the guys from golden axe and legendary axe on a blue background.

I know I paid a few years ahead for my subscription.
I guess I have to eat that loss.
I could tell something was going down hill by how thin these last holiday issues where. In years past they had been mega thicker. This year it had been thinner some summer issues.

As every thing is going main stream I feel emotionally cheated.
I do not look forward to a day of everything be digitally distributed and being controlled by corporate America.

R.I.P. EGM
1st issue
http://www.racketboy.com/retro/magazines/2008/04/pdf-electronic-gaming-monthly-egm-issue-1-may-1989-pdf-download.html
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2118/2127517256_c49cff5497.jpg

acem77

01-07-2009, 05:09 PM

So nobody remembers the Konix Multi System?

I do, I remeber the artical in the EGM.

RPG_Fanatic

01-07-2009, 06:41 PM

Shit!

I just re-upped last month. At least it wasn't TOO expensive. I'm sure i'll get something in the mail soon enough offering me a awesome selection of new mags to replace my current subscription with.

I did it three months ago!!!! I hope they give my money back, R.I.P. EGM you'll be missed :sob: :bawling:

The 1 2 P

01-07-2009, 06:49 PM

Well, this is the third gaming magazine that's folded while I was a subscriber.

Consider yourself lucky. I've had to watch as my subscriptions to Next Generation, Incite Gamer, OPM, PSM, Tips and Tricks and now EGM all went up in smoke. My only subscriptions left are OXM, Play, Game Informer and Gamepro. I let my subscription to Playstation the official magazine expire a few months ago. That mag should be folding before the end of this year.

Hardcore Gamer is for sale on Ebay of all places right now. You can actually buy the copyrights, employee contracts, back issues whatever. It is starting at $42,000

Because I've only seen Hardcore Gamer for sale in a "few" Gamestops, that told me that it probably won't be around for long and thus I never subscribed to it. It too will be folding soon.

Just because some of their writers were obvious fanboys

You just described Gamepro perfectly. They have so many fanboys(especially Sid Shauman--king of Sony fanboyness) and it's one of the reasons why their magazine and website are such a joke. If you could only see how they try to spin stories in a certain company's favor. It's very sad.

I'm actually really surprised Play is still around.

I almost didn't renew my subscription because I thought they were headed out the door too. It's a very inciteful magazine and I love how they cover imports, anime and movies too. However, as someone else has said, they are way to generous with their game reviews. I think thats why they got rid of their scoring numbers because every magazine was guaranteed to have atleast three perfect scores in it. Thats just not possible, especially since they've been that way for the last three years.

Anyway, if the rest of the current mags have to fold---I hope Gamepro is next. Trust me, it's long over due. I still like Game Informer, Play and OXM. But Gamepro? They should have been the one that left instead of EGM.

RPG_Fanatic

01-07-2009, 07:04 PM

If the rest of the current mags have to fold---I hope Gamepro is next. Trust me, it's long over due. I still like Game Informer, Play and OXM. But Gamepro? They should have been the one that left instead of EGM.

I was thinking the same thing. How can Gamepro be still be around? I stopped reading that mag in the mid 90's. I thought EGM would have more readers than them.

misfits859

01-07-2009, 09:18 PM

I have read that you can call 800-779-1174 and get a refund on the remaining issues.

bangtango

01-07-2009, 09:59 PM

bangotango and joedick, how do guys like you add 1+ 1 to equal 3 sometimes in these threads? If you’re going to defame me and make me out to be a beast, make sure that I actually made the statement first. Seriously…

What "threads"? That implies I somehow misquoted you multiple times. Anyway, if I did then I'm sorry.

I didn't quote the rest of your post above. I agree 100% that the magazine had gone down the tubes in recent years.

However, EGM's very "worst" issues are still better than most magazines out there that you can get for $1 an issue with a paid subscription or in a free subscription (which was the case with a lot of us here).

As big as EGM's decline was, I'd still rather read a "bad" issue of EGM (or Sports Illustrated) than 90% of the stuff you'd find on a supermarket magazine rack.

bangtango

01-07-2009, 10:11 PM

Consider yourself lucky. I've had to watch as my subscriptions to Next Generation, Incite Gamer, OPM, PSM, Tips and Tricks and now EGM all went up in smoke. My only subscriptions left are OXM, Play, Game Informer and Gamepro. I let my subscription to Playstation the official magazine expire a few months ago. That mag should be folding before the end of this year.

I had subscriptions to Swatpro, VideoGames (VG & CE), Game Players, Sega Visions and Electronic Games (the 1990's version) go down the tubes when I was younger. I remember two or three of them being replaced by some other magazine but it still sucked.

I never subscribed to most of those others you used to get, my EGM subscription had just expired a few months ago and my Next Gen subscription ran out a couple years before they went under. I also stopped getting Game Informer and GamePro about a year or two ago, not because I was worried about them going under but because I haven't bought a 360, Wii or PS3 yet (so they are covering shitloads of games that I don't even own a system for).

2Dskillz

01-07-2009, 10:13 PM

EGM had about 550,000 subscribers as of its closing. UGO wanted the site, and Ziff just did not want to stay in the printing, print is just so hard to profit in. But EGM was not lacking readers.

Half Japanese

01-07-2009, 10:40 PM

EGM had about 550,000 subscribers as of its closing. UGO wanted the site, and Ziff just did not want to stay in the printing, print is just so hard to profit in. But EGM was not lacking readers.

Of course they weren't, just look how often they were giving subscriptions away. It seems like the new business model with magazines is just to give them away for anyone who can be bothered to fill out a form online and impress the advertisers with numbers, leaving newsstands to catch passers-by and folks who need something to read while on a trip/vacation/etc.

Print media isn't dead, but from what I've noticed at the store I work at (which is admittedly a very small and unscientific sample size), the niche magazines that know their core audience do the best month to month. Non-gaming examples, but we rarely ever send issues of Rue Morgue (horror), Hi Fructose (art), Decibel (metal), or Don Diva (rap) back to the distributor for return credit, and Rue Morgue even has a $10 price point that would break most mainstream mags. On the other hand, we almost always have leftover issues of the less-specialized and less-focused competition to the aforementioned titles. Fangoria (horror), Juxtapoz (art), Revolver ("metal"), and XXL (rap) always have copies sent back for credit.

j_factor

01-08-2009, 12:18 AM

Print media isn't dead, but from what I've noticed at the store I work at (which is admittedly a very small and unscientific sample size), the niche magazines that know their core audience do the best month to month. Non-gaming examples, but we rarely ever send issues of Rue Morgue (horror), Hi Fructose (art), Decibel (metal), or Don Diva (rap) back to the distributor for return credit, and Rue Morgue even has a $10 price point that would break most mainstream mags. On the other hand, we almost always have leftover issues of the less-specialized and less-focused competition to the aforementioned titles. Fangoria (horror), Juxtapoz (art), Revolver ("metal"), and XXL (rap) always have copies sent back for credit.

I don't think that works for gaming mags. If it did, GameGO would still be around. Now that was a niche magazine that knew their core audience.

segagamer

01-08-2009, 12:28 AM

I have read that you can call 800-779-1174 and get a refund on the remaining issues.

I have already tried that number, and refunds will only be processed if you ordered your subscription directly with EGM. I got mine through a publishers clearing house, and EGM said I have to go through the clearing house to obtain my refund. Don't think I will have any luck getting my money back on my 11 remaining issues.

darkslime

01-08-2009, 12:38 AM

I'm more sad that HGM is leaving.
But that's what they get for starting to only print it 4 times a year but still charge the same amount for a subscription...

CelticJobber

01-08-2009, 12:58 AM

The 1 2 P

01-08-2009, 01:45 AM

I have read that you can call 800-779-1174 and get a refund on the remaining issues.

I have already tried that number, and refunds will only be processed if you ordered your subscription directly with EGM.

Thats good to know. I'll give them a call tomorrow because my subscription wasn't set to expire until May of 2010.

josekortez

01-08-2009, 06:16 AM

What "threads"? That implies I somehow misquoted you multiple times. Anyway, if I did then I'm sorry.

I didn't quote the rest of your post above. I agree 100% that the magazine had gone down the tubes in recent years.

However, EGM's very "worst" issues are still better than most magazines out there that you can get for $1 an issue with a paid subscription or in a free subscription (which was the case with a lot of us here).

As big as EGM's decline was, I'd still rather read a "bad" issue of EGM (or Sports Illustrated) than 90% of the stuff you'd find on a supermarket magazine rack.

bangtango, when I mean threads, I was actually referring to the dozens of times that many people have tried to put words in my mouth by quoting my posts in numerous threads on this site since I joined many years ago that suggest I've said one thing when I've said something entirely different. I wasn't referring to you alone, although I simply lumped you in with others who have a tendency to do the same thing. I would just suggest that people read an entire post and don't try to read more into a statement than what the statement actually says.

However, as a person who works in the publishing arena right now, I'm not celebrating anyone's job loss in the publishing category. My corporation just laid off a group of people in December 2008, so I understand what it feels like to wonder whether you'll have a job or not due to budget cuts.

Still, since I do work in publishing, I understand that a magazine needs to have compelling content in order to sustain advertising revenue and give people a reason to subscribe, which in turn helps to increase that magazine's circulation or subscription numbers which in turn gives advertisers an incentive to run their ads in that publication because they feel the publication has a strong enough base of readers who might buy their products. In other words, magazines make more of their revenue from advertising, not subscriptions. That's publishing 101.

A lack of compelling content in EGM definitely wasn't the only reason why it failed, but I can say it was a reason why I stopped subscribing and bothering to leaf through an open copy of it in the grocery store and I'm sure that many other longtime readers who stopped reading it might feel the same way. They should have stopped publishing EGM years ago before they screwed it up with the editorial changes that they decided to make to it if it wasn't profitable.

If a published product isn't profitable after a certain length of time, you kill it. That's publishing 102.

Xian042

01-08-2009, 09:39 AM

The january issue (one with Wolverine on the cover) is the last issue. Those let go were escorted out by security, so I do not think we are going to see any kind of farewell.

Actually, I just read that they did work on a final issue, but its only going to be released in digital form on 1up.com. The cover is being shown already and its fantastic. Ryu and Ken facing off with a big 'ole Street Fighter IV tagline. I think its fitting Street Fighter IV be on the cover, since the game is featuring Gouken, a character based on EGM's April fools joke of the hidden Sheng Long character.
Read about it here and see the cover on James Mielke's 1up blog:

http://www.1up.com/do/blogEntry?bId=8977836&publicUserId=4549175

2Dskillz

01-08-2009, 11:56 AM

Yeah I just read that blog this morning. This would have been the 20th anniversary issue. Since I read so many early EGMs for Street Fighter fixes it does seem an appropriate end cover, I just wish it could have seen its way to my mail box.

Actually, I just read that they did work on a final issue, but its only going to be released in digital form on 1up.com. The cover is being shown already and its fantastic. Ryu and Ken facing off with a big 'ole Street Fighter IV tagline. I think its fitting Street Fighter IV be on the cover, since the game is featuring Gouken, a character based on EGM's April fools joke of the hidden Sheng Long character.
Read about it here and see the cover on James Mielke's 1up blog:

http://www.1up.com/do/blogEntry?bId=8977836&publicUserId=4549175

Peonpiate

01-08-2009, 01:20 PM

I feel pretty old thinking about it [im 26 now], but EGM was my favorite magazine bar-none during the 90's up to early 2000. Ziff davis, when they took it over really lowered its quality, and the 'personality' of the magazine seemed to be aimed more towards the pokemon kids/soccer moms after that time. It just felt pointless reading it, especially when Next-generation magazine was still in print and in its prime at that time [they went downhill to midway through its lifespan heh].

Before then, [even though it feels nerdy to say it] you could tell that all the articles were being written by gamers who really enjoyed thier work...not so under ZD.

Regardless, this was a long time coming but its never good for people to lose thier jobs. I hope that the workers at EGM atleast had a notice or potential warning about this rather than just a pink slip on monday, as most of thier crew were there for 10 years+ i believe. :mad:

blissfulnoise

01-08-2009, 03:56 PM

I'm already missing 1up FM and 1up Yours.

The fairly recent 1up FM podcast with Jonnathan Blow and Rod Humble was some of the finest video game journalism work I've read, heard, or seen in a long, long time.

2Dskillz

01-08-2009, 04:13 PM

If you were a fan of 1up FM, then head over to www.eat-sleep-game.com and grab the first episode of Rebel FM which is the same group (Nick, Phil, Anthony, and a few others) It is not perfect but you gotta start rebuilding somewhere.

I'm already missing 1up FM and 1up Yours.

The fairly recent 1up FM podcast with Jonnathan Blow and Rod Humble was some of the finest video game journalism work I've read, heard, or seen in a long, long time.

The 1 2 P

01-08-2009, 06:46 PM

Thats good to know. I'll give them a call tomorrow because my subscription wasn't set to expire until May of 2010.

I called today and received no hassle for a full refund on my remaining issues. The only downside is that they said it may take up to 5 weeks to prcess. But atleast I'm getting money back so it's all good.

boatofcar

01-08-2009, 07:22 PM

I still remember my first issue of EGM-number 57.

http://homepage.mac.com/chris_johnston/C1662594604/E1537189433/Media/egm57.jpg

I couldn't believe how thick and full of info it was compared to Nintendo Power and the ridiculously overpriced Super NES buyers guide that was $7.50 and had like 12 pages.

If you were a fan of 1up FM, then head over to www.eat-sleep-game.com and grab the first episode of Rebel FM which is the same group (Nick, Phil, Anthony, and a few others) It is not perfect but you gotta start rebuilding somewhere.

Cool, thanks for that info! I really liked the Anthony Gyagos (sp) on... sections.

slapdash

01-09-2009, 12:09 AM

Hardcore Gamer is for sale on Ebay of all places right now. You can actually buy the copyrights, employee contracts, back issues whatever. It is starting at $42,000

Link or it didn't happen.

Seriously though, I can't find it. (TRIES A THIRD TIME) Ah, there it is (http://cgi.ebay.com/Nationally-distributed-video-game-print-magazine_W0QQitemZ300285337821QQcmdZViewItemQQptZL H_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item300285337821&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66%3A2%7C65%3A3%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318).

Yeah I just read that blog this morning. This would have been the 20th anniversary issue.

Now, that's just stupid... Let it end with the anniversary issue, for cripes sake! You want out of the print business? Get out next month. Asshats.

Oh, and as to gaming magazines, there's still OPM and OXM, but are there any others? Is it really down to just HG (is it continuing in the meantime while they try to sell it?), Play, GP and GI other than the two O?M mags? I mean, US mags anyway... I do still see the UK mags here and there, though less of them too.

Ah, technically, T&T is still SORT of around. Just got one a couple weeks back. Not monthly though, I realize, but still in print. Is the Beckett's "Cheat Codes" or whatever mag still showing up now and then? I haven't seen that one in a while, but I haven't looked either. Not very hard anyway.

The 1 2 P

01-09-2009, 01:27 AM

Now, that's just stupid... Let it end with the anniversary issue, for cripes sake! You want out of the print business? Get out next month. Asshats.

Agreed. Atleast make some more money on your way out the door. And btw, it's PTOM not OPM. OPM folded over a year ago. PTOM is sort of a spiritual successor.

Nature Boy

01-09-2009, 09:56 AM

I remember in the late 1990s, there was EGM, Game Fan, GamePro, Next Generation, Game Informer, and Gamers' Republic. What's left?

Forget the internet aspect: is the industry moving more towards console specific mags?

I personally haven't purchased a non-console specific magazine in *years*. Last gen it was OUSPSM, this gen it's OXM.

I know lots of gamers here are multi console owners, as have I been. But even last gen with all 3 machines in my collection, I was still very much focused on one and much preferred getting a magazine dedicated to that one console over something that covered all three.

Anybody else think there's merit to that? It's not the internet that's totally at fault, it's the fact that consumers don't want one mag for all consoles anymore?

Peonpiate

01-09-2009, 10:25 AM

Forget the internet aspect: is the industry moving more towards console specific mags?

I personally haven't purchased a non-console specific magazine in *years*. Last gen it was OUSPSM, this gen it's OXM.

I know lots of gamers here are multi console owners, as have I been. But even last gen with all 3 machines in my collection, I was still very much focused on one and much preferred getting a magazine dedicated to that one console over something that covered all three.

Anybody else think there's merit to that? It's not the internet that's totally at fault, it's the fact that consumers don't want one mag for all consoles anymore?

Its the internet. Even during the SNES/Genny era there were console specific mags aswell as a multitude of PC mags and multi-format mags. Going by memory, there was Megaplay, Segaforce[?], turboplay and a SNES dedicated mag made by EGM. The internet just ripped them a new one over time [even thier blogs contain most of thier magazine content these days].

PapaStu

01-09-2009, 11:31 AM

Forget the internet aspect: is the industry moving more towards console specific mags?

I personally haven't purchased a non-console specific magazine in *years*. Last gen it was OUSPSM, this gen it's OXM.

I know lots of gamers here are multi console owners, as have I been. But even last gen with all 3 machines in my collection, I was still very much focused on one and much preferred getting a magazine dedicated to that one console over something that covered all three.

Anybody else think there's merit to that? It's not the internet that's totally at fault, it's the fact that consumers don't want one mag for all consoles anymore?

The mags have had system centric monthly magazines since the PlayStation. OPM ran for something like 10 years before it died the first time, and they also had PSM (unofficial) which ran the entire time, and is now the new OPM magazine if memory serves. There was OXM, Official Dreamcast (died at 12 issues), an Official Saturn that was short lived. Nintendo Power has always just focused on Nintendo stuff.

I don't think centric mags killed it at all. The noncentric mags were the only ones that never came acrossed biased. OXM has gotten much better, but it used to be horrible. OPM wasn't much better.

swlovinist

01-09-2009, 12:54 PM

I collect multiple systems, so I prefer a multiple system magazine. Console specific mags can survive, if they have a loyal following, enough contrent to make a worthy mag, and articles that share information about a game versus just being a hype machine. I have enjoyed some console specific mags in the past, even with their faults It really for me comes down to content. If I am paying for a sub and all I get is ads, then to me it is not worth it. I love articles that talk about behind the scenes information, and the process of development on a particular game. Like console systems, alot of people have strong opinions on what mags are crap, and what mag has legitamite writing or is not biased. I do think that the internet has zapped the luster of video game mags. It is only going to get worse as time goes on. This upcoming years are going to be tough I feel for the mag industry(and I feel for the jobs affective by it) and we might just see a couple more mags go to the wasteside.

sidnotcrazy

01-09-2009, 01:44 PM

The mags have had system centric monthly magazines since the PlayStation. OPM ran for something like 10 years before it died the first time, and they also had PSM (unofficial) which ran the entire time, and is now the new OPM magazine if memory serves. There was OXM, Official Dreamcast (died at 12 issues), an Official Saturn that was short lived. Nintendo Power has always just focused on Nintendo stuff.

I don't think centric mags killed it at all. The noncentric mags were the only ones that never came acrossed biased. OXM has gotten much better, but it used to be horrible. OPM wasn't much better.

Great post Stu, but I would also like to add Turbo Play, and the even shorter lived Turbo Force, for TG-16 fans.

I honestly think it is a truckload of reasonss why EGM, and simular mags fail. Most of all I feel they have lost touch with their userbase, and hence their cancelation.

rbudrick

01-09-2009, 03:23 PM

Had no hassle on my refund today either. Reading the posts on Milkman's blog does make me sad. :(

-Rob

Wolfrider31

01-09-2009, 03:51 PM

Any word on what podcasts will be sticking around? Or if the former hosts will still be doing them? I mean, Retronauts would still be worth producing (and even keeping the old ones on 1up as they don't really "age").

Actually, and with that in mind, I wonder if the former editors (and even Shoe) would be willing to start their own site. The podcasts are great and so is Shoe's blog. There's certainly enough worthwhile content to make EGM an online presence.

2Dskillz

01-09-2009, 04:17 PM

They have said that Retronauts will still be made, and maybe some version of 1up Yours.

The SoreThumbs blog of Shoe and Crispin has yet to produce a podcast, but even during EGM Live Shoe seemed pressed to come on the show.

boatofcar

01-09-2009, 08:05 PM

Woo hoo! New Retronauts today! And new Sports Game Anomaly, but that show kinda sucks imo.

slapdash

01-09-2009, 10:41 PM

No problem with my refund (yet anyway). Sorry about confusing OPM and PTOM; I always thought it was funny that the unofficial mag became the official one...

I'm not a big fan of single-system-centric mags, but it's even worse when a publisher has both types of mags and copies content between them. Ugh, that's lazy, and less of a value for us collector types.

c0ldb33r

01-10-2009, 08:34 PM

Uh oh, looks like another magazine might be on its way out :(

FriendFinder, Penthouse's parent corporation is planning an IPO to raise funds. They're in default of their security and plan to use $400 million of the IPO to pay off debt. [source (http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/25/technology/internet/25ipo.html?ref=companies)]

The problem is that it looks like the IPO will be a dud. "There is no way that Penthouse’s current situation — Adult Friendfinder or not — would justify an IPO at $20 a share, $15 a share, or even just Playboy’s current $7.90 and change." [source (http://www.todaysfinancialnews.com/us-stocks-and-markets/top-ipos-penthouse-friendfinder-556.html)].

I was wondering why this month's issue hadn't arrived yet.

The 1 2 P

01-10-2009, 08:47 PM

I was wondering why this month's issue hadn't arrived yet.

And I was wondering why you posted this in a modern gaming forum about EGM's demise. But now I knowLOL

c0ldb33r

01-10-2009, 08:59 PM

And I was wondering why you posted this in a modern gaming forum about EGM's demise. But now I knowLOL
Hey now, penthouse has had a video game review section for quite some time :D

The 1 2 P

01-10-2009, 09:05 PM

Hey now, penthouse has had a video game review section for quite some time :D

So does Playboy. Playboy also has an annual "nude video game character" article that usually releases in their October or November issue:wink 2:

RPG_Fanatic

01-11-2009, 09:14 AM

It is only going to get worse as time goes on. This upcoming year is going to be tough I feel for the mag industry and we might just see a couple more mags go to the wasteside.

Which magazine do you think will go under next? :?

YoshiM

01-11-2009, 10:42 AM

Which magazine do you think will go under next? :?

Part of me wants to say OXM, just because that mag is looking pretty thin. I haven't read it for a while so I'm not sure about the quality of the content. Possibly its only saving grace is the demo disc for those who don't have broadband internet.

As for the other mags, it's hard to say. I haven't read Gamepro since their first year in publication, so I can't say how good or bad that magazine is. Gameinformer is included with Edge cards so I think it's safe to say that mag might be around for a while. Nintendo Power...well, it's Nintendo and they are on fire in the popularity department now so that'll last. Playstation Magazine might fall into the crosshairs due to the brand faltering. Not sure if the future will be kind to Play. I haven't noticed getting thinner but I do know, at least in my area, you can't get it at every major retail store like the others-only at a book/magazine shop. If that plays (ugh, no pun intended) a role or not, hard to say.

Personally I like magazines and I hope something will survive. It's more relaxing to sit in the easy chair, recline and page through paper rather attempting the same situation with a laptop.

jdc

01-11-2009, 10:54 AM

I remember the sadness that I felt when OPM died. Then yet again when PSM died....and the joy that I felt when it came back as the beautiful Playstation magazine. I have every issue of Dave Halversons Gamer's Republic in mint condition, IMO THE best gaming mag ever conceived. I felt as if I was kicked in the gut when THAT one died. I dunno, in a way it's good that the only gaming mag I have left to buy IS Playstation magazine because it was getting expensive to feed my gaming mag jones every month. Now it's just that and my monthly subscribed issue of Bass Player Magazine to contend with. LOL

c0ldb33r

01-11-2009, 10:58 AM

Not sure if the future will be kind to Play. I haven't noticed getting thinner but I do know, at least in my area, you can't get it at every major retail store like the others-only at a book/magazine shop. If that plays (ugh, no pun intended) a role or not, hard to say.
In my area Play is only available in one magazine shop. I used to really like it just to read, but then I tried actually relying on some of their reviews (Gee, I don't know if I want this game, but Play gave it a great review so I guess I'll try it). It wasn't until then that I learned that their reviews are complete shit. And if I can't rely on a magazine's reviews, then forget it.

I like Play, or at least I want to. I like the look of the magazine. I like the fact that they cover technology, DVDs, music, anime and comic books. I'm not really into the last two but I like reading about them from people who are in-the-know. But at the end of the day, if I have to take everything they say with a grain of salt, it really isn't worth it for me. I kind of hope Play fails as a result.

The 1 2 P

01-11-2009, 08:02 PM

Which magazine do you think will go under next? :?

It's either going to be Gamepro or PTOM. And if Hardcore Gamer is still around, it won't be for long. OXM has the financial backing(and a much sought after demo disc) to keep it around for awhile. Play has bewildered me with it's longevity. I'm glad it's still around but how much longer can it survive? Game Informer is ok because they have Gamestop backing them. Nuff said.

c0ldb33r

01-11-2009, 09:03 PM

It's either going to be Gamepro or PTOM. And if Hardcore Gamer is still around, it won't be for long....Play has bewildered me with it's longevity. I'm glad it's still around but how much longer can it survive?
Do you think these magazines will switch to an electronic only format or fold altogether?

The 1 2 P

01-11-2009, 09:20 PM

Do you think these magazines will switch to an electronic only format or fold altogether?

All of them already have online equivalents so I guess it depends on the owner of each. They should atleast keep their online sites but even EGM wasn't lucky enough to have that happen:(

G-Boobie

01-11-2009, 10:23 PM

In my area Play is only available in one magazine shop. I used to really like it just to read, but then I tried actually relying on some of their reviews (Gee, I don't know if I want this game, but Play gave it a great review so I guess I'll try it). It wasn't until then that I learned that their reviews are complete shit. And if I can't rely on a magazine's reviews, then forget it.

I like Play, or at least I want to. I like the look of the magazine. I like the fact that they cover technology, DVDs, music, anime and comic books. I'm not really into the last two but I like reading about them from people who are in-the-know. But at the end of the day, if I have to take everything they say with a grain of salt, it really isn't worth it for me. I kind of hope Play fails as a result.

Isn't everyone's favorite neck bearded man-child Dave Halverson related to Play in some capacity? That would explain the reviews...

The 1 2 P

01-11-2009, 10:43 PM

I almost didn't renew my subscription because I thought they were headed out the door too. It's a very inciteful magazine and I love how they cover imports, anime and movies too. However, as someone else has said, they are way to generous with their game reviews. I think thats why they got rid of their scoring numbers because every magazine was guaranteed to have atleast three perfect scores in it. Thats just not possible, especially since they've been that way for the last three years.

In my area Play is only available in one magazine shop. I used to really like it just to read, but then I tried actually relying on some of their reviews (Gee, I don't know if I want this game, but Play gave it a great review so I guess I'll try it). It wasn't until then that I learned that their reviews are complete shit. And if I can't rely on a magazine's reviews, then forget it.

Isn't everyone's favorite neck bearded man-child Dave Halverson related to Play in some capacity? That would explain the reviews...

Yup, he's the former editor in chief. He stepped down from that position(although he still works at the mag) a month before they ditched the review numbers all together. As you can see from my earlier post and coldb33r's post, Play gave pretty much every AAA title a perfect score of ten. Add that to the fact that they also gave atleast one mediocre game and one shitty game a perfect 10 as well(in nearly every issue no less) and you get the most broken video game scoring/grading process in magazine history.

Kid Fenris

01-11-2009, 10:50 PM

Isn't everyone's favorite neck bearded man-child Dave Halverson related to Play in some capacity? That would explain the reviews...

To my knowledge, Dave Halverson has never had a neckbeard. Only a mustache, a goatee, and an AMAZING mullet.

http://kidfenris.com/halverson.jpg
http://kidfenris.com/halverson2.jpg

Nature Boy

01-12-2009, 09:49 AM

I don't think centric mags killed it at all.

Based on what I've gathered, it sounds like it was simply bad business decisions that killed it. The company that bought it couldn't do with it what they had originally planned so they killed it. Probably to take a loss.

I totally agree with you about the bias, especially OXM. When it was first launched it was a freaking *horrible* magazine in my opinion. These days I quite like it though. They've definitely matured as a publication.

The reason I said "forget the internet" was that I simply believe that printed media will never die. It may contract, but there's no reason for me to believe it will ever actually die. If vinyl can live on in the face of the mp3, so can the printed word in the face of instant news updates.

I was wondering if that contraction might mean the death of the broad magazine, because it's way more fun for me to postulate that rather than right another "the internet is killing it" post.

PapaStu

01-12-2009, 10:57 AM

Based on what I've gathered, it sounds like it was simply bad business decisions that killed it. The company that bought it couldn't do with it what they had originally planned so they killed it. Probably to take a loss.

It was the bad decisions by Ziff Davis. They bought too much and had an insane amount of debt. Couple that to an economic meltdown and a credit crisis and you've got a group of magazines that are going down like a ton of bricks. EGM was their last best thing and the 1Up network was their only valuable thing but they'd been trying to sell the bundle for an obscene amount of money and no one was going to bite.

Jorpho

01-12-2009, 12:18 PM

If vinyl can live on in the face of the mp3, so can the printed word in the face of instant news updates.:hmm: That strikes me as a rather terrible analogy. The "printed word", at least in the sense of a monthly magazine, and instant news updates differ far more greatly than mp3s and vinyl.

Oobgarm

01-12-2009, 12:27 PM

:hmm: That strikes me as a rather terrible analogy. The "printed word", at least in the sense of a monthly magazine, and instant news updates differ far more greatly than mp3s and vinyl.

I wouldn't say it's terrible, just a little obtuse-and only when you look at it a certain way does it make some sense.

In terms of a tangible item, printed word and a vinyl album do match up well. They're both dyed-in-the-wool types of media, which will be around for quite some time, albeit in a diminished amount.

The only thing that really breaks this analogy is how the information itself is delivered. Information, regardless of the topic, is best suited for our society on a 'faster the better' platform, whereas music isn't necessarily that way, since downloading music isn't the status quo yet.

MP3s and CDs might make a bit better coupling, I think, if only to satisfy the 'tangible item' thought.

Rogmeister

01-12-2009, 12:56 PM

Interestingly, I recently decided I needed to get rid of all my EGM issues...over a hundred issues. So I started going over my collection backwards, thumbing through each issue and mostly checking out the reviews. Now they've all been tossed out. It was time to clear some space. I liked the older days of the magazine but haven't really read it in awhile.

Wolfrider31

01-12-2009, 04:32 PM

Y'know, I just picked up the "last" EGM issue today (along with a copy of Edge) and to be honest - I don't think we'll miss it much. Sure, EGM in its heyday was fantastic, but by the end it was a crumpled husk of its former self.

Compare the content, the writing, the articles, and the sheer size to European mags like Play, Edge, RetroGamer etc and there's no contest. EGM might signal the death of the game magazine in the US, but I think our friends across the pond still have some life left in them.

bangtango

01-12-2009, 06:17 PM

Compare the content, the writing, the articles, and the sheer size to European mags like.......RetroGamer etc and there's no contest.

You can't compare anything in EGM to Retro Gamer. Those two are like apples and oranges. Retro Gamer is dedicated to covering old games and systems while EGM focuses solely on new stuff.

Aussie2B

01-12-2009, 06:20 PM

Also, you could get a whole year of EGM for the price of one Retro Gamer. :P

Wolfrider31

01-12-2009, 06:38 PM

boatofcar

01-12-2009, 07:05 PM

You can't compare anything in EGM to Retro Gamer. Those two are like apples and oranges. Retro Gamer is dedicated to covering old games and systems while EGM focuses solely on new stuff.

I disagree. Both are about video games. The era shouldn't affect the presentation, writing, content quality, etc. Retro Gamer is superior in every way to EGM.

bangtango

01-12-2009, 09:21 PM

I disagree. Both are about video games. The era shouldn't affect the presentation, writing, content quality, etc. Retro Gamer is superior in every way to EGM.

Both magazines are about video games but EGM was forced to stay on top of current events far more often than Retro Gamer.

An article about the Commodore 64, Spectrum or table top handheld games can be written at the leisure of a Retro Gamer writer. While each edition of the magazine has a deadline, theoretically if an article isn't up to snuff there is no rush to get it into that issue. The editors can wait another month (or 6 months) and allow the writer time to do a little more research or a few more interviews.

Did EGM have this luxury while they were trying to compete with Gamepro, Game Informer and hundreds of web sites to get content into readers hands?

Say Retro Gamer decides to publish a six page feature about the Fairchild Channel F and it is run in an issue from the year 2005. Then in 2009, Retro Gamer decides to run a six page feature on the Fairchild Channel F again, with the assumption that most of the readers have "forgotten" about the original article. Retro Gamer could use 95% of the same information from the original 2005 piece for a 2009 piece, they could run it all over again word for word. EGM can't get away with that.

By saying Retro Gamer is better (today), you're only stating the obvious. Of course a magazine that talks about "dead" systems and games that came out 20-25 years ago is going to have a better quality of writing than a magazine that has to rush to stay on top of current events.

But I will say that EGM in its prime (the Steve Harris era) was a hell of a lot more interesting to read back then than Retro Gamer has ever been. Retro Gamer's writing may be better than the old EGM was but before the internet changed everything, 8-bit and 16-bit gamers were foaming at the mouth for news about upcoming games and systems. EGM did a damn fine job of meeting their needs for information during that era. Back then, information that couldn't be found anywhere else was a lot more important than well written articles. Nobody did a better job of getting the word out in the late 80's and early 90's than EGM.

Jorpho

01-12-2009, 10:23 PM

But I will say that EGM in its prime (the Steve Harris era) was a hell of a lot more interesting to read back then than Retro Gamer has ever been. Retro Gamer's writing may be better than the old EGM was but before the internet changed everything, 8-bit and 16-bit gamers were foaming at the mouth for news about upcoming games and systems.That raises an interesting question: perhaps EGM was better back then because the industry itself was something that the media could cover in an interesting way? Back when the notion of "casual gaming" was largely unknown, truly awful shovelware was too expensive to produce, the Internet wasn't around to disseminate demos and videos and walkthroughs of practically everything, and so on?

boatofcar

01-12-2009, 10:55 PM

I understand your point, bangotango, but it doesn't change the fact that the writing in (edit: today's) EGM just plain isn't as good as the writing in Retro Gamer.

Wolfrider

01-12-2009, 11:05 PM

I understand your point, bangotango, but it doesn't change the fact that the writing in (edit: today's) EGM just plain isn't as good as the writing in Retro Gamer.

And notice that the other two magazines I mentioned are being ignored in the argument. Selective rebuttal is so much fun. ;)

I tease.

Aussie2B

01-13-2009, 12:20 AM

An article about the Commodore 64, Spectrum or table top handheld games can be written at the leisure of a Retro Gamer writer. While each edition of the magazine has a deadline, theoretically if an article isn't up to snuff there is no rush to get it into that issue. The editors can wait another month (or 6 months) and allow the writer time to do a little more research or a few more interviews.

It's also worth pointing out that a writer for a magazine that covers classic gaming probably already has a basis of knowledge and interest in the subject matter of an article that he or she is assigned, otherwise it would've been assigned to someone else. That's a huge advantage over someone being assigned an article about a game that the writer knows absolutely nothing about before he or she starts doing interviews with the developer and such.

Don't get me wrong, writing for a magazine, with retro or current coverage, is no trivial task, take it from me, but I do have a smidgen more sympathy for those slaving away to keep up with current news. Of course, that doesn't excuse poor direction on the part of the publisher nor poor choices in staff hiring, which seem to be mistakes that so many of the big magazines make. I'll never understand that with all the talent out there, there are sloppy, pedestrian writers still being hired that can't even manage the maturity to not be biased and write like an intelligent adult. Then again, maybe that's precisely what some magazines aim for to please the teenage target audience.

The 1 2 P

01-13-2009, 02:08 AM

And notice that the other two magazines I mentioned are being ignored in the argument. Selective rebuttal is so much fun. ;)

I tease.

I was about to ask how someone who's been here for 5 years only has 7 post. But then I realized it's an alternate account.

shaggy

01-13-2009, 12:00 PM

Consider yourself lucky. I've had to watch as my subscriptions to Next Generation, Incite Gamer, OPM, PSM, Tips and Tricks and now EGM all went up in smoke. My only subscriptions left are OXM, Play, Game Informer and Gamepro. I let my subscription to Playstation the official magazine expire a few months ago. That mag should be folding before the end of this year.

I liked PSM and than they went and changed to Playstation the official magazine and now it is shit. I actually am on my last issue of it and I am not renewing. I agree that this will probably be the next to go. PSM was awesome before the switch and when they switched they got all new staff and redid the whole magazine and I just don't enjoy it like I did. Kaiser, Justin, and Chris all went to Nintendo Power. I wonder what happened to Bill and everyone else that was on the PSM Team.

shaggy

01-13-2009, 12:06 PM

It should've been GamePro that died out. I thought that magazine was pretty good when I was a kid in the early-mid 90s during the fighting game craze, but its been total crap since atleast 2000. And Gamepro's re-design (with the elimination of editor characters, and a complete overhaul of its format) made it lose whatever charm they once had, leaving it as a fifth-rate Game Informer wannabe.

And my beef with Game Informer is that I can't trust them to be objective since they're owned by Gamestop and they're always publishing pics of their editors partying or having dinner with employees from Activision, Sony, or Microsoft.

That's exactly what I thought with Game Pro. When they did there re-design and eliminated the editor characters it made the magazine lose its charm just like you said. I liked it when they had the Pro Tips underneath the screen shots and the heads as there rating system. Now the magazine is just average to me.

Wolfrider31

01-13-2009, 03:58 PM

I was about to ask how someone who's been here for 5 years only has 7 post. But then I realized it's an alternate account.

Whoops. Yeah, it's not intentional. I forgot the password to that old account a while ago and then I remembered it again. :)

dairugger

01-13-2009, 04:06 PM

what i hated was when they started making fun of people in the letters section, starting around 01 or so.. you shouldnt belittle your paid subscribers.

acem77

01-13-2009, 04:37 PM

Is the final mag up for download yet?
If so any links. i have been searching the blog i do not see it yet.

The 1 2 P

01-13-2009, 06:29 PM

what i hated was when they started making fun of people in the letters section, starting around 01 or so.. you shouldnt belittle your paid subscribers.

Unfortunately you really need to get use to this, as pretty much every magazine I have ever subscribed to since 2000(except Play) has done this. I think that game editors consider it a right of passage to mock some of their readers. I actually think it's pretty funny sometimes, like when Game Informer(a few months ago) said they wouldn't have a top 25 Gamecube games special (like they did for the Xbox and PS2 in previous issues) because the Gamecube didn't have 25 good games yet. That shit was hilarious but of course some people thought they were being serious so they wrote in to complain and tell them they were canceling their subscriptions. The issue they ran the complaint letters is the issue they finally did the Gamecube feature, which they were planning all along. But like I said, pretty much all game magazines mock their reader's letters.

bangtango

01-13-2009, 08:44 PM

That's exactly what I thought with Game Pro. When they did there re-design and eliminated the editor characters it made the magazine lose its charm just like you said. I liked it when they had the Pro Tips underneath the screen shots and the heads as there rating system. Now the magazine is just average to me.

I have now seen 2 or 3 people in this thread say that they missed the "characters" that used to write for Gamepro.

I find it odd because a large number of people had been criticizing Gamepro for about 15 years for making their writers use fictitious names instead of their real names. That was one of the first things people complained about when they used to talk about the magazine, how all of their writers used phony names.