Whats Your Favorite Video Game Magazine of All Time?

[Balloon Fight]

I love T&T, but i always go back to my Game Player's.
So whats yours?

[Deathstar]

1. EGM (love everything about it, cept for the new review article design)
2. Nintendo Power
3. Play

[rolenta]

1.The original Electronic Games

2. The first few years of Next Generation

[Slipdeath]

1. T &T
2. T&T
3. T&T

[Deathstar]

Gah, no offense, but I feel that T&T kind of sucks.

Then again, I am not a cheater at my videogames, but the little retro sections at the end are pretty nice I guess. 8-)

[Saturn Sensei]

Best:
Next-Generation, the first few years.
Edge(like Next-Generation: The Early Years but alive and well today)
Games TM
Gamefan
Gamer's Republic

Worst:
Nintendo Power
Official Anything
GamePro (unless you are 14)
EGM (unless you are 17)

[NE146]

I like lots of video game magazines but if I had to choose...

1. Most definitely the original and best.. JOYSTIK!!! :rocker:
http://www.users.qwest.net/~userid946/joy-sep83.jpg
2. Tie between Video Games & Electronic Games magazines
3. Late 80's EGM

[Sniderman]

Electronic Games Magazine followed closely by the excellent Classic Gamer Magazine. Sigh. I miss that pub.

[Phosphor Dot Fossils]

I miss the original Electronic Games, because of the most excellent writing, tons of pictures of stuff to drool over, and because I could sign my name with that little all-in-one-character "EG" symbol. (Hey, I used to do that too!)

Behind that, I'll say Electronic Fun With Computers And Games. They were no EG, but that mag was a good read.

And I'll second Snider's mention of Classic Gamer Magazine. Any mag that had his name, my name and Bill Kunkel's name all under "staff writers" on that second or third page couldn't be all bad, y'know. Check out some of the free articles at http://www.classicgamer.com.

[GrandAmChandler]

Games TM, too bad it is only available over seas :( otherwise I'd have a subscription!! They have an incredible Retro section, and very colorful pages with intermittent (sp?) full 2 page spreads of sceenshots for older stuff! word!

[Kid Fenris]

I'm going to let nostalgia run rampant here and say that the original Gamefan, 1993 to 1997, is my favorite gaming magazine. It was often crudely written and haphazardly assembled, but its enthusiastic approach, extensive coverage of imports, and obsessive focus on detail really awakened the gamer within me. If it hadn't been for Gamefan, I might not even

Other favorites: Gamers' Republic, Electronic Games, Next Generation, and Nintendo Power (nostalgia rears it head again)

As much as I liked Next Generation, I'd say that it (and, by extension, Edge magazine) is slightly overrated. The mag's articles and features were generally superb, but its reviews, though well-written, often fell prey to nonsensical elitism. In the magazine's first year, the editors were infected by the "3-D is TEH FUCHAR" fervor that was going around the industry, and they severely underrated many 2-D games, including Guardian Heroes, Pulstar, and Night Warriors.

My least-loved gaming magazine is also Gamefan, but in the form that it took around 1998, after most of its staffer left to form Gamers' Republic. What remained of Gamefan became a shambling mockery of its roots, more intent on venting inane criticisms and claiming "hardcore" status than providing relevant content. The abomination took nearly three years to die.

I also hated Flux, though I have a hard time remembering why.

[anagrama]

1. Zero
2. Super Play

These two will never be surpassed.

[Anthony1]

Personally, this question is an absolute no brainer. Die Hard Game Fan (The Dave Halverson years) is without question, the best video game magazine of all time.

Ok, so that is my own biased personal opinion, but still.... I'm amazed that anybody that has read the early years of GameFan cover to cover, could possibly put any other magazine above it.

Here is my list


1. Die Hard Game Fan (the early years)
2. Next-Generation (the early years)
3. GAMES tm (the only negative, is that they are new and weren't around in the glory years)
4. Game Players (when they had decent paper)
5. EGM (more by default than anything. Their issues were so huge, although they wasted lots of pages with nothing more than rewriting what is on the back of the game boxes for their preview section. Their previews were basically worthless, other than the pictures)
6. Video Games and Computer Entertainment - (I wasn't a PC gamer at the time, and I hated that pages of the mag got spent on PC gaming, but still solid)
7. XBOX Nation - One of the best current mags, even though it's platform specific.

[YoshiM]

Oh sweet bliss! The boards are back and I'm gonna get in trooouubbbllle....


Anyway, I'd have to say VG&CE is by far my most favorite. Thick magazine in its heyday, good content on both consoles AND computers-this mag got me to desire a 256 color VGA card in a very personal way. I was so pissed when my mags got water damage and I had to toss them. If anyone knows a good source of these magazines (other than Ebay, which is a rarity to find them) PM me.

Second: Game Players. Another staple which covered stuff VG&CE would sometimes miss. They also had decent strategy guides and buyers guides that I'd use for a "played it, need it, have it" check list.

Third: Classicgamer. Not to schmooze or anything with some of its writers that reside here, but for a pretty much a hobby mag it was damn good. It had a foot in both the past and present and was a great read. In fact, those mags were the ONLY ones I took to Texas with me when I had to do some tech work for the home office about 3 years ago.

[Zaxxon]

I liked Gamefan, though it's true the reviewers were weird, "I finished Tomb Raider in one weekend" !?! and always trying to prove how much more hardcore they were than you. It was cool that it had lots of glossy pics and they covered stuff you would never see anywhere else(late release Jaguar games, NUON, Metal Slug series). Later when they started focusing on anime and import dating sims/girly RPG's it became very gay.

Joystik was cool but I NEVER saw it on a newstand, only a couple old issues at my library.

Intelligent Gamer was pretty good IIRC. They were the first magazine to ever regulary do any kind of coverage on classic systems. I could only find it at Waldenbooks though.

[hydr0x]

1. Maniac
2. Power Play
3. Mega Fun

all german

[Saturn Sensei]

As much as I liked Next Generation, I'd say that it (and, by extension, Edge magazine) is slightly overrated. The mag's articles and features were generally superb, but its reviews, though well-written, often fell prey to nonsensical elitism. In the magazine's first year, the editors were infected by the "3-D is TEH FUCHAR" fervor that was going around the industry, and they severely underrated many 2-D games, including Guardian Heroes, Pulstar, and Night Warriors.


EDGE scores:
Guardian Heroes 8/10
Nightwarriors 8/10
Pulstar 8/10

Don't know about Next Generation as most of my old issues were sold off years ago, but as far as Edge goes....The scores speak for themselves. 8/10 is hardly underrating. Though Edge is a bit elitist, their scores are almost always dead-on. Afterall only four 10/10 scores in ten years. Respect.

[Cafeman]

#1. DieHard GameFan. I really think I got the most enjoyment out of GF's many years of (usually) great issues.

#2. Joystik from the 80's. How else could I have beaten Dragon's Lair, reached stage 3 in Sinistar, or plow through Pterries in Joust?

#3. Electronic Games from the 80's. Great mag, usually filled to the brim with tons of stuff -- 2600,Intellivision, computer games, you name it.

After those top three there's quite a gap but the next choices would be Game players and Next Generation (the early years of it). I really do not like GamePro. T&T (other than Santulli's cool little section which is all I read there), EGM, GI, or Electronic Boutique's new mag I get in the mail.

[Darth Sensei]

http://www.cnewsome.net/pimpfiction/mag_cover.jpg

I used to love this mag. Funny, edgy, and had great articles about computer gaming.

Dave

[Kid Fenris]

As much as I liked Next Generation, I'd say that it (and, by extension, Edge magazine) is slightly overrated. The mag's articles and features were generally superb, but its reviews, though well-written, often fell prey to nonsensical elitism. In the magazine's first year, the editors were infected by the "3-D is TEH FUCHAR" fervor that was going around the industry, and they severely underrated many 2-D games, including Guardian Heroes, Pulstar, and Night Warriors.


EDGE scores:
Guardian Heroes 8/10
Nightwarriors 8/10
Pulstar 8/10

Next Generation scores:

Guardian Heroes: 3 out of 5 stars
Night Warriors: 3 out of 5 stars
Pulstar: 2 out of 5 stars (and sneeringly likened to Defender)

I was under the impression that Next Generation drew most of its material from Edge. It seems I was mistaken.


Don't know about Next Generation as most of my old issues were sold off years ago, but as far as Edge goes....The scores speak for themselves. 8/10 is hardly underrating. Though Edge is a bit elitist, their scores are almost always dead-on. Afterall only four 10/10 scores in ten years. Respect.

Perhaps I will once I get my hands on the latest issues of Edge, but I fail to see how limiting one's highest ratings automatically demands respect. EGM never awarded 10s until 1998, and such a restriction didn't exactly make the magazine's reviews the best in print.

[tom]

German Magazines:

Number 1: For me, the first ever (German) magazine was also the best:
TeleMatch (TeleMatch Computer, TeleMatch Computer Praxis). Needless to say I own all issues. It took many articles from EG and translated them into the magazine.
2'nd: Aktueller Software Markt (German)
3'rd: Happy Computer (German)

English Magazines:

Atari User (complete collection)
Computer & Video Games (First ever Gaming mag (Nov.81)) (I own all issues from issue 3 onwards, but stopped buying in 2003)
ACE (complete collection)
ZZAP! (complete collection)
Page 6 (half complete collection)
Dreamcast Magazine (complete collection)

USA Magazines:

Antic (complete collection)
2600 Connection (so far complete)
Electronic Games (first 20 issues (thanks to Russ Perry))
Analog
EGM
Compute

Current Magazines:

Games, Edge, PCW, Computer Shopper, Micro Mart, CGW

I own 2500 Computer/Console magazines, sometimes I love them more than the games itself :-)

[DogP]

http://www.cnewsome.net/pimpfiction/mag_cover.jpg

I used to love this mag. Funny, edgy, and had great articles about computer gaming.

Dave

I was gonna say this mag too... it was half games, half giirls :) . Too bad it didn't live very long... I still have every issue of it.

DogP

[linlhutz]

1. Next Generation (Prior to the "Next-Gen" name change)
2. VG&CE
3. PC Accelerator (Anyone know why the first few copies I have named "PC Action"? Vol. 2 No. 2 and Vol. 2 No. 3)
4. PC Gamer, I guess.

[Saturn Sensei]

I was under the impression that Next Generation drew most of its material from Edge. It seems I was mistaken.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Perhaps I will once I get my hands on the latest issues of Edge, but I fail to see how limiting one's highest ratings automatically demands respect. EGM never awarded 10s until 1998, and such a restriction didn't exactly make the magazine's reviews the best in print.


A. Next Gen and Edge shared some content like certain articles.


B. It's not that it is(or ever was) Edge's policy to limit 10/10s. They only ever gave it to games that truly deserved it. Edge is rarely, if ever, wrong in their reviewing.

Edge issue 129 reviews:
SW KOTOR 9/10
Republic: 6/10
Boktai: 8/10
R-Type Final: 8/10
F-Zero GX: 8/10
Freedom Fighters: 6/10
SW Galaxies: 5/10
Italian Job: 5/10
Group S Challenge: 5/10
Downhill Domination: 6/10
Mario Golf: 6/10
Space Channel 5 GBA 5/10
Winning Eleven 7: 9/10



aside: GoldenEye was the 9/10 game of the past decade of Edge that was the closest to getting a 10/10 without getting it.

[Zaxxon]

The earlier Next Generation was good but they cancelled out a lot of good with all their drooling over Dave Perry in every issue.

[lendelin]

My experience with different game mags is limited, and starts only with the end 80s.

My fav game mag is certainly Nintendo Power during the NES and SNES times, for one reason and one reason only: They mapped out games like no other magazine. The best games were covered with maps 50%, 70%, and even sometimes completely. (like Castlevania 3, Battletoads) They were lil strategy guides, and since I'm a map fanatic those issues are still my most cherished game mags.

[jdc]

*looks up at the shelf above his PC*

It seems that I have almost every issue of Gamer's Republic, and a big stack of Nintendo Power as well. I still buy NP every month even thought most of my issues deal with the N64.

Sometimes I'll pick up EGM.

[Kid Fenris]

B. It's not that it is(or ever was) Edge's policy to limit 10/10s. They only ever gave it to games that truly deserved it. Edge is rarely, if ever, wrong in their reviewing.

Edge issue 129 reviews:
SW KOTOR 9/10
Republic: 6/10
Boktai: 8/10
R-Type Final: 8/10
F-Zero GX: 8/10
Freedom Fighters: 6/10
SW Galaxies: 5/10
Italian Job: 5/10
Group S Challenge: 5/10
Downhill Domination: 6/10
Mario Golf: 6/10
Space Channel 5 GBA 5/10
Winning Eleven 7: 9/10

Those scores seem remarkably similar to EGM's ratings for the same titles, but like I said, I'll check Edge out. Is Julian ‘Jaz’ Rignall still around?


Later when they started focusing on anime and import dating sims/girly RPG's it became very gay.

So says the man with a bouncy-boobed anime girl for his avatar.

[Saturn Sensei]

Julian Rignall, wow haven't heard that name in about a decade. I used to love Mean Machines and Computer and Videogames. CVG is apparently the oldest still standing videogame magazine. It started in 1982 I believe. Though it is pretty terrible now.


One thing that struck me when reading through the latest issue of EGM was how dissimilar it is from Edge. First, it is aimed at a younger age group, secondly, it is all ads.

Plus, I have disliked EGM ever since they gave the atrocious Dark Summit a higher score than Amped(they got 3 and 8 respectively from Edge).

[RetroYoungen]

My current faves are Game Informer and play, but back when I was younger for whatever reason I would SWEAR by Nintendo Power (well, they were good for Nintendo news...) and GamePro (I was the only "real" gamer on the block, I had no idea they were so screwed up).

But I really miss GameFan Magazine. I don't remember back when it was Die Hard Game Fan, but the last few issues of it I still flip through today. What a cool mag, no BS and virtually no ads (which is probably why it disappeared).

[suppafly]

Nintendo Power (The firs 20 issues)
EGM (from issue 1 to around 70)

[16-bit]

VG & CE (my all time favorite, have every issue)
Games TM (brilliant UK mag--worth the $9 barnes & noble charges)

I am very curious about Tips & Tricks. Do they have a website or a free issue trial offer? I have never seen it for sale in any newstand or bookstore.

[VACRMH]

Game Players

[lostsage]

i miss the offical dreamcast magazine for the demo disks. and the layout was nice, but it was a little immature.

miss the old egm. collected since the early 90's till about 97. and when did they go down hill?

i remember gamefan, but wasn't really into them at the time. looking back to my older issues, i reallized it was me who wasn't ready for this type of magazine.

but my all time fave is next generation. i first read it while working at kb toys, and i feel in love with it. have been looking for something similar since. anyone remember dailyradar.com?

[suppafly]

I do! Dailyradar.com used to be a GREAT website. And they were right when they hailed Shenmue as the BEST GAME EVER :D

[VinnyT]

I never liked GamePro, stupd cartoon characters. But when S.W.A.T.Pro was still it's own magazine, I LOVED IT!

Now, It's Game Informer.Real people, real reviews.

Also, I loved the old Sega Visions.

[slapdash]

Behind [EG], I'll say Electronic Fun With Computers And Games. They were no EG, but that mag was a good read.

I'm a little surprised to see that someone else remembers EF! Depending on my mood, EF was my favorite mag -- EG was probably a better magazine, but more serious, so EF came off as a more fun, enjoyable read a lot of the time.



http://www.cnewsome.net/pimpfiction/mag_cover.jpg

I used to love this mag. Funny, edgy, and had great articles about computer gaming.

I was gonna say this mag too... it was half games, half giirls :) . Too bad it didn't live very long... I still have every issue of it.

What magazine? The picture isn't coming up (I'm getting "Server not found" if I just try the URL).


Electronic Games (first 20 issues (thanks to Russ Perry))

Actually, I don't think I can take credit for that one... I've never had that many duplicates of EG to trade away. But thanks for making me look good. :-)

[sabre2922]

GAMEFAN!!!
Truly for the hardcore, which was a blessing and a curse.
A blessing for gamers like me, becuase if you hadnt been playing vid games for at least the past 15 years or more, you wouldnt get/understand most of their referances, therefore a limited appeal to the masses, example: they tried to like hell to get the word out on how great the DC was in their last few years of publication and didnt jump on the PS2 bandwagon with all the other sellouts, anyway I looked forward to every issue.

[Bighab]

EGM(issue 100 and down) I liked the Genesis/Snes/Saturn years of the mag. I still buy it today but there are too many ads.
GameGo! Ok this was a one issue wonder from the editor of Gamefan but I loved it. Dealt with import reviews/previews and had a nice retro review section at the back. I wish this magazine had continued.

[TheSmirk]

1) JoyStik : not many places carried it when I was growing up, so nothing can beat that feeling when you are a kid and you happen to find an issue :D

2) Next Generation : It had its ups and downs over its span but it was a great mag overall

3) Gamefan / EGM: Gamefan was a bit better, EGM was just everywhere

The only thing that irks me is when the editors "play-act" ie. Sushi-X, WTF is that about? I can let the goofy-avatars slide, but when they assume an "identity" thats just corny. :roll:

[Rogmeister]

I'm probably one of those few that at times has seemed to subscribe to every gaming mag...except for those dedicated to one console that I don't happen to own. That'd be mainly XBox now since I bought a PS2 several months ago. I'm starting to let most of my subscriptions expire, though...but I'll keep my EGM sub going. It's probably my all-time favorite and the only one I'm trying to build a complete back issue collection to. I'm not crazy about the redesign of it but I think I'm getting used to it. I like Game Informer to a certain extent...and I especially like the space they devote to older systems...but I'm not sure that'w worth keeping my sub going so it, too, will be ending for me. I'm not that crazy about play which some like...I dislike the space they give to music and to anime which I feel takes away valuable space that could be spent on games. If I wanted music coverage, I'd buy Rolling Stone, and I'd buy an anime magazine if I was interested in that.

[Rogmeister]

I'm probably one of those few that at times has seemed to subscribe to every gaming mag...except for those dedicated to one console that I don't happen to own. That'd be mainly XBox now since I bought a PS2 several months ago. I'm starting to let most of my subscriptions expire, though...but I'll keep my EGM sub going. It's probably my all-time favorite and the only one I'm trying to build a complete back issue collection to. I'm not crazy about the redesign of it but I think I'm getting used to it. I like Game Informer to a certain extent...and I especially like the space they devote to older systems...but I'm not sure that'w worth keeping my sub going so it, too, will be ending for me. I'm not that crazy about play which some like...I dislike the space they give to music and to anime which I feel takes away valuable space that could be spent on games. If I wanted music coverage, I'd buy Rolling Stone, and I'd buy an anime magazine if I was interested in that.

[Retro Pro]

Before I get into my favorite magazine, I just have a couple of comments to make:

- Someone said that EGM didn't give out 10s until 1998. That's inaccurate. I remember them giving out 10s for a bunch of games years before that (Super Monaco GP for Genesis is the only one that comes to mind right now though).

- Last I heard (as of two years ago), Julian Rignall was at IGN. He contributed reviews once in a blue moon, if I recall correctly, but he was mainly an executive type.

My list is mainly comprised of magazines of the late '80s early '90s because that's what I grew up with. I didn't include anything before that because I wasn't lucky enough to be around for them.

DIEHARD GAMEFAN: I'm of course talking about the Halverson years. What separated these guys from the rest of the pack was PASSION. They clearly LOVED what they were doing, and it shone through in every review.

EGM: Again, the earlier years. The current version - while cool in its own right - doesn't hold a candle to the EGM of the late '80s and early '90s.

VIDEO GAMES AND COMPUTER ENTERTAINMENT: Just a really well-written magazine where none of the sections were throwaways. Everything mattered. Even though I wasn't into PC games (and still aren't), I loved those reviews too because they were so well-done.

NINTENDO POWER: OBVIOUSLY the early days. :) I can't really put into words what was so good about it - it just was. The magazine now is a shell of its former self.

I hope I'm not forgetting any, but I don't think so.

Sadly, maybe this is just the old fart in me talking, but it seems that none of today's magazines can match the quality of the ones from my youth. If I had to pick a favorite now, it would probably be GAME INFORMER.

[Retro Pro]

Before I get into my favorite magazine, I just have a couple of comments to make:

- Someone said that EGM didn't give out 10s until 1998. That's inaccurate. I remember them giving out 10s for a bunch of games years before that (Super Monaco GP for Genesis is the only one that comes to mind right now though).

- Last I heard (as of two years ago), Julian Rignall was at IGN. He contributed reviews once in a blue moon, if I recall correctly, but he was mainly an executive type.

My list is mainly comprised of magazines of the late '80s early '90s because that's what I grew up with. I didn't include anything before that because I wasn't lucky enough to be around for them.

DIEHARD GAMEFAN: I'm of course talking about the Halverson years. What separated these guys from the rest of the pack was PASSION. They clearly LOVED what they were doing, and it shone through in every review.

EGM: Again, the earlier years. The current version - while cool in its own right - doesn't hold a candle to the EGM of the late '80s and early '90s.

VIDEO GAMES AND COMPUTER ENTERTAINMENT: Just a really well-written magazine where none of the sections were throwaways. Everything mattered. Even though I wasn't into PC games (and still aren't), I loved those reviews too because they were so well-done.

NINTENDO POWER: OBVIOUSLY the early days. :) I can't really put into words what was so good about it - it just was. The magazine now is a shell of its former self.

I hope I'm not forgetting any, but I don't think so.

Sadly, maybe this is just the old fart in me talking, but it seems that none of today's magazines can match the quality of the ones from my youth. If I had to pick a favorite now, it would probably be GAME INFORMER.

[Dr. Morbis]

My choice is based purely on nostalgia and fanboy tendencies, but I have to go with the early years of Nintendo Power as my favourite VG mag (up to about volume 80).

That was in the past though. Funny thing is, I haven't needed/wanted to buy a VG magazine since the advent of the internet. I've got access to all the reviews/info/maps I could ever possibly need at the touch of my keyboard now.

[Dr. Morbis]

My choice is based purely on nostalgia and fanboy tendencies, but I have to go with the early years of Nintendo Power as my favourite VG mag (up to about volume 80).

That was in the past though. Funny thing is, I haven't needed/wanted to buy a VG magazine since the advent of the internet. I've got access to all the reviews/info/maps I could ever possibly need at the touch of my keyboard now.

[zZSuperRetardZz]

1. Game Informer
2. OXM
3. GamePro

The ODM would be my fav but it doesn't exist anymore. The magazine has great humor and had a good looking layout which OXM now seems to have.

[zZSuperRetardZz]

1. Game Informer
2. OXM
3. GamePro

The ODM would be my fav but it doesn't exist anymore. The magazine has great humor and had a good looking layout which OXM now seems to have.

[hu6800]

My favorite one, was the one i was in...
FoulMag...

they even had centerfolds! hahaha

[The S]

Tips & Tricks, first & foremost. Then Gamenow, which now stopped publication. :(

[RCM]

hu6800-
What issue of Foul were you in?

[GamecubeFreek]

-(Early) Nintendo Power
-EGM
-Best recently started mag is definitely GMR

-on a side not, Incite was a fun mag, but then again, I am stupid :D
I actually got a subscription to it for like 2 bucks. After a few issues it died, and I was switched to Next Generation

[Xskaterjake]

Hello- Game Informer anyone they have a great classic section and is one of the funniest mags out there

[gamergary]

1.Tips and Tricks
2.Old Nintendo Power
3.Game Players

[NintendoMan]

I would have to say Nintendo Power is definatley my favorite, I have just about every issue from #1 to present.

But the magazine that gives me the most info would have to be EGM.

Nintendo is still #1 though

[jose.yoshitake]

EGM in its time was the best one.

These days videogame mags makes me -_-

[dracula]

next generation. I rememebr their hardcore gamer quiz that put of 5 near identical screnshots of Beserk(atari 2600, arcade, intellivision, commodore atarii 5200) and you were supposed to pick the arcade :P
it had about 500 questions like that.


As for the guy who said EGM never gave out 10s until 1998.... Ys book 1 and 2 got a 10, so dida few otherscant remember off the top of my head tho

[DigitalSpace]

I like Game Informer.

Followed by EGN and Nintendo Power.

[Packerfan66]

1)EGM
2)Early years of game fan. Can anyone tell me what happened to them? I went to college and couldn't find an another issue of it.
3)Early issues of next generation

[8-Bit Master]

Next Generation was probably my favorite older magazine. I remember their "100 Greatest Games of All Time" issue, with Super Mario 64 as #1. For more recent games, I like Game Informer the best. They have their reviews and previews all laid out in a very easy to read fashion.

[rbudrick]

EGM's first 10 was for Super Monaco Grand Prix for the Genesis.

EGM used to be my favorite mag....but they really did get too smug and cocky and snotty. Don't get me wrong, they still have some great articles....but I still miss the Ed Semrad days, and maybe a few years after he left. You know...I think they really started losing their marbles when the moved to SanFran.

Their new layout stil BLOWS, imo. That reviews section is just so blah and cookie cutter now. The fact that they outright refused to listen to their readers' negative opinions on it (it's not changing, deal with it!) just really showed their true holier-than-thou attitude. That thing with the Russian soldiers just really blew my mind. Hiring Sean Baby full time didn't help....sure, he's funny, but it gets old...he's an arrogant, cocky, high on himself ass, and that snarled teeth thing with colored hair (oh, look how punk I am!) gets REAL old.

I used to LOVE egm. Seriously, I reallyused to look forward to reading it. But now I just don't care...I read it when I "get around to it."

-Rob

[jdc]

The best damned mag I EVER read was Dave Halverson's Gamer's Republic. There's never been a richer, more beautiful publication. I used to SAVOR every issue.

I own every one, encased in proper slip covers. I mourn the loss of that mag to this day.

An oldie but goodie? Official Playstation Magazine. Consistent goodness every month and great value for your bux. Another fave? Nintendo Power during the N64 years.

[Parodius]

As much as I liked Next Generation, I'd say that it (and, by extension, Edge magazine) is slightly overrated. The mag's articles and features were generally superb, but its reviews, though well-written, often fell prey to nonsensical elitism. In the magazine's first year, the editors were infected by the "3-D is TEH FUCHAR" fervor that was going around the industry, and they severely underrated many 2-D games, including Guardian Heroes, Pulstar, and Night Warriors.

Must. defend. Edge :D .

If memory serves me right they stated that Guardian Heroes would outlive its 3D contemporaries.


Edge :D is easily my all-time favorite. It is elitist. For hardcore gamers by hardcore gamers, and it is clearly aimed at the 25+ crowd. Every self-respecting gamer should read it.


Oh, and Gamefan, NextGen, Gamer's Republic, EGM(16-bit years), also cut the mustard.

[Famidrive-16]

EGM
Game Informer
older Gamepro (before Boos Music left)
older NP (even if I still suscribe)
Next Generation
Video Games (a small zine in the 90s that was pretty good, despite an eye blinding layout)
and it's too bad IGN64 only lasted so short

[gizmo1990]

Ooh I've been itching to finish reading through this thread so that I can add my own 2 pence! ;)

Now at the risk of annoying our US cousins and I openly admit to not having read one in the last 5 years or so but... every single US games mag I've read is very poor indeed. There I said it, its only my opinion tho! ;)

As I remember they contained nothing but techno babble and hyperbole and nothing about the actual games themselves- what they played like - their development etc. Also, and this is what really annoyed me, they were ALL made up of at least 50% advertisments, just plain awful.

Right so now thats out of the way you can see why theres no US mags in my list! :) :)

In no particular order, except for the last one:

ACE (The first really well informed games mag) Ooh and I hate the person who has the complete collection!!
C&VG (Only up until about '96 tho)
Mean Machines (Brilliant multi format console mag, great humour)
ZERO (Great honest reviews, adulty humour too)
The ONE (Ah what a mag!)
CU Amiga (Great Amiga mag)
ST&Amiga Format (Top multi format mag, first with cover mount discs?)
PC Zone (Still going strong)
Edge (Yes, yes we all know this. They are up themselves sometimes tho)
Games (Again yes, great retro section etc but their reviews are a little, shall we say, lite?)

and the jewel in the crown... MAXIMUM. Only 7 issues but a more hardcore commercial games mag you will never read, cos no one will ever buy it! Knowledgable, honest reviews and 15+ pages regularly devoted to single games! X_x

[doctor_t]

One of the brits said in his post here that he thought most US magazines weren't very good, and while I can't quite agree, I've always enjoyed British magazines - the writing and depth of articles, and often the humor (even if they would spell it differently) made them seem better to me.
My favorite magazines then are:

1) Next Generation - the only US magazine that (early on) seemed to have some of that extra sheen and quality that the european magazines had. The articles are just flat out better than most current magazines have. Even the paper and inks used at the time seemed 'premium'. When I read questions people ask in magazine interviews today (sample - read the interview with "the sexiest woman gamer" in this month's EGM) I just want to cry sometimes because they are just.. awkward and boring, compared to the intelligent and funny interviews in early next gen. This magazine had its ups and downs but when it was good (all the early issues) it was very good. Julian Rignall had some articles and reviews in this magazine since someone mentioned him earlier. The few issues of EDGE I read were pretty good too. I agree about the awe and respect paid to early 3d games being a bit unwarranted, but no one gets everything right, and that's hardly the only measure of a magazine's worth. The biggest flaw with this magazine was their refusal to print the writer / editor's name for most articles.

2) ACE - I was just a young'un at the time but I vividly remember getting excited about 32 bit computing and gaming reading this magazine for the first time (I think the programmer of elite was talking about big swirly clouds and weather effects being possible with the power of 32bit computers.) That and news and reviews of strange british gaming systems and computers that we never saw (the Archimedes, and some console with a built in steering wheel?) Was a funny read too. Also had the aforementioned Julian Rignall involved somehow. I a (very expensive for a kid) year's subscription to this magazine.

3) Computer Gaming World (US) - OK so its a computer magazine and maybe it doesnt count, but I consider the PC just another gaming platform. It's my favorite gaming related read now, although I wish greenspeak was still intact.

Where do US gamers get EDGE? I'd almost forgotten all about that magazine, didnt know it was still going.

[robotriot]

My favorite is Retro Magazin (http://www.retro-magazin.de/), the only German mag dedicated to retro gaming. It's not that professionally written, but one really ought to support such a project. It's cool. ^^

[drwily008]

No one can deny the sheer brilliance of Dave Halverson.....GameFan, Gamer's Republic, and the BEST modern magazine PLAY!!!!! All magazine have been full of editors that reflect the tastes of most DP roundtable members, retro reveiws, and just great info (what other magazine would have the balls to put a 1/2 page spread about the new Y's game...they are to busy posting the same codes for GTA over & and over & and over [Tips & Tricks]).

[Famidrive-16]

Thinking of british mags, there was one I found in a store once called 64 Magazine for the N64. Holy crap, it was the single greatest onesystem based mag I have ever read. Even if the writing was a bit awkrawd to read and some of the games reviewed were not released here, they had some good (and true) reviews and some other stuff.

I wish I could've suscirbed too :(

[Parodius]

Where do US gamers get EDGE? I'd almost forgotten all about that magazine, didnt know it was still going.

Still going strong.

I subscribe from HERE (https://secure.widearea.co.uk/cisubs/FPL/EDG/EDGFNT) but Amazon also offers it HERE (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00007B9D1/qid=1079258891/sr=1-39/ref=sr_1_39/002-3683298-9767215?v=glance&s=magazines).

Partly because of the weak dollar at the moment it is pricy as hell but you get what you pay for. A quality magazine all the way.

I think I have seen it at Barnes and Noble, Tower Records, and Borders stores sometimes too.

[Phosphor Dot Fossils]

Well, well. Would ya just look at this? (http://www.classicgamer.com) :D

[Dahne]

I just bought a huge box of SNES-era Nintendo Powers, and they're the greatest. The reviews score from 1-5, and everything places somewhere between 2.5 and 4.5 (I understand not scoring things low, since the goal is to sell games, but why not score anything very high? Even 4.2's and 4.3's are rare). In a feature about Japanese games that haven't made it to the states, mostly nichey RPGs and pachinko sims, they mentioned one called, and I quote, "Dragon Ballz," by "the artist who designed the monsters for Dragon Quest."

I love the stories of the catastrophes that have befallen people's games. One guy sent a letter saying that, while he was in Desert Storm, there was a fire and his GameBoy got melted. He sent it in, so there's a nice picture of a vaguely rectangular, charred lump. The best part?

It still worked.

[Arcturius]

No longer in Print:-
Super Play
Amstrad Action

Current:-
GamesTM
Edge (esp the Retro issues)

[KJN]

Some old favourites:

Zzap64. (http://www.zzap64.co.uk) A classic, at least untill that awfull redesign in issue 82. Wished I started to read it earlier since I missed a lot of the early years.

Commodore Format. (http://www.commodoreformat.co.uk) Good mix of games and light technie sections.

Datormagazin. Is there anyone who had a C64 or Amiga and lived in Sweden that didn't read it at some point? The first few years the magazine was done in a tabloid format which ment that if you didnt take good care of them they didnt last to long. As a result early issues are a bit hard to find these days.

http://home.swipnet.se/~w-49877/temp/dmz.jpg

[pookninja]

my favorite video game magazines are:1.die hard gamefan,damn,i miss that mag!!i liked the fact they reviewed alot of the import stuff that was never going to get released here.2.egm,the old standby.3.tips and tricks.i love the collectors closet and room of doom stuff.and the japan report as well.i also enjoyed the 1st issue of manci games,i just wisher the used a better paper to print it on.