Crappy paper in video game magazines. What's up with that?

[Anthony1]

I'm not really into the current magazines that are out right now, the vast majority are total crap in my opinion, but I got a free subscription to GamePro, and I've noticed that this mag uses some really cheap ass paper. I know that alot of the other mags are also using this cheap recycled paper.

What's up with that?

What ever happened to the nice paper in the older video game mags. GameFan used to have some really nice paper in their magazine. Next Generation had good paper, at least in it's early days.

But now it seems that almost all the mags use this really crappy paper.


Except Games TM. Games TM might use the best paper of any video game magazine EVER!!!!!!!! Games TM is a brittish gaming mag, and sometimes you can find them at Borders. Another cool thing about Games TM is that they do a little retro section in their mag. But the main reason that I bring them up, is because the quality of the paper used in that mag is so damn good!!!!!

Play also uses good paper. Game Informer even uses pretty decent paper.

Anyways, I know this is kind of a strange topic to discuss, but after getting the newest GamePro with DOOM 3 on the cover, I happened to notice the totally shitty paper, and I just thought that I would comment on it.

[Half Japanese]

I concur, I get some of the shittier mags in the mail (EGM, Gamepro, Nintendo Power) and they're all pretty crappy as far as the paper goes. Play and GamesTM have nice paper stock, but you should also look into new-kid-on-the-block Polygon, as they too have nicer paper stock (fewer pages, less ads). You'd think with the revenues from ads they get, EGM and Gamepro could afford the better stock, but then again, if I've learned anything in my time here on Earth, it's that the status quo are uncultured swine and wouldn't know the difference anyway.

[crashdummycow01]

Anthony you remind me of Bubba from Forest Gump... except instead of his speech about shrimp its urs about paper lol.

anywayz, the paper in the mags i get doesnt really seem that cheap, but it does tend to tear if you even think about turning the page wrong lol.

[Oobgarm]

Wow, I never EVER thought that my job as a paper orderer at a printing facility would ever tie into this forum--but I am stunned as I can impart some knowledge right here.

Paper prices right now are on the rise, so printers are clamoring for cheap stock to run their jobs. Most of our paper went up 6% in the past month, which may not seem like much, but adds up when there's a large order.

For example: We print the renewal notices that Sam's Club sends out. I'm sure you've seen them, they're nice and glossy, sometimes folded into a small pamphlet.

Figure that the paper costs $45.00 per hundred weight. (which is $0.45 a pound)

The order uses 45,000 pounds of paper. That's $20,250.

A 6% increase on the price of the paper is only $.027 per pound, but, when applied to the order mentioned above, increases the total by $1215.

The order I mentioned is large for us, but nowhere near as large as a run of magazines. But just consider how that seemingly small increase can dramatically effect the final price of the product for the magazine publisher.

:D

[Flack]

Hey Oob, what kind of printing facility do you work at? My dad worked at Oklahoma Graphics for 30+ years until they closed down a year or so ago. I worked there for a short while as well. I worked on a C-700 press, which is a frickin' workhorse. 80,000 books an hour when it was up and running at full speed. My dad worked on the M-1000, which did a lot nicer print jobs but was much slower.

[Oobgarm]

We are first and foremost a business forms manufacturer. Have been for a long time now. Sadly, though, that market is beginning to shrink somewhat, so we're getting into commercial printing, which we're still pretty 'green'.

My Dad actually moved my family here from Cleveland when I was but a year old so he could work here. Still does, as a matter of fact, and that's how I got a position here.

Here's our website, it's pretty basic, mainly a way for customers to send us files for jobs and such. Also, my picture is not on the employees page. :(

www.strathmorepress.com

[Steven J. Lumas]

I have replaced all of the toilet paper rolls in my home with video game magazines because the paper feels nice against my sensitive skin. It's also ultra-absorbent. If I had to rank them in wipe quality, I'd go 1. EGM, 2. Charmin, 3. Die Hard GameFan.

[Parodius]

Next Generation was a sister-mag of British uber-mag Edge. Edge still uses the same high-quality paper that NextGen used in the early years.

GamesTM though excellent paper-quality compared to EGM can't hold a candle to Edge.

[Captain Wrong]

Here's something else about GamePro specifically. Next time you're out and about, check out a newsstand copy. Unless I'm totally imagining things, the newsstand version is not only slightly larger (the physical size of the paper, not the number of pages) and the paper is better stock. I'd be tempted to believe magazines cut a corner or two for subscription copies (espically free subscription copies) because they aren't making as much per issue.

Personally, I could care if GamePro falls apart after one read. I really don't find enough substance in that rag to warrant another look. Oh I'm sure someone is going to chime in about their complete GamePro collection all in polybags with cardboard backers, etc. But of all the gaming publications past and prescent, I can't fathom why anyone would save their GamePros.

[Cmosfm]

Yeah, I know what you mean, The paper is so thin and cheap! It's basically just a step up from the paper used in most Bibles, you know, thin and cheap to pack in more pages with less thickness.

But on another note, the paper quality doesn't bother me as much as the cover art nowadays. It's terrible! Anyone remember early PSM covers? With the really cool anime style renditions of characters and scenes? They rocked! compare them to the ones on the new PSM magazines. ugh. I'm glad Gamepro stepped up though, not by much, but there art used to be so UGLY!

[portnoyd]

I see that today, more and more. Maximize pages with minimal costs. Yay?

But the real reason I'm posting is to ask a question. Back in the late SNES/Genesis days, around the time Weaponlord was released for both systems, did anyone get Gamepro, specifically the newsstand version, and did your copy smell like ass? Like it smelled FUNKY. It did this for a few issues, and then I stopped reading Gamepro for a while. I specifically remember the Weaponlord cover issue smelling bad. Anyone else smell this?

dave

[Ed Oscuro]

Crappy paper, toilet reader, what's the use? Thank goodness Nintendo Power still smells FRESH AND CRISP!

(funny topic here :D)

[ddockery]

Yea, the thinner paper makes for better toiler paper! I don't mind, it keeps costs down, and I only flip through it and toss it out anyway. If I paid newstand price and it were that shitty.. oh nevermind, I wouldn't do that!

[The Manimal]

I don't like the paper Nintendo Power uses right now (it is too flimsy and will wrinkle up at the slightest touch of moisture LOL ), but I have to remember to keep a subscription because they include "Members only" crap all the time.


NP subscriber 1991-1994 and 2003-present :D

Stopped in '94 because I thought it was long since dead...though looking back it was good for another 20 issues. But hey, it's cheap (1), you get a free gift ($15 value, usually), and you get to know what's up with what is released for Nintendo systems. Not bad. Ended up buying most of the issues I missed off eBay...however, finding them in "like new" condition is horrendous for these latter issues. I don't care for them superbly, but I want to RECEIVE them in perfect condition and destroy them afterwards, not received them destroyed already.

[Anthony1]

I have replaced all of the toilet paper rolls in my home with video game magazines because the paper feels nice against my sensitive skin. It's also ultra-absorbent. If I had to rank them in wipe quality, I'd go 1. EGM, 2. Charmin, 3. Die Hard GameFan.

Dude, I know this is just a joke, but if you wipe your ass with Die Hard GameFan's paper, then you are certified crazy. First off all, GameFan had damn good quality paper. It needed to be of a high quality because of all that color that they splashed all over it. GameFan had to be one of the most colorfull video game magazines ever. And then there is the fact that GameFan is the best video game magazine of all time. So even mentioning that you would wipe your ass with GameFan is blatant dissrespect. Even in a joke. And thirdly, even if you don't like GameFan at all, you would be a fool not to sell any issues that you had on Ebay. Because idiots like myself will bid that magazine up to high amounts.

You would be amazed how much people are willing to pay for good condition Halverson era GameFans.

[Anthony1]

Here's something else about GamePro specifically. Next time you're out and about, check out a newsstand copy. Unless I'm totally imagining things, the newsstand version is not only slightly larger (the physical size of the paper, not the number of pages) and the paper is better stock. I'd be tempted to believe magazines cut a corner or two for subscription copies (espically free subscription copies) because they aren't making as much per issue.

Personally, I could care if GamePro falls apart after one read. I really don't find enough substance in that rag to warrant another look. Oh I'm sure someone is going to chime in about their complete GamePro collection all in polybags with cardboard backers, etc. But of all the gaming publications past and prescent, I can't fathom why anyone would save their GamePros.


I'm actually collecting GamePros. The early issues anyways. I know, I can't really understand why I do it either. The magazine was pretty sucky in any era of gaming. I think one of the reasons that I collect it, is just because it was one of only a few mags that were around during the early days of the TurboGrafx. I just like reading those mags when the Turbo first came out, and the Genesis first came out. GamePro, EGM, VG & CE and GamePlayers were pretty much the only mags around at that time.

But I must say that it is somewhat embarassing to be 33 years old reading a old GamePro at a Subway while eating a sandwhich. GamePro looks like it's a magazine for 8 year olds. And the content is probably written for 16 year olds.

[scooterb23]

Oh I'm sure someone is going to chime in about their complete GamePro collection all in polybags with cardboard backers, etc. But of all the gaming publications past and prescent, I can't fathom why anyone would save their GamePros.

Cause I'm a packrat :D

Actually, norkusa has all my old ones now...probably built a nice bonfire with them by now :) It was about a 40 pound box...

I actually just got my last issue of my Gamepro subscription, finally letting it lapse after 13 years straight...I always thought it was good for a laugh or two...

[Kid Fenris]

To be fair, I don't remember EGM and GamePro ever using high-quality paper. I recently found a stack of old gaming mags at a local bookstore, and most of the the EGM and Gamepro issues were flimsy and in various stages of falling apart.

Paper quality aside, there's one thing that I can't stand in magazines of any stripe: stapled binding. Nintendo Power went from bound issues to stapled ones and back again during the 90s, and you can probably guess which type holds up the best.


You would be amazed how much people are willing to pay for good condition Halverson era GameFans.

Indeed. Even the post-Halverson issues can fetch some decent sums. Though I hated what the magazine became after Mylonas took over, I often wish that I had kept those issues just for the resale value.

[Captain Wrong]

I think the GameFan paper would hurt yer bum.

Actually, Game Fan is the only mag I still have, well, other than the Official Dreamcast mag. Kind of sentimental reasons more than monitary value, though in all honesty it never occured to me that GameFan would be seen as a collectable.

[The Manimal]

Stapled NP's are terrible!

[GamecubeFreek]

I think that GMR has a happy medium between crappy paper and "too fancy" paper. I liked it so much, that I collect it ( though I have not recieved my new issue yet...curses)