We are witnessing history in the making with Game Informer [Archive]

Anthony1

04-04-2006, 05:15 PM

I'm a big time collector of classic gaming magazines. As you probably know, Die Hard GameFan is my all time favorite. Next-Generation is one of my all time favorites. Video Games & Computer Entertainment is one of my all time favorites. Early EGM is pretty damn good. Game Players was quite good.

Anyways, the point that I'm getting at, is that often times, during a run of a magazine, we really aren't aware that the particular magazine is going to be a classic for the ages. People now realize that GameFan mags are absolute classics. They realize that VG & CE mags are absolute classics. Well, I think we are witnessing history in the making right now with Game Informer. I'm going to have to say that Game Informer right now is carrying on the tradition of other classic mags before it. It's carrying on the tradition of GameFan and VG & CE and Next Generation. I think another 10 to 15 years from now, there is going to be alot of people collecting Game Informer issues from the last several years, when they went to this new format. The mag is absolutely brilliant. Like the classic magazines from the past, Game Informer is breaking down the industry, and the games like none other, and not wasting any precious magazine space on nonsense. Each time I get a brand new issue, it's a joy to discover all the pages for the first time.

I haven't had a feeling like that with a current mag, since the downfall of Next-Generation and GameFan. With magazines, these things normally don't last very long, so I would enjoy it while it's going on, and if you subscribe to Game Informer, save your issues and try to keep them mint.

petewhitley

04-04-2006, 05:23 PM

I agree. By far the best current gaming publication in the States. IMO. And Anthony1's opinion.

Snapple

04-04-2006, 05:27 PM

I remember when Game Informer cost $2 per issue. I used to pick it up because it was the cheapest gaming magazine on the rack by far. It was good stuff, too. I don't like some of the formatting changes they've made over the years, and the increase in price, but it's still one of the better magazines out there.

djbeatmongrel

04-04-2006, 05:28 PM

i like GI but i really like Hardcore gamer magazine more. seems a lot more genuine

Anthony1

04-04-2006, 05:54 PM

The only negative thing I can really say about Informer, is that back in the early days of the Xbox, they were very anit-Microsoft. They would mention over and over how gigantic the Xbox was, and all kinds of other snide remarks. It was pretty obvious that they were rooting for Sony for some reason. With the GameCube, they weren't really for it or against it, but they definitely had a negative bias against Microsoft and the Xbox in the early days of the Xbox.

Over the last several years though, it seems like they have come to accept that Microsoft is a good part of this gaming industry, and that the Xbox isn't a horrible thing. It will be interesting to see if they have any bias develop in this upcoming war.

Ridley30

04-04-2006, 05:54 PM

Anthony1

04-04-2006, 06:06 PM

I agree as well, to a point. Game Informer is really, really good right now, but not great. The problem is the 2nd opinion in the reviews. They are ALWAYS within .5 points of one another. You rarely, if ever, see someone give a score of 8 and have the 2nd opinion with a 3 or something. *sniff* I miss Next Generation and GameFan so much. And Gamer's Republic. That magazine was sweet.

Yeah, but if you want to get into semantics and talk about the reviews, I would have to say that Next-Generation had a much worse review system. They would hype games up like the 2nd coming of Christ, and then give it a small two paragraph review with 3 stars. I don't think you knew who reviewed what games, and what really their criteria was. But they covered the news of the industry and upcoming looks at games and interviews with the Power Players better than anybody else. So Next-Generation still goes down as one of the best gaming mags ever, even though it had a pretty weak review system.

Wavelflack

04-04-2006, 06:32 PM

I don't really care for the reviews. They are generally shorter versions of your typical internet reviews, with a bunch of pointless hyperbole and attempts at being clever. They sound like they were written by some dipshit teenagers.
Additionally, they should work very hard to come up with a new adjective to replace "broken" (ie; "The control scheme is broken", "The graphics engine isn't totally broken", "The series is broken", etc.) I'll bet I could find at least 10 uses per issue, and it's a cliche without basis in reality at any rate. Something has to be working before it can be broken.

SNKFan75

04-04-2006, 06:51 PM

DigitalSpace

04-04-2006, 11:20 PM

s1lence

04-04-2006, 11:40 PM

I like game informer, mostly because they are local. Its been a really good read the classic section is the section I tend to read first, but the modern section is starting to really become excellent as of late.

Snapple

04-05-2006, 04:30 AM

One fond memory I have of GI, is that they had by far the best preview coverage for FF7 before it came out. Everytime new details about FF7 came out, they devoted like a whole page to it. And by the time the first preview demo was sent out, they had like 500 screenshots spread across eight pages. GamePro didn't have that level of devotion. GI got me really pumped for that game.

smork

04-05-2006, 04:59 AM

Game Informer ain't too bad -- easily the best of the the current lot of American game mags. I'd still much rather read GamesTM (if it hadn't quit production) or Retro Gamer.

I guess what bugs me (and it's the same with every mag) is that most of the press is concentrated on a bunch of big budget titles I couldn't care less about. Like they spent a cover on Gun. Gun? Meh. I'd much rather a game mag bring to my attention some cool overlooked games rather than pimping the same AAA games that you can read about everywhere else. It's why I liked GamesTM, broad coverage...

klausien

04-05-2006, 07:27 AM

The only issue I have with Game Informer is the fact that, whether we like it or not, they are deeply tied to the monopolisitc corporate monstrosity that is GameStop; the same people responsible for the idea that retaining the packaging for used games is a "waste of space".

Outside of this fact, I think they definitely have one of the best head editors out there in Andy McNamara. He has been there since day one, and his views tend to be as genuine as possible. He truly loves gaming, and it shines through. The rest of the editorial staff is also decent; especially their color guy, Joe Juba. His sarcasm and wit far surpasses the overrated Seanbaby. For a magazine with corporate retail roots, it ends up being relatively objective.

Occasionally I disagree with them like everyone does at some time or another. Case in point, they and everybody else were WAAAAY to hard on StarFox Assault, leading to its lack of performance at retail. Contrary to popular opinion, the game is a solid entry in the series, flaws notwithstanding. StarFox is not Halo, nor should it be. That's all I have to say on that one, but it makes my point. They also have a tendency to give lower scores for lack of online content and have a general disrespect for shmups.

At least GI generally has contrasting viewpoints for most titles through the use of their Second Opinion sidebars. Unfortunately, they tend to give the full page spreads to companies like EA as opposed to games that just happen to be really good. There really is no reason to give a Madden game a full page anymore. It's football. A few paragraphs on half a page are sufficient.

Oobgarm

04-05-2006, 07:43 AM

I don't really care for the reviews. They are generally shorter versions of your typical internet reviews, with a bunch of pointless hyperbole and attempts at being clever. They sound like they were written by some dipshit teenagers.

I agree completely on this point. Their reviews have always been that way, ever since the old FuncoLand days when they were strictly their in-house publication.

I dunno, I like looking through GI and all, since I was around it for many moons at GameStop, but something about it really seems juvenile, and it's kind of a turn off for me. I could guarantee that if they didn't have GameStop as a parent figure, they wouldn't be getting the World Exclusive stories and their readership would be in the toilet. They can take liberties with some of their stuff that a normal mag never would, since 95-99% people who get GI are receiving it as part of the GameStop discount card thing.

I'd say it's strictly an average pub, just like EGM and OPM. Hardcore Gamer is tops in my book.

segagamer4life

04-05-2006, 10:06 AM

I remember the days of Die Hard Game Fan. I loved that magazine!! I used to wait at my loval Software Etc. store and buy two copies.

Now all I have that remotely comes close if Die Hard Gamer. I enjoy reading GI all the time, but the quality of the pages in DHG is unrivaled.

SNKFan75

DHG is where its at, I still have about 10 or so issues from the mid- 90's, and I scrounge around ebay every now and again for more... clearly, my all time fav game, right in front of NEXT Gen... ahhhh the fond memories.

mr_nihilism

04-05-2006, 10:32 AM

I've only just started collection GI, but from what I've seen it appears to be a quality magazine.

Anthony1

04-05-2006, 12:05 PM

DHG is where its at, I still have about 10 or so issues from the mid- 90's, and I scrounge around ebay every now and again for more... clearly, my all time fav game, right in front of NEXT Gen... ahhhh the fond memories.

Yeah, I'm just like you, Die Hard is No.1 all time, and Next-Generation is No.2. I also like VG & CE and early EGM and also Game Players. To me, EGM has kinda gone downhill since about 97 or so, I much more prefer the earlier issues. GamePro is pretty damn weak if you ask me, it's very watered down. Even though early GamePro's have a sentimental value, they are written with 12 year old kids in mind. I was 19 and 20 when I first started reading GamePro, so I've always viewed it as a kiddie mag, so to speak.

One of the big things that bothers me about current game mags, is the fact that alot of them use this really crappy recycled paper. My two favorite mags of all time, GameFan and Next-Gen, both used higher quality paper. (I think late in the lifespan of Next-Gen they went to the cheapo paper too). i just don't like that crappy ass paper. That is another reason why I'm a fan of Game Informer, they use quality paper right now.

Alot of people talk about Play magazine as being the best, but I honestly think they are seriously overrated. It's like that mag is being judged on the past success of Dave Halverson. Sure, he did a great job with GameFan and Gamer's Republic, but that doesn't automatically make Play the best mag. I've discussed it in other threads, but Play wastes like 30 percent or more of their magazine real estate on things that have nothing to do with gaming. I don't like the jack of all trades, master of none strategy. Better to simply focus on Video Games and leave specialist magazines to cover anime, action figures, DVD's and music cd's.

Anyways, I just want to say that I used to absolutely hate Game Informer, because they were so pro-PS2 and so anti-XBOX back in 2001 and 2002, but it seems that somewhere around 2003 they got their head out of their ass and stopped being so anti-Microsoft. I think the mag has been outstanding in 2004, 2005 and so far this year. Are they they greatest mag of all time? Hell no. But I think they are the best mag going right now, for a number of reasons. Of course, just my humble opinion. And opinions are like purple starfish. Everybody has one. LOL

sirhansirhan

04-05-2006, 12:14 PM

I actually have to strongly disagree with the argument that Game Informer is a good magazine. The issue seems to be more that there are no good video game magazines currently, and that GI is the lesser of the numerous evils (I admit that, while it is no good, it is better than any other gaming magazines on the market). Their reviews spend much more of their word counts trying to be clever than actually articulating the things that they like or dislike about whatever game they happen to be reviewing, and their features are almost always bogus PR for big games that are coming out. I don't think I've ever read anything in GI that struck me as actually being good writing with good arguments; the only purpose they serve is to get the word out on the existence of new/upcoming releases.

That said, GameStop owning them is not nearly as big a deal as it might seem. I hate GameStop, but GI does have a proven track record of not going easy on games that are expected to be big sellers, so there isn't much of an apparent bias. Also, there's a long history of sponsored magazines in America--National Geographic originally was a premium put out by the National Geographic Society to promote themselves and build membership, and it has gone on to be one of the most important magazines in the history of the United States.

Ridley30

04-05-2006, 12:52 PM

Ya know, reading this thread, I've come to the conclusion that most, if not all, magazines in the states suck ass in the videogame realm now. I was in London visiting relatives over the holiday and had the chance to sample GamesTM and another (looked like Next Gen--Next maybe?) and damn, were they great mags! With as popular as games are right now, how is it we only have EGM, GI, GamePro, Play and Hardcore Gamer?

Oh, and by the way, Hardcore Gamer is not a great mag. The reviews are too short and vague and they have almost NO features! Their graveyard section is awesome, but other than that it's a pamphlet.

googlefest1

04-05-2006, 01:01 PM

Anthony1

04-05-2006, 03:23 PM

I actually have to strongly disagree with the argument that Game Informer is a good magazine. The issue seems to be more that there are no good video game magazines currently, and that GI is the lesser of the numerous evils (I admit that, while it is no good, it is better than any other gaming magazines on the market). Their reviews spend much more of their word counts trying to be clever than actually articulating the things that they like or dislike about whatever game they happen to be reviewing, and their features are almost always bogus PR for big games that are coming out. I don't think I've ever read anything in GI that struck me as actually being good writing with good arguments; the only purpose they serve is to get the word out on the existence of new/upcoming releases.

Well, it's true, this isn't exactly the glory era of video game magazines. The glory era was from 1988 to 1995 or so. So yeah, I would agree that the competition is horrible, and that Game Informer is the best U.S. mag by default, but I still think it's a pretty good read. I actually look forward to it every month, which is more than I can say about alot of mags. The main point of the post is that I think that GameInformer will be remembered as one of the better magazines as time goes by. 15 years from now, this current 3 year run of Game Informer from 2003 till now, will be remembered as a magazine that was really tearing shit up at that time.

Let's face it, Game Fan and VG&CE and early EGM and Next-Gen are rare magazines indeed. I'm not saying Game Informer will be reverred like those mags are, but they will get respected with other mags like Game Players and early LamePro.

Joker T

04-05-2006, 03:29 PM

I'm subscribed to Game Informer and I like it. You really get what you pay for, a nice big magazine with intresting articles. Reviews aren't always the best but I rarely go by reviews anyway so I dont care.

Much better than EGM and Gamepro.

Jibbajaba

04-05-2006, 04:23 PM

I've never given this mag much of a look since it is so closely tied to Gamestop. I guess I just always assumed that they would hype the shit out of certain games that they wanted to sell a shitload of.

For the same reason, I stay away from the "Official" magazines, those being OXM, OPM, and Ninendo Power. I don't trust anything they have to say because they are first party mags, and it is in their best interest to make their products look as good as possible.

I really like that "Hard Core Gamer" magazine. Gamepro used to be cool...

I haven't read it in a long time, but in the days of the PSX, I used to LOVE PSM. I subscribed for the first two years or so, and have all of those issues (plus a few others" excpet for issue #2. It was a great mag. Last time I thumbed through it I didn't like the layout anymore. I don't know if the content is still good or not though.

I wish someone would start a PSP magazine and pack it with a demo disc. I would be all over that shit.

Chris

le geek

04-05-2006, 04:51 PM

I'll grant you Game Informer is best one out there on shelves, but man I miss Next Generation...

Cheers,
Ben

GuilewasNK

04-05-2006, 06:31 PM

kainemaxwell

04-05-2006, 07:15 PM

Nice to see GI getting props now. Looks like its getting into more homes thanks to Gamestop.

Guru of Time and Space

04-05-2006, 08:59 PM

Lisa and I both knew that our Paper Mario scores were going to cause controversy. Yes, we know that many people out there will love it. We also know that it is a well-made game. However, it also WILL NOT appeal to many people - I would safely say that more people will dislike it than like it. Why? Like we said in the review, it's a very kiddie game - it's target audience is clearly young gamers - I would say 10 and under. For that reason, we had to score it low. Remember, we aren't scoring games strictly on our personal opinions, we're also scoring them based on how much we think THE GAMING PUBLIC will like them. We've all played games that we personally disliked and scored them well because we've known that most people will like them, and we've also scored games low that we love, because most people won't enjoy them.

And then a few days later...

Thanks for writing. There has been a lot said about the post I made in our forums, most of which, like your letter, is completely fair and valid. In a fit of irritation, I posted said message without really thinking about it, and have lived to regret it. Everyone here scores games based on their personal opinions, not based on what we think the public wants to hear. If we scored based on what people wanted to hear, Paper Mario 2 would have gotten a much higher score, like a 9 or a 10.

Or are you guys forgetting this?
Game Informer is a joke.

-GoTaS

Poofta!

04-05-2006, 09:52 PM

unfortunately i didnt discover game informer untill they started doing that deal with EB, which was only a couple years ago, i know the mag was around waaaaay before that, but i just never found it. once i discovered it however, it became my favorite. followed by EGM.

the only thing i have to say i dislike, and this goes the same with any console mag, is the pc games, as an avid pc gamer, console mag's reviews just dont do it to me. for pc gaming, nothing beats pc gamer.

on a side note, i think gamepro is the absolutely worst console gaming magazine ever. as for pc gaming, i think CGW is the worst. just my .02 $

Ed Oscuro

04-05-2006, 10:03 PM

I must confess that I won't take a magazine out of its plastic wrapper, but I will read the ones that come loose.

Anyway, I feel that GI is pretty good. There isn't any blatant partisan foolery going on in the scoring, but the best thing it provides are interviews (and a lot of gloss - you get a feel for what a game's about just from the way the article's set out, of course). Beyond that, well, I seem to have been wrong about The Outfit, so I won't say that getting print shots of games is a big plus.

I agree with Poofta, GI's PC game coverage is too sparse. I also only got it when it became GameStop's official magazine (or was it from the start? That was before I knew about it).

Wavelflack

04-05-2006, 10:39 PM

Perhaps they could simply take the best parts of the magazine out and publish them separately as a very thin, condensed version, and call it a GI tract.

Anthony1

04-05-2006, 11:43 PM

I'll grant you Game Informer is best one out there on shelves, but man I miss Next Generation...

Cheers,
Ben

Do you have a complete collection of Next-Gen? If not, you should start working on it, because for whatever reason, the Ebay auctions for Next-Gen are nowhere near as expensive as ones for GameFan or EGM or even early Gamepro. Alot of times you can get Next-Gens' for a super cheap price, and I think there are only 80 some issues total.

I have every single issue except that issue that they gave away at one of the e3 shows. It had a gold Zelda N64 cart on the cover. I'm not sure if that issue is the same as another Next-Gen issue, and it just has a different cover.

JPeeples

04-13-2006, 10:16 PM

I miss both Next Gen and Gamefan. When I was younger, Gamefan was the best mag, and Next Gen was the slickest. It was nice to have a mag that focues on the games in GF, and then one that was more business-centric like NG. NG's coverage of the Dreamcast was some of the best around, too. EGM has remained a consistently good read, although I do wish they'd devote more space to imports. Gamepro was great... then I turned 12 and got tired of it. Right now, Play carries on what I loved about Gamefan (partially, anyway), just like Gamer's Republic and GameGo! did before it. HGM is nowhere near Gamefan's level yet, but I'm hoping we can get there soon.

ozyr

04-14-2006, 01:19 AM

I used to be a fairly big fan of Game Informer, but they've changed enough in the last few years that I'm letting my subscription drop soon. The reviews are a bit too biased, and I really don't care the most of the current writers - just a tad bit too childish. I also don't care for the bashing they do of systems I like. They don't go out of their way to do this, but I've read enough of it to take my money elswhere. This is just my opinion - not meant as an insult. Of course, I'm not really impressed with any current game magazine - which is why my Gamepro will be expiring really soon. Goodbye to that rag...

boatofcar

04-14-2006, 01:55 AM

Game Informer ain't too bad -- easily the best of the the current lot of American game mags. I'd still much rather read GamesTM (if it hadn't quit production)

Um, what? I just got a new issue of GamesTM in the mail last week. I started getting it when Retro Gamer died (and before they got picked up by another publisher).

whoisKeel

04-18-2006, 12:58 AM

anthony1 loves GI:
http://www.digitpress.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=55123

;)

I had a subscription a few years back and enjoyed it (I think it was like $10 for the mag and a year 10% discount at GameStop, so it was pretty much free). I don't really read gaming mags anymore so I don't have anything to compare it to. Does any of them still do strategy sections? I remember GamePro was big on this back in the day, as was Nintendo Power. I used to stare at the Street Fighter 2 combos in GamePro...some of them were damn near impossible.

Fanboy

04-18-2006, 11:42 AM

Um, what? I just got a new issue of GamesTM in the mail last week. I started getting it when Retro Gamer died (and before they got picked up by another publisher).

Which issue? 41? That's the last one. Now we'll never know the top 50 retro games as voted by weirdo British computer users. And Matthew Smith. :bawling:

rbudrick

04-18-2006, 03:15 PM

Nintendo power is t3h bestor!!!!!11!

(runs, dodging tomatoes)...

-Rob

Ridley30

04-18-2006, 04:43 PM

Hey, does anyone remember the ONE issue of GameGO! magazine (Anthony1 in particular)? I heard rumors of a second
issue, but to my knowledge it never saw print. Damn, those articles were great in that mag.

JPeeples

04-20-2006, 02:03 AM

The second issue of GameGO! should still be up on FilePlanet as a PDF download.

Fuyukaze

04-20-2006, 06:24 AM

Gamers republic and Next Generation were the only two mags I realy enjoyed much. The mag for the DC was good even if it was "official" because there were a number of times they'd give a sega game a low score. The curent mags, they just dont interest me. Game Imformer becoming great? How can a mag that's given away for free with a year subscription with the purchase of a discount card be good?

ManciGames

04-23-2006, 05:45 PM

I'll grant you Game Informer is best one out there on shelves, but man I miss Next Generation...

Cheers,
Ben

Well, I know "EDGE" is expensive, but if you can spare the cash, it really does deserve its reputation as second to none.

I noticed that the local Borders started carrying it about 6 months ago, so I picked up an issue. It was so good that I picked up a second one. It was so good that I was able to justify the expensive subscription rate and put in my order.

I am now three issues into the sub and it is some of the best gaming related cash I have ever spent.

GET EDGE!

Anthony1

04-23-2006, 10:53 PM

Game Imformer becoming great? How can a mag that's given away for free with a year subscription with the purchase of a discount card be good?

Believe me, I know that it's gotta be really hard to believe. But believe it you must. Because every single issue is kicking ass and taking names. I just recently got the latest issue, the one that has the first exclusive of a real Revolution game, Red Steel, and that issue is bringing the noise in a major way.

Sure, every magazine has their share of issues, even the best gaming magazines of all time had their issues, but overall, this mag is bringing the noise like no other U.S. multiplatform mag. At least right now it is. I'm not sure how long this streak of excellence is going to last, but it's been going on for a couple of years now. If you were to get your hands on the last 30 or so issues, and you take a good look at those 30 or so issues, you would know that they really are the best U.S. Gaming mag right now.

dbiersdorf

04-23-2006, 11:05 PM

Are you guys serious? You do realize Game Informer is the magainze that gave Paper Mario 2 a low score (I think it was a 5.0) because it was kiddy right? They openly said this and defend the arguement.

That alone makes the magazine pretty much garbage.

GuilewasNK

06-01-2006, 05:03 PM

I remember when Game Informer first came out it was one of the goofier magazines I ever saw. I have to see if I still have one of those older mags. However, it has matured into something I like to have laying around when company comes over (similar to Play). I still think that Hardcore Gamer has the "it" factor more than any other magazine right now though. That magazine has more of a soul than the others IMO.

Ok, I found an older Game Informer mag I own and scanned a pic of the cover for you guys. It was Volume 2 Issue 1 from January 1993. It was only 60 pages long. I can show a few more pics if you like.

http://img391.imageshack.us/img391/2320/gi2ol.th.jpg (http://img391.imageshack.us/my.php?image=gi2ol.jpg)

steveant1636

06-01-2006, 05:26 PM

i have to agree that Game Informer is the best mag out there right now. i have been collecting it since 1993 and i have every issue including the different covers for a few issues. my 2nd choice is Tipps and Tricks, i love the collecting classics stuff pages in it.

Hiryu

06-01-2006, 05:45 PM

I had about 2 1/2 years of VG&CE magazines back at my parents house when I was 19-20, I still kick myself from time to time thinking about the day I took them and a stack of EGMs to the garbage thinking I would have no use for them again. :( On a happier note I did keep my GameFans and most of my EGMS. I also have some silly PSX mags as well. :P

7th lutz

06-01-2006, 06:20 PM

have been a subscriber for 13 years. Gameinformer is now turning into a joke. They are the magazine that blamed consumers for not buying original games. Gameinformer got backlash for that.

Gamestop is using Gameinformer as a tool to increase preorders for games by having gameinformer put working games on the covers. Some of those games turned out not to be great games. At one time Gameinformer 's gamecovers meant something to the consumers. Gameinformer's covers had the best game reviewed for that Month. It told consumers it a way that this might be a great game or I have to check it out.

Gameinformer is reviewing game with scores what they think the people want. They don't show how they got their score nowdays and that is a problem. Before Gamestop took over, Gameinformer had numbers in each category and average it out. They also used to 3 or 4 reviewers for a game. It was great because there would be a reviewer with similar interests in games as the reader and I don't get that nowdays with them as much. We are a sad state of game magazines right now.

snes_collector

06-02-2006, 06:44 PM

Right now, I get Nintendo Power and Game Informer in the mail. I probably like NP more because it's strictly Nintendo systems(and I don't have any current gen Sony or MS systems) or I can see what's coming out soon. I also like how NP is now more preview than stragy based, but it kinda feels like they ripped off of GI though. Game Informer is good but they seem a little biased against Nintendo. Saying games are like Paper Mario is "kiddie" is just lame. They could also put more previews for DS games, which they have a fair share of PSP previews, they may only preview one DS game. But aside from that, I do enjoy their previews. I also love there class and quiz sections.

Other than those, the only other mag I read is T&T which I read at Wal-Marts whenever I go, but I just don't feel like a subsription is worth it. I don't even bother with EGM anymore and GamePro is pyre garbage.

cyberfluxor

06-02-2006, 08:06 PM

MMMMmmm, all of this reading about reading a game magazine is interesting if they are changing a bit or doing something different. I use to have subscriptions to GI and EGM back in highschool and then stopped afterwards, so it's been about 4-5yrs since I last got a mag. I've been off and on tempted to start back up because I felt like I was more inside on things somehow, but I'll have to start visiting their websites and reading what they have there first before deciding on resubscribing to a magazine.

Smithy

06-03-2006, 01:09 PM

I don't like any magazines out right now.. my favorite was EGM before the year 2003... now they suck, bad.

Anthony1

06-04-2006, 02:26 AM

I don't like any magazines out right now.. my favorite was EGM before the year 2003... now they suck, bad.

I agree, alot of game mags are pretty "ordinary" right now. GamesTM in the U.K. is probably the best current mag out there right now, but I'm not going to pay that much cash for an overseas subscription.

So, then I have to turn to U.S. mags. I honestly, really think that Game Informer is the best U.S. mag right now, pound for pound. Some of the key factors for me, is the quality of the paper, the clarity of the screenshots, and a good preview and review system. Their retro section in the last few pages is always cool to check out too.

Play magazine isn't too bad. Only thing is the mag is pretty slim, and they are heavy into RPG's and obscure Japanese games, and I'm not that big into those. Also wastes quite a large number of pages on anime, action figures, dvd reviews and music reviews, etc, etc. One thing to waste pages on that stuff if you are a 250 page mag, but another thing entirely when your mag is only 140 pages.

Overbite

06-04-2006, 09:23 AM

I think that Game Informer is horrible. None of the magazines out now are any good. Game journalism is such a joke :/

ianoid

06-04-2006, 12:21 PM

I'm a big fan of Game Informer. I think the features are a bore like every magazine. All hype. The reviews and just about everything else are very entertaining to read and the reviews are generally scathing where appropriate. They seem to avoid huge biases and fanboydom more than the other mags. I have recently read Gamepro and EGM and they don't hold a candle to GI. EGMs reviews leave me wondering whether or not to buy the game. Gamepro is watered down like it's written for 14 year olds. Oh, wait, it is!

GI appeals to the adult gamer. I used to like Next Gen, but when I go back and read it, it's really not very good. I last read UK gaming mags maybe 10 years back and they were way ahead of the US gaming mags. I don't know if that's still the situation. I would gladly say that GI is the best current American mag. I don't like Play or Hardcore Gamer anywhere near as much, although both have too much space and not enough content. I'm impressed by Tips and Tricks, probably because the name doesn't raise my expectations for anything readable, with it's column oriented approach (I like a Japan section), and Joe's section was first rate. I would never subscribe because I just don't need general Tips or Tricks.

I've been very impressed by Video Game Collector as well, considering they're new and collector oriented, which is a rough trail to traverse.

GI or bust for me.

Ed Oscuro

06-04-2006, 11:35 PM

Got my "last" issue in the mail a few days ago. I'll miss getting them, a little.

ghostangelofcky

06-05-2006, 03:35 PM

My current fav

http://www.retrotrader.com/catalog/images/new034%20001.jpg

of coarse here in the US only barnes & noble sell them and for $12, but stilla good read

digitalmouse

06-05-2006, 06:01 PM

What about EDGE? They have some awful purdy looking covers!

Damaramu

06-05-2006, 06:05 PM

Game Informer a future rarity? I always saw GI as one big Gamestop catalog with reviews.

In fact, I took stacks and stacks of my free in the mail GI to the dumpster, along with my old Next Gen issues.

I do enjoy Play and Hardcore Gamer, though they're more style than substance. More words than pictures, add a few more pages and those mags would alot better.

For the longest time, ever since jr. high, I've considered Gamepro to be utter shit. Pure garbage.

06-05-2006, 07:35 PM

I love how in that "Retro Gamer " cover pic the upper left says "OLD!" instead of "NEW!"

LOL 8-)

06-05-2006, 07:35 PM

I love how in that "Retro Gamer" cover pic the upper left says "OLD!" instead of "NEW!"

LOL 8-)

06-05-2006, 07:36 PM

I love how in that "Retro Gamer" cover pic the upper left says "OLD!" instead of "NEW!"

LOL 8-)

Anthony1

06-06-2006, 12:52 AM

I think that Game Informer is horrible. None of the magazines out now are any good. Game journalism is such a joke :/

I'm sorry, I just can't get with this. There is no way that you've read the last 20 or so issues, other than browsing through them and not reading anything. I mean....we can all say that everybody has their own opinions, and that nobodies opinion is incorrect....

But you my friend... are VERY incorrect

Game Informer is far from horrible. Game Informer is much better than many mags out there, and yes alot of mags suck right now, but Game Informer is doing some shit right now. I know my fecking magazines thank you very much. I know that DieHard Game Fan is the best mag of all time. I know that Next-Generation comes in 2nd, I know that Video Games & Computer Entertainment is 3rd, and I know that the early era of EGM (88 to 94) is 4th. I know that Game Players is pretty damn decent, I know that Gamer's Republic is nice, and Edge is the shit of course. GamePro is pretty weak in general, but the early issues have some nice nostalgia to them. Even though they suck.

There are mags out there that definitely suck, and the current edition of Game Informer, far from sucks.

BydoEmpire

06-06-2006, 11:36 AM

I like the art style, the previews, and the general layout of GI, but I absolutely cannot stand the reviews. I hate their three-digit scale, I hate their "it was a really great game, but I don't think the mass market will like it... 7.5" reviews *cough* Paper Mario 2 *cough*. Their writing style is too cutesy and 'clever', and the reviews have no substance or objectivity at all. Just my 2c. Other than the reviews, the rest of the magazine is pretty good.

BydoEmpire

06-06-2006, 11:37 AM

BydoEmpire

06-06-2006, 11:37 AM