We are witnessing history in the making with Game Informer

[Anthony1]

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]

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

[Snapple]

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]

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

[Anthony1]

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]

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.

[Anthony1]

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]

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]

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

[DigitalSpace]

In my opinion:

Hardcore Gamer Magazine

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Game Informer
EGM

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Gamepro

[s1lence]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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

[Anthony1]

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.

[sirhansirhan]

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]

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.