Gaming Mags

gekko · 06-20-2004, 03:23 PM

You know, over the years there have only been a couple gaming mags worth reading. Every once in a while, I stumble across one that is actually worth reading. When I was still running websites, I found a mag that concentrated on the industry, not force feeding another preview down your throat. "OMG, Link is a cartoon!" Thank you, I wouldn't have known if I didn't buy your magazine

So as I scoured the internet looking for news (same way any good editor would), I ran across a mag that covered the industry instead of the games themselves. I fell in love, but it was $99 and I never did subscribe. Somehow I got a free issue once though, great magazine (technically it was a newspaper). Wouldn't apply to 95% of gamers out there, but considering that you're posting here, you're probably a tad bit more interested in gaming than most people in this world.

Well today I stumble across another one, Game Industry News run by Ziff Davis. They have two issues available for download, and it's pretty damn good. So I go to subscribe, and hot damn, save 30% off the cover price! One year for the low price of $695.

**** you too Ziff Davis.

http://www.zdmcirc.com/zdmcirc/gin/www/index.html

GameMaster · 06-20-2004, 03:26 PM

Laugh out loud! Normally it's $1000.

Let us know when you find something under $20.

gekko · 06-20-2004, 04:03 PM

It's only about $60 an issue

And on a side note, I was ****ing around on ZD's site, and decided to subscribe to EGM (again). Being in the military, mail sucks, so I don't get magazines sent here. As for picking them up at a store, they're always late. Since I already have an EGM subscription for free sending issues home for the next 3 years, I got curious about their digital format. I've always been against digital mags, I'd rather get what I pay for and have a magazine I could haul around with me.

But now my situation makes digital seem like the best way to go, so I got 2 years of EGM (digital). Downloaded the July 04 issue, and holy ****, I am a dumbass. Why the hell did I wait this long to try digital magazines? They kick ass!

First off, you have links, both internal and external. So when you're looking at the table of contents, and it has this great article of page 47, you can click it and go straight to it. On top of that, when they have links to websites, you can click them and be right there.

On top of that, you can zoom in... a lot. Always fun to do. You can also take pictures easily, instead of scanning the magazines when exclusive pictures are released (like when Xbox's design was revealed). Sure it's illegal, but come on, why do you think we have private forums?

The best thing is you can search the magazine. Would've been a godsend when I was running my sites, especially to find those little news snippets tucked into the corner of the page. And you can even highlight it, and put little digital post-it notes on there, so you can mark something to say... rant about on the forums.

If you've never messed around with digital mags, I'd suggest you try it. There's some free issues out, including Feb 04 GamePro. Not my mag of choice, but hey, it's a free issue.

http://www.zinio.com/category?cat=1005

Classic Rocker · 06-20-2004, 04:56 PM

I agree with you all. Game magazines just aren't worth it. Most of the information they show you is leaked on the net months before.

GameMaster · 06-20-2004, 06:27 PM

Would it be safe for me to say that video game magazines are obsolete in an age of internet?

Typhoid · 06-20-2004, 06:45 PM

Almost everything is obsolete in the age of the internet.

Magazines(Porn.....or....not....porn...)
Mail
purchasing items/ordering items
talking to friends
Listening to music

In Asia some people consider eating obsolete so they can play Counter Strike all night. They end up dying, but to each his own.

gekko · 06-20-2004, 06:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GameMaster

Would it be safe for me to say that video game magazines are obsolete in an age of internet?

Not at all, people will always want to pick up something to read on the go. There's definitely something nice about having it in print. Same way books are not obsolete in the age of eBooks. Hell, a lot of software you can buy and download instantly. I always choose to get the disc and wait.

Jason1 · 06-20-2004, 07:33 PM

Ive never gotten a magazine subscription online. Sounds like a pretty decent Idea though.

BreakABone · 06-20-2004, 11:35 PM

I tried digital magazine, it was a must for me in school.

I mean I wasn't going to resend my mags to the school, so they went home, ands my folks would send me like once a month or so.

But like always I was able to find them for free, I got free digital subscriptions to EGM, Computer Gaming Magazine, PC World and I think one more. I'll see if the deal is still around.

http://www.freebizmag.com/mypointsegm02welcome.htm

There's the link if it still works, but eh.