New Game Mag at EB? Any good?
 

I've seen in EGM or somewhere an add for a new gaming magazine from Ziff-Davis that is only available at EB.. I'm curious if anyone has read it, how much it costs, and if it's any good.

I bought it the other day. I was going to buy it just because it was a 'collector's item first issue'. But the clerk told me that instead of paying 5.99 for it, I could get a ten issue subscription for $10. And with that subscription, you become a member of their Edge program, giving you 10% off all pre-owned purchases. So I bought a pre-owned Xbox game (Chase) and almost saved the difference in price right then.

As far as the mag goes, it seems ok, but not great. The editor in his introduction said that GMR would be different, with more emphasis on reviews. But the mag seemed to be the same setup as most mags, with news, previews, reviews, and then hints. And the reviews were very short, although the scores seemed fair. So I don't think it will be a store themed mag like Game Informer where every game is a must buy, but also not worth the full single issue price.

I'm a sucker for cheap magazines, so I would say it is worth the $10 10 issue subscription, even if you never buy pre-owned games. If you do, I'd say it is a must buy subscription.

What I would love, is a magazine with no preview fluff, no hints/tips fluff, but just in-depth reviews. 30 in-depth reviews of 3 or more pages each. I'd pay good money for that.

That's disappointing about GMR.

I liked Next Generation's more adult look at the industry and was hoping for something along those lines.

Ah well.

I know this is getting off-topic, but anyone know why Next Generation went under? It seems like there are still a LOT of videogame magazines out there, so it's not like the videogame magazine market collapsed. I was really upset when I got the notice (and then they transferred my subscription to PSM mag... although it's a decent mag, the two magazines side by side are like night and day)

I signed up for the $10 subscription, as well...Their reviews are ridiculously short, but I guess I can't complain too much since it's only a $1 an issue.

Best thing about the mag was the included buy 2 PC games ($29.99 and up), get 1 free coupon.

I liked Next Generation too. The layout was nice. They didn't try and cram as many photos and text on the page that would fit. Subtle.

There was another magazine out around the same time('95), that I also liked but it also went under(or something to that effect). The name escapes me right now. Any one have some names? I did a quick google search and couldn't come up with anything. The mag had high gloss paper. It had a nice feel, like NextGen.

Video Games and Computer Entertainment?

Man, I miss that magazine. I think it turned into Tips and Tricks....a sad day, IMHO. Does anyone have any suggestions for adult game magazines? And no, not THAT kind of Adult! :D

<rant>
EGM isn't too bad, but I do miss how NextGen and VG&CE would have long articles about games, the gaming industry, or other things. What's weird is that before it died, I was feeling that NextGen was focusing too much on pictures and hype of games. Maybe I'm getting old and crotchety, but I'd rather pick up a magazine and READ about games instead of looking at all the pretty pictures. Those I can get anywhere on the net!
</rant>

Andy Eddy, Clayton Walnum....where are you? :)

EGM annoys me because they claim their average reader is 21 years in age, yet their stories and reviews often feel like they are written for younger teens.

However overall, they do one of the best jobs, sad to say. I only read it cause I get it for free. :)

Was it Intelligent Gamer?

I don't think that I would pay more than 5.95 a year for any non-disc gaming magazine.

Next Generation did lose its original spirit when it turned to a hype factory (Capt. Blasto). It was cool to read interviews with the people behind the games and they had interesting articles, editorials etc.

I used to love EGM when it was Ed Semrad, Steve Harris, other guy and Sushi-X. I could trust those reviews, but not anymore. Funny how the past two generations have brought an absolute avalanche of "perfect" games out of nowhere. EGM is still the best by sheer default, however I would love an American Famitsu.

I am POSITIVE you are talking about Gamefan. I loved that magazine. It had the Minotaur right? And the postmaster was the letter column. I was so sad when that magazine went under. I felt it was worth the 6 bucks an issue they were charging near their demise.

On Video game mags: I stumbled across an issue of Edge (UK) magazine recently in Manhattan. WOW. What a class act! Next Gen(eration) pretty much was a shared editorial and layout. Edge had a Boo! from SMB on the cover. I miss the OLDER Next Generation. I miss Die Hard GameFan too. The editorial was crap, but the layout was anime and import heavy and printed on nice stock. GamePro is horrible, especially under Andy Eddyand Francis Mao. UGH. What shiite. Andy Eddy who I think with Kunkel Katz and Worley worked editorial for Video Games and Computer Entertainemnt drove that magazine into the ground with quite possible the most borring videogame coverage ANYWHERE. Ugh. Current EGM is nice, I have been reading on and off since issue 2 and left during the late era Steve Harris and Ed Semrad editorialyears. Game Informer is okay as well. Currently though EGM is the best and most informative MAGAZINE. The free internet sites like Magic Box and the late GIA are better than any mags currently.

Christopher- Gamer since 2600 days.

The beginning of EGM. Funny thing...GameNOW last month made an allusion to Sushi-X coming back with a silouette of him. I have yet to get this month's issue, but I look forward to it just to see if we're being duped or not.

Old EGM was really good. I miss those guys as well. The magazine was bad for a couple of years (late 16 bit/early 32) but is rather enjoyable these days.

I actually have a really old issue somewhere, back when it was published quarterly(?). In the coming soon section there are reviews of Phantsay Star and Double Dragon. There is also a screenshot from the 'next' Mario, Super Mario World.

I too miss Gamefan and NextGen. Gamefan especially. It felt like a magazine by people who were die-hard gamers and who clearly enjoyed doing their jobs. Sometimes they were a little too excited over some games...but aren't we all guilty of such habits?

I agree about the EGM comment about how if their readers are over 21 then why does it seem to cater to 14 year olds (the letter section reflects this point). I think that they could remedy this by having more in depth features like the article on DigiPen a couple of months ago. The magazine is definetly improving though: the longer reviews are nice, the expanded trick section...

...although I'm a little mysitfied at their excitement over the Driver series but I'm sidetracking now aren't I?...

Yeah, Next Gen was great... although I often found myself only reading around half the articles by the time the next issue came. Most gaming mags now I can read in 30 minutes or so.

I will forever have a grudge against Gamefan, since I subscribed and recieved something like 3 issues, all a month behind the newsstand. Never recieved anything else. Multiple calls to them revealed nothing, though a quick internet search showed that I wasn't alone in the problem.

I kinda liked Viz's GameNow magazine, or whatever it was called. It was setup much like Animerica, and they ran the Cammy manga in it. A lot of info on import stuff that I couldn't find anywhere else.

Even though it's much easier to get info on the internet nowadays, I still like getting magazines, especially when they have 5 dollars off at Bestbuy or rent one, get one free at Blockbuster... :)

I think GameNOw is the current incarnation of EGM 2 The spin off of EGM

I made a subscription also for the GMR magazine which i didnt find all that bad. I enjoyed it actually and im interested to see what they do in the next issue. Funny story tho about when i went to EB the day i suscribed. Me and my GF were browsing the store and she was peeking over at the strategy guides. I got here a Gamecube for X-Mas and a few games so she was peeking into the Luigi's Mansion guide i guess to steal some tips. So i told her
"You want it?",
and she she was like
"We're not gonna pay "$14.99 for a strategy guide for a game like Lugi's Mansion (rolls eyes and sways head back and forth)".
So i was like "Check, its probably on special" (she checks)
"Holy $h#t, its $1.99!"
So we go checkout and the guy at the desk rings it up while talking to his employee, gives me the guide in the bag and brushes me away telling me to go. So my GF trys to whisper in excitement "He thinks you paid already, lets hurry up and go!" The man at the register starts to laugh and says,
"I know you didnt pay becuase you dont have to, it rang up a penny so im giving it to you for free, thanx for trying to walk out with it anway."
We felt stupid.

The second issue is in the stores now. Has anyone who subscribed instore received their's in the mail yet?

I ended up subscribing to GMR. Pretty nice mag actually. Solid reviews and great layout. If nothing else I'll get my money's worth out of the EB Edge card.

I can't complaing about EGM, I get it for free. But I do miss NextGen, easily the best gaming magazine out there (or was out there).

ralph wiggum speaks the truth... next generation was cool at first, but then it turned more and more into just hyping new games (many, of course, sucked). cool layouts cannot save a magazine if it has no substance.

[rant] i can't stand egm... and i get it for free! worthless writing by, imo, morons. the new ebgames magazine, i hear is supposed to be geared towards less mature readers (like kids) [/rant]

so, there are no acceptable game magazines right now in the US... please let me know if there is a magazine i should check out.

Can you get the $10 subscription off their web site?

No games magazine ever can touch PCXL... PC Accelerator appealed to adult gamers... it never sunk to the level of Maxim and pretty much every page had me laughing. It was very well written and smart and witty... of course it would die. :/ That's probably the only magazine I'll ever miss.

I have yet to see a console magazine that isn't written to the lowest common denominator (pre-teens in this case).

2 weeks ago before i left i signed up for GMR while i stopped in EB to browse. I saw the new xbox mag came out so i went to buy it and the guy behind the counter mentioned GMR to me. So i got the subscription and the 10% off Preowned games card. That will get some use. Not a bad magazine. I enjoyed reading everything in it. not bad for $1 a issue

capt