Game mags just not worth it anymore?

[Fatesealer]

Right now, EGM (with current newsstand price of $5.99) is my usual monthly buy in terms of gaming mag. I couldn't go a month without reading their 'zine. Thing is though, this used to be just one of many mags I'd buy in a month's period. At one point, I would buy Vibe, PSM, EGM and GI almost religiously. Vibe suddenly couldn't be justified in terms of price versus content so I haven't bought that in a while. PSM reached 100 issues and I had bought EVERY issue from 1 to 100, and once that mag went thru its own price hike, the price couldn't justify the content. Haven't bought one since issue 100. GI was more of a freebie with the GS card so once the subscription ended, so did the books.

Which brings me to now. EGM went thru a price hike a bit ago from 5 to 6. the issues don't reach the mammoth proportions of the good old days (2 and 3 hundred pages), and quite frankly, online sites like IGN, Gamespot and EGM-sponsored 1UP deliver the content better AND free. It's as if I'm paying 6 dollars to view pictures. And with this latest issue, I just think it's time to retire from buying EGM.

Do any of you all still buying gaming mags and if so, why do you?

[shipwreck]

A lot of us get them for free: http://www.cheapassgamer.com/forums/showthread.php?t=60670

I wouldn't pay for anything at the newstand though. If you are going to buy a magazine at least subscribe for a year.

[Javery]

A lot of us get them for free: http://www.cheapassgamer.com/forums/showthread.php?t=60670

I wouldn't pay for anything at the newstand though. If you are going to buy a magazine at least subscribe for a year.

I agree. I get EGM and although I no longer rely on them for breaking news I really like their reviewers and other articles and just their general tone/writing style. I'm willing to bet a lot of their writers grew up in the same time period that I did and they don't take themselves too seriously... I can relate.

[FriskyTanuki]

I usually only get subs for the mags I want to read, or are free, so I don't buy much of anything at the newstand. There's usually way too much of a price difference between the two to support getting the full price copy. The occasional goodies are not really worth paying at least twice the cost of a sub issue. I currently pay to subscribe for OPM, just started up with GI again, and maybe EGM, though I've got enough free copies from the EGM CS for horrible service and the free issue offers. I get Game Developer, most of EGM, and Gamepro for free, though Gamepro isn't really even worth getting for free. Go for the subscription route and you won't have to worry about price hike since you pay a blanket fee for them.

[mcgavin27]

I get opm, egm, and tips and tricks. But those are all free subs...

[Chris in Cali]

I have a free subscription to EGM, Gamepro, and PSM. They are pretty much useless, always waaaay behind the internet. The PSM magizine is the lamest, EGM I'd say is the best.

[Moxio]

I get GI, PSM, Tips and Tricks, EGM, GamePro, CGW, and more for free.

[HumanSnatcher]

I'm with the free EGM crowd. To be honest, the only time I read an actual magazine is when I'm dropping some bastard kids off a the pool

[Chacrana]

EGM is decent, but their reviews have really started to suck over the last few years... still, it is kind of informative. The only magazine I get other than that is PC Gamer which I still think is very good. But yes, I remember back in the day when there were a lot of legitimate options... and that's no longer the case.

[rodeojones903]

The only mag I will ever pay for is Play.

[Kapwanil]

I get EGM for free and I pick up Play when necessary for some airplane trips but, otherwise, no other mag gets my money save for Edge and GamesTM.

Why British magazines, of all things?

Probably because, when I spend $8 on them, I feel like I'm actually getting content. Several major articles about the industry per issue, looks back on gems of yesteryear, and reviews that tend to go into the little things about the game that most other magazines seem to miss. Sure, the reviews are older since they get games at different times (later, if at all) but the layouts are magnificent, the ads are seemingly kept to a minimum, and there's plenty of worthwhile content therein.

Otherwise...eh, most gaming magazines aren't doing it. It also doesn't help that if the latest OPM, EGM, or some other Ziff-Davis magazine has an excellent article or two it'll eventually end up hitting 1Up in a week or two for free anyway. Why buy the content I'd really pay for when there's a good likelihood it'll be free?

[graf1k]

Right now the only two magazines I pay for are Hardcore Gamer & Play. I get PSM, Tips & Tricks, EGM, OXM, GI, GamePro, PSM, Maxim, Stuff, Blender, GQ & FHM all for free. Although I think my Maxim is almost over.

[Danimal]

I've had a subscription to EGM for quite a while. Back before I had a computer, they were my source for videogame news, but now I guess I read it mostly for the articles and reviews, but as far as news goes- just maybe for a recap of news I'd heard a month or more before online.

For example, whenever the newest issue finally lands in my mailbox, I'll be reading their impressions of this year's E3. Woo-hoo. :roll:

[omegaweapon7]

wait, you PAY for your mags?

wait, you pay at the NEWSTAND?

my fellow CAGers, baptise this man and show him the cheapass way.

[botticus]

Mags are pretty much useless now. Other than the fact that most "breaking news" in gaming mags is posted on CAG through various sources at least a month before the magazine arrives in my mailbox, half of the actual magazine-exclusive content is leaked beforehand as well.

I pay for Nintendo Power but I would do the free sub route if not for getting free guides with renewals. That and since I'm a Nintendo lover, there's generally something in the magazine that I haven't seen before, since I'm usually interested in 90% of the content. As opposed to GI, EGM, etc, where about 10% of it is Nintendo related.

Oh yeah, an example of magazine outdatedness: EGM July issue was the first to use "Wii." (I just got May, June, July at the same time for some reason, so this was extremely easy to pick up)

[graf1k]

I still like reading gaming mags for whenever I'm bored or to catch games I might otherwise not seek out news on or just have overlook.

[Vinny]

I still read mags frequently. Sure websites reveal most of the info but every source has a different style. For example, a review done by IGN for Guitar Hero isn't the same as one done in EGM. Plus, I always love reading letters sections.

Currently, I have three subs but all of them were free or with some benefit.
EGM - renewed free for signing up at IGN.
OPM - free for signing up at IGN.
Game Informer - $15 with EDGE card (which has already paid for itself thanks to the 10% off used games and the recent B2G1 free deal)

[Purple Flames]

I only subscribe to EGM. I'm not very fond of their game reviews that much, but I love the format of their mag, and Seanbaby's section always gives me a good laugh.

[wubb]

I get EGM for $12 per year, which is worth it IMO. Agreed on Seanbaby. Some months are better than others, but the great ones are just gold.

Also get OPM - mainly for the demos. But the first issue didn't have the disc included and I got the 2nd one a week or so ago and haven't taken the demo out of the holder. Kind of thinking the sub was a waste of money at this point. Wasn't really planning on renewing anyway since I don't think I'll get a PS3 anytime soon.

Used to get OXM and Xbox Nation (a gift). Xbox Nation absolutely sucked and has gone under. OXM was worth it for the demos, and the mag was an enjoyable read but all single system mags simply have to be biased so no good to really use them for objective purchase decisions. Think about it, if the Xbox 360 folds, OXM will too. Same with the PS3 - if it flops OPM will be hurting. It behooves them to 'always look on the bright side of life' when it comes to their system. Hell I remember the editor-in-chief of OXM kept ranting issue after issue about how possible minimal to no backwards compatible in the 360 was actually a GOOD thing. :roll:

[Rozz]

I get EGM, Computer Gaming World, and Gamepro. If I didnt get them cheap or free or during air trips I wouldent even bother though.

Is it just me or does EGM waste too much damn space in their mag on useless large pictures? And I think Sean Baby is very annoying.

Its funny how EGM said they cut back on the Tricks section of the mag to expand Seanbabies part, yet they never did. Fucking liars. At least its less work for them :roll: And why do I keep getting EGM's late?

I really wish Games TM was a U.S. mag. I would definitely subscribe to that. Hell, its worth picking up for $8 on the newstand.

[friedram]

I'd never buy the console gaming magazines- get them for free and even then I don't read them all the time. They are mostly just glorified advertising and I've seen better writing done by people who troll and flame in the forums. The "Shoe" guy at EGM is a freaking retard.

The PC gaming magazines are only slightly better- but I get them out of a sense of history- opened one from about 6 years ago to see a "awesome" computer with about the same parts as a junker at the local PC recycle.

Dunno- PC gaming mags tend to assume you know how to read properly and the console ones (EGM especially) seem to be geared to the ADD inclined individuals who need the pages to reach out and slap them across the face with a bright pink bubble yum advertisement.

[friedram]

Mags are pretty much useless now. Other than the fact that most "breaking news" in gaming mags is posted on CAG through various sources at least a month before the magazine arrives in my mailbox, half of the actual magazine-exclusive content is leaked beforehand as well.

I pay for Nintendo Power but I would do the free sub route if not for getting free guides with renewals. That and since I'm a Nintendo lover, there's generally something in the magazine that I haven't seen before, since I'm usually interested in 90% of the content. As opposed to GI, EGM, etc, where about 10% of it is Nintendo related.

Oh yeah, an example of magazine outdatedness: EGM July issue was the first to use "Wii." (I just got May, June, July at the same time for some reason, so this was extremely easy to pick up)


But you can't beat them for bathroom reading.

Anybody want to lend me their gameboy?

(Kidding, jesus)

[HumanSnatcher]

But you can't beat them for bathroom reading.

Anybody want to lend me their gameboy?

(Kidding, jesus)

Yeah, like you'd really want to lug around a laptop to the bathroom...

Then again, I had a friend that had a second bathroom in his apartment that was in his room and set a tv up just close enough that if he had to go to the bathroom, he could sit there and still play. He wasn't a hardcore gamer, just a lazy ass

[epobirs]

Ever since the web really took off the paper mags have really lost their value for me. I recently signed up for the free EGM subscription, had three issues, May, June, and July all show up together yesterday. I enjoyed the purty pictures and some of the writing but only because it was free. I wouldn't have a magazine shaped hole in my life without it.

[DigitalSpace]

Right now I just have subs to EGM, OPM, and Tips & Tricks, and if they weren't free subs, I wouldn't have signed up for them.

[lordwow]

I grabbed the free subs to EGM and CGW... and so far... not too impressed.

[cheapgamesplease]

Do any of you all still buying gaming mags and if so, why do you?
Hardcore Gamer == great coverage of new AND OLD games. Great magazine.

[klew]

Right now just getting OPM, PSM and free EGM. Any mag for free is worthwhile. But all are spending most space covering next gen or handhelds; don't care for either as I won't buy next gen on release and aren't interested in handhelds, so my paid subs are gonna expire. And I got OPM mainly for the demos, which now mostly involve "classic" demos I've already played. Big waste. Anyway, as others have said, most of my news comes from websites these days.

[Rozz]

Right now just getting OPM, PSM and free EGM. Any mag for free is worthwhile. But all are spending most space covering next gen or handhelds; don't care for either as I won't buy next gen on release and aren't interested in handhelds, so my paid subs are gonna expire. And I got OPM mainly for the demos, which now mostly involve "classic" demos I've already played. Big waste. Anyway, as others have said, most of my news comes from websites these days.

Yeah, seriously... whats up with this months OPM demo disc? I mean, who really wants to play a demo of Medal of Honor Frontline at this point? What a waste of plastic....