Anyone remember when EGMs were thick?
- Thread starter Ferny84
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OpinionatedCyborg
Member
Nostalgia tells me that I love EGM of the mid 90s, but logic dictates that the late 90s EGM - early 2001 were the best. Sure, John Davison kinda blanded things down a bit, but the mag was extremely professional, well written, and everything was where you expected it to be. It wasn't flashy like the EGM's of the past, but from 98 - 2001, EGM was at the top of its game.
Modern mags are so freaking bland compared to stuff from the early to mid '90. Nowadays, its like the same guy designed every mag on the market. They all got the same stupid look. They all cover the same stuff, every month. What I liked back then was that Gamefan, Gamepro and EGM had material that differenced themselves from each others every month.
They had their own personality.
They had their own personality.
CrispinB said:
Agreed 100%.
Aside from size, I think the new EGMs are better in every way than any of the older ones. Specifically, I like how there isn't any preordained "previews" section anymore. The new system where they're grouped into features keeps things fresher.
fennec fox
ferrets ferrets ferrets ferrets FERRETS!!!
It was funny how you knew VideoGames & Computer Entertainment magazine was in trouble because their issues didn't balloon up to 300 pages in the holidays.
OpinionatedCyborg
Member
I like a departure from the same ol' as much as the next guy because it prevents the mag from getting stale, but if possible, I'd like to see EGM up its level of organization in the previews section. In the past, previews were very informative, but bland in design. Now the section's nice to look at, but it must trigger my ADD because I rarely feel encouraged to read anything. I simply skim over the small text blurbs and pretty pictures. This is coming from someone who used to digest each page of EGM methodically for hours on end.
Including release dates, publisher/devloper/percentage complete, etc for every game previewed no matter what style the month brings would add a lot to the previews section (I noticed you guys started doing this last month--please continue). Reverting back to your old style for a few months, then having a creative previews section for another month, would satisfy the mainstream gamers love of style and placate a hardcore gamers lust for substance.
In a perfect world, you'd go back to the way you used to do previews or get rid of the previews section altogether (the internet makes the section useless by many accounts). But I know there will always be a demand for some form of previews section, so I can only assume that it'll remain in a perpetual state of confusion, attempting to satisfy 2 different markets, but only meeting the demands of one.
Meh, EGM's got bigger problems than its previews section, but I'll shut out now since my opinion isn't valued and I really don't have many suggestions to solve the problem except going back to the way things used to be done ... and there's a hole new batch of issues I have with the old designs as well. Why must we find fault in everything we love?
Including release dates, publisher/devloper/percentage complete, etc for every game previewed no matter what style the month brings would add a lot to the previews section (I noticed you guys started doing this last month--please continue). Reverting back to your old style for a few months, then having a creative previews section for another month, would satisfy the mainstream gamers love of style and placate a hardcore gamers lust for substance.
In a perfect world, you'd go back to the way you used to do previews or get rid of the previews section altogether (the internet makes the section useless by many accounts). But I know there will always be a demand for some form of previews section, so I can only assume that it'll remain in a perpetual state of confusion, attempting to satisfy 2 different markets, but only meeting the demands of one.
Meh, EGM's got bigger problems than its previews section, but I'll shut out now since my opinion isn't valued and I really don't have many suggestions to solve the problem except going back to the way things used to be done ... and there's a hole new batch of issues I have with the old designs as well. Why must we find fault in everything we love?
OpinionatedCyborg
Member
Unison said:
Was that issue 64 with Ryu on the cover? The mag also featured Mortal Kombat 2. Regardless, my fondest memories of EGM were back in those grade 4/5/6 days when Street Fighter got crazy amounts of coverage, the art direction was absolutely supurb, and the writing was...well, let's forget about the writing for now
. If one things continued to get better in EGM, it's the writing. Minus a few stale personalities (I won't name names; it's probably obvious who they are), EGM's never been a better read.Buffy4ever
Banned
I use to love the old EGM holiday buying guides. I remember the first one were the Sega Genesis got the system of the year. And it funny that when the Genesis was first announced they were putting down the Genesis and saying that the Turbografx 16 was going to beat Sega that holiday season. They had to go back and change article for the holiday buying guide. :lol
I don't think EGM is a disaster in its current state, and I am excited to see the new issues, but they really should choose to go whole-hog into a Next Generation "highbrow" mode or choose to do the more garish, more "fun" approach of the old magazine. Frankly, I think it's obvious that EGM is currently in some kind of idenity crisis. The previews & features sections seem to be striving for a level of tastefulness that the first and last twenty pages simply don't have.
They have good coverage and reviews, but I think Game Informer consistently has better previews (their reviews are a joke though).
They have good coverage and reviews, but I think Game Informer consistently has better previews (their reviews are a joke though).
OpinionatedCyborg said:
No, of course your opinion is valued, even if you are a cyborg.
You obviously actually read the magazine for one thing, which is rare around here. (To the other angry dude: Celebrity Gamer page hasn't been in the previous 2 or 3 issues) PM or email me if you ever want to discuss the 'bigger problems,' I'd like to hear what you think.Anyway, yeah, the last huge-normous issue was the Halo 2 one. We wish it was bigger, it's all based on the number of ad pages we get. This time of year it's always small though.
The mag was absolute shit in the mid 90s though, until Davison came along. I have some choice previews up on my door I will scan to prove my point....
Shouta
Member
I personally don't like most of the magazines nowadays. The writing and layouts are certainly much better than before but the content is bland and the coverage is reduced in comparison to what it used to be. It wasn't the fact that the old versions were big, it was the fact that games got more coverage or more space so that more could be written about it. I remembered when I saw the preview for the Japanese version of Lufia 2 (Estopolis II) and was really psyched about it. Tons of pictures and a solid body of text to accompany it. I can still imagine the layout in my head now (too bad I tossed all the old mags I had =/).
I stopped picking up EGM a little over a year ago, for a number of reasons -
New staffers that I personally didn't like as much as the old crowd. Nothing against the new guys and gals, I'm just nostalgic.
Previews. I miss the longer previews, little factoids like the percentage complete, etc. I personally prefer the old, structured design, and I find the new design to be a bit 'radical'.
Catering more to the mainstream. I miss features that would focus on the scene in Japan, arcades (Though it's understandable that arcade coverage is gone
), pieces like the Dreamcast launch game impressions where it was like a five page convo of the staff talking about how they destroyed eachother in a Soul Cali match, etc.
I guess part of why I lost interest is because the mag became less personalized and more detached.
New staffers that I personally didn't like as much as the old crowd. Nothing against the new guys and gals, I'm just nostalgic.
Previews. I miss the longer previews, little factoids like the percentage complete, etc. I personally prefer the old, structured design, and I find the new design to be a bit 'radical'.
Catering more to the mainstream. I miss features that would focus on the scene in Japan, arcades (Though it's understandable that arcade coverage is gone
), pieces like the Dreamcast launch game impressions where it was like a five page convo of the staff talking about how they destroyed eachother in a Soul Cali match, etc. I guess part of why I lost interest is because the mag became less personalized and more detached.
Ford Prefect
GAAAAAAAAY
My first EGM was like a gift from God. Gamecube vs. Xbox cover story; thick as hell, and deliciously filled to the brim with all sorts of next-gen news. I wasn't too into getting information from the net back then, so everything was news to me. The issue after that, where they had the 200 (?) best games was just as good (and thick), but none of the recent issues have been as entertaining.
Hsu and Chan > everything
I miss Shawn (how did he do with school?)
Anyways, I've been reading EGM for over a decade now and the thing that really got me were those HUGE Halo 2 screens. Does anyone care that much? Waste of space IMO.
Also, covers have never been a strong point. I know Gandolf sells covers, but the SCAREY reder of his face back in late 2003 was UGLY. Isn't there a better way to plaster popular content on a cover AND make it look good. I know it's shallow, but covers count.
ALSO, if you are reading, I really appreciated the Awesome Castlevania: Lament of Innocence cover story 1.5 years back. Great work. Do it again for New DS Castlevania. Fuck, do a mega castlevania history piece. (Get Kurt Kalada to do it)
BUT PLEASE, ditch the celeb gamer article. It's lame. That 'hottest gamer' article made me sick as well. S_U_C_K_S.
And the reviews: I was reading a back issue review of Brute Force and it was given an around average score, but it was the lead in review. I always felt the review size should be proportionate to the quality of the game, thus, less space is devoted to advertizing games that might not deserve it as much as a smaller game that could use more exposure.
I do like the reviews better than ever, though, but I wish there was a bigger Gradius V write-up for instance.
EDIT: I'm a regular newstand buyer. I do not like the DVD. I do not like paying extra for it. I COULD subscribe, but i like the newstand experience (yes, its silly, i know). I've given the DVD a chance, but shit like those unfunny dorks that act out games, and the lame trivia challenge (though challenging) are a waste of plastic.
Anyways, I've been reading EGM for over a decade now and the thing that really got me were those HUGE Halo 2 screens. Does anyone care that much? Waste of space IMO.
Also, covers have never been a strong point. I know Gandolf sells covers, but the SCAREY reder of his face back in late 2003 was UGLY. Isn't there a better way to plaster popular content on a cover AND make it look good. I know it's shallow, but covers count.
ALSO, if you are reading, I really appreciated the Awesome Castlevania: Lament of Innocence cover story 1.5 years back. Great work. Do it again for New DS Castlevania. Fuck, do a mega castlevania history piece. (Get Kurt Kalada to do it)
BUT PLEASE, ditch the celeb gamer article. It's lame. That 'hottest gamer' article made me sick as well. S_U_C_K_S.
And the reviews: I was reading a back issue review of Brute Force and it was given an around average score, but it was the lead in review. I always felt the review size should be proportionate to the quality of the game, thus, less space is devoted to advertizing games that might not deserve it as much as a smaller game that could use more exposure.
I do like the reviews better than ever, though, but I wish there was a bigger Gradius V write-up for instance.
EDIT: I'm a regular newstand buyer. I do not like the DVD. I do not like paying extra for it. I COULD subscribe, but i like the newstand experience (yes, its silly, i know). I've given the DVD a chance, but shit like those unfunny dorks that act out games, and the lame trivia challenge (though challenging) are a waste of plastic.
soundwave05
Member
I started reading EGM back in like 1991 I think (the first issue I got was the SNES Buyer's Guide).
I think the magazine peaked in about 1993/1994, but those were some fun times. Remember when they used to have a section in the back of the magazine for movies/TV/anime? (Star Trek: TNG, Jurassic Park, Cliffhanger, lol).
I also remember all the Ren & Stimpy references they'd make.
I think the magazine peaked in about 1993/1994, but those were some fun times. Remember when they used to have a section in the back of the magazine for movies/TV/anime? (Star Trek: TNG, Jurassic Park, Cliffhanger, lol).
I also remember all the Ren & Stimpy references they'd make.
Orange said:
Shawn is swell. He graduated with an art degree about two years ago and now runs Shawnimals. His stuff's awesome--check it out.
As far as the mid-90s go for EGM, those were the dark times in my book. Read Chris Johnston's blog here for some Ed Semradical stories. I've got plenty to share, too, but not today.
I guess you guys came in around 1996. The one review that sticks out in my mind is that of Resident Evil (Shawn, Crispy, and Shoe, I believe (9s, if I recal)). Anyways, yeah, 1995 was probably the worst year for the mag. Yeah, I read CJs blog and was kinda shocked by what a jerk Semrad could be but when you grow up with the dude telling you what was good to play (I always trusted Ed Semrad and Maritn Allesse's Reviews), it was kinda hard to see them go. I eventually learned to trust Danyon Carpenter (sp?), but he took off too. I remember those mid-ninties years as a desperate attempt to keep old-school EGM alive, but it wasn't sticking and wasnt working. The industry was changing and I could only imagine how the mag being owned by a corp. really changed things up. The writing was finally good, at least, and we started to see more wit (Golf-War). Too bad Shawn Smith had to leave; really trusted his reviews. Features became awesome late ninties.
Seriously, anyone who read the MGS cover story back in 1998 and still say EGM sucks doesn't deserve to live. That article got me so genuinely excited for the game so much that I HAD to get the Dual Shock.
One thing that has remained consitant with EGM all these years are the covers; they always sucked.
P.S. More Seanbaby. I don't care if he is busy keg-standing.
Seriously, anyone who read the MGS cover story back in 1998 and still say EGM sucks doesn't deserve to live. That article got me so genuinely excited for the game so much that I HAD to get the Dual Shock.
One thing that has remained consitant with EGM all these years are the covers; they always sucked.
P.S. More Seanbaby. I don't care if he is busy keg-standing.
Warm Machine
Member
I think it was EGM when...
It was December of 1988 and they were covering 8-bit games and there was only 1 issue I saw and they used a hit / direct hit review system. In the magazine they reviewed R-Type for the Master System and gave it a Direct Hit rating. Another NES game which I cannot remember also received a Direct Hit review.
In the same mag they had a write up on the next generation of systems and talked about the next Sega system and a possible follow up to the NES coming in about 2 years. I'm pretty sure the magazine was Electronic Gaming Monthly but I'm not 100% sure. It certainly wasn't Game Players as I don't think they ever covered Master System at that time, only NES stuff.
Anyone know what mag it was?
About 8 months later (July 1989) I got the real issue 2 of EGM which had a blue cover and had the Genesis, Turbo Grafx and Super Famicom on it. There was a writeup on the new systems and very early shots of Pilot Wings. As well, there was a pic of Altered Beast and a shot of Legendary Axe (which they described as a perfect 10, later to be scored with 9s and 8s in the mag many issues later).
It was December of 1988 and they were covering 8-bit games and there was only 1 issue I saw and they used a hit / direct hit review system. In the magazine they reviewed R-Type for the Master System and gave it a Direct Hit rating. Another NES game which I cannot remember also received a Direct Hit review.
In the same mag they had a write up on the next generation of systems and talked about the next Sega system and a possible follow up to the NES coming in about 2 years. I'm pretty sure the magazine was Electronic Gaming Monthly but I'm not 100% sure. It certainly wasn't Game Players as I don't think they ever covered Master System at that time, only NES stuff.
Anyone know what mag it was?
About 8 months later (July 1989) I got the real issue 2 of EGM which had a blue cover and had the Genesis, Turbo Grafx and Super Famicom on it. There was a writeup on the new systems and very early shots of Pilot Wings. As well, there was a pic of Altered Beast and a shot of Legendary Axe (which they described as a perfect 10, later to be scored with 9s and 8s in the mag many issues later).
fennec fox
ferrets ferrets ferrets ferrets FERRETS!!!
That was either the first issue of EGM or Electronic Game Player, the precursor that lasted for 4? 5? issues in 1988. (I only have one; I wanna find the others.)
Warm Machine
Member
If I saw the cover I'd probably remember. If it was called EGM they didn't use the same font for the title that they did in issue 2...and pretty well to present day.
SonicMegaDrive
Member
I'm not sure what this is worth, but EGM is still the best video game-related magazine still in circulation today.
OpinionatedCyborg
Member
SonicMegaDrive said:
It's been years since EGM has had any solid competition on the quality front (GMR doesn't count because it was run by Ziff, and I'm excluding XBN and OPM since they're centric to one console). The sales figures tell a different story; Gamepro and Game Informer have always been strong competitors, exceeding or match EGM's sales(wtf @ gamepro's continued success. The people behind it don't seem bad, but the mag's weak).
Oh, and Mark: I'll refrain from sending you a laundry list of improvements EGM could go through in favour of a small email that focuses on EGM's biggest problem: personality (or lack thereof). I'm glad you guys are interested in improving the mag (or at least listening to a few suggestions from a long time reader).
Warm Machine
Member
EGM is probably the ugliest magazine on the shelves. There must have been a competion of who could put out the uglier magazine when Gamefan was still around.
Play looks sexy as is laid out really well. I just don't trust the content because Halverson will give out high scores to nearly anything.
Play looks sexy as is laid out really well. I just don't trust the content because Halverson will give out high scores to nearly anything.
OpinionatedCyborg
Member
Warm Machine said:
GMR used to look pretty spiffy sitting on the rack in EB (edited out retarded reference to newstand...duh); hot pink, simple covers, and ingenuity really made it stand out!
EGM's covers in the mid 90s were pretty good, but they improved a lot around the time Ed Semrad passed the torch to John Davison. The improvement was short lived, however, and by the time issue 130-ish had landed a spot on my bookshelf, the covers were looking bland again. If they'd lay off the text and give focus to a great image, EGM's covers would be much more aesthetically pleasing.
SonicMegaDrive
Member
Whoever said EGM had boring covers wasn't kidding. A quick Google image search for "Electronic Gaming Monthly" proved that point in a jiff. Ouch!!
Where's the graphic designer when you need him?
PSM has very nice covers, I think:
Where's the graphic designer when you need him?
PSM has very nice covers, I think:
OpinionatedCyborg
Member
Sonic, the sad thing is, the majority of the EGM covers you posted are some of the higher calibre one's. I've seen much, much worse than those; issue 150, adorned with a shitload of text and nothing more, comes to mind.
If anything, PSM's covers are a lot worse than EGMS. They are full of poorly drawn comic-book art. I mean, there is good comic art, and then there is bad, bland, derrivative comic book art. PSM is riddled with the bad shit.
I think GMR really hit the nail on the head. Ziff needs to hire that guy. They could take this opertunity to inject some of the GMR staff into the EGM crew.
I used to like Next Gen's covers until their very last days, when they started having some company make custom renders for the them. Remember the Bouncer cover. It was this slightly americanized (slightly) version of the main dude. It was almost pointless because they could have just used official square renders (which were vastly superior, more eye pleasing, and cheaper, im sure). I think that was around the same time when that mag's inc was rubbing off onto my hands.
I read the holiday issue of EGM and within 10 minutes, the ink had run onto my hand as well. I dont pay newstand price for that kind of shit.
I think GMR really hit the nail on the head. Ziff needs to hire that guy. They could take this opertunity to inject some of the GMR staff into the EGM crew.
I used to like Next Gen's covers until their very last days, when they started having some company make custom renders for the them. Remember the Bouncer cover. It was this slightly americanized (slightly) version of the main dude. It was almost pointless because they could have just used official square renders (which were vastly superior, more eye pleasing, and cheaper, im sure). I think that was around the same time when that mag's inc was rubbing off onto my hands.
I read the holiday issue of EGM and within 10 minutes, the ink had run onto my hand as well. I dont pay newstand price for that kind of shit.
OpinionatedCyborg
Member
^^Orange said:
There needs to be a balance between text and image. EGM's getting closer to it by removing a lot of useless info on its cover (300 games inside!! huge review issue!! 90 previews!!) I like it when 70% of the cover is taken up by an image, 20% is taken up by the mag's name, and the rest is used to describe content within.
EDIT: Here are a few covers of EGM shortly after Davison took over.
OpinionatedCyborg
Member
Yup, I got that before Christmas.Swordian said:
SonicMegaDrive
Member
^
That Episode 1 cover is NICE.
That Episode 1 cover is NICE.
Shouta said:
Let's not get violent over something so nerdy. The only thing dorkier than critiquing gaming mag covers, is getting punchy over them.
It really boils down to personal preference. PSM just looks amatuerish to me.
EDIT: Is it just me, or does Turok look as if he is getting off on killing that velociraptor? I've read about soldiers creaming about killing folks in WW2, but this is entirely cooler.
OpinionatedCyborg
Member
Thanks for that. You know, I was gonna take the high road and avoid making reference to that images obviouis homoerotic connotations, but as one of society's many dregs, you had to bring it up. Again, i say thank you.Orange said: