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Why the EGM hate?

Its funny how EGM "has gone downhill" when a review of a game a person really likes gets lowe score. EGM review is most honest because its got 3 people reviewing the same game. 3 opinions instead of one. Now how is 3 honest opinions in one place bad?
 
They use "fake" grafitti to promote themselves and take cheap cracks at the superior GamePro. Shit, I don't see any grafitti that isn't game-related these days.
 
momolicious said:
Its funny how EGM "has gone downhill" when a review of a game a person really likes gets lowe score. EGM review is most honest because its got 3 people reviewing the same game. 3 opinions instead of one. Now how is 3 honest opinions in one place bad?

I agree. Why do people think just because they don't agree with a review it's bad. Everyone has different tastes. I disagree with them sometimes, but that doesn't mean I dismiss the whole magazine. I actually like that they use more of the 1-10 scale than most. Usually a 7 from EGM isn't "average" like most places, it's actually pretty good.
 
If they took the time to swim around with Kameo, they could review the game the way it is supposed to be reviewed.
 
because they gave MK DD 10 10 9.5 and mk ds something crappy like 8.5 8 7.5 or some shit. well not crappy but everyone in theyre right mind knows MK DS> MK DD :D
 
I like the concept of 3 takes on a game, but usually the scores are within 1-2 points of each other so it seems kind of superfluous.
 
EGM is the best American gaming publication for reviews. They have no bias whatsoever and 3 different scores are given.
Seeing the reaction to the scores each month is hilarious.

They do have the bad habit of inflating the scores of hyped system exclusive games though...but every magazine/site does that.
 
I never liked it when they'd complain about franchise games being "rehashes," then give Mario games automatic 9s or 10s.

Also reviews where the three scores are something like 10, 1.5, and 6 really don't help out my purchasing decisions much. Maybe it'd be better if they just tossed the numbers completely and expanded the roundtable
 
GitarooMan said:
I agree. Why do people think just because they don't agree with a review it's bad.

Because the point of reviews is to read the opinion of someone with tastes similar to your own. If you don't agree with the reviewer, what do you gain from reading the review?
 
When the average score in the industry for the whole generation is >8 you know all the reviews are shitty. I don't even bother reading reviews anymore. I just ask GAF. GAF knows.

GAF is.
 
sangreal said:
Because the point of reviews is to read the opinion of someone with tastes similar to your own. If you don't agree with the reviewer, what do you gain from reading the review?

Entertainment, maybe? Information?
 
THe thing is, most of the people who read the reviews havent even played the game yet and dismiss EGM has going downhill because the one or two of the reviewers give the game they have been watching for a while a bad score or so.

and no i dont think they are on a sony payroll because if u read their magazine, they are against that kind of thing
 
momolicious said:
Its funny how EGM "has gone downhill" when a review of a game a person really likes gets lowe score. EGM review is most honest because its got 3 people reviewing the same game. 3 opinions instead of one. Now how is 3 honest opinions in one place bad?
because they don't like Kameo
 
Um... what EGM hate? I haven't noticed anything more than a disapproving comment every once in a while. No more often than people rag on Gamespot, and much less than IGN. Shrug. Dunno what you're talking about, honestly.
 
It can be a pretty entertaining mag though, being 25, I sometimes can't read it for more than five minutes before being annoyed by some silly feature like "Grudge Match" or sometimes I just feel like some parts are aimed at either too young an audience or too casual an audience (not that I want a hardc0re gaming mag, just something a little less X-playey sometimes).

That being said, a lot of the recent elements they've brought in I've really liked, and it's got me at least browsing the magazine again- "Afterthoughts" is a very good idea and usually pretty well-executed, as are some of the Top 10 lists (hey, those are always fun), and some of the nostalgia-themed parts; even Seanbaby imo has managed to stay pretty fresh (which I'm really surprised about), though he should stick to reviewing crappy games as I find his other columns far lass entertaining.
 
Insertia said:
EGM is the best American gaming publication for reviews. They have no bias whatsoever and 3 different scores are given.
Seeing the reaction to the scores each month is hilarious.

They do have the bad habit of inflating the scores of hyped system exclusive games
though...but every magazine/site does that.
Just well hyped games in general.

I remember the issue when GTA:SA, Halo 2, MGS 3 and Metroid Prime 2 each got like straight 10s, but only the first two won the GotM award. Less hyped games ftl!!!! :lol
 
I have never minded EGM. In fact, I'm on a free subsciption right now, but I am considering paying to renew when it runs out this March.
 
Master_Shake_05 said:
Just well hyped games in general.

I remember the issue when GTA:SA, Halo 2, MGS 3 and Metroid Prime 2 each got like straight 10s, but only the first two won the GotM award. Less hyped games ftl!!!! :lol

Uh, actually, only the first two got straight 10s, and thus they won Game(s) of the Month. If I remember correctly, MGS3 got a 10, 9.5, and 9.0 and Metroid Prime 2 got 10, 9.0, and 9.0.
 
I think that EGM is still a very solid videogame magazine (best American publication), but I started losing interest after the big redesign about a year ago. Not only was the layout changed, but so was the content - the magazine became a lot more casual (gaming has become more casual too, so I don't blame EGM for following the trend). I just miss the 90s when the mag was a bit more in-depth, with features covering more obscure things (Arcades, Japan gaming, Editor's 2 cents at the end of every mag - not sure if that's still in there).

Still, it remains a very good mag, I'm just nostalgic (The old writers were top notch personas: Shawn Smith, CJ, Dave England.... is Crispin still with the mag?)

Anyone remember that interview with Del Tha Funkee Homosapien like 5-6 years ago? I loved shit like that. I hated the recent celebrity interviews though.
 
EGM has been really good in 2005. They went through this horribly awkward stage from 2002-2004, but this year they have really been making strides to correct their mistakes. I've been a loyal reader since I was ten, so I've seen the proper evolution of the magazine ever since the wee days.

I miss the days with Ricciardi (john tv), Sean Smith, Crispin and and the Sushi X were reviewing. :(

One thing, EGM: take out Seanbaby. Please. He is the least funny person on this planet, and his article is skipped each. and. every. time. Nix him from life, please.

Love,
Nick
 
I don't hate, I get it for free and they have pretty pictures with some interesting pieces. I would also hope to keep receiving it for free *hint* *hint*.
 
EGM is currently, and has been for a long time, the best video game publication in North America.

They're a far cry from their 32-Bit and even 16-bit days, but they're still the best.
 
mattx5 said:
I think that EGM is still a very solid videogame magazine (best American publication), but I started losing interest after the big redesign about a year ago.
Actually, that was two and a half years ago...
 
SonicMegaDrive said:
EGM is currently, and has been for a long time, the best video game publication in North America.

They're a far cry from their 32-Bit and even 16-bit days, but they're still the best.
As far as Reviews are concerned, maybe. But Game Informer really shits all over EGM in terms of content.....
 
I stopped reading EGM a long, long time ago. EGM is not EGM without Steve Harris, Ed Semrad, Matrin Alessi and the rest of the Sendai people.
 
Master_Shake_05 said:
As far as Reviews are concerned, maybe. But Game Informer really shits all over EGM in terms of content.....

It depends on the reader.

I can get all the enjoyment I can out of an issue of typical(non holiday) issue of GI in about 20 minutes.

EGM usually lasts me at least a half hour.

Don't ask me what this means, it's just my gauge for the value of a magazine.
 
Two E3s ago they rated each systems line-up. They had the "positives" and "negatives" for each system. On the PS2, one positive was listing a bunch of high profile titles, almost all of which were more than a year away. On the Xbox, one NEGATIVE was saying that the systems high profile titles were not coming out for a year.


That right there lost all respect or any credibility EGM could ever have.
 
I really feel that the EGM reviews are too short. Most of the actual text in the magazine, aside from features and cover stories, is underdeveloped. I don't see how someone can really address a game in a paragraph where a chunk of that paragraph may be just casual talking and/or joke material (see 2nd Condemned review, I believe). I am consistently asking myself, "Why?" or "How come?" after reading a sentence. I need to know more. I need to know WHY the reviewer felt this way, not just how they felt.

It's a GOOD magazine but I don't like the reviews because I don't get enough info out of them. I realize that because they review so many games they need to keep them short to meet deadline, but I'd much rather pay for like Gamespot Complete, get constant updates, and in addition get live E3 coverage and streaming video.
 
I like EGM as a magazine as well. Nice layout, good content, fair editors. Much better than GameInformer. Even though GI is only $10 for a subscription, I refuse to pay anything more than $1 for a subscription.
 
EGM might be the best North American game-related magazine? What a dubious distinction. And, it's sad, you have to argue whether it is or not. "Well, their reviews are better, but Game Informer has better features and more content!" Game Informer? When was EGM ever considered as pathetic as that? And EGM's reviews are better?

I give you this:

"Just seeing Mario and Luigi makes me reminisce about a simpler time, but I digress. Like its N64 predecessor, Tennis plays great. Just grab the controller and go. Funky new courts, in addition to the Peach Dome, and several minigames offer more than the standard exhibition and tournament modes. Each character has exclusive power moves—Diddy Kong going from paw (or is it a hand?) to tail happens to be my favorite—giving them a huge advantage at the net. One complaint: Balls hit past me could still be returned with a power move. Hmm. "

That's a review. For a game. Someone GOT PAID TO WRITE THAT.

Within the last year, I think I've seen some of the worst reviews I've ever had the displeasure to read in EGM. And there's certainly nothing else worth reading. Their lame, MOVIE-TIE-IN GAMES! or SHOOTER GAMES! or UNDER THE RADAR GAMES!, cookie-cutter unoriginal bullshit features are absolute garbage, their lists are filled with numerous lame attempts at humor, and there are little 60 word previews crammed at the bottom of each news page. The news, certainly, is worthless, thanks to the Internet. Ugh. Some of you people have no standards.
 
Himuro said:
The preview section is nonexistent.

While I don't hate the magazine as much as many, I do think it has dropped a little and IMO this is the major reason why. The old layout with longer, more detailed previews of more games was better. I would prefer less "features" of gaming colleges (just an example) and more info on upcoming releases. Unlike others, though, I don't have particularly high standards for gaming mags, to me it's just something to flip through when bored or on the can or something. I will say that EGM >>>>>>>> GI, IMO.
 
The last time I happened upon an issue of EGM. . . between the advertising pages, and shit that I don't care to read about (Nintendo and Microsoft camps), I'm not compelled to bother with EGM.

Yes, I'll take it one further.

I'd prefer to just pay $1.99 for an issue if it just covered Sony related gaming news and cut out the extraneous shit. :P

That GamesTM magazine looked pretty nifty, but at $10 a pop - they can go eat an ass.

At least neither of those magazines have cartoon drawrings of Dave Halverson chilling with a harem of cartoon bimbos. Sweet christ that's pathetic. :X
 
Himuro said:
I think that American gaming mags would be much much better if they had a weekly mag as opposed to monthly but that's just me I guess.

QFT. You think after ten years, one publishing company would realize the amazing efficiency of Famitsu. Look here on GAF, we first find out about Japanese games through Famitsu scans. And that's a once-a-week affair.

I'll always hope for a weekly gaming magazine for the US where they would be the first source for gaming info and screens, and hell, if we're lucky, sales figures. :lol Famitsu USA FTW!
 
I'll always hope for a weekly gaming magazine for the US where they would be the first source for gaming info and screens, and hell, if we're lucky, sales figures.

Do you think the market would bear that?

I ask, because this Utopian concept (a weekly) was attempted by a few manga publishers a few years ago in the US and it bombed.

Granted the video game market far surpasses the relevance of the comic market in the US, but is that enough to sustain sales of a weekly publication?
 
- The reviewers are collectively far too lenient on games
- The overseas coverage is lacking
- The coverage of non-blockbuster games is lacking
- The cover stories on blockbuster games often read like PR

It's still easily the best American gaming magazine, though.
 
I stopped reading EGM about two years ago because I got sick of them ragging on everything that wasn't "mature". Everything that wasn't GTA or Halo was too "kiddy". Plus they went with some new shitty art direction and chinced out on the gloss going instead with the crappy matte cover.
 
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