I'm addicted to videogame magazines, always have been. Lately they've been dropping like flies.
Computer Games (fmly. Computer Games Strategy Plus) died due to the shady practices of its parent company. They had some of the best, most adult writing in the industry.
Now it looks like Nintendo Power and Tips & Tricks are next. Sure, they're both kind of niche titles -- one's for Nintendo fanboys and the other's for people who don't know about Gamefaqs.com, but their loss makes me shed a big ol' man-tear.
How about you guys? Has anyone lost a favorite magazine lately? (And I don't mean the nudie magazines under your bed.)
Original Playstation Magazine. Usually just got it for the demo disc, but the reviews were helpful in pointing out where I shouldn't waste my money. The alleged story is, they gave an EA game a bad review, EA pulled most of their ads from the mag, and they had to close up shop. Dat's not cool.
I get a trade magazine about comics and games retailing published by the people who do the Comics Buyers' Guide.
This month's issue, which should have been a big one, since it was the preview for Comic Con, was I don't think more than 36 pages.
Admittedly, a trade magazine most people get for free isn't the same as a mainstream mag shrinking, but it still saddened me when I saw it, as the magazine's annual company directory is a valuable resource.
"Original Playstation Magazine. Usually just got it for the demo disc, but the reviews were helpful in pointing out where I shouldn't waste my money."
OPM ruled. Two of the last few Gamecube games I bought -- Hunter: The Reckoning and the undiscovered gem Metal Arms -- were because I knew they played great from those old PS2 demos.
Another reason for its demise is (allegedly) that Sony saw no reason for demo discs in an era of downloadable PS3 content. I guess somebody forget to give Microsoft the memo, because Official Xbox Magazine is still going strong, *with demo discs*.
Let's face it, demo discs are a collector's item. Downloadable content only lasts as long as it's on your hard drive or *their* servers. :P
Originally posted by ShapeshifterTwo of the last few Gamecube games I bought -- Hunter: The Reckoning and the undiscovered gem Metal Arms -- were because I knew they played great from those old PS2 demos.
Was Metal Arms subtitled "Glitch in the System"? I've been buying old PS2 games, looking for any gems I may have missed when they first came out (as an aside: OKAMI. GO GET IT. NOW.) and I vaugely remember this game being pretty good.
* Great voice acting. The guy who does Homer Simpson voices like three characters. It's very "retro war movie propoganda." There's also some South Park-esque swear beeping.
* The play control is fantasic. I don't think I've played a game that moves this slick in years.
* Multiplayer deathmatch is a blast. There are vehicles, robots you can possess and battle with, and weapons are freely strewn about. I know this sounds like b.s., especially since Metal Arms is so under the radar, but it just might be the best put-together console deathmatch since Goldeneye 007.
The only downside? Dreary levels. They're way too dark, even in the outdoor areas, and except for this one cool "race a vehicle down a hill" type level I'm playing now, they could have REALLY used a dose of color.
But yeah, you can pick it up for practically nothing, and I don't think you'll be disappointed.
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