While scanning the latest press releases on Games Press the other day, I was surprised to see a post announcing a redesign of Edge Magazine (Registration required, and if you don't have one, you should definitely get one. If not, the rest of this post gives a good feel for the contents anyway).
This provides an interesting window for a Yank like me into the machinations of one of Great Britain's most lauded (and sometimes most derided) magazines without paying almost $115 for a subscription. I've never read an issue of Edge, so I can't tell you for sure if its "videogame magazine for grown-ups" branding fits or if it's just a tad full of itself. But I can tell you that this press release makes me believe the former.
The release starts off with some standard boilerplate about how Edge has been "internationally respected" and "award winning" since its launch in 1993. It goes on to mention how Edge is "the only videogame magazine ... that reflects the full scope of gaming's present, past and future," and is uniquely positioned "to address its widening cultural impact." While the first part might be arguable, that second part sounds much more appealing to me than another magazine filled with glowing previews and uninspired reviews.
After a bit about the visual part of the redesign, the release goes on to announce a change in Edge's mission statement, from 'the future of electronic entertainment' to 'videogame culture.' First of all, the fact that the magazine has something as lofty as a mission statement is impressive to an admitted Edge-neophyte like myself. I find it hard to imagine many American magazines declaring such a thing. Secondly, Edge's new statement reflects what they call an aggressive pursuit of "all that is interesting in gaming and imaginatively assessing its wider significance." All I can say is, it's about time.
The release also announces a new 'Time Extend' feature for the magazine, which will "follows significant titles after the pre-release hype and the post-release criticism have died down, examining the influence they had on the people who played them and on the games that followed." Many magazines are already doing something similar with increasingly popular "retro" sections, but the way Edge phrased their description here makes me think this could be a little more relevant.
After mentioning in passing that Edge has included editorials since 1999, the release announces two new writers, one a former Grand Theft Auto designer who will give "an insider's perspective on game development," the other a world traveller who will "investigate online communities and the fascinating culture that has rapidly grown around them." American magazines, which have been much slower to incorporate outside editorials, could take note at the variety of perspectives reflected in just these two names.
The release finishes with a comment from the editor that "Edge readers are knowledgeable, dedicated and highly demanding consumers," something that seems either too ludicrous or too embarrassing for most American magazines to claim.
From my outsider's perspective, I got the impression from this press release that Edge is a magazine that takes videogames very seriously and is dedicated to exploring new ways of exploring all aspects of the world of video games, two things I'm definitely in favor of. Then again, I still haven't read the magazine, and a self-laudatory press release probably isn't the most impartial way to find out about a magazine.
Still, if what they say is accurate, maybe paying $115 for a subscription isn't so ridiculous after all.
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"American magazines, which have been much slower to incorporate outside editorials, could take note at the variety of perspectives reflected in just these two names."
ReplyDeleteUm, just wanted to point out, again, that Computer Games Magazine has been doing this for years.
We currently feature two such "outside" columns, one an editorial column by Henry Jenkins and Kurt Squire about the academic view of gaming--and we've had it for almost two years now--and for the last 5-6 years have had a column on game design and "insider" stuff, first by Phil Steinmeyer (desire of Railroad Tycoon II, Heroes of Might and Magic II, Tropico, etc.) and now Ken Levine of Irrational Games (System Shock, Freedom Force, Tribes Vengeance, etc.).
At least give us some credit for what apparently passes for "edgy" content... har.
steve, cgm
Don't take it personally, Steve. CGW is apparently ahead of the curve when it comes to this practice, at least compared to American console mags. I'm not a big PC gamer, so I haven't in general looked at PC-specific magazines. Maybe things are better inthat neck of the woods. In consoles mags, though, most magazines have either just recently started running this type of editorial (e.g. Game Informer) or seem to have no plans to (e.g. GamePro).
ReplyDeleteActually, we're CGM, not CGW, heh. (Computer Games Magazine, Computer Gaming World... yeah, it sucks to have similar names/acronyms.)
ReplyDeleteBut really, if you're going to cover "videogames" in general, you should look at PC magazines, which skew older and provide some of the coverage you ask for. The console magazines, demographically speaking, have much lower average ages for readers.
Edge is one of the finest video game magazines I have ever read. Their writers are informed, not just some idiots who like playing Halo a lot and can come up with euphemisms for genitalia (cough cough, EGM). I've seen lots of great things in their articles. The only magazine that I really prefer was GameFan, and that was only because, you know, they actually respected the games I grew up with instead of slapping a pixellated Atari screenshot on a page of hard-to-read text and writing some snarky caption underneath.
ReplyDeleteShame about the cost of a subscription, though.
Over the years, I've flipped through two or three copies of Edge. The hype around the "greatness" of Edge took on a life of its own years ago.
ReplyDeleteFrom the issues I've seen, the content quality has been comparable to the good days of Next Gen or one of the better computer magazines. (In some ways better than Next Gen, but Next Gen was hardly flawless.)
Plus, for a US audience it has the negative of tending to be out of date due to the different release dates between continents. Amazing content on an upcoming UK game that has been out for two months in the States isn't quite so amazing.
In part, I think the inflated acclaim comes from the feedback effect of people constantly saying how great it is. They hear Edge is the greatest, and repeat that in the future. Even if they've never even seen an issue of it.
And in part, I think the inflated acclaim comes from the foreign factor. Game journalism from other countries tends to look better than journalism from the home country. Look at Famitsu, which was held as the gold standard in the US for at least a decade, even when the actual quality of reviews themselves were on par with EGM. Or Hideo Kojima's comment about how game journalism in the US was better than Japan. He was familiar with the problems of Japan because that is what he spent his career dealing with.
I'm not saying Edge is bad, just that it is overhyped. As for the subscription, there are people willing to pay $100 for a figure that they'll leave in a box.
Edge probably is too hyped for its own good, but that doesn't take away from the fact that it is a quality magazine that covers video games and gaming culture in a serious manner.
ReplyDeleteIt's one of the few gaming mags (that I have seen) that don't write about women in a sexist and objectifying manner. They had an article a couple years back tackling what companies have been doing for minority gamers (disabled, women, non-heterosexual, ethnic). It was really interesting and something which I wouldn't expect an American mag to write about.
If I could afford it, I'd probably pay the £80 or whatever it is to subscribe. Even if the release dates of games are different, the other articles and insights are worth paying full cover price (plus I think £1 extra, I think it is).
Advantage of living near a large U.S. city #34:
ReplyDeleteI can pop on over to a Borders and purchase an imported copy of Edge Magazine for about $8. The magazine is easily worth that much. Where do you live that this is not possible for you? My boss provides the company with company copies of whatever game industry publications we ask for too. That's way helpful.
For the Computer Games Magazine guy, I feel ya, man. Yours is easily my preferred computer game magazine. I appreciate the more mature approach you've taken. I've actually stopped reading PC Gamer completely, even though it is freely available to me at work. I always page right to the editorial content and features before anything else. I tire of seeing the word "exclusive" on game magazine covers.
The only suggestions I would make regarding the magazine are:
Materials: Every time I read your magazine, my grubby, sweaty fingers come away with ink from the cover or pages, smudging it all up. Computer Games always looks the most well-worn magazine in the office, whether it really is or not. Edge, PC Gamer and several others use slick covers and pages that seem to resist smearing more. I much prefer that.
Art Direction: Edge and my other favorite, GMR have a clear, consistent art style that is lively and striking while still appearing mature and respectful. When I think of Edge, I'm reminded of the awesome wraparound front and back, interior and exterior covers they have. When I think of GMR, I think of their cool rotoscope-drawn photos of developers. The only thing art-wise that springs to mind of CGM is that there is usually some sort of painting on the cover.
I know you didn't ask for feedback and that this isn't the best forum for it, but I thought I'd let you know. I don't expect a response and I mean in no way to disparage your publication. As I said above, it is by far my favorite computer game focused magazine.
I used to read EDGE magazine religiously when it was easily available at the newsstands I visited. Then Next Generation debuted, which I believe was editorially related to EDGE (shared some articles and stuff, if I recall correctly...). After that, EDGE was not as readily available. Now that NG is gone, I'd like to go back to reading EDGE, but I can't find it at any newsstands any more :( I keep thinking about getting a subscription...
ReplyDeleteI have to admit that I haven't read CGM in a long time. I do remember that I was generally impressed with it when I have read it. However, I rarely play PC games -- most of my interest is in console games -- so, I rarely get CGM...
ReplyDeleteYowza. When did Ken Levine start writing for CGM? I'm afraid I haven't been following PC gaming magazines lately, but I'll be sure to check out a copy next time I'm at Borders. (Incidentally, none of the Borders I've been to carry Edge, which I will subscribe to when I have money.)
ReplyDeleteWalter
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