EGM vs Game Informer, based on substance.

Any magazine that is financially backed by GameStop, I cannot take seriously. I get it JUST to get the better trade in values in the stores, and I read it purely for information, but I am ABSOLUTELY POSITIVE they give more ad-space and more favorable reviews to games that they need to push in the stores or when they receive marketing dollars from the publishing companies.

They can NEVER be unbiased.

Gameinformer, my brother had a subscription to EGM for years but now I hate their BS reviews that will give the most idiotic opinions. I might look at some previews for EGM but Gameinformer still has some of the best previews to me.the_greenzero

Any magazine that is financially backed by GameStop, I cannot take seriously. I get it JUST to get the better trade in values in the stores, and I read it purely for information, but I am ABSOLUTELY POSITIVE they give more ad-space and more favorable reviews to games that they need to push in the stores or when they receive marketing dollars from the publishing companies.

They can NEVER be unbiased.

Phantom_Leo

[QUOTE="Phantom_Leo"]

Any magazine that is financially backed by GameStop, I cannot take seriously. I get it JUST to get the better trade in values in the stores, and I read it purely for information, but I am ABSOLUTELY POSITIVE they give more ad-space and more favorable reviews to games that they need to push in the stores or when they receive marketing dollars from the publishing companies.

They can NEVER be unbiased.

gunswordfist

Just cause you dislike EGM doesn't mean they sell their reviews. Their previous EiC was known to take stand against publishers to the point where some (Ubisoft) don't work with them because of Assassins Creed reviews. That's a fact and not opinion.

[QUOTE="gunswordfist"][QUOTE="Phantom_Leo"]

Any magazine that is financially backed by GameStop, I cannot take seriously. I get it JUST to get the better trade in values in the stores, and I read it purely for information, but I am ABSOLUTELY POSITIVE they give more ad-space and more favorable reviews to games that they need to push in the stores or when they receive marketing dollars from the publishing companies.

They can NEVER be unbiased.

Nifty_Shark

Just cause you dislike EGM doesn't mean they sell their reviews. Their previous EiC was known to take stand against publishers to the point where some (Ubisoft) don't work with them because of Assassins Creed reviews. That's a fact and not opinion.

[QUOTE="Phantom_Leo"]

Any magazine that is financially backed by GameStop, I cannot take seriously. I get it JUST to get the better trade in values in the stores, and I read it purely for information, but I am ABSOLUTELY POSITIVE they give more ad-space and more favorable reviews to games that they need to push in the stores or when they receive marketing dollars from the publishing companies.

They can NEVER be unbiased.

gunswordfist

Game Informer was started by, and is financially backed, by GameStop. You cannot trust their reviews on anything.

If they need to sell more copies of something, for whatever reason, they will put it in a better light in the magazine.

Taking the reviews of GI seriously is like taking the opinion of a salesperson, desperate for a sale, seriously.

EGM just slowly fell apart. They used to have hundreds of pages every month, full of previews, articles, reviews, etc. They used to be my favorite gaming mag...now it's just so horrible. What happened? I don't know. Ziff Davis is in trouble though. OPM, GFW, all fell apart. Shame.

Well, I have a theory, but I don't think many people will agree with this. But I think Ziff Davis and EGM got cursed. Why? Well, I remember reading a past EGM where Hsu was touting how EGM won't be apologetic to say God's name in vain, Jesus' name in vain, or anything that is derogitory toward Christianity. This is shameful. Game Informer and Gamepro, they all censor things, but EGM explicitly claimed that they won't care if they offend anyone.

That lost all my respect for them.

So go with GI all the way. You get more content and better respectful editorial.

I can't say I really care for either publication's reviews. EGM's are just bad. Granted I haven't opened one of their magazines in over a year, but I got the distinct impression that all of the guys doing the reviews hated their jobs and it was showing in the review. With GI, it's just too hard to trust. As Leo mentioned, they are owned by Gamespot. That just seems to be a conflict of interest to me. GI does have some good exclusive info though so it's at least good bathroom reading.

Game Informer and Gamepro, they all censor things, but EGM explicitly claimed that they won't care if they offend anyone.

That lost all my respect for them.

So go with GI all the way. You get more content and better respectful editorial.

ASK_Story

I'm not quite sure what the problem is. Because the other magazines censor they are better? Morally? I don't know about you but I am Christian (granted I don't take religion very seriously) and I can't recall finding something that was down right anti-christian. I don't see any reason to be uptight about it.

EGM just slowly fell apart. They used to have hundreds of pages every month, full of previews, articles, reviews, etc. They used to be my favorite gaming mag...now it's just so horrible. What happened? I don't know. Ziff Davis is in trouble though. OPM, GFW, all fell apart. Shame.

Well, I have a theory, but I don't think many people will agree with this. But I think Ziff Davis and EGM got cursed. Why? Well, I remember reading a past EGM where Hsu was touting how EGM won't be apologetic to say God's name in vain, Jesus' name in vain, or anything that is derogitory toward Christianity. This is shameful. Game Informer and Gamepro, they all censor things, but EGM explicitly claimed that they won't care if they offend anyone.

That lost all my respect for them.

So go with GI all the way. You get more content and better respectful editorial.

ASK_Story

Don't start the Jerry Falwell talk...IMO it is only a matter of time before most gaming magazines hit the dust, unless developers/publishers began offering less exclusive information and or media to gaming sites. Moreover, because most of the important details of magazines get leaked anyway, maybe it is only a matter of time before GameInformer bites the dust too.Gaming magazines need to try and offer something unique, maybe with more insightful articles, maybe with more original features...Something needs to be done

Print media for news and current events is a dying format. Newspapers across the country are on the verge of bankruptcy as well. Print media gets news late, and in an age where most people have a TV or the internet, that's a killer. Print media is the next buggywhip.

That said, both GI and EGM's reviews suck. EGM's are little three sentence blurbs and GI's are just shameful, really. I give the edge to GI because they still manage to break exclusives and their picture quality is unparalleled, but their reviews suck, and that's putting it nicely.

Print media for news and current events is a dying format. Newspapers across the country are on the verge of bankruptcy as well. Print media gets news late, and in an age where most people have a TV or the internet, that's a killer. Print media is the next buggywhip.

That said, both GI and EGM's reviews suck. EGM's are little three sentence blurbs and GI's are just shameful, really. I give the edge to GI because they still manage to break exclusives and their picture quality is unparalleled, but their reviews suck, and that's putting it nicely.

Shame-usBlackley

I don't read the magazines that often. Could you explain what it is about the reviews for both mags that makes them unworthy? Serious question here. NO mockery.

Print media for news and current events is a dying format. Newspapers across the country are on the verge of bankruptcy as well. Print media gets news late, and in an age where most people have a TV or the internet, that's a killer. Print media is the next buggywhip.

That said, both GI and EGM's reviews suck. EGM's are little three sentence blurbs and GI's are just shameful, really. I give the edge to GI because they still manage to break exclusives and their picture quality is unparalleled, but their reviews suck, and that's putting it nicely.

Shame-usBlackley

Really? I don't care much for EGM but personally I think GI's reviews are quite well written in general. There have been a few instances where I have bought a game (and enjoyed) based on their critiques.

EGM just slowly fell apart. They used to have hundreds of pages every month, full of previews, articles, reviews, etc. They used to be my favorite gaming mag...now it's just so horrible. What happened? I don't know. Ziff Davis is in trouble though. OPM, GFW, all fell apart. Shame.

Well, I have a theory, but I don't think many people will agree with this. But I think Ziff Davis and EGM got cursed. Why? Well, I remember reading a past EGM where Hsu was touting how EGM won't be apologetic to say God's name in vain, Jesus' name in vain, or anything that is derogitory toward Christianity. This is shameful. Game Informer and Gamepro, they all censor things, but EGM explicitly claimed that they won't care if they offend anyone.

That lost all my respect for them.

So go with GI all the way. You get more content and better respectful editorial.

ASK_Story

The benefits of GI are that they have a team of writers that have been on the job, as a group for several years. You know who likes what games etc... and can factor that into their reviews. They are very cosy with the publishers, which is both bad and good. Good because they get more exclusives, but bad because I think it does effect their reviews somewhat.

EGM has been a trainwreck for about 3 years, but they seem to be pulling things together under their new editor. I would say they have more editorial integrity than EGM, if not just for the fact that they are owned by Ziff-Davis rather than Gamestop.

The benefits of GI are that they have a team of writers that have been on the job, as a group for several years. You know who likes what games etc... and can factor that into their reviews. They are very cosy with the publishers, which is both bad and good. Good because they get more exclusives, but bad because I think it does effect their reviews somewhat.

EGM has been a trainwreck for about 3 years, but they seem to be pulling things together under their new editor. I would say they have more editorial integrity than EGM, if not just for the fact that they are owned by Ziff-Davis rather than Gamestop.

aspro73

[QUOTE="Shame-usBlackley"]

Print media for news and current events is a dying format. Newspapers across the country are on the verge of bankruptcy as well. Print media gets news late, and in an age where most people have a TV or the internet, that's a killer. Print media is the next buggywhip.

That said, both GI and EGM's reviews suck. EGM's are little three sentence blurbs and GI's are just shameful, really. I give the edge to GI because they still manage to break exclusives and their picture quality is unparalleled, but their reviews suck, and that's putting it nicely.

Nifty_Shark

I don't read the magazines that often. Could you explain what it is about the reviews for both mags that makes them unworthy? Serious question here. NO mockery.

Well, I already stated why I think EGM's reviews are trash -- not enough substance backing up the opinions. It's not that I'm talking about ONLY reviews I disagree with when it comes to EGM, either -- even the ones I agree with I think are trash.

Game Informer's opinons are just off. I mean, come on, giving Mass Effect 360 a 9.75 when it was the buggiest game released this generation? Yeah...... GI has always been generous with their scores, and generous I can live with -- it's when they graduate to deception (which is what that Mass Effect review was, along with others) that I take offense. Also, the fact that they're tied into a retailer that survives by selling games (both new AND used) makes me question their integrity to begin with, but when they start giving near-9's to games that you can't pause while playing (Infinite Undiscovery), then.....