Writing isn't easy in general after having a few days for clearing my head on thinking something new to type up for a blog on GameSpot, this thought came to me the other day after picking up a recent issue of Official UK PlayStation Magazine. It's been over 10 years the last time I picked up an issue of their magazine in general the last issue I bought was Issue 100 being the last magazine for the PlayStation 2 yet there were still more good games coming to the PlayStation 2 at the time in 2008. Not long ago both NEO magazine and PLAY magazine recently both ended just before and after the New Year just gone.

Going back further, I use to love reading the PS1 magazines as well, which still bring back nostalgia from time to time. This was before consoles like the PS3, Xbox 360 and Wii were released demos were in fact on a disc which can hold at least a good 5-10 demos per disc, but this came with a magazine which was our only way to finding out on what games were going to be released with the next few months or within the year. I did enjoy reading the previews and reviews on what games were going to be out during that time and this was before I had access to the internet in my own home or at school or even paying on a subscription GameSpot for news. But one of the most memorable magazines I remember at a young age after receiving my PlayStation during one Christmas, Official UK PlayStation magazine pretty much had everything on previews, reviews, cheats and of course, what was on each demo which had demos for upcoming games being released 1-2 months before release and trailers making you hyped about the game and what to expect.

Most demos only had at least 1 or 2 levels in each game, giving you choice which level you want to play first, they may contain spoilers if that level was happening to be in fact, part of the game itself, but it was a hard level to complete in the demo it gave you an idea where you needed to go or where you were heading; Metal Gear Solid demo was one of the good examples when it came to knowing where you needed to be next. Another feature that was included with the demo's was Net Yaroze which was a development kit for the PlayStation and a promotional kit for computer programming hobbyists from 1997 who want to make their own games; back then this felt like felt this was the only way to play indie games on demo discs from the Official UK PlayStation magazines, but these were only arcade title games but they were fun and got you coming back to playing them again and again. Most of these homebrew games were pretty impressive, there were games like Total Soccer Yaroze, Haunted Maze, Psychon, Rock N Gems and Super Bub they kept me coming back to the demos for more. If you were to want to try and get your hands on a Sony Net Yaroze console are hard to find to come by at a very good price if you are willing to pay at a good price on ebay.

I do miss buying the old magazines I used to buy including the ones with the demo with them because when developers released their demos on discs, it gives people like you building up hype on looking forward to a certain game within a few months or later in the year. If they considered of thinking of releasing any of the classic Net Yaroze games as a download code either on PS4 or Steam the idea would work if you think about it. Some games I would love to play again like Haunted Maze and Super Bub again yet, you can't remember which disc demo they were on releasing them on either platform would encourage more people to buy the magazines in general in shops.

I am aware that their recent version of their magazines are being released digitally on tablets and phones for both iOS and Android devices. Most magazines are doing this more and more making it cheaper and reducing the cost on releasing a number of copies and issues released in stores and reducing the number of pages. Looking back 20 - 25 years ago, there has been a massive difference and how far we have come when it comes to gaming magazines that have content for previews and reviews on games including new consoles.

Going back to the recent PlayStation magazine Play after reading their recent issue, it's nice that they've kept their previews and reviews most of their games are either PS5 or PS VR games maybe the odd PS4 game out of the blue time to time. With different editors writing all the info I did like that they, had they little section can't remember from the top of my head either called RetroStation or Nostalgia section they would talk about a classic game either released a number of years ago, on a game like Kula World that was released in 1998. It's a good concept to think about, even myself would think of writing a blog based on a game that was released either 10, 15 or even 25 years ago I would talk about that game alone and wonder if it's still worth playing today.

Another section I did like was their Opinion section from the Official UK PlayStation magazine where one article written by Jess Kinghorn mentions that single-player games aren't safe from microtransactions, this article I did like reading because she made a few valid points where one example was Final Fantasy XV being released in 2016 felt a little rushed and a few months after DLC content was released as episodes for Ignis, Gladiolus and Prompto a few months after would be released as a Game of the Year edition titled as Royal Edition when thinking of this I kind of wished that the game was kept back a little longer in finishing the final touches if that was optional. Another article written by Alex Spencer mentions that Episodic could mark an end to Chapter-by-Chapter games like Hitman moving away from that area in gaming, and of course Season 4 of Telltale's The Walking Dead will be the Final Season for that series.

Aside from their magazine noticed a few months now that they have their own YouTube channel PlayStation Access is trying to get a wider audience to the world, picking favourite games, levels, PSN news and comparing graphics and visuals on a game was released back in 1998 and comparing it to the recent remake two examples would be Spyro the Dragon and Resident Evil 2 comparing both games on PS1 and PS4.

I have read of other magazines as well like Edge and Retro Gamer from time to time same thing, I always find magazines ideal for gathering ideas and inspiration ideas for upcoming blogs and yes, I still check up on the recent gaming news on GameSpot as well everyone has their own taste and opinions on games in general when it comes to reviews and thoughts. Not only that having physical copies of magazines can easily bring back nostalgia later in the future or something to tell the next generation of gamers showing them a few old magazines and a blast to the past might encourage them to check classic games that we grew up with.

What are your thoughts?

Are magazines slowly becoming a thing of the past?

Let us know in the comments-