From: marms@sandia.UUCP (Mike Arms)
Newsgroups: rec.games.video
Subject: Re: EGM is a good mag
Date: 6 Apr 92 17:41:53 GMT
Reply-To: sandia!marms@unmvax.unm.edu (Mike Arms)
Organization: Dimsdale Brothers Extortion Agency

rjung@aludra.usc.edu (Robert A. Jung) writes:
>rauser@fraser.sfu.ca (Richard John Rauser) writes:
>> (lots of flames at EGM deleted)
> (lots of flames at Richard deleted)

Ok, Robert.  Take a break.  Try not to take things to such a personal
level.  RJR is a instagitory flamer.  That is, he posts flames that
then spark numerous lateral flames.  

But I mostly agree with Richard about EGM.  I find it to be the best US
mag on video games.  They do primarily cover SNES and Genesis games and
news, so those looking for TG16, Lynx, etc. articles will only find a
small amount to interest them.  Consumer Profile: I am a little over
30, own a Genesis, SNES, Lynx, Game Boy, and Atari 2600 (and enjoy them
all), and have been in and out of video gaming for over 15 years.
I don't read VG&CE.  I read Computer Gaming World for info on computer
games.

EGM does give us glimpses at what games are coming or at least being 
worked on (some never make it out).  I appreciate the info on Japanese
carts that may never make it to the US so that I have some data when
I am looking at MegaDrive or Super Famicon carts (I am into anime and
manga).  The photos and screen shots are good.  The information is
more timely (i.e. CES info is out in more detail and usually earlier
than other mags).  The text is written to a slightly older age group
than Gamepro which is a plus.

The downsides: Their reviews are fairly pathetic.  I gain very little
info from their 2-3 line review and rating.  And some of the clowns
down-rating based on computer ports or up-rating just because it is
another shooter with cool graphics, lots of power-ups, and huge bosses
is very bad.  Like I have said before, I do not look to EGM for ratings
to guide me (although they are usually close to the ballpark in terms of
overall rating for a cart; notice "usually" - they have had some
serious blunders like Herzog Zwei and their tendency to rate shooters
higher than deserved).  I more depend on fellow netters like yourself,
Galen, Isao, James, etc. to give their honest impressions and/or
ratings of various games.  This influences me a lot more than EGM.  To
respond to someone else's charge, EGM does give bad ratings to quite a
few games each month.  They often pan games for being Yet Another Knock
Off or of poor controls or playability.  I have only been reading (yes
I Read it cover to cover) for eight months.

EGM seriously needs proofreaders.  But haven't we found this to be the
case in the video games manuals themselves.  :-)  It is very irritating
to hit these English glitches that they have scattered throughout the
mag.  But I try to ignore it.

I don't mind the rumors.  I find them mildly interesting, but it is sort
of a fan-boy thing.  Treat most of the rumors as vaporware.  True, some
will come true, but a lot is just smoke.

What I do object to is the large number of pages devoted to "covering"
a game that really is just one large advertisement.  They are not reviews,
and they seem to be written by the game publisher.  This is a large waste
of space in their mag, space that I would prefer went to in depth reviews
or detailed strategy hints.

>  Guess that's the big difference between your support of EGM and the various
>net.people who think it's a piece of tripe. You, for some unknown reason,
>actually WANT to hear gossip and innuendo. Never mind if it never comes true,
>never mind if the staff actually makes it up, you want to read it. Why? I
>can't even begin to guess.

Robert, I support EGM not for the gossip and innuendo.  That is a small
part of the total mag, and it is sort of unfair for you to characterise
it as ts primary contents.  In fact, I have enjoyed reading it enough
to subscribe to it just two months ago, despite the slams against it in
the newsgroup.

>  Those of you who want to be responsible consumers and get factual
>information should avoid EGM like the plague. Flip through it for the neat
>photos of new games, but (to save your soul) DON'T READ A WORD.

No, I am a responsible consumer.  I get information from a large number
of sources.  EGM is, to me, a necessary source of good but somewhat biased
information on new video games.  By keeping the bias in mind and merging
the info with that of other sources such as this newsgroup, I can make
better decisions for my video game purchases or rentals.

So IMHO Richard did have something worthwhile to contribute on this topic.
That he wrapped it in another flame and took pot-shots at Lynx owners is
unfortunate, but we have come to expect that kind of foolishness from him.
Actually, I have read a non-inflamatory post of his recently, so maybe
there is hope.  Nah, probably not.  But Robert, try to keep your own feet
out of the mud.  I know it probably feels good to do it as RJR seriously
gets under your skin, but it doesn't help the situation.  It only adds
more fuel to the fire and makes the poster look bad.  We have enough heat
with the system wars to add these personal attack messages.  Thanks.

-- 
Mike Arms
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