tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1135815543912646655.post3265456386929212199..comments2024-03-17T03:51:46.681-04:00Comments on Hardcore Gaming 101 - Blog: EGM vs GameFAN vs GamesTMDiscoalucardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04206257399887664488noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1135815543912646655.post-67908741210973042082010-10-27T23:48:44.569-04:002010-10-27T23:48:44.569-04:00Thank you for informing me of the Nintendo toys is...Thank you for informing me of the Nintendo toys issue -- funny that this GamesTM article is something I'd expect to see in EDGE (circa 2004)!Kikimaruhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07942679473613914049noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1135815543912646655.post-31658031589650668892010-10-25T07:40:12.294-04:002010-10-25T07:40:12.294-04:00Such a shame about EGM... That mag ruled as the k...Such a shame about EGM... That mag ruled as the king of monthly game publications for a long time, and when it went belly-up I was honestly saddened. I got so excited when I heard that the magazine was coming back I bought a full subscription weeks before the premiere issue was released. What I got in the mail was a far cry from the EGM of days past, however, and somehow both the layout and the content seem to be getting slightly worse with each new issue I've received. I really hope they turn things around in a hurry, otherwise the magazine will likely be returning to its grave before my subscription comes up for renewal, and this time I will shed no tears at the funeral.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1135815543912646655.post-79159258995658628802010-10-19T10:57:19.256-04:002010-10-19T10:57:19.256-04:00Saw a copy of the new EGM in a corner shop and it ...Saw a copy of the new EGM in a corner shop and it is dust dry not even Seanbaby could make me laugh it was that bad. I have a few GameFans from back in the day, though haven't seen any of them so far. We hope they're as good as they originally were. <br /><br />Don't have many GamesTM though they do seem to be better than EDGE, which I've finally managed to stop buying every month. Have to buy that Nintendo toy issue as that looks genuinely interesting.King Tibbethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15165391088265351320noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1135815543912646655.post-87184153593370286492010-10-19T06:45:08.543-04:002010-10-19T06:45:08.543-04:00The thinking behind that was in relation to games ...The thinking behind that was in relation to games which are multi-language and developers/publishers want to release a single version in Europe with different manuals (or one manual with different languages), they will amend the content to suit the country with the strictest rules in order to make things easier, unless they decide to release individually tailored versions.<br /><br />With extremely violent games I know that Germany has on occasion gotten an altered version (Black Ops, I think?). And I'll admit there is residual resentment left over from the 16-bit days when SNES and Mega Drive games were altered to make European PAL release easier.<br /><br />Ironically the original Dead Rising was altered for European release, with all breast related imagery being covered up (there's comparative shots online somewhere). Which is odd since I had thought the US was stricter regarding such things and Europe fairly relaxed.<br /><br />I was generalising, and I have a strong dislike for the way publishers sometimes treat Europe as a single entity (multi language release are infuriating), since ultimately I want a game as early as possible, and unaltered from the original creator's vision.<br /><br />So if I was grossly wrong and it doesn't happen any more, slot me right into the "generalisation crowd" I was criticising.Sketczhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02333200178515493705noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1135815543912646655.post-17153432958810608782010-10-18T13:59:18.449-04:002010-10-18T13:59:18.449-04:00Yes, a blacklisted game (as anon put it, a game on...Yes, a blacklisted game (as anon put it, a game on the "index") suffers the same fate as a CERO Z game in Japan. Both can be sold in areas where only adults can see them, but since most major retailers don't have areas like that (and don't sell anything under the counter), the games are not easily available. In that, the whole situation is kind of similar to AO rated games in the US, which retailers like e.g. Walmart don't carry. <br /><br />The only games which can not be sold at all in Germany are games that were banned (which are few and far between). Owning them is still perfectly legal, though (unless it's the really fucked up stuff like e.g. Concentration Camp Manager), and in this day and age of internet, cheap international shipping, credit cards and a strong Euro, importing games isn't much of a problem anymore. <br /><br />@Sketcz: I'm kinda confused about the following sentence in your post: "and many things coming to England fall under the stricter rules of the rest of Europe, unless we get our own unique version (well done German government, well done for nothing)." Can you name some examples where Germany's strict(er) youth protection laws influenced other countries? As far as I know, youth protection is still handled by all countries individually, i.e. the EU has no say in it.Martin Penwaldnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1135815543912646655.post-3324475040317782852010-10-18T12:39:01.297-04:002010-10-18T12:39:01.297-04:00My apologies for any mistakes regarding Germany...My apologies for any mistakes regarding Germany's rating system, I can only blame magazines for never informing me.<br /><br />It would seem Germany's system is very much like Japan's. A CERO Z game in Japan is the highest restriction, and while it can be sold, it can't be displayed where minors can see them - so stores that stock them need to have them in a special closed off area. Curtained off some have even said. Which of course kills sales, because it's like the porno section in a video store - in a shady dark little room.Sketczhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02333200178515493705noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1135815543912646655.post-91539463986734284432010-10-18T03:34:44.745-04:002010-10-18T03:34:44.745-04:00Hi Sketcz,
Actually you are falling for a common m...Hi Sketcz,<br />Actually you are falling for a common misunderstanding of the German system. As the Wikipedia article mentioned, unrated games are basically equivalent to 18 rated games, with one major caveat:<br />They don't have any protection against being considered 'unethical' (my English leaves me at this point) by the infamous BPJM. In that case they would be put on the even more infamous index, at which point they are not allowed to be openly displayed or advertised but still allowed to be sold to adults.<br /><br />There are lots of unrated games on sale in Germany, mainly because either publishers didn't bother to get a rating or because imports are generally unrated.<br />The problem with the German system (and the Japanese) is that this completely kills sales, not because it has to but because the prominent electronics shops are not specialized enough to handle this and specialized shops like Game never got a massive enough foothold. Well and the Germa s are actually fucked for Internet sales which make proving your age too difficult.<br /><br />I agree though that this proves your point.<br /><br />And by the way, even getting a cut version of Dead Rising 2 on PC is in Japan harder than getting an uncut one in Germany ..... I am still working on that :(Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1135815543912646655.post-62356423782250983562010-10-15T10:11:09.254-04:002010-10-15T10:11:09.254-04:00Well, their rating board refused to rate Dead Risi...Well, their rating board refused to rate Dead Rising, and so it's illegal to sell inside Germany - so I'm lead to believe. Which tells me everything I need to know.<br /><br />I suppose you're right. I've never looked into it in great detail. But I've never needed to write the definitive in ratings articles. I don't like Wikipedia but they offer a blanket explanation:<br />http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unterhaltungssoftware_Selbstkontrolle<br /><br />Anyway, this only furthers my point. Why wasn't there a serious examination of international rating systems, with cross comparisons for ratings, plus specific games which were judged differently by different systems? Man, this idea had 6 pages written all over it, with potential for great design using comparison shots for games which were altered. <br /><br />Unfortunately this topic is so broad it does lap over onto censorship - the censoring of Indigo Prophecy could fall into a ratings article, since I presume the rating system of the UK allowed the sex scene to remain with it getting an 18 certificate, whereas in the US it's either Teen/Mature or AO, right? Hell, even walking away from the EGM article I'm still not 100% certain how they work. Which is higher, Teen or Mature, in terms of ratings?<br /><br />The article failed in every possible way.Sketczhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02333200178515493705noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1135815543912646655.post-76084064645672313922010-10-15T03:54:51.804-04:002010-10-15T03:54:51.804-04:00You know, for someone who criticises the lack of k...You know, for someone who criticises the lack of knowledge about other rating systems and vapid writing of the ESRB article, you sure say a lot of nothing about the German rating system. Do you actually know anything about it, or are you just parroting clueless US journalists whose knowledge usually stops at "Uhhh, they don't like violent games or something?"<br /><br />Other than that, your write-up was as interesting as ever. I really enjoy these posts. <br /><br />Oh, and it seems that GameFan sure likes to print their articles diagonally.Martin Penwaldnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1135815543912646655.post-28661713583338930912010-10-15T01:08:27.051-04:002010-10-15T01:08:27.051-04:00Cool feature in GamesTM! I always like to learn ab...Cool feature in GamesTM! I always like to learn about the history behind my favorite game developers. Now I wish I lived in the UK just for that issue.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1135815543912646655.post-39177841643106952082010-10-14T13:13:21.368-04:002010-10-14T13:13:21.368-04:00Point well taken, JoJo. Anonymity has "posit...Point well taken, JoJo. Anonymity has "positive" effects for the writers to say exactly what they wish without fear of reprisal. Granted, that sort of thing leads to things like the EA Louse blog post more often than not.<br /><br />Regardless, author credits are a matter or journalistic integrity. If nothing else, they should at least have a masthead with credits to the various writers and staff for that magazine.gogogoldberghttp://www.twitter.com/gogogoldbergnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1135815543912646655.post-78913746843510476242010-10-14T10:25:53.644-04:002010-10-14T10:25:53.644-04:00gogogoldberg:
The lack of author credits is one of...gogogoldberg:<br />The lack of author credits is one of the things that always bothered me about EDGE, personally. Kind of adds to their already pretentious air and standoffishness. If anything, it almost seems like an excuse for them to feel more free to troll games and stir shit up without having their flats smashed up by angry fanboys.Joseph Joestarhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07068356740904931934noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1135815543912646655.post-73375016574894133462010-10-14T10:11:06.326-04:002010-10-14T10:11:06.326-04:00Say, how would I go about subscribing to GameFAN?
...Say, how would I go about subscribing to GameFAN?<br />I live in Sweden, but I am curious to read this magazine.<br /><br />We used to have a similar and fun to read magazine called Player1, but it merged with another magazine and became Level. <br />Eventually all the Player1 writers left and the magazine only has writers who try to stay as politically correct as possible and more often comparing games with poetry and books rather than other games, not to mention showing a complete disinterest in a game that is more challenging than easy mode in Halo.<br /><br />In short, it's really depressing to read swedish magazines today. ;_;Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1135815543912646655.post-78249641114112888632010-10-14T08:40:08.938-04:002010-10-14T08:40:08.938-04:00Also, it's not an article, but 1UP just posted...Also, it's not an article, but 1UP just posted an mp3 of an interview with Eric Chahi about From Dust: http://www.1up.com/do/minisite?cId=3180393gogogoldberghttp://www.twitter.com/gogogoldbergnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1135815543912646655.post-75269036679859253242010-10-14T03:41:14.466-04:002010-10-14T03:41:14.466-04:00Ahh, so they sent me an out of date issue?
Well, ...Ahh, so they sent me an out of date issue?<br /><br />Well, I retract my criticism for them being so late (though some of the content is still out of date even if it was last month's issue).<br /><br />But I'm not going to edit my post. Shame on them for being so god-damned slow - it's a month out of date now. I might as well buy the issue direct from friends in the USA.Sketczhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02333200178515493705noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1135815543912646655.post-30196741568604567912010-10-14T00:41:41.495-04:002010-10-14T00:41:41.495-04:00I concur with your positive and negative points co...I concur with your positive and negative points concerning GamesTM. I poured over the 100th issue of the magazine and was floored by their ambition. Not only did they decide to make a list of the 100 best games, but each game got its own special cover. It was certainly a stunt, but it was an intriguing stunt. The Retro section stuck out as well with an interview with Arino from Game Center CX. The lack of author credits is definitely shoddy though. Perhaps the bosses are afraid that other magazines will lure away writers if they post credits?gogogoldberghttp://www.twitter.com/gogogoldbergnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1135815543912646655.post-42357298498524614762010-10-13T22:44:38.300-04:002010-10-13T22:44:38.300-04:00I suppose that Todd Howard is unfamiliar with Miss...I suppose that Todd Howard is unfamiliar with Misses Knightley, Beckinsale, and Hazell?Seth Christenfeldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17782151625611528850noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1135815543912646655.post-33095617200245641032010-10-13T22:39:30.587-04:002010-10-13T22:39:30.587-04:00Uggg... EGM is just like looking at bland newsprin...Uggg... EGM is just like looking at bland newsprint.<br /><br />I'd like to say Enslaved will be good, but playing the demo, it feels like a slightly more interactive 1980's laserdisk game. You can move anywhere but you only jump when you absolutely need to jump over gaps. I feel too detatched as a player being in controll, especially when I push one way and the character moves in another direction (bug).<br /><br />Sonic 4, animates like a stiff board. The fact Sonic's walk cycle at the start of movement (yes I said WALK) makes him look like he's skating on air. When he does move fast, the animation cycle is so slow, the sence of the character making effort to move is lost. Don't get me started on broken controlls, jeeze, even 'I' made better ground/air movement mechanics better than that on a SMS. I feel as though there are new people in Team Sonic and they're trying to copy what used to be done without really know why certain things or mechanics were done.<br /><br />Wait... wasn't all this about magazines....Atari Raccoonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1135815543912646655.post-49293812700360998262010-10-13T17:35:04.084-04:002010-10-13T17:35:04.084-04:00I saw a copy of EDGE once at a Barnes & Noble,...I saw a copy of EDGE once at a Barnes & Noble, and thought it looked gorgeous.<br /><br />Magazines like that and GameFan are why I enjoy reading them.cj_iwakurahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02015379443713889163noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1135815543912646655.post-64768383433550332542010-10-13T14:43:16.458-04:002010-10-13T14:43:16.458-04:00Great job on these reviews, however you are review...Great job on these reviews, however you are reviewing an outdated issue of EGM. The latest issue had Dead Space 2 on the cover.<br />http://www.atomicbooks.com/index.php/catalog/product/gallery/id/9633/image/17287/Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com