Edge = GamesTM ?

[Lorraine Kelly]

eh? Games TM is utter trash, EDGE is leagues ahead in terms of reviews, features and design. Plus, Edge have Biffo and Redeye :P

Shame Redeye is a pretencious tosser then.

[Ish]

At the end of the day Edge is always going to be popular with forums like this and always will be. Still figures show that there are more than enough people who buy gamesTM (as well as EDGE) so regardless of whether people like the mag or not, it's gonna still be around for sometime.

Don't get me wrong strider - I actually like GamesTM. I think its made a pretty good start for a new multiformat magazine. Long may it continue.

I'm just surprised it got an award other than 'best new' given how new it is....

[Strider]

[quote="Ish"]

I'm just surprised it got an award other than 'best new' given how new it is....

LOL, not as surprised as we were mate

[Max M]

I think Games TM is fantastic. Edge seems to look down on their readers and has an increasingly cold feel to it... definately not enjoying it as much as I did 2 years ago.

[JU!]

Well, an interesting debate. I buy both mags and have had EDGE since bout issue 70, and have GAMES TM 1-4, i think GAMES TM is very good in places i really like the section on Japan each month and think it is different enough from EDGE to warrant me purchasing it.

U have got to remeber as well EDGE has been around a while and is respected thoughout the games indusrty give GAMES TM time. Just like u can't fully judge a game by 4 minuntes of play, u can't judge GAMES TM by 4 issues. 8)

[Game Boy]

who apparently tried several times to change the other judges' opinion

What on earth makes you say that?

And, Strider, who are you on gamesTM?
Edit: Actually, ignore the above, I've worked it out already.

[TheShend]

I like both magazines. But i prefer GamesTM, I doesn't take it self too seriously.

One point about the Edge awards. Considering Metroid Prime gets game of the year. Why would they spend over half the column labeling it's faults? If you just read the coulmns not knowing the order, Neverwinter Nights would be 1st, Super Mario Sunshine 2nd and Metroid 3rd.

It just read strange to me

[Afterbirth]

The point is that EDGE is a magazine thats serious about its reviews, and its readers. Because of the demographics that most mags aim at, they all try to be funny, or contain childish humour, which is cool, if your under about 25. But why should there not be an adult mag or two. The other mags talk crap (read my GT4 post). I mean, who are they kidding?
As for the coldness, its only applicable to the forum and those that don't like it leave.
You've got to understand that any forum will attract people of all ages and as a result, Edge or the members will react if the comments are a waste of time, and do warn you of such. EDGE's forum is geared to push discussions about gaming, the state of the industry, and programming. The ideas posted are likely to push gaming forward with the multitude of ideas posted. People forget that. Games (in my mind) are reaching stagnation as 3D graphics are reaching their pinnicle.
Forums like Edge's just allow mature people topush forward ideas and debate. Its come under fire for that yet its one of the few forums where good ideas could be born, becuase the industry needs that.
The magazine is the only mag that dares debate about these negative issues, buy they will affect all gamers eventually.

[tankplanker]

I don't understand where people get this whole coldness idea about Edges writing style - it?s simply a more formal style of writing. Having to read academic papers on a reasonably regular basis (and even writing a couple) gives you an appreciation of the effort that this involves and improves the readability of the magazine. Reading other less formal magazines can become painful as they seem laden with banality and factual errors, written in a primary school style (a bit like my posts)

The edge reviews are often the most controversial area of the magazine as (obviously) reviews are mainly based on someone's opinions of the game, rather than hard facts. Although things like a crap camera should be classed a fact within the review it doesn't always result in a crap game (see SMB) so listing the good/bad points (or "facts") of a game shouldn't be seen as proving a score. So how good a reviewer is could be seen as how close to your own personal opinion. A truly great reviewer should be able to interest you in a game you wouldn't look at twice, all in a 250 word limit.

As for Edge copying Games (and the other way round), it has crossed my mind more than once - Edge had a feature on surround sound systems the same month as Games. And if I remember correctly Edge has a 15 day turnaround for their magazine.

[Ady]

The Retro section is the only thing Games TM has going for it, IMO. The magazine has a very untidy, cluttered feel overall and the writing style isn't very interesting. I much prefer' Edge's dry formality (which can also be very funny).

Thanks to that magazine's influence though, at least Edge's retro coverage has improved slightly. It used to just be the 'Making of' some obscure Spectrum game.

I don't understand how people can say Edge comes across as patronising though. If anything Edge is one of the few magazines that doesn't insult its reader's intelligence. The same can't really be said of its main rival...

[Game Boy]

[quote="Ady"]The Retro section is the only thing Games TM has going for

The magazine has a very untidy, cluttered feel overall and the writing style isn't very interesting.

I do partly agree with these points--the design is especially busy. Given time the writing may improve.

Edge is one of the few magazines that doesn't insult its reader's intelligence.

True, but many do feel insulted by some elements of the content aimed at the 'high brow' readers. For instance, one of the judges of that particular award that gamesTM won said he was particularly put off my a review that said all FIFA fans were (and deserved) 'second best'. You can't call people second class citizens; it smacks of arrogance.

[Ady]

Edge hasn't ripped-off GamesTM, it's ripped-off all the magazines GamesTM has ripped-off

Also GamesTM likes to take a dig at Edge every issue. In the latest issue they throw in the phrase Soulless Edge on p45. They need to understand that they are in competition with the likes of Gamesmaster rather than Edge.

They also need to grow up.

[Ady]

[I just want a serious read. Edge don't make jokes.

Yes they do.

[Cacophanus]

Slightly erroneous reviewing aside, and it is getting better, gamesTM is a solid multiformat magazine. More so than EDGE simply because they actually cover games rather than advocate a banal pseudo-lifestyle.

Out of Paragon and Future, the former is the better employer. The editors listen to what you have to say, and also have the rather nice bonus of actually knowing what you are talking about (generally).

** Edited **

[Ady]

For instance, one of the judges of that particular award that gamesTM won said he was particularly put off my a review that said all FIFA fans were (and deserved) 'second best'. You can't call people second class citizens; it smacks of arrogance.

That is somewhat arrogant, but I imagine it was more tounge in cheek than anything. Just like that whole Lord of the Rings movie incident that got a reader's knickers in a twist...