EGM - S. Harris (Reasons)
Dmitheon
Hello Steve:
Rather than the wild vindictive letter you've probably been recieving
I'll try to be rather straight forward in my response. First congrats, on
your third child. But now on to the magazine. For background sake I've
folowed EGM since about issue two, or was it three. I was a subscriber
for about 2 years. I used to like the magazine a great deal. But you've
come a long way since your first couple of issues. Your magazine
used to be filled with some good solid content, backed with excellent pictures.
It wasn't 100% accurate all the time, but on the whole is was fairly decent.
That's why you grew so fast...
Since then, the magazine has gone down. I realise your readership is
still primarily young teens, but that doesn't mean it has to be written
for fools. True there is alot of razzle-dazzle and hype to sell magazines,
but why can't these be followed up by better pictorials and more solid
content. think you magazine could be improved in a few simple steps:
1. the review crew: give yourself more space to explain yourselves. Often
we get cop out answers like " Well I don't normally care for this genre,
but overall I think it's ok." If the reviewer is not into the genre then be
honest, or give 2 numbers. One for an attampt to be unbiased against the
genre, and one for people who's interests are similar to the reviewers.
For example, someone who loves action games, reviews an RPG. By his words
he's half asleep but he gives the game decent rating figuring he just doesn't
like the game because he doesn't care for the genre. If he was put to
sleep by the game, he should give it the low rating, and say " RPGers
may like it, but I want action. This title delivers none of that."
If your reader likes RPGs then they'll look at another reviewers notes, like
say yours ( yes I remember you're fond of RPGs), and make his/her decision
based on that. Isn't this the whole purpose of having multiple reviewers?
2. Pictorials. Egm used to do great pictorials back in '90-91. You used to
do picks of while levels, seperate sections sectioned off sections with pics
pf different moves the main character would have along with names. PIctorials
on games like Street of Rage 1, and Gaiares were beautiful and gave the
game a very good idea of what he/she was going to see when they bought or rented
the game. The pictures were also alot better back then as well. I don't know
why but everything was alot cleaner.
3. EGM vs. EGM2 vs. Mega Play: I really think that all these different
publications for the same market are a little bit much. Considering alot of
what in EGM and EGM2 compliment each other so well, I really recommend
combining these into just the EGM title. Mega Play must have quite an
audience since it's the only spins off that's stayed around ( unlike
Spuer NES buyer guide, Super Gaming [your old Import/ NeoGeo/old highend
gaming mag], and a host of others). I really think you should think about this.
Alot of criticism has been leveled against EGM as being anti-Sega. You might
come to the conclusion that I have. That your Sega fans have either switched
to another publication, or they now only read Mega Play. Either way your
losing money from your EGM readership. Is Mega Play making that much money
that a year's subription to it nets the same profits as a years subscription
to EGM. If I really had a choice in the matter I'd assimilate what was Mega
Play back into EGM (as if most of it didn't come from there anyway). Then
bring EGM2 back into EGM. Then produce a single thick magazine every 2-3
weeks. I doubt this will happen since I can't see your side of the situation
and the profits you pull from all these publications. I'm sure it's sizeable
or else you wouldn't do it. ^_^
Mr Harris, I really hope yougive these some consideration. Though I really
believe number three is only a pipe dream I figured I'd add it in. The
first two suggestions I don't see as outlandish. On a side note: I think
you should take a look around these new groups. You can't hope to compete
with them in terms of lead time. So use other things to attract our money.
Exclusive interviews with the industry is something the news groups themselves
can't do. Capitalize on that. Thank you for your time and consideration.
-Dmitri Lenna
Ps. You handled the increase in the price of paper issue very well as opposed
to other mags who raised their price or now use lower quality paper.
That was appreciated.
==Dmitri "Dmitheon" Lenna: a closed mind is its own worst punishment======
| dle...@micro.ti.com http://www.rpi.edu/~lennad RSFA = Anime at RPI !! |
| DOOM-PhantasyStar-DOOM-PrimalRAGE-DOOM-GabrielKnight-DOOM-SFa-DOOM |
| " The Masquerade", because vampires don't exist >:) |
==========================================================================
Kynn04
stop catoring to the kiddies so much. The kiddies have their mags, Video
Games, Nintendo Power, Gamepro, so please attempt not to play to them so
much. Many of we gamers are now in our twenties (I'm 23) and can read
MUCH above a third grade level. Next Generation seems to realize this and
as such, they have adapted their magazine to that audience. I'm sure that
you realize this by now and hope that you will react in an apropriate
manner.
Another improvement that can be made is with your reviews. Your biased
towards Sega, Nintendo, and Sony is quite obvious and much of your
credibility has been lost. How can Myst on Saturn score so high and Myst
on 3do score so low when in fact it is the same game!!!!! Sunsoft did the
ports for BOTH systems yet you rate the Saturn version higher!!! IT JUST
DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE!!!!! I believe that 3do's proclaimed death by EGM
has been MUCH exagerated. In fact, 3do is in a better position than both
Sega and Nintendo. 3do's price WILL be cheaper than ALL other systems
(including U64) and software support has never been higher, yet you
continue to dismiss it!!!! 3do sales are now surpassing Saturn sales by a
3 to 1 margin since 3do's price drop, yet I'm sure you won't mention this
HUGE fact in your magazine. You had better pay some retribution to 3do
owners as they may soon be your prodominate audience. While some may say
that 3do currently is the weakest system of them all, look at the future
this way.....By Christmas a $199 3do system is EXTREMELY likely!! This is
definately in the mass market's price range and with the M2 adapter
available, it will be the most powerful machine. Have you ever considered
this??? 3do's success is beginning to unfold after two years, yet you
guys at EGM (Next Generation DID prodict this) continue to ignore it!!!!!
I used to love EGM and you guys were the predominate magazine to buy, buy
your lack of attention to customers and biased attitudes have dropped you
down the ladder of success. Please listen to what I have said and react
accordingly
Jeremie
Swedish Chef
>Another improvement that can be made is with your reviews. Your biased
>towards Sega, Nintendo, and Sony is quite obvious and much of your
{snip on 3DO praise}
>Jeremie
OK, so you want EMG to be biased toward the 3DO like you are? That's
exactly what you just said. That wouldn't be any better then, wouldn't it?
I'd rather the review crew take the 4-per-page and go to 2-per-page and
have much more insight in what is said (so 'it isn't good, but might be
for you' stuff won't be there anymore). I like the fact that 4 reviewers
are used, but sometimes the reviews almost seem like they weren't written by
individuals. I've read MANY reviews where the same adjective sequences
were used.
Sorry to say this, but I think the import section has gotten too large
with almost as much space as the domestic articles. It may be relevant,
but not enough to have just as many Japanese previews (which is what I
consider the 1 and 2 page spreads cos they don't say much) as US ones
lately. I want to hear about the Sony PlayStation, but I don't want to
hear about a machine that isn't in the US more than the Super NES or
Genesis (this is game spread section, not news -- which there is more of
a buzz for PSX and Saturn.Japan information now) There was basically
nothing on the Genesis or SNES in issue 72 while there was basically more
to say about Japanese PSX and Saturn games (not just gaming news, I'm
saying the 2-page and 1-page sections on individual games)
Also, I've noticed that EGM2 isn't worth buying. Everyone was WANTING a
bi-weekly EGM, but we didn't want the same information overlapping. I
haven't read the past 2 EGM2s except in stores now. I like to see the
pictures (which the net doesn't provide much of..), and I collect EGMs.
All I've realized is that the same information was given except very
crucial things (like the strategy guides) which actually is cheesy
because you'd have to buy EGM2 to get the next guide. I read that you
didn't want EGM and EGM2 to be exactly alike, but that's what people were
wanting, 2 EGMs, not EGM and a mediocre EGM2. My opinion is to make EGM2
exactly like EGM, but with completely different game reviews. That would
greatly help.
I agree about Mega Play, it is now your best publication. I used to read
MP, EGM, and SNES BG and noticed SNES BG was never appealing (although I
own a Super Famicom). EGM used to give great information around 1990 and
1991. MP still gives info a bit late (bi-monthly makes that happen), but
the info is still crisply given, and the bias isn't really there. I mean
a Sega-only publication that doesn't rave about the greatness of Sega is
quite a change. Electronic Games should go away (if it already hasn't).
I remember VG&CE (if it still is around, i haven't seen it), but EG is
EXACLY the same as that mag used to be! It tries to show computer and
video games and it doesn't work. It's written more intellectually, but
intellectual can mean boring and this exemplifies boring.
Your reviews used to disagree quite a bit! I mean 6778 and 9997
isn't too big of a difference, I remember 4448 w/ Mondu which showed guts
to like a game. Now they all seem watered down (or too feisty toward a
game, a bad game is a bad game, but a game you give a 7 to shouldn't be
ragged on as that means it is very good according to that old scale) It
just seems like everyone gets together so they don't disagree too much.
If they had more space to write and more space to think, the reviews
would shine (that's the reason I started reading EGM! The review crew used
to be excellent! I guess since you and Martin are no longer there
(reviewing that is), a different feel is there, but the 2 new guys just
have a blandness or bias which is really distressing) Actually, more
reviews would really make EGM shine more as NG has the info scoop better
and DHGF has the best pix. The back section is kinda worthless cos it
really doesn't pertain to video games (even tho I like the Star Trek
stuff you've done, but I would rather read that in a different mag).
Replace it and give more real reviews and not watered-down feelings on a
game and EGM would be a much better mag.
Thanx for the time.
--
Swedish Chef-"Jag lagar god mat!"
_____ ____ gt3...@prism.gatech.edu
|____ | C=8^)X "Bork Bork Bork!" -or-
_____| + |____ + sc...@cc.gatech.edu
Steve Harris
can change to suit your needs better, please know that I am very
appreciative of your candid and often very valid suggestions. I
will be following up personally with many of you, if that's OK,
but I would still like to invite anyone who has yet to offer up
their $.02 worth on how EGM and EGM2 can be made into better
magazines.
I just saw my third child born yesterday morning (can you believe
this - I AM a human being!) and probably won't get to answering
all of your points until next week. I do want you to know that
all of your suggestions will be printed out and individually
reviewed at our next editorial meeting.
- Steve Harris
EGM
Schmev
(Dmitheon) writes:
> 1. the review crew: give yourself more space to explain yourselves.
This is my biggest complaint 6-9 sentences do not make a review. It's far
too easy for gamers to misinterpret the message with only 6-9 sentences.
I think this is a strong component of why gamers feel that EGM is biased
in one way or another.
Die Hard Game Fan at least reviews the game in EGM style but then has a
critic fully explain their review over 1-2 pages. Many times the people
who reviewed in EGM style "flesh out" their review in later sections of
Die Hard.
As far as I'm concerned, Sushi-X and Ed Semrad are far removed from gamers
as they only write their 6-9 message review and give the game a 1-10
rating. Explain fully why a game gets a 5 or a 9.
It is obvious that reviewers at EGM are biased, look at their favorite
games each month. I'm a subscriber and it is most often that Nintendo
games that make that list. They do not seem in touch with the U.S. gamer.
It seems they are writing to the Japanese market.
How is that these reviewers never pick sports games as their favorites?
This is what the U.S. market wants! EGM subscribers would be better
served if EGM considered its audience(what a concept!).
Congratulations on the new kid!
Schmev(sch...@aol.com)
kag...@imap2.asu.edu
: Everyone who has responded to my request for more info on how EGM
: - Steve Harris
: EGM
Hey screw you, man! You rip on the internet's candor every
chance you get, and then you come here to kiss ass, you two-faced piece
of garbage. You want to fix EGM? GET A NEW STAFF AND STOP THINKING YOUR
READERS GIVE A SHIT ABOUT WHAT YOU DO IN YOUR FREE TIME. The answer to
all your questions is right there. THAT'S what got you in trouble. The
magazine turned into toilet-paper written by egotists right after Street
Fighter II first came out because, all of the sudden, you had the urge to
tell the world how good you were at it. Everyone on your staff started
behaving like it was EGM and not Capcom who put out the game. And startr
talking about games people care about. That's why Next Generation is
eating you alive. Screw the stupid Game Boy and Virtual Boy games. No
body cares. Start doing deep reviews on Playstation and Saturn games,
and reuce 16-bt coverage. Magazines are there to tell us what's on the
horizon, not what we already know. --
Eight-Ball
Chris.
". . . at a steak and eggs breakfast the hens are involved, but the cow
is committed".
kag...@imap2.asu.edu (flame at your own peril).
Rick Brown
> Steve Harris (74544...@CompuServe.COM) wrote:
> : Everyone who has responded to my request for more info on how EGM
> : can change to suit your needs better, please know that I am very
> : appreciative of your candid and often very valid suggestions. I
> : will be following up personally with many of you, if that's OK,
> : but I would still like to invite anyone who has yet to offer up
> : their $.02 worth on how EGM and EGM2 can be made into better
> : magazines.
>
> : I just saw my third child born yesterday morning (can you believe
> : this - I AM a human being!) and probably won't get to answering
> : all of your points until next week. I do want you to know that
> : all of your suggestions will be printed out and individually
> : reviewed at our next editorial meeting.
>
> : - Steve Harris
> : EGM
>
> Hey screw you, man! You rip on the internet's candor every
> chance you get, and then you come here to kiss ass, you two-faced piece
[ETC]
Ouch! That was a little too scathing for my tastes. Actually, I was
perusing the latest EGM2 on the newsstand and noticed that the picture
quality has been greatly improved. In fact, I thought that it was nearly
on par with Next Generation's copy. I dunno, let's give this mag. a
chance to impress us...note, I wrote "a chance". Harris is replying to
criticism on the 'net - criticism which has got to be fairly hard to
swallow, especially when so much of it is just bashing. So I suggest we
ease up and see what they do with the next few issues. I'm willing to
accept the magazine if most of my previous criticisms are addressed and
acted upon.
I really wish they'd allow for cross-comparision of games on different
consoles. I think a game which is of inferior quality on the game boy
should not get a similar rating to an obviously more impressive (yet still
below "64-bit" quality) game such as Alien vs. Predator...that simply
makes no sense -- at least, not when the same rating scale is used for
every game (i.e., number ratings from 1-10).
Rick Brown <brow...@gold.tc.umn.edu>
Here we go again....
terrell gibbs
brow...@gold.tc.umn.edu (Rick Brown) wrote:
:I really wish they'd allow for cross-comparision of games on different
:consoles. I think a game which is of inferior quality on the game boy
:should not get a similar rating to an obviously more impressive (yet still
:below "64-bit" quality) game such as Alien vs. Predator...that simply
:makes no sense -- at least, not when the same rating scale is used for
:every game (i.e., number ratings from 1-10).
Most people have a particular console and are interested in how a game
rates for that console. If they rated 64 bit and Gameboy games on the same
scale, then Gameboy games would have a dynamic range of maybe 1-3, which
wouldn't really be fair to Gameboy owners. They do occasionally comment on
whether the Genesis or the SNES version of a game is better, which is
helpful for people who own both consoles.
Swedish Chef
Peter Laviniere <z007...@bcfreenet.seflin.lib.fl.us> wrote:
>paragraph saying that Boon and Tobias really are working on it. Boo, hiss.
^^^^^^^^^
Wow! Are you originally from Virginia? My gifted teacher from middle school
(ahh... so long ago!) used to ALWAYS say boo, hiss. Brings back
memories :) Sorry 2 bug you. L8r (as if you wanted to know this...)
Swedish Chef
Swedish Chef <sc...@cc.gatech.edu> wrote:
>Wow! Are you originally from Virginia? My gifted teacher from middle school
>(ahh... so long ago!) used to ALWAYS say boo, hiss. Brings back
>memories :) Sorry 2 bug you. L8r (as if you wanted to know this...)
Umm... this was SUPPOSED to be a reply (now I am feeling really stupid as
I have no way of zapping the article...) At least I'm not bashing or
being terribly rude, but still this wasn't supposed to get posted to this
newsgroup. My deep apologies to all who read this. Thanx *blush*
Peter Laviniere
posting a "Read EGM2 for more details" crap in EGM. And they buy EGM2 to
get 2 extra sentences on why MK3 sucks. Come on, man. Treat peple like
adults and maybe adults will buy your mag and not little kids.
2. Dump the GamePlayeresque drawings that you suddenly adopted.
3. Reshrink the letter section, it's way out of control.
4. Cut your profits and reduce the number of ads. DHGF gets an A+ for
this. They really reduced the number of ads you gotta thumb through, of
corse they ended up raising teir price, but it's a fair trade off.
5. Top ten stuff should only use one page, what a waste.
6. NO MORE MISLEADING COVER INFO. MK3 stuff inside. Oh yeah, a
paragraph saying that Boon and Tobias really are working on it. Boo, hiss.
7. Never use words like radical and cool b/c you are supposed to be
intelligent grown men and readers aren't morons.
8. Drop the price to $2. Oh yeah. Right now, your mag ain't worth a
penny. Well, maybe 2 pennies.
9. Line up all the reviewers and Qmann and shoot them. Better yet, car
bomb them. They suck, plain and simple.
10. Everything else I can complain about but don't have te time and
energy. Try totally revamping the mag man. Try t look professional, or
at least credible.
--
KiiLA - Destroyer of Worlds
"They are all dead...ALL. I have killed all."
- Maxx