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Digital Subscriptions to Paper Gaming Magazines - Worth It?
Thanks to GamersWithJobs for its review of digital subscriptions to notable videogame magazines such as EGM or CGW, running down the advantages ("No need to store it at home and you really can't lose it because you can download the magazine as necessary. Unless your wife manages to trash the entire Internet, digital magazines are pretty hard to throw away"), and disadvantages ("No CD/DVD that comes in many magazines these days... Some users will find the need to zoom and scroll as they read a hassle") of the Zinio Reader based digital formats, although for the Baghdad-based reviewer of these digital subscriptions, "getting content otherwise not available in Iraq is a big plus."
Sadly, I'm not into games enough anymore to want to subscribe to a gaming site. However, I am ready for the 'digital magazine' idea. I'd prefer to download a huge PDF or something, but I'd settle for site access I guess.
There was a time I resented the idea of not having a physical copy.. but I've moved like 3 times in the last 2 years. It don't take many of those to despise having to update subscriptions. I am still warming up to the idea of paying for news, though. It still seems funny. In that case, I demand video downloads etc.
"Derp de derp."
it's really difficult to carry an electronic copy into the bathroom with you as you read. and even if you're fortunate enough to have a tablet, it's a huge pain to have to scroll while you're conducting 'other' business. :-D
I can read them while on the toilet. And no I don't have a laptop!
- Your 3 year old won't bring it behind the couch/secret-fortress-of-magazine-destruction-and
- Your 3 year old won't spill his milk on the article about Half-Life 2 and have it drench every page under it (though, I guess he could spill milk on the computer and cause it to explode somehow, but that hasn't happened yet so I'll mark this a PRO).
It's a great idea, I'm all for it. The use of searchable text is invaluable to me, I tend to go through magazines backwards for some odd reason and never look at the table of contents except as a last resort.
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Paper is easier on the eyes over a period of time ( higher res than screens ) and can be held in a more comfortable position for a long time. Score one for old-tech!
* Can't grab a copy and go stink-up the bathroom, unless you're on a laptop and have wireless. Even then, ew. There are some places laptops shouldn't be.
* What happens when their server goes down or they decide to change business models?
This is true of any online rag, not just gaming.
What those who want activist courts fear is rule by the people.
On the other, you'd think that someone stationed in Baghdad might be looking for different news from home than this or this.
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Unless your wife manages to trash the entire Internet, digital magazines are pretty hard to throw away
Problem: Wife throws away game magazines.
Solution: Don't get married.
C'mon people, lets prioritize.
I like the idea, but only if I'm getting a digital *and* print copy. The truth is, I find very little in print magazines that is better content-wise then the internet.
;)
website pros
-updated hourly/daily
-download demos
-pictures from the games + movies
-multiple websites offer reviews making it easier to spot out reviewer biases
And of course, its free! Why the hell would I want to read a magazine? One reason only, portability. I can lay down on the sofa or sit in a vehicle and read it. I can apply the same to newspapers or other print periodicles. Books have the whole eye-strain issue due to their length. Digital paper is going to change everything
I somehow received a free Zinio subscription to EGM, and as far as digital reading software goes it's quite well designed. It's intuitive, streamlined, clean, and clear. You can tell Zinio has attempted to replicate the reading process digitally with its turning pages and fold out ads. I was impressed.
That said, when a subscription to the Zinio/digital EGM costs $19.99 and you can easily find a four year paper subscription for under $5, why bother with the hassle? If I subscribe to the magazine, why can't I pay a few dollars more and get access to the digital version as well?
I remember reading an interview with the suits at NetFlicks in Wired a year or two ago. They said it was still cheaper, and practically faster, to snail-mail data on CDs to someone than to provide it over the net. Zinio's pricing proves this hasn't changed.
I suppose the only advantage to Zinio is not having magazines pile up somewhere. Of course, I have yet to find a game magazine that's worth keeping anyway. They're so filled with hyperbolic previews, barely edited junior high level writing, and gratituous screenshots that they're not worth the hard drive space to save them on.
Considering that the price for a magazine/newspaper is generally used to recoup the costs of production and distribution, these magazines would be better advised to offer the digital versions for free. They can increase their circulation which in turn could increase their revenues.
www.lonseidman.com
I see no incentive to subscribe to something that's being converted from print to digital media. I'd rather subscribe to a website, like IGN. Say what you will about their reviews, but they always have up-to-date news, plenty of pictures and video of the newest games, and there's some actual original content lurking in their Insider section. Plus, for $5.95 a month, it's exactly the same price as that month's EGM or what have you.
Now on the other hand, print trumps digital in a couple areas. For example, coverage from E3. Sure, all the websites have their coverage up as it's happening, but there's soooo much content! I like to buy the EGM or other mag after E3 and be able to leaf through it. When I find something that looks interesting, I can find further details on the web.
Also, it's frustrating when you find a nice site that has infrequent updates. There is a 'zine called Polygon, and while they may not have the most current reviews and previews, their layout and writing style is 'A' material.
Ziff-Davis has the right idea with their website, 1UP. If you check a review for a game, they'll give you the 1Up review, the EGM Review Crew ratings, and possibly the review from Official PS2 or Xbox magazine.
I like gaming sites but print still has intangibles that cannot be replicated on the computer.
I'm on top of my game like I'm standin' on Xbox.
Unless your wife manages to trash the entire Internet, digital magazines are pretty hard to throw away
I'm not married yet and I am a female pc tech/gamer you insensitive clod.
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the guy whose auction you linked has a couple dozen magazine subscriptions for sale, all 2-4 year, all under $10. I don't get it. What's the catch?
For all those with access to their computer (or a Tablet PC), they have access to the internet as well (wireless for portable devices).
So in that case, why would someone pay for a non-versatile (i.e. static) version of printed media, when a dynamic and interactive version of the media can be found on gaming sites such as GameSpy, GameSpot, or IGN (or whatever your favorite site is)?
It just makes no sense for us to pay for something that we could get for free!
How about digital archives of long-past magazines? A full run of Computer Gaming World for instance, or archives of Nintendo Power by year?
I'm sure I'm not the only one who would pay for such a product. Of course, for virtually any product, there are probably at least 10,000 people willing to pay any price.
Happiness is relative, Based upon the way we live.
Well, I signed up for the digital versions of a couple of magazines because of many of the reasons listed above. However, I was turned off because Zinio doesn't offer a client for ANY handheld (PPC or Palm). I have a Sony NX70 and would love to be able to read the magazine on that beautiful display. PDFs and Docs work, so why not this type. While I think it is an idea whose time has come, I still think that it needs to come a little further.
http://www.tomandemily.com
Back when I subscribed to EGM (in the days when IGN was free) I found that 75% of the content was stuff that I'd known about for months (take E3 screenshots for instance, which would usually show up 2-3 issues after the show happened). The only times something would be new is if the magazine extracted an exclusivity clause in exchange for a cover story or whatnot (essentially publicity for the game). This news article didn't specify what the lead time for the digital magazine was, but I'll venture a guess that if they need to make a layout and get everything in final, ready to send to the printers format there's going to be a decent lag. If they don't want the electronic form coming out a full month before the print version gets to their loyal, directly paying, print subscribers, the publishers might be enforcing a longer delay. Somehow I think that I'd rather spend my gaming info buck on a website with a better lead time....
More magazines should do this and go with paperless alternatives. I'd definitely subscribe to adult magazines that do this so that I can get the magazines online... wait... nevermind.
IGN is offering a free subscription to EGM when you subscribe to their Insider member service thing. So, uh, yeah, why would anyone subscribe to EGM instead of IGN?
Well, just ignorance I guess. Or lack of internet access.
I guess I could get an iLoo if they were for real, but I don't think my wife would think one of those parked in the backyard was be a big improvement over a stack of month-old magazines on the back of the toilet.
I've probably shared quite enough now....
Where are mod points when you need them.
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