Picked up a new computer games magazine

Anrhydeddu · 04-22-2003, 03:43 PM

A couple of years ago, I stopped subscribing or buying computer games magazines (notable Computer Gaming World and PC Gamers) because of their juvenile and immature writings, and insipid reviews. However, last week I saw a “new” magazine on the newsstand called simply Computer Games. I was attracted to this since it had an “exclusive” article about Railroad Tycoon III (I loved the first two versions). Anyway, the articles seem to be geared to a more mature (and cynical) audience and somewhat hard-hitting since they don’t pull any punches in regards to the hypocrisies of the more popular gaming magazines. Do anyone know about this magazine, who puts it out or any thoughts about it?

04-22-2003, 03:48 PM

They all get old too quickly. I subscribe to several gaming magazines every now and then but usually let a year go by between subscriptions.

BTW, I have had Railroad Tycoon II Gold Edition for almost two years now. So do you think that I should give it a shot already?!?

Draft Dodger · 04-22-2003, 03:54 PM

I'm very interested in that mag, Buc..er...Arny.

I've subscribed to PC Gamer for years, and it has really slipped in quality level (and maturity level).

we're there reviews also? or just articles/previews?

WSUCougar · 04-22-2003, 03:57 PM

I subscribe to Computer Games, and it has been around for quite awhile. They just redid their format, but they do indeed cater to a more mature audience and pride themselves on straight-up reviews. I think they are a very good source for game-related information.

Railroad Tycoon III looks wild compared to II!

Draft Dodger · 04-22-2003, 04:01 PM

semi-dola,
just checked some Amazon reviews, which seems to be pretty much in-line with what you're saying.

I may have to check this out (hell, what's 1 more mag subscription when you already have 20).

I don't think I can find it locally - too bad - I'm very eager to hear about RTIII. Railroad Tycoon I and II are among my favorite games of all time.

Joe Stallings · 04-22-2003, 04:08 PM

The quality and coverage has gone down, and it has been particularly difficult for games like sports sims to get any decent coverage. I mean, PC Gamer hasn't had a dedicated sports columnist since Rob Smolka left nearly two years ago.

I guess part of it is that advertising dollars aren't flowing to the PC-based gaming magazines in light of the console revolution. Still, I see a lot of fluff and wasted space. For instance, if I had to choose, I would much rather see more (or expanded) actual GAME coverage than having 1/2 the magazine dedicated to hardware reviews and "strategy guides."

What is really sad is that if you flip through just about any recent edition of a PC game magazine, nearly every game they choose to review looks the same; it is some offshoot of Quake, Age of Empires or Everquest.

Come on, review DopeWars already dammit!

KWhit · 04-22-2003, 04:09 PM

Dang! I may have to install RRT2 tonight. You guys just reminded me how much I liked that game.

Semi-related question: I want to subscribe to a couple of mags (PC games may be one). Where do you guys find the best prices? Is there really any difference in price?

sabotai · 04-22-2003, 04:13 PM

I used to get Computer Games, they gave me a free 'semi0' subscribtion. (Hanve no idea, it just started coming in the mail and then after about 6 months, I got the "last issue" notice). It was a good mag that I have been considering subscribing to.

Anrhydeddu · 04-22-2003, 04:13 PM

RRT1 (along with SimCity) what got me into PC gaming and liked what they did with RRT2. Not having followed any gaming news, this was the first I have heard or seen anything about RRT3 and I was blown away by its design. Apparently, Phil of PopTop had been a columnist for CG and I always liked what he had to say. (I know no one cares, but it was on a RRT2 forum that was my first experience in forum dynamics since the old CompuServ days and where I learned to be a real curmudgeon.)

Thanks for the input on this magazine, I think I might be interested in subscribing again.

Anrhydeddu · 04-22-2003, 04:15 PM

dola

Joe, I hear you. It had been really hard to even pick up a game magazine when they all kept saying shit like "way kewl", "it rocks" and :kicks ass" all of the time. Of all of the columnists I had read, William J. Trotter was the only that wrote like an adult.

Joe Stallings · 04-22-2003, 04:24 PM

Yeah, Trotter rocks.

Actually, I wonder if he retired or left, would war games get the same kind of decent coverage in PC Gamer that they get now.

sabotai · 04-22-2003, 04:26 PM

"Actually, I wonder if he retired or left, would war games get the same kind of decent coverage in PC Gamer that they get now."

The answer would be no.

Radii · 04-22-2003, 04:30 PM

Whoa, the original Railroad Tycoon was the first game I ever felt the beginnings of an addiction for. And RRTII was amazing. What's the release date on the 3rd one? *drool*

GrantDawg · 04-22-2003, 06:27 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by KWhit
Dang! I may have to install RRT2 tonight. You guys just reminded me how much I liked that game.

Semi-related question: I want to subscribe to a couple of mags (PC games may be one). Where do you guys find the best prices? Is there really any difference in price?

Publisher's Clearinghouse usually does have decent prices. Of course I hadn't seen one of those in the mail for a while. I guess I didn't maybe win ten million dollars.

Bee · 04-22-2003, 07:51 PM

I always enjoy Jeff Lackey's reviews. He's one of the few reviewers that I actually trust their opinion.

Draft Dodger · 04-23-2003, 12:16 PM

well, had to go pick this up today (as much for the RTIII article).

haven't had a chance to read it yet.
I have no idea why I'm telling you all this.

bryce · 04-23-2003, 01:53 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by KWhit

Semi-related question: I want to subscribe to a couple of mags (PC games may be one). Where do you guys find the best prices? Is there really any difference in price?

i'd suggest checking out bestdealmagazines.com first. last time i checked there, they had 100 titles for $3.95/year, but i think they've raised that to $4.95 now. either way, clearly it's a good deal. they have some decent titles out there, too - i subscribed to forbes and maxim through them, and i had no complaints, other than the startup time - expect to wait almost three months for your first issue(s). i haven't checked them lately for an updated list of titles, though.

KWhit · 04-23-2003, 01:57 PM

Great. Thanks, bryce. FYI, Computer Games is one of the mags they're offering (and it's still 3.95).

04-22-2003, 03:54 PM	#3
Draft Dodger Coordinator Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Keene, NH	I'm very interested in that mag, Buc..er...Arny. I've subscribed to PC Gamer for years, and it has really slipped in quality level (and maturity level). we're there reviews also? or just articles/previews? __________________ Mile High Hockey

04-22-2003, 03:57 PM	#4
WSUCougar Rider Of Rohan Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Port Angeles, WA or Helm's Deep	I subscribe to Computer Games, and it has been around for quite awhile. They just redid their format, but they do indeed cater to a more mature audience and pride themselves on straight-up reviews. I think they are a very good source for game-related information. Railroad Tycoon III looks wild compared to II! __________________ It's not the years...it's the mileage.

04-22-2003, 04:01 PM	#5
Draft Dodger Coordinator Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Keene, NH	semi-dola, just checked some Amazon reviews, which seems to be pretty much in-line with what you're saying. I may have to check this out (hell, what's 1 more mag subscription when you already have 20). I don't think I can find it locally - too bad - I'm very eager to hear about RTIII. Railroad Tycoon I and II are among my favorite games of all time. __________________ Mile High Hockey

04-23-2003, 12:16 PM	#16
Draft Dodger Coordinator Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Keene, NH	well, had to go pick this up today (as much for the RTIII article). haven't had a chance to read it yet. I have no idea why I'm telling you all this. __________________ Mile High Hockey

04-22-2003, 03:48 PM	#2
couriers	They all get old too quickly. I subscribe to several gaming magazines every now and then but usually let a year go by between subscriptions. BTW, I have had Railroad Tycoon II Gold Edition for almost two years now. So do you think that I should give it a shot already?!?

04-22-2003, 04:08 PM	#6
Joe Stallings .400 Software Studios Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Atlanta, GA	The quality and coverage has gone down, and it has been particularly difficult for games like sports sims to get any decent coverage. I mean, PC Gamer hasn't had a dedicated sports columnist since Rob Smolka left nearly two years ago. I guess part of it is that advertising dollars aren't flowing to the PC-based gaming magazines in light of the console revolution. Still, I see a lot of fluff and wasted space. For instance, if I had to choose, I would much rather see more (or expanded) actual GAME coverage than having 1/2 the magazine dedicated to hardware reviews and "strategy guides." What is really sad is that if you flip through just about any recent edition of a PC game magazine, nearly every game they choose to review looks the same; it is some offshoot of Quake, Age of Empires or Everquest. Come on, review DopeWars already dammit!

04-22-2003, 04:09 PM	#7
KWhit Coordinator Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Conyers GA	Dang! I may have to install RRT2 tonight. You guys just reminded me how much I liked that game. Semi-related question: I want to subscribe to a couple of mags (PC games may be one). Where do you guys find the best prices? Is there really any difference in price?

04-22-2003, 04:13 PM	#8
sabotai General Manager Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: The Satellite of Love	I used to get Computer Games, they gave me a free 'semi0' subscribtion. (Hanve no idea, it just started coming in the mail and then after about 6 months, I got the "last issue" notice). It was a good mag that I have been considering subscribing to.

04-22-2003, 04:13 PM	#9
Anrhydeddu Resident Curmudgeon Join Date: Oct 2002	RRT1 (along with SimCity) what got me into PC gaming and liked what they did with RRT2. Not having followed any gaming news, this was the first I have heard or seen anything about RRT3 and I was blown away by its design. Apparently, Phil of PopTop had been a columnist for CG and I always liked what he had to say. (I know no one cares, but it was on a RRT2 forum that was my first experience in forum dynamics since the old CompuServ days and where I learned to be a real curmudgeon.) Thanks for the input on this magazine, I think I might be interested in subscribing again.

04-22-2003, 04:15 PM	#10
Anrhydeddu Resident Curmudgeon Join Date: Oct 2002	dola Joe, I hear you. It had been really hard to even pick up a game magazine when they all kept saying shit like "way kewl", "it rocks" and :kicks ass" all of the time. Of all of the columnists I had read, William J. Trotter was the only that wrote like an adult.

04-22-2003, 04:24 PM	#11
Joe Stallings .400 Software Studios Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Atlanta, GA	Yeah, Trotter rocks. Actually, I wonder if he retired or left, would war games get the same kind of decent coverage in PC Gamer that they get now.

04-22-2003, 04:26 PM	#12
sabotai General Manager Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: The Satellite of Love	"Actually, I wonder if he retired or left, would war games get the same kind of decent coverage in PC Gamer that they get now." The answer would be no.

04-22-2003, 04:30 PM	#13
Radii Head Coach Join Date: Jul 2001	Whoa, the original Railroad Tycoon was the first game I ever felt the beginnings of an addiction for. And RRTII was amazing. What's the release date on the 3rd one? drool

04-22-2003, 07:51 PM	#15
Bee Pro Starter Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Fairfax, VA	I always enjoy Jeff Lackey's reviews. He's one of the few reviewers that I actually trust their opinion.

04-23-2003, 01:57 PM	#18
KWhit Coordinator Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Conyers GA	Great. Thanks, bryce. FYI, Computer Games is one of the mags they're offering (and it's still 3.95).

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