Another magazine is dead..

...Official PlayStation Magazine

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U.S. game magazine (EGM, Games For Windows) and website (1UP.com) firm the Ziff Davis Game Group has announced that it will discontinue publication of the Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine after the January 2007 issue.

A statement from the company explains: "The Game Group is laser-focused on continuing to expand its rapidly growing digital media presence and on further strengthening its multiplatform properties and powerful integrated network. As such, the Game Group has determined that Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine, a property licensed from Sony Computer Entertainment America and limited to print, no longer fits its strategic vision."

According to the firm, Sony Computer Entertainment America will remain a key content and marketing partner for Ziff Davis Game Group, which will cover SCEA's PlayStation 3 and first-party games extensively across all of its media outlets, including EGM, 1UP.com, and GameVideos.com. The Game Group editorial team will also "work closely with SCEA in the development of digital content for the PlayStation Network, accessible only through the PS3."

Due to the long-term decline in the magazine advertising market, Ziff Davis has been gradually transitioning away from print for some time, aggressively building up 1UP.com as its central website portal. The company, which has previously closed magazines including XBN and GMR, most recently posted a quarterly loss of $0.5 million for its game division, citing "a decline in print advertising and circulation revenues", partially offset by online revenue increases.

Scott McCarthy, President of Ziff Davis Game Group, explanied of the overall move: "The powerful online capabilities of the exciting PlayStation 3, coupled with ever- increasing broadband penetration in the U.S., allow for much more efficient distribution of game demos, videos, and trailers. With this next generation of game consoles, the days of having to bundle a disc with a magazine to distribute games-related content are over. And the disc has clearly been a major driver for consumer interest in premium-priced, platform-specific magazines in the past, when the magazine disc was the only way gamers could get such content."

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http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/new...hp?story=11706

Good. OPM was worthless, always have been.

They've always been dead to me.

So what will be Sony's official publication?

At this rate, annual Chapter 11 forms.

lol!

OPM was still around and a viable source of info?

Not seeing Hardcore Gamer Magazine in the first post disappointed me.

And HGM lives on!

Hmm, this is suprising. I always thought that mag did well, thanks mostly to the demo disc. Eh, most people probably stole it at the newsstands, anyway.

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Originally Posted by Zerodash

So what will be Sony's official publication?

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According to that article, the PS3.

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Originally Posted by Dolemite

Hmm, this is suprising. I always thought that mag did well, thanks mostly to the demo disc. Eh, most people probably stole it at the newsstands, anyway.

According to that article, the PS3...which will also fail later on

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Fixed.

Publication industry is hard to stay alive in. Thankfully EGM is still around. I honestly dont care if OPM is gone. Just one less free magazine I will be receiving. I rather have a magazine like EGM that covers all consoles rather then just a specific one.

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Originally Posted by Advocate

OPM was still around and a viable source of info?

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That was my first thought as well. Even free, they were worthless.

Fuck Magazines, wsup internets.

Not going to miss it.

What's going to be the last rag standing in the US. Is the odds on favorite Game Informer?

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Originally Posted by dog$

What's going to be the last rag standing in the US.

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http://www.the-nextlevel.com/board/a...1&d=1143647865

Lol @ print mags in 2006.

Internet FTW.

I wasn't even aware they were still around.

I'm saddened only because this reduces my shitter reading material.

I haven't picked an issue of OPM up in years, but I deal with several soccer moms who loved it because of the disc. However, if Sony has downloadable demos like microsoft then there really isn't a need for the discs anymore anyway.
What magazine does Francesca Reyes write for now? Whatever one I hope that goes next.

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Originally Posted by Dolemite

http://www.the-nextlevel.com/board/a...1&d=1143647865

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Holy fucking shit. Best post ever. I am in tears.

Demo disc are kind of a waste now. OXM justs gets the same shit thats on Live.

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Originally Posted by MechDeus

Good. OPM was worthless, always have been.

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the broke the info about the knights of the nine dl for oblivion, so i will mourn their passing. console specific mags do suck, the last one that i though had any good writing was odcm, and even that was just barely readable.

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Originally Posted by frostwolf ex

the last one that i though had any good writing was odcm, and evne that was just barely readable.

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IAWTP. Francesca ruined that mag for me (see above hate post).

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Originally Posted by Chux

Fuck Magazines, wsup internets.

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That's what Sony said.

Everyone will be getting their PS3 game reviews from their PS3.

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Originally Posted by Aurora

Holy fucking shit. Best post ever. I am in tears.

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And you're the first to subscribe a lifetime subscription.

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Originally Posted by Dolemite

http://www.the-nextlevel.com/board/a...1&d=1143647865

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I am still laughing. My trainee is laughing too.

POTM! FUCKING AWESOME!

It's not even actualy dead, just... digital.

In my personal magazine deadpool I predict Gamepro,Tips and Tricks,and PSM are next.

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Originally Posted by Yoshi

I'm saddened only because this reduces my shitter reading material.

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Get a printer or a wireless laptop. Even better, the DS and PSP also have web browsers coming down the pike (if not already).

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Originally Posted by Jetman

In my personal magazine deadpool I predict Gamepro,Tips and Tricks,and PSM are next.

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Gamepro still does good numbers, but tips and tricks seems horribly irrelevant in today's world.

I saw Tips and Tricks at the newsstand the other day and was shocked. I couldn't believe it was still around.

I think Tips & Tricks is the best magazine still in publication. I like it because it doesn't pretend to be something it isn't. It knows that it's just strategies for games, and random japanese shit.

OPM always seemed to rate the games as either great, very great, or incredibly great. I can't believe an official magazine would be unbiased. Good to see it's gone.

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Originally Posted by Cowdisease

Not seeing Hardcore Gamer Magazine in the first post disappointed me.

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Originally Posted by Frogacuda

And HGM lives on!

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Suck it down bitch! :link:

Oh and LOL Dole, even if it is old.

I like Tips & Tricks. It's a silly magazine with some neat articles.

They were good at getting first looks at arcades when they went out.

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Originally Posted by Jetman

In my personal magazine deadpool I predict Gamepro,Tips and Tricks,and PSM are next.

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Protip: Gamepro will be around long after people have evolved to have no eyeballs or hands. And for no good reason, either.

I'd hate to see PSM go, but they've been a shadow of their former selves 2 years after they started.

I can't say I really mind that much, the only game magazine I ever occasionally buy anymore is Edge and Famitsu(I can't read it but I like the layout and pics). OPM was never that great, and at least now we don't have to worry about demo discs erasing our data anymore.:lol:

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Originally Posted by Ki-Sama

I can't say I really mind that much, the only game magazine I ever occasionally buy anymore is... Famitsu(I can't read it but I like the layout and pics).

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Your allegiance has been chosen.

GamePro is utter shit, though. Misinformation, bad writing, shitty layout. Ugh. I would love to see it gone. I was subscribed to it for a year, too. Wish I'd realized it's lack of quality earlier....

I've only read an issue or two of PSM, but I felt the same way about it.

Tips and Tricks, however, is an excellent magazine. With sites like GameFAQs and companies like Brady Games, it certainly isn't necessary, but it's still great. Pretty good strategy guides, nice articles, and, of course, the codes. I hope it sticks around for a while, though I know to expect worse....

Really, other than Tips and Tricks, the only two magazines I hope stick around are EGM and GI. EGM gets a lot of hate, but it's not that bad of a magazine. Interesting cover stories, at the least. I don't like their reviews most of the time, but I've never met a game player whose opinion I agreed with.

GI isn't too bad either. I don't subscribe to it, like I do Tips and Tricks and EGM, but I pick up an issue every few months, and it's not a bad magazine.

Oh, right, this thread is about OPM, right?

Well, I liked OPM for the Demo Disks, and that's about it. I only picked up a few issues over the year, but, for the most part, they were pretty good. Not great, mind you, and I don't mind their death, but I didn't think they were total shit. Merely average. Of course, Multiple Counsel Magazines are infinently superior to Single Counsel Magazines, so OPM was destined for doom.

I'll be frank: I have dial-up. I can't download demos from XBL, or any of the Next Gen counsel stores. Demo Disks are necessary for me, unfortunately, though I know I'm in the minority.

Also, OPM cost way to fucking much. $10 per issue? No thank you.

I am so freakin amazed PSM didn't go first.... *-neo

I like T&T as well, although I rarely read it because I just don't have time. As it is, every month I need to get through

EGM
GAMESTM
EDGE
play
PC Gamer

This is why I'm like three months behind right now on my magazine reading (it's like being in a timewarp, reading previews of Yakuza and such :sweat: ).

I also think EGM has remained consistently above average for many years, and don't really understand the hate. I might not always agree with their reviews, but, much more important to me, I tend to usually believe that they agree with their reviews.

Play has a style that's about the only thing that interests me these days or else I'd stick to the web for everything I need. Of course HCgamer still gets my time, but that's only because of gamefan and what I hope to see this further develope into.

I haven't seen it at my gamestop lately, have they been getting problems with distribution there?

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Originally Posted by Aurora

I like Tips & Tricks. It's a silly magazine with some neat articles.

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Yep, and the best reader art ever!

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Originally Posted by Ki-Sama

I can't say I really mind that much, the only game magazine I ever occasionally buy anymore is Edge and Famitsu(I can't read it but I like the layout and pics).

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Famitsu's fucking expensive.

Seriously, internet FTW.

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Originally Posted by voltz

Oh and LOL Dole, even if it is old.

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Eh, I worked hard on that one. I had to get at least one more post out of it.

Was worth it. Now I dare you to post it on their boards.

HGM issue 20 subtitle - We're loud and proud!

Some dickhead screwed up my backorder and ended up with another Serious sam cover. Think they accept trade-ins?

Retro Gamer Magazine FTW. It's the only mag I look forward to religiously every month,

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Originally Posted by Melf

Retro Gamer Magazine FTW. It's the only mag I look forward to religiously every month,

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Me too, although they're going over material they covered before the redo (Commodore 64? Again?).

http://www.gamesetwatch.com/2006/11/...ws_the_cir.php

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So we're going to do a little list for each magazine with paid circulation specific figures from Jan-Jun 2006, Jan-Jun 2004, Jan-Jun 2003 - and if anyone can get us Jan-Jun 2005, that would be even better - ping us if you have access. (Also worth noting: since the Jul-Dec figures include the holiday season, they are often slightly higher, and average the yearly circ out a bit higher.) Here we go:

Official PlayStation Magazine (Ziff Davis)
Jan-Jun 2003: 283,827
Jan-Jun 2004: 264,432
Jan-Jun 2006: 252,267 (plus another 46,129 unpaid)

PSM (Future)
Jan-Jun 2003: 403,617
Jan-Jun 2004: 400,318
Jan-Jun 2006: 305,951

[So both magazines are taking a significant circulation dive, but with the cost of the license and official disc manufacturing, looks like Ziff have decided it's not worth it to continue. Interestingly, PSM has declined by the largest percentage since Jan-Jun 2003, though.]

PC Gamer (Future)
Jan-Jun 2003: 300,271
Jan-Jun 2004: 304,110
Jan-Jun 2006: 250,147

Computer Gaming World (Ziff Davis)
Jan-Jun 2003: 260,012
Jan-Jun 2004: 202,359
Jan-Jun 2006: 216,484

[Though I'm guessing that Computing Gaming World picked up a bit in the second half of 2004 and into 2005 before starting to decline again, its recent rebranding as Games For Windows is explained by the fact that it's currently running significantly under 2003 subscription levels. Mind you, so is PC Gamer, despite pulling ahead in 2004, and still holding an overall lead.]

Game Informer (GameStop)
Jan-Jun 2003: 1,095,841
Jan-Jun 2004: 1,647,350
Jan-Jun 2006: 1,994,488

Electronic Gaming Monthly (Ziff Davis)
Jan-Jun 2003: 505,569
Jan-Jun 2004: 514,058
Jan-Jun 2006: 594,393

GamePro (IDG)
Jan-Jun 2003: 554,335
Jan-Jun 2004: 480,021
Jan-Jun 2006: N/A

[In the multiformat realm, there's some interesting results. Game Informer's gigantic surge in subscriptions from its GameStop loyalty card bundling has got it out in front, and there it seems likely to stay - it's an impressive #31 on the Top 100 U.S. magazines by subscription numbers for Jan-June 2006. EGM has also been holding its own and even creeping up, whereas GamePro was dipping as early as 2004, and I can't find any ABC results past Jan-Jun 2004, which may or may not be ominous.]

Official Xbox Magazine (Future)
Jan-Jun 2003: 344,731
Jan-Jun 2004: 406,176
Jan-Jun 2006: 425,243

Tips 'N Tricks (Larry Flynt Publications)
Jan-Jun 2003: 145,925
Jan-Jun 2004:146,566
Jan-Jun 2006: N/A

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Huh. OPM's numbers don't seem awful, considering it's like $10 an issue, and the shift to a new generation means the amount of PS2 demos is going to shit. Oh, well.

I am impressed that Game Informer is doing better and better. I suppose it helps that the store is shoving subscriptions down your throat.

Damn. Tips and Tricks doesn't sell shit...

Take away the discount card, and let's see how GI fares. To be fair though, the last couple of issues have had some good articles.

EGM is still as strong as ever, and I'm gald to see OXM is doing well. I <3 that demo every month.

Tips N' Tricks = Larry Flynt?

Yep.