IGN Announces PDF Mag and Newswire service.

[bahn]

They're expanding once again in a ways you've never expected...

Here's an announcement that's best to be heard straight from the source - in full press release form so as not to miss anything:



IGN Entertainment, home to IGN.com, the web's largest information and entertainment destination for gamers -- today announced that it has launched IGN Monthly Review, a free, downloadable monthly magazine, which highlights the games published during the previous month and includes IGN's ranking and summary review of each game.

IGN created IGN Monthly Review as a sample guide to what is available on the IGN.com network and will distribute the free publication across the web in an easy-to-use PDF file format (at http://wire.ign.com/review.html). This broad distribution will help IGN expand its brand reach, while providing video game enthusiasts with valuable information more quickly and cheaper than what they can get from traditional print gaming magazines.

"We believe IGN Monthly Review serves as a great introduction to IGN.com and that it ultimately will help drive new visitors who are looking for more detailed content to the IGN web site," said Peer Schneider, IGN's Network Director. "This new publication also will benefit our existing IGN audience members, by enabling them to catch up easily on any game reviews they might have missed throughout the month, and by serving as a printable buyer's guide to help them make purchasing decisions."

The 35-page publication will include a month-in-review page, rankings of all games released during the past month, and over 50 summary game reviews for titles on each gaming platform -- PC, PlayStation 2, Xbox, GameCube, and Game Boy Advance.

In addition to serving the gaming consumer, this publication also provides a useful service for game publishers, developers and retailers. Video game industry professionals can look to IGN for a monthly synopsis on the state of the game industry, information on the latest competing releases and to find out how their products were scored by IGN. At the same time, software retailers will now be able to rely on IGN for a monthly breakdown of the games currently released for sale, including an analysis of each game's merits and shortcomings as outlined in the IGN game review summaries.

The company also announced the launch of IGN Newswire (http://wire.ign.com), a news site providing access to all the latest gaming-related press releases. In addition to new game and publishing announcements, IGN Newswire also provides financial news, job listings and company listings, which give users access to information on all the publishers and developers in IGN's database. To satisfy both avid gamers and gaming industry professionals, the newswire is updated several times a day, beginning at 7 a.m. ET.

"Both IGN Review and IGN Newswire should further establish IGN as the source of information about everything gaming," said Schneider.

[Master]

Let me recap.

IGN is releasing a downloadable magazine for free to kill the "real" print magazines. Buttholes. I hope the magazine sucks...

IGN is also starting a newswire service. Now every site will sign up and have the same news that IGN does! Just 2 days later. IGN will get more "inside scoops" for its main site and crappy downloadable magazine because they are now providing content for others, but you can bet they will use the info on their site before sending it out the wire.

I am now officially Boycotting IGN.

[Master]

Originally posted by bahn
"Both IGN Review and IGN Newswire should further establish IGN as the source of information about everything gaming," said Schneider.

*shudder*

Their reach far exceeds their grasp methinks, but time will tell. If IGN becomes THE source, I may just give up being informed altogether.

[Master]

Upon further inspection, though it pains me to say this, the reviews PDF is actually of quite good quality. And the second PDF is a printout recap of the month's scores.

I assumed they would be going overboard and releasing an entire mag for free in PDF, but there are no features, previews, ads, ANYTHING. THere are also clickable links so you can reference the actual full reviews online. The guide truly is only a supplement to the online site, but I am still worried of what it may lead to.

You guys should check it out, if only so I can hear your thoughts on it...