Friday, March 23, 2012

Magazines I've Been Reading, Reviewed....With Rigor?

I've been reading magazines, as I enjoy doing. I shall share about them with you in a somewhat rambling manner of reviews.

PC Gamer
Probably my favorite gaming magazine. This thing has unabashedly honest reviews, interesting editorials, great features, and otherwise is just a high-quality read. I don't even really have a computer that can play some of the games they talk about, but I still love reading this because it's just such a fun time. Hopefully in this era of shrinking print PC Gamer won't go away anytime too soon.
4.5 out of 5 stars.

The Economist
I don't read it too often, but when I pick up an issue I always walk away informed about something new. Now, I don't always agree with The Economist and its hyper-pro-free-market ideas of privatization being just great for everything. However, when the Economist is right boy is it right. From talking about how the Euro may be utterly doomed to the failed dream of Nuclear Energy along with all the other articles and small news-bits they shove in, this thing is positively packed with content. It's good stuff.
4 out of 5 stars.

Bullett
An alternative culture sort of magazine that has lots of interviews and interesting fashion pieces spread throughout. The sixth issue came out recently with Daniel Radcliffe of all people on the cover. There are some genuinely fascinating interviews and creative photo spreads--along with a few written pieces. Here is a link to the website, as I know those alt-culture magazines can be hard to find, although this one has been at some Barnes and Nobles in St Louis I go to, plus there are always independent bookstores which I've seen this at.
4 out of 5 stars.

Game Informer
I read this, but its kind of like the junk food of video-game magazines. I mean, I like how they get the world exclusive reveals of certain games, and that by subscribing to this I get discounts at Gamestop...but I just sort of said the rub right there. They get those exclusives because this magazine is so closely tied to Gamestop. This results in reviews with scores that almost never can dip too low for fear of offending game companies, and therefore makes the review section wholly worth skipping. The whole magazine is just never that critical of anything, previews only say how something will be awesome, features don't ask tough question--its like watching Fox News interview a Republican and lob him nothing but metaphorical softballs. Still...I read it, and sort of enjoy it, I guess? Those exclusives can be snazzy and with all the stuff I skip the magazine gets positively breezed through, but hey, I've still got that Gamestop discount!
2.5 out of 5 stars (would be less if not for scoring those exclusives).

Edge Magazine AND GamesTM
Two UK Games magazines. I actually have talked about these before. I said I like GamesTM a good amount and as a counter, Edge a bit less so. Well, that has sort of changed. GamesTM is still enjoyable to read, but Edge really has just become even better. The editorials I loved still shine, but the main features are of a high quality now too, and the reviews are much more interesting than they used to be. GamesTM is interesting, but not as cool. They both are still of a high quality and sort of the last real video-gaming magazines left besides PC Gamer after so many have died (Game Informer doesn't quite count due to its aforementioned ties to Gamestop).
Edge 
4 out of 5 stars
GamesTM
3.5 out of 5 stars

Time
While they may occasionally dumb-down their US covers as Jon Stewart humorously pointed out on a Daily Show episode, this magazine still often has insightful and great articles. Generally objective and always interesting, Time is something I've been reading since I was a young'un due to my parents getting a subscription (and my being a weird kid). I still enjoy reading it today.
4.5 out of 5 stars.

Coilhouse
The sixth issue came out a bit ago, and I actually saw it in some of my Barnes and Nobles in St. Louis, so props to Coilhouse for getting wider distribution and getting out there for more people to enjoy! What is Coilhouse? Another alternative culture magazine. They'll cover everything from (in past issues I've loved) an interview with a famous violinist or Grant Morrison to a weird photography bit inspired by, "The Picture of Dorian Gray," or an article about perfume, eeriely realistic-looking dolls, and whatever else just seems to work perfectly for the magazine. I really love this publication and if you want an issue of the magazine but are having problems finding a place carrying it, you can always get it on their website here. Seriously, if you like strange and though-provoking stuff you should find this up your alley.
5 out of 5 stars.

That's what I've been consuming in terms of print media. How about you?

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