Electronic Gaming Monthly... Is it DEAD?

[E-Day]

The May issue may have already been done and at the printers when Future closed the site for Official Xbox magazine and redirected it along with Edge and some others to GamesRadar. If there is a June issue, then chances are it is still going. But I am not hopeful.

[KiwiArcader]

Well, I haven't seen a notice appear on the iPad magazine app stating they are shuttering the magazine which they did do with other mags they closed so who knows other than the bigwigs at the company itself. Wait and see I suppose although in all fairness I have been expecting the demise of the USA edition since they dropped the USA version of the PlayStation mag.

[EGMFan]

The USA version of Official Xbox Magazine closed March 2014 I believe. We have been getting the UK version of the magazine since then.

[E-Day]

I saw the June issue on the stands yesterday, so it looks like it's still around. In other news, the new issue of EGM arrived today. Sporting 2015; display until July 15.

I just noticed it's numbered "Special Issue #04". What the hell? Flipping through, it's not a regular EGM Issue. There is a special feature on the consoles of 2015, and the rest is previews of 100 upcoming games. What the hell are they doing?

[twiztor]

"the consoles of 2015"?

dear EGM:

thanks for the "very special" look at consoles that debuted in 2013 (and older for the Wii-U). i wasn't sure which one i was interested in, but your article cleared up all the confusion.

one last question. which system can i still play my Sega Genesis cartridges on?

[ctophil]

My EGM Spring 2015 issue arrived today as well. Interesting to note that this a different cover than the one posted by E-day. It also reads, "Special Issue #04 and Display Until 7/15/2015" on the cover. I don't think we have gotten a regular EGM issue for a long time.

[kartracer3]

My EGM Spring 2015 issue arrived today as well. Interesting to note that this a different cover than the one posted by E-day. It also reads, "Special Issue #04 and Display Until 7/15/2015" on the cover. I don't think we have gotten a regular EGM issue for a long time.

I had to check the cover listings on here, but it looks like the last regular issue of EGM was Summer 2014, so essentially a full year ago - that's hard to believe. But I suppose they are correct with special issue 004, in that there was also the Winter 2015 Buyers Guide, and the Xbox One/PS4 Buyers Guides.

[E-Day]

The cover doesn't indicate that there is more than one cover, which is odd. Ctophil, are you able to scan that cover?

Since EGM is responsible for WalMart GameCenter Magazine, I am wondering if that is taking up all their time.

[spoonman]

The cover doesn't indicate that there is more than one cover, which is odd. Ctophil, are you able to scan that cover?

Since EGM is responsible for WalMart GameCenter Magazine, I am wondering if that is taking up all their time.

I'm betting their loyalty lies with Wal-Mart since they seem to be releasing those on a regular schedule.

I'm not sure how many subscribers they have left, but I'm willing to bet it's in the hundreds.

At this point it might just make sense to merge the two and extend everyone's subscription to make up for it.

[E-Day]

I didn't even know GameCenter existed until I saw an ad for it in the EGM issue. I am guessing we might not see another regular EGM issue in this case; just special issues every three or four months.

How is GameCenter anyways? Any good? Does it have an EGM feel to it?

[ctophil]

I didn't even know GameCenter existed until I saw an ad for it in the EGM issue. I am guessing we might not see another regular EGM issue in this case; just special issues every three or four months.

How is GameCenter anyways? Any good? Does it have an EGM feel to it?

I have one issue of GameCenter. It looks like a miniature version of the regular EGM. The layout and color scheme is very different though. It kinda gives you short, snappy articles of current gaming news, previews, and gossips, while EGM goes in depth. I guess they made it for Walmart folks who just want to flip through the magazine to get a glimpse of games without reading a whole lot. GameCenter, to me, is like a supplement to EGM rather than a substitute. It's free so seems pretty thin comparably. I kinda like it better than the regular EGM. Remember that back in the day, EGM itself had rather short articles as well because of the huge coverage of Japanese games. These days, EGM is too professional, which feels like reading the New York Times rather than a gaming magazine. So in that way, GameCenter is similar to the older EGM.

E-day, I do have a scanner in the garage. I can get it out and try to scan my EGM cover. Do you want me to just post it on here, and you upload it to the gallery?

[E-Day]

E-day, I do have a scanner in the garage. I can get it out and try to scan my EGM cover. Do you want me to just post it on here, and you upload it to the gallery?

Sure, that would be great. Or dump it somewhere like Dropbox and I can size it down and all that. Feel free to scan that GameCenter cover as well. I want to add that "magazine" to the Cover Gallery as well.

[ctophil]

Sure, that would be great. Or dump it somewhere like Dropbox and I can size it down and all that. Feel free to scan that GameCenter cover as well. I want to add that "magazine" to the Cover Gallery as well.

Okay, I successfully scanned both magazine covers for ya. Check them out below.

[spoonman]

I also got the Star Wars Battlefront cover.
Regardless of what they call it I'm going to call it #265



They still show it as being a bi-monthly magazine

Game Center is pretty good. I'd be interested in trading the extras I have for other issues I don't have,

[ArcaneSylph]

Ah, Game Center! Yeah, it isn't bad, and it's free, so there's no point in not getting one each month if you're a Wal-Mart shopper.

I remain a bit worried concerning EGM, though. Whenever I see this topic bumped, I wonder if it's because EGM has closed its doors for good. :(

Edited May 2, 2015 by ArcaneSylph

[Guest AlexDigma]

Did someone know where can I found old issues from EGM, Im trying to get issue 245, 263 and Guide to PS4/XBOX ONE.

[Guest AlexDigma]

I also have some issues of GameCenter, I have issue 26 Evolve and issue 30 Star Wars Battlefront.

[spoonman]

I wonder what the chances are of getting an EGM Summer issue this year.
The last issue I've seen has been 4 months ago (#266). So if they are "Seasonal" I think we are due for something.

[Leathco]

Sad to see this happen. I remember when EGM was a massive mag, full of content and ads for games coming out. I also loved the black and white ads that had huge lists of games for sale, I loved going through those. The internet is a wonderful thing, but seeing it do this to gaming mags is sad.

[Guest AlexDigma]

Is someone is interested in trade some Game Center issues?

[spoonman]

OK, I spoke with my connection at EGM and he told me their distributer went out of business in May.
The new issue, "Special Issue #5" AKA #267 is now shipping.

I actually just received mine today. EGM continues on...

[E-Day]

Display until January 15, 2016. So I guess we won't get another one until the new year. I wonder how long this "Special Issue" numbering will last.

[ctophil]

Hm, I guess we will never get the Summer 2015 issue. EGM is down to only 2 issues per year now it seems. Maybe next year we will only see 1 issue. Then, we will call the magazine, Electronic Gaming Annually or EGA. I really want them to just shut down so that we can at least have good memories of the magazine instead of the slow death. If EGM comes back with a bang, that is cool too. I want it to succeed. However, all this waiting for 5-6 months for an issue is just odd. It's not consistent at all. If they need funding to get a better distributor or hire a bigger staff, why not try for crowd funding? I'm sure EGM fans will jump at that prospect. I know I would donate some money.

[spoonman]

They don't seem to have the same problem getting issues of their Wal-Mart mag (Game Center) out on time from what I can tell.

Like I said though, according to my source at EGM, their distributor went out of business and they've finally got sorted out with a new one so maybe that will make a difference. We'll see.

I'd like to see them do less reviews and more classic gaming articles. Something more like Retro Gamer does.

[spoonman]

I actually just received the Halo 5 cover of the same mag. Has anyone else seen any other alternative covers for the 2016 Buyer's Guide (AKA #267)?

Also,
Did anyone think to back up the "Lost Issue" of EGM? This would be Issue #237 (February 2009), This is the last one produced by Ziff Davis, but never made it to print.
It was offered in digital online EGM format. I had planned to take screen shots and assemble a proper PDF of it, but had trouble accessing my online account for so long that I eventually had forgotten about it.

News about it being posted on EGMNOW.COM was posted here:
http://egmmediagroup.com/blog/post/publishing-lost-february-2009-issue-egm

Here is the cover:


And as it appeared on EGMNOW


I can no longer find it anywhere. I really wish they had just printed a small amount of these for collectors or at least made a proper PDF file for it.

If anyone can help locate this I have many other EGM PDF issues from the 90's if needed.