Hardcore Gamer Mag brings back Diehard Gamefan style...

JBC · Post by **JBC** » Wed Nov 02, 2005 3:22 pm

Apparently for the last few months a mag called Hardcore Gamer - made up of a few ex-GF staffers and a bunch of newbies has been appearing in Gamestops nationwide. Gamefan was my favorite game mag of all time... due alot in part to Terry Wolfinger's art. I'm in good luck because they got the Wolfie guy to do the art for HCG... and he even brought back Monitaur!!! *who looks badass now*

That's awesome... anyway, i subscribed today!

http://www.hardcoregamermag.com

Kiken · Post by **Kiken** » Wed Nov 02, 2005 4:38 pm

Two friends of mine actually contribute to the magazine (Brady Hartel and Sardius), so I've been picking it up. And yes, it definitely has that classic DieHard Gamefan aire to it.

JBC · Post by **JBC** » Wed Nov 02, 2005 4:44 pm

That's awesome, Kiken... i've actually gotten to correspond with Mr. Wolfinger a couple of times through email since i found out about the mag. I kinda made a fool out of myself because i was under the impression that he lived in New Orleans and told him 'I hope you made it out OK'. He never lived anywhere near New Orleans, though... lol

extrarice · Post by **extrarice** » Wed Nov 02, 2005 4:57 pm

Another excellent non-mainstream magazine I found recently is The Escapist. The writing is usually top-notch, and has very interesting topics (instead of the standard ZOMGGRAPHICSB00BIES that most game magazines have become).

sethsez · Post by **sethsez** » Wed Nov 02, 2005 6:02 pm

Been reading since issue 1 (and anticipating for months before that... anyone who visits TNL probably remembers the huge thread where it was initially announced).

And... well, it ain't Gamefan. I mean, the layout is, but the content is just so dry. A Gamefan review read like a Gamefan review with or without the pictures. A HGM review reads like any random internet review taken out of context. It's completely lacking personality.

Still, I have hope that the writers will all find their voices as time goes on.

captain ahar · Post by **captain ahar** » Wed Nov 02, 2005 6:26 pm

sethsez wrote: ...

well said.

i feel the same way, but having a general lack of wordish style (see?) it would have come out something like "dude. but the writing sucks."

Ganelon · Post by **Ganelon** » Thu Nov 03, 2005 2:50 am

Yeah, I really like the fact that they have it for free online. I don't even read the digital EGM issue I get every month but have read every HCG so yeah, good stuff.

Unfortunately, they don't seem TOO hardcore. Halfway through the Gate of Thunder review, they started calling it Gates of Thunder. And Seven really doesn't resemble Generation of Chaos at all. While Seven focuses on story, GOC focuses on strategy.

professor ganson · Post by **professor ganson** » Thu Nov 03, 2005 3:22 am

I found a copy of one issue once at Barnes and Noble, and haven't seen it anywhere since. I liked the magazine pretty well, and would pick it up again. So thanks for the info-- I'll look for it at Gamestop.

Melf · Post by **Melf** » Thu Nov 03, 2005 4:10 am

Ganelon wrote:Unfortunately, they don't seem TOO hardcore. Halfway through the Gate of Thunder review, they started calling it Gates of Thunder.

OMG!! TYPO!

Does this mean I have to turn in my gamer card?

This has been discussed ad nauseum on the TNL boards (their minds are already made up). HGM is not trying to be Game Fan. If it comes off that way, well, chalk it up to there being ex members of GF staff on board. Some things, like the Graveyard, were done again because they're cool ideas, and the names work well. There is no deliberate effort, however, to make the mag GF part 2.

Give it some time. If you don't like it well, what can I tell you? I think we've gotten better but still have a way to go, just like any publication ever printed in the history of mankind. All these expectations that HGM #1 had to pick up EXACTLY where the last issue of GF left off in terms of style and content are not only unfounded, they're absurd. Different mag, different feel.

loopyeddie · Post by **loopyeddie** » Thu Nov 03, 2005 5:37 am

I'm sold. It looks good to me. I just subscribed.

JBC · Post by **JBC** » Thu Nov 03, 2005 11:41 am

Well, i certainly hope it wouldn't pick up where the LAST issue left off... if you ask me the mag kinda went downhill after they fired everybody for selling thier preview and review copies to bootleggers... at least that's what i read they got fired for... and Dave and Terry left. If EGM has taught me anything though it's not to believe everything that you read.

If anybody still has their GF's lying around you should go find the issue with Tomb Raider II on the cover. It's Lara rappeling down a mountainside in her bomber jacket. They printed a little Castlevania SD piece i did in the fan art section.

crithit5000 · Post by **crithit5000** » Thu Nov 03, 2005 2:08 pm

Like sethsez, I got to watch this be built up over at TNL and although I'm glad it's being made and all, it's just not all I would have hoped it to be. At the beginning I sort of was hoping for GameFan II (That issue with Abe's Exodus on the cover...Postmeister section, look for an asskiss piece by Chris Teski in Y-Town Ohio. ME BITCH), but then I realized I was really hoping for just a well written magazine...and uh, yeah...

The layouts, save the grids on the review pages, are pretty good. The writing is a bit...lackluster. I don't know, I wrote a huge list of things over at HGM's forums about what I liked/disliked...

JBC · Post by **JBC** » Thu Nov 03, 2005 3:20 pm

I know i'll probably get flamed for this but i think they should contact Nick Rox and see if he'll contribute... i think he's in Japan right now writing for Play... i'm sure Dave wouldn't mind.

sethsez · Post by **sethsez** » Thu Nov 03, 2005 4:12 pm

Melf wrote:Give it some time. If you don't like it well, what can I tell you? I think we've gotten better but still have a way to go, just like any publication ever printed in the history of mankind. All these expectations that HGM #1 had to pick up EXACTLY where the last issue of GF left off in terms of style and content are not only unfounded, they're absurd. Different mag, different feel.

It's not that we want it to be like Gamefan, it's that we want it to have any identity at all. When I say Gamefan had an identity and this doesn't, I'm not saying it should have Gamefan's identity. I'm saying I should pick up an issue of HGM and know that every article is written for HGM. EGM has that, Gamefan had that, GamesTM has that, hell, even Gamepro has that. HGM does not. It is, like I said at TNL, like reading a high school newspaper.

I don't mean to be harsh, but I think the people at HGM might be too defensive about the connection to Gamefan, to the point where they're overlooking real, valid criticisms. If somebody says "Gamefan was interesting" on the HGM message board, it seems like nine times out of ten the reply will be "we're not trying to be Gamefan" rather than a more reassuring "we're trying to be interesting in our own way."

Incidentally, what is the point of HGM? It's very hard to tell, since half the time it appears to be aiming for EGM style mainstream success and the other half it appears to be going for Gamefan style niche quirkyness. I understand the magazine is still growing, and I respect that, but I'm someone who followed it before it was launched, has read every issue thus far, and lurks at (and has occasionally posted on) the official message board, and I'm still not sure where the magazine is trying to go. If I can't tell, how do you expect the average reader who picked it up because the cover looked interesting at Gamestop to tell? It's a serious problem for the magazine, and one I still fear hasn't really been fully thought through.

I want it to succeed because I respect just about everybody working on it, and because I know they're all extremely capable. I've written more about my dissatisfaction with this magazine than I have for any other because I actually care about this one. But it has a long, long way to go.

JBC · Post by **JBC** » Thu Nov 03, 2005 4:51 pm

What exactly is it about the mag that gives you that impression?

sethsez · Post by **sethsez** » Thu Nov 03, 2005 5:36 pm

That it has no personality?

Take a review out of the mag and stick it next to any of the reviews on GameFAQs and see if anybody can pick it out.

I love the art. I like the layout (not crazy about the grids, though). But the writing leaves me cold. There's no personality to any of the articles... everything is perfunctory. Hence the high school newspaper comment; they write as if they're trying to imitate a standard rather than finding their own voice.

Melf · Post by **Melf** » Fri Nov 04, 2005 7:36 pm

sethsez wrote: It's not that we want it to be like Gamefan, it's that we want it to have any identity at all. When I say Gamefan had an identity and this doesn't, I'm not saying it should have Gamefan's identity. I'm saying I should pick up an issue of HGM and know that every article is written for HGM. EGM has that, Gamefan had that, GamesTM has that, hell, even Gamepro has that. HGM does not. It is, like I said at TNL, like reading a high school newspaper.

You're faulting HGM for not having the same personality in five issues that mags that ran for years did. Go back and look at your early issues of EGM or GF, how do they compare to those written today? How much personality did they have? As the staff gets to know the terrain and mesh, and gets a feel for what can and can't be done, things will tighten up. You just can't expect a magazine to be perfectly in sync within the first five issues, especially when most of the staff haven't worked together before. Heck, some, like me, haven't ever worked on a mag at all.

I don't mean to be harsh, but I think the people at HGM might be too defensive about the connection to Gamefan, to the point where they're overlooking real, valid criticisms. If somebody says "Gamefan was interesting" on the HGM message board, it seems like nine times out of ten the reply will be "we're not trying to be Gamefan" rather than a more reassuring "we're trying to be interesting in our own way."

People are constantly comparing HGM to GF, and it's an issue most of us are tired of addressing. No matter what is said, people still make the comparison. I understand the tendency, but after a while it just gets old repeating the same stuff over and over.

Incidentally, what is the point of HGM? It's very hard to tell, since half the time it appears to be aiming for EGM style mainstream success and the other half it appears to be going for Gamefan style niche quirkyness. I understand the magazine is still growing, and I respect that, but I'm someone who followed it before it was launched, has read every issue thus far, and lurks at (and has occasionally posted on) the official message board, and I'm still not sure where the magazine is trying to go. If I can't tell, how do you expect the average reader who picked it up because the cover looked interesting at Gamestop to tell? It's a serious problem for the magazine, and one I still fear hasn't really been fully thought through.

It's an interesting dilemma, since you have to balance what will sell with what you really want to cover. I think that as time goes on, you'll see less mainstream stuff and more niche material, or perhaps a 50/50 balance. Since HGM is still in the phase of staying on its feet, we can't just come out and go niche, or we'd be GameGo part 2. I agree with you 100% on this, but think things will balance out as revenue is secured and the mag stabilizes.

I want it to succeed because I respect just about everybody working on it, and because I know they're all extremely capable. I've written more about my dissatisfaction with this magazine than I have for any other because I actually care about this one. But it has a long, long way to go.

You're absolutely right. I think there's a ton of potential here, but we still haven't found the right way to fully tap it yet. As I've stated above, I believe (and hope) that things will balance out as the mag becomes more stable. I know you've been following things closely, and have been one of the few sane voices about HGM over at TNL, and I appreciate your feedback.

I, for one, would like more retro coverage. I was thrilled to see Beggar Prince reviewed, but would like a fully dedicated retro section. There are no U.S. retro mags, and I think that making some changes to accomodate a larger retro section would help. Just my two cents though.

JBC · Post by **JBC** » Fri Nov 04, 2005 8:02 pm

I think you guys should team up with Halverson and just go ahead and make a spinoff retro mag for the US... we REALLY REALLY need one - for the kids. These kids today think that Disturbed is the be all end all of rock and roll and that's just wrong... Halo is fun and all, but it's no Sonic 2. Get what i mean?

As far as the criticism goes - I haven't actually gotten my issues yet (i ordered the backissues for a pretty penny) so i couldn't really make a good judgement on the magazine... all i know is that is has Wolfinger art and as long as it does i'll be buying it.

Really i don't think you should be so worried about the mag though, man - go with the flow... if it doesn't turn out up to snuff then it doesn't. If it does it does. I would really like to see a mag come out that i can respect and get lost in the same way i did Gamefan lo those many years ago when i was just a lil tyke waiting at the rack in the grocery store, pumping my dad's quarters into the Snow Bros machine in the lobby and sipping on a grape Slush Puppie... but if it doesn't happen it just doesn't. Either way i'm just glad to see Monitaur back in action.

Rock on HCG... and i hope the mag turns out to be TRULY hardcore... as in giving Otogi 3 fifteen pages of screenshots instead of Halo 3 hardcore.

Specineff · Post by **Specineff** » Sat Nov 05, 2005 1:32 am

Give them time, they'll improve. It can't get worse than Lame Informer. Oh God... da horra!

loopyeddie · Post by **loopyeddie** » Sat Nov 05, 2005 10:02 pm

I picked up a couple of back issues and I am very impressed. They have lots of articles on old games, hacking projects, and plenty of good reviews. So far this is the best current mag I have come across.

LoneSage · Post by **LoneSage** » Sat Nov 05, 2005 10:35 pm

Kiken wrote:Sardius

Whoa whoa, you mean the Johnny Turbo expose Sardius? That guy rocks ass, how did you get to know him?