nickba wrote:

I guess I'm a little late but the Mag was pretty good this time around. My only concern was that some of the demos were a little out dated. I just wished that maybe you guys could throw in a couple exclusive demos in the next issue that aren't out yet. Overally though, this issue was fun to read and also as always, very informative. Thanks OXM.

 squishydog2 wrote:

 nickba wrote:

I guess I'm a little late but the Mag was pretty good this time around. My only concern was that some of the demos were a little out dated. I just wished that maybe you guys could throw in a couple exclusive demos in the next issue that aren't out yet. Overally though, this issue was fun to read and also as always, very informative. Thanks OXM.

Exclusive demos are kinda hard to come by these days. They did have an early demo of Red Faction but they havent gotten exclusive demos for a long time, probably because the developers have the digital download now and they can get it to more people than they used to be able to with magazine discs. It just doesnt make sense for them to release demos to a certain group of peoples and not release them to others at the same time.
 I know im no OXM editor but I hoped that explanation helped.

 Dan OXM wrote:

 squishydog2 wrote:

 nickba wrote:

I guess I'm a little late but the Mag was pretty good this time around. My only concern was that some of the demos were a little out dated. I just wished that maybe you guys could throw in a couple exclusive demos in the next issue that aren't out yet. Overally though, this issue was fun to read and also as always, very informative. Thanks OXM.

Exclusive demos are kinda hard to come by these days. They did have an early demo of Red Faction but they havent gotten exclusive demos for a long time, probably because the developers have the digital download now and they can get it to more people than they used to be able to with magazine discs. It just doesnt make sense for them to release demos to a certain group of peoples and not release them to others at the same time.
 I know im no OXM editor but I hoped that explanation helped.

We also had Uno Rush before anybody else. But yeah, we have a pool of demos we're allowed to choose every issue, and we go with the latest ones we can and/or an appropriate theme. We always ask developers for it first, but as squish noted, they often prefer to go with Marketplace. However...some changes are in store for the disc, so stick around.

 Dan OXM wrote:

 squishydog2 wrote:

 nickba wrote:

I guess I'm a little late but the Mag was pretty good this time around. My only concern was that some of the demos were a little out dated. I just wished that maybe you guys could throw in a couple exclusive demos in the next issue that aren't out yet. Overally though, this issue was fun to read and also as always, very informative. Thanks OXM.

Exclusive demos are kinda hard to come by these days. They did have an early demo of Red Faction but they havent gotten exclusive demos for a long time, probably because the developers have the digital download now and they can get it to more people than they used to be able to with magazine discs. It just doesnt make sense for them to release demos to a certain group of peoples and not release them to others at the same time.
 I know im no OXM editor but I hoped that explanation helped.

We also had Uno Rush before anybody else. But yeah, we have a pool of demos we're allowed to choose every issue, and we go with the latest ones we can and/or an appropriate theme. We always ask developers for it first, but as squish noted, they often prefer to go with Marketplace. However...some changes are in store for the disc, so stick around.

 LostKnightmare wrote:

MK what i don't understand is....if you are complaining about "opinion pieces" and a lack of factual articles, merely opinion pieces masquerading as fact, telling you what to play and what to buy..why are you even reading a video game magazine? sure they state a few facts about a game, give specific release dates and genres, but what is not an opinion in a game mag?

is not that the point? am i totally missing something? Are we buying these game mags to read what these experienced gamers and professional writers want to say about a given game? I do not base my purchases solely on what they say, but i welcome as much opinion as possible on the game. Is not  90% of what is in a game review, preview, ect an opinion?


I'm so very glad you bought this up.  Let's say you open Sports Illustrated.  Does it tell you which games to watch?  Let me give you an even better example.  Recently on newsstands, I saw a special feature mag which was highlighting summer movie games put out by OXM.  Have no problem with it.  Because it was a special feature mag, and from the outset, it an opinion-preview magazine.

But I do have a major problem with any magazine (not just OXM) running those type of articles that aren't reviews.  I had the same problem with all the endless whining and advocacy for Tim Schafer because "not enough people played Psychonauts."  I disagree that a video game mag is 90 percent opinion?  A game preview is based upon facts and details.  There are places for opinion, but advocating certain games comes off as snobbery and schilling.

And i believe your problem with downloading games from live is also counter argumentative. if u say you will not accept others opinions on what you should be playing, then what other course of action do you have besides dl'ing a demo that would give u a hands on impression of a game that will make you either buy the game or delete it from ur hdd. I mean with that logic, you would not have played any games (not just xbla titles, 360 titles as well) that were not established franchises that you've played before, yet you've obviously played many games that would be contrary to that argument (tho, aside from the watchmen, you obviously only play classic titles on the xbla).

If you think about it, and run that bit of logic (not taking the opinion of people on what to play, or trying a demo of the game) backwards, it would ultimately lead you to never trying any games at all (chicken or the egg?), unless you just bought a title by closing your eyes and pointing at the sales shelf and hoping it's a title you'd enjoy.

There's a difference (as I've previously stated) between buying a game from a store and buying one off XBOX Live.  In the store, if the game sucks (IE: Vampire Rain) you can always trade it in for store credit.  What recompense is there for a game off Live if you don't like it? 

And if I want to take a chance, I'll read a REVIEW.  That's the way to make a decision.  OXM does an ok job on game reviews (I have no more problem with theirs than I do anyone elses).)  Don't use magazine space to schill for specific games. 

whew....now that my brain hurts from thinking too much, i think it's time for bed.

 MkScorpion4400 wrote:

I'm so very glad you bought this up.  Let's say you open Sports Illustrated.  Does it tell you which games to watch?  Let me give you an even better example.  Recently on newsstands, I saw a special feature mag which was highlighting summer movie games put out by OXM.  Have no problem with it.  Because it was a special feature mag, and from the outset, it an opinion-preview magazine.

But I do have a major problem with any magazine (not just OXM) running those type of articles that aren't reviews.  I had the same problem with all the endless whining and advocacy for Tim Schafer because "not enough people played Psychonauts."  I disagree that a video game mag is 90 percent opinion?  A game preview is based upon facts and details.  There are places for opinion, but advocating certain games comes off as snobbery and schilling.




And if I want to take a chance, I'll read a REVIEW.  That's the way to make a decision.  OXM does an ok job on game reviews (I have no more problem with theirs than I do anyone elses).)  Don't use magazine space to schill for specific games. 

We agree to disagree.

 LostKnightmare wrote:

 MkScorpion4400 wrote:

I'm so very glad you bought this up.  Let's say you open Sports Illustrated.  Does it tell you which games to watch?  Let me give you an even better example.  Recently on newsstands, I saw a special feature mag which was highlighting summer movie games put out by OXM.  Have no problem with it.  Because it was a special feature mag, and from the outset, it an opinion-preview magazine.

But I do have a major problem with any magazine (not just OXM) running those type of articles that aren't reviews.  I had the same problem with all the endless whining and advocacy for Tim Schafer because "not enough people played Psychonauts."  I disagree that a video game mag is 90 percent opinion?  A game preview is based upon facts and details.  There are places for opinion, but advocating certain games comes off as snobbery and schilling.




And if I want to take a chance, I'll read a REVIEW.  That's the way to make a decision.  OXM does an ok job on game reviews (I have no more problem with theirs than I do anyone elses).)  Don't use magazine space to schill for specific games. 

We agree to disagree.

Ok, we do agree to disagree because isn't a review an opinion? A game review is based on the impression a person gets from a game they played and their opinion about that game. It is based on some details and fact, but a review is opinion driven writing, thats is why there are a million review sites with varying scores telling you different things. If it was all fact and detail, we would only need 1 review to go by. Reviewers are basically advocating a game or telling you to seek entertainment elsewhere with their review scores and their opinion on the game.

[personal opinion]...i think a review mag with just reviews (especially a console specific mag) would not be worth my $ per month.