If you are a gamer, you should already be subscribed

I read several video game magazines to stay on top of what's new and know how I should blow my next benjamin, but I am only subscribed to EGM. The reason is quite simple; if I happen to get an issue in the mail that doesn't even address a game I am interested in, it is still great reading material. Nearly a plethora of reviews and previews of games that are on their way to a store shelf near you are packed into this rather large, (for a magazine) publication.

Thanks to Electronic Gaming Monthly I know how long it will take before I can get the new games I want, and if a game has been cancelled or delayed, they tell me why or how long. The front covers typically are appealing to the eye and are only matched in attractiveness by rival periodical Gamepro magazine. Getting the the actual "meat" of the literature you will find an in-depth table of contents which not only directs you to specific articles, but has a guide which tells you exactly what page to find any game in the magazine whether it was featured or not.

Moving right along there are generally about 2 to 3 pages dedicated to reader letters which are responded to quite clearly if there was a question unless the editors decided to poke fun at the reader in which case they are generally given a proverbial pimp-slap.

There is a section dedicated to what's new at the arcades which usually tells you what is new in what area of the country, what it should cost to play, and what to avoid at all costs. Sometimes it even shows you codes and tricks to use in your local arcade. There is usually a few pages filled with the story of one of the team who was assigned to go to the most recent video game exposition, (who wouldn't love to have this guy's job) in which you are informed of all of the new games, systems, peripherals, and plans for the future of video gaming.

Afterwards there are many (read:50-90) reviews of new games on the market, as well as previews of incomplete games which they are regularly given to sample and give feedback. The games are played and reviewed by at least four editors so that one person's possible bias for a game or genre will not cause the game to get a higher or lower rating than it deserves. Games that get high enough reviews are awarded with silver, gold, or platinum status. You can bet that if any game has one of these awards there was a lot of work put into it, and it is worth your time.

Sometimes there are mini-strategy guides near the back of the magazine for a game that is doing well in sales to give readers more of an incentive to buy the magazine. I would say about half of the time the guides are useful simply because I do not play all of the games. On the other hand, sometimes a good strategy guide will leave me curious about a game and tempt me to buy the game.

Lastly, there is a section strictly for tips, tricks, and codes for all you cheaters out there. Just kidding. This is very useful for finding hidden rooms and items within games or getting an invincibility code and going postal on your friends in multi-player games. And there is a "Next Month" section where they tell you, you guessed it, what will be in next month's issue.

There are a lot of ads in the magazine which can be irritating but it really is hard to find a magazine out nowadays that isn't full of them, so I can be forgiving. Plus they have to get paid right?