Amit sums it all up to tell you why your game magazine sucks. He acknowledges that a lot of people have said this all before, and we've been saying it since, oh, 1999? At least? The real question is, why do we still have to say it?
I think though that more than just pointing out what's wrong and spiraling us into a pit of despair, some of his bullets are constructive. Take number three, for example. "You've lost the hardcore gamer. This is a good thing." Yes, that's right. You'll never be hardcore enough for the hardcore, anyway. They need too much information, too fast - and as Amit points out, the best delivery system for that is online. But that's fine. Your mainstream gamers what more than tips, tricks, cheat codes, standard reviews (ah, see also, number five: "Your reviews are boring.") We read books, we see movies, we think about games. We could use at least one RES of games.
And what about aesthetics? Amit forgot to mention that most game magazines look the same - terrifically noisy, with a cartoon character on the cover drowning under neon-colored bubble text. Is this going to make the average 28-year-old gamer, male or female, feel smart for buying it? Is this going to be the irresistable candy that lures the subscribers?
But we all know this, already. So many of you readers and my colleagues have complained about these very issues. I tried last year to start a new games magazine - it didn't get far, as we foundered on getting funding and our total inexperience, and got seriously tangled in priorities. It was a crushing experience. But I've recovered now, and the engine's warming up, and I've got new ideas and new strategies. Who's with me? Damn it, when are we going to stop talking and make it happen?
I'm tired of waiting. What about you?