Obviously, it's well known that Game Informer magazine is owned by Game Stop. Game Informer was originally a magazine that was sold and also given away for free by Funcoland. When Funcoland was bought out by Game Stop, Game Informer came along with it, and Game Stop decided to keep it going.

It seems the vast majority of gamers out there view Game Informer with disdain and disrespect. They consider GI to be nothing more than a corporate shill for the Game Stop empire. Some even wonder if the reviews are skewed to favor specific publisher's games in return for payola. Some gamer friends of mine won't touch Game Informer with a 10 foot pole, just like they won't support Game Stop with any of their hard earned dollars.


As for me.... I don't really have this disregard for Game Informer. I think they are a pretty decent magazine. Obviously, the connection with Game Stop, and the potential for impropriety is disturbing, and something I can't completely ignore. However, looking at their review scores, nothing jumps out at me and screams that they are just a shill. They seem to give good scores to the best games, and bad scores to the crappy games. Everything "seems" to be on the up and up. I don't know their editors personally, but they appear to be gamers with a bit of integrity.

Still, my viewpoint seems to be very much in the minority. What say you?

I've never really found anything objectionable, and usually prefer the features and reviews to those in say, EGM. Certainly provides more content per issue than EGM, although I wouldn't exactly rush to my wallet to obtain either.

I subscribe to Game Informer (in part to get the 10% discount on used games). But, I think it's a fine gaming publication. I have no issues with it, really. Considering I get it for free if I buy 3-4 used games a year between my PSP, Wii, and PS3, I have no complaints.

Game Informer has the absolute best cover art ever. Here is an example:

http://broadviewgraphics.blogspot.com/2009/01/game-informer-cover.html

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_NAE1gtgx78g/SWJJHTWmfdI/AAAAAAAAAhg/mi8piI1Ejo4/s1600-h/GI-cover.jpg

I used to like their reviews, but this last year they have been very questionable. I wouldn't doubt some industry pressure at this point.

Their features are OK, but the reviews have become weird in the past 1-2 years. I topped paying attention to those.
It seems they have bowed below publisher pressure. And I am not surprised. Publishers can easily take their game to DD and Gamestop is kissing their feet.

I really like Game Informer. I find their review scores are usually on the higher end, but the actual text of the reviews always seemed pretty level to me. There's also plenty of stuff to read, unlike EGM which could be finished in like 15 minutes.

I read it, and enjoy it. That doesn't mean I'm not skeptical, though.

Seems they give good reviews to the ones that are good, and not so good reviews to the ones that aren't. I may not agree with every single one, but neither will everyone else.

One thing I liked is their Red Alert 3 review; it got basically trashed on the 360 but they made sure to say the PC version didn't have the faults. It still perplexes me why one would put a RTS on a console...they are unplayable!

They consider GI to be nothing more than a corporate shill for the Game Stop empire.

Nah, they're not a shill for GameStop. They're a shill for the publishers, which you can say about any of the big videogame publications nowadays. However, unlike IGN, Game Informer is at least readable.

To me trusting GI is about the same as trusting Nintendo Power, especially when Nintendo was in control. At least for me, when I am thinking about buying a game, I read several professional reviews, look at user comments and maybe spend the cash and rent it.

I've disagreed with their reviews a few times, but nothing serious. Honestly, I just don't like the writing style (smacks of trying too hard to be clever and sarcastic). And for such a thin magazine, it's still 60% ads. Meh.

Nah, they're not a shill for GameStop. They're a shill for the publishers, which you can say about any of the big videogame publications nowadays. However, unlike IGN, Game Informer is at least readable.

Exactly. Every publication sponsored by ad revenue is to some degree beholden to their sponsors. Regardless of industry. How long will they be in business if they publish an issue titled "Everything Sucks!" :D

I appreciate that they take the time to feature some retrospectives at the back of each issue. I enjoy those more than anything. The previews are throwaway, as with any magazine, they're just extended advertisements and never an accurate depiction of a final product. I mostly respect their review process, and I like that they review some obscure games in addition to the blockbusters. My only real quibble is that the co-review scores are always within .25/10 points of each other. I find that suspicious.

But overall better than the toilet paper Ziff Davis publications.

Well, everybody thats smacking down EGM, no need to really do that any longer since they bit the dust, but it's good to hear that not as many people are anti-GI as I thought. It must just have to do with a certain group of gamers that just don't trust them. I think they seem to be relatively accurate with their stuff.

I do remember during the PS2 - Xbox - GameCube era, they were incredibly biased towards the PS2. Always making snide comments about how huge the Xbox is, and how big the Xbox controller was, etc, etc. It seems they have kinda grown out of the system bias thing. They seem pretty fair with all three systems. Obviously they talk alot of smack about the Wii's terrible lineup of games, but who doesn't?

Also, in regards to USA game magazines, it's not like we have too many options left. All we have left is GamePro, Game Informer and Play magazine, when it comes to multiplatform mags. GamePro is about as lame as they get and if I don't trust any magazine, it's Play. I used to be Dave Halverson's bee-itch, being a huge fan of all his publications, and I used to subscribe to Play, but after his reviews of Lair and Sonic the Hedgehog (for 360/PS3), I just can't trust anything Play does. I'd love to subscribe to Edge magazine from the U.K., but that mag ain't cheap to subscribe to.

I snag an Edge subscription as a holiday gift; I agree, too expensive to get sent here to the US. I don't mind other people footing the bill for me, though :) It's ridiculous how much better the articles are over every other US-based game mag.

I was looking yesterday, I don't think Edge is overpriced, I think a 2 year sub is only like $20 or $30 more than what the Brits pay. It's a good mag, as is Retro Gamer, as is GamesTM.

The worst thing about GI is the idea that they think they can rate games in steps of .1. Everytime I hear or see ratings like 7.3, or 6.7, etc.... I laugh. Like it can be that precise. I can accept .5 ratings, but beyond that, you're just kidding yourself.

I was looking yesterday, I don't think Edge is overpriced, I think a 2 year sub is only like $20 or $30 more than what the Brits pay. It's a good mag, as is Retro Gamer, as is GamesTM.

Really, only $20 or $30 more? That's not too bad. I still don't think I'd subscribe to it though, mainly because I have an outdoor mailbox, and my mailman always just stuffs the magazines in there, and they end up all folded up and messed up. When I'm paying that much for a mag, I want the issue in pristine condition. Maybe I could get a P.O. box or something.

I did have one issue of GamesTM, don't remember how I got it, but I loved their retro section. They had a really nice retro section. Seems all the U.K. mags are high quality, and they seem to be doing well over there. Everybody says print is dead and magazines are dead, but I enjoying sitting in bed reading a nice magazine. There is a saying about curling up in bed with a good book, or something like that, and you just can't really do that with a laptop and a webiste. But with a magazine, you can curl up with it, and enjoy it like that. Sure, I read alot of stuff on the internet, but it's not the same as a written page.

It's ridiculous how much better the articles are over every other US-based game mag.

R U saying that English dudes writes better'n us??? That's UN-MUHRCAN!!!

I still don't think I'd subscribe to it though, mainly because I have an outdoor mailbox, and my mailman always just stuffs the magazines in there, and they end up all folded up and messed up. When I'm paying that much for a mag, I want the issue in pristine condition. Maybe I could get a P.O. box or something.

Get yourself a bigger letterbox :)

The worst thing about GI is the idea that they think they can rate games in steps of .1. Everytime I hear or see ratings like 7.3, or 6.7, etc.... I laugh. Like it can be that precise. I can accept .5 ratings, but beyond that, you're just kidding yourself.

GI has been rating in steps of .25 for years and years. I think you're mixing it up with IGN.

I haven't subscribed to GI for a couple years but I always enjoyed it. Good reviews which I generally agreed within about 0.5 points. They also have good news, interviews and other features. Their biggest fault IMO is that they tend to get overly excited about certain games (MGS and GTA come to mind), but in that respect they aren't a whole lot different than other reviewers. When weighing a purchase I generally look at GI along with IGN and Gamestop and that usually does me right.