edge magazine - why so little actual writing in there?

I haven't noticed a lack of writing, do you mean in general or just the reviews?

Edge is the only computer mag I would ever read, it reminds me of ACE years ago with all it's concept console reports and photos of computer game exhibitions in Japan. I do get a bit fed up with the retro stuff at times, it seems I'm forever looking at at least one article per month where a screenshot of Pacman or Elite is featured.

Probably cos I don't write for it. You pay peanuts you get monkeys.

the christmas issue was a bit thin on articles and a bit more round-up-of-the-year, yes. the couple before were fine (big piece on gameplay and technology in Ico2 in one of them for instance)

I wish they'd scrap ratings.

I agree with you there

They're pretty up-front about how you're not supposed to just look at the number, read the review. So they still have their Ratings Guide? "1=one 2=two 3=three 4=four 5=five 6=six 7=seven 8=eight 9=nine 10=ten"

I think they did cut a column in the new redesign, and they've hidden the others at the back with the industry ads.

I just wish they'd actually dare to get rid of it, rather than being all "No, just read what it says... but we'll keep the scores anyway. Just in case. We're as scared as you are!" because there's always such a fuss about choosing to give a game a ten, an "edge" 10... blah blah blah. NO MORE. Stop pretending to be a proper magazine and be one. Stop mentioning ratings in the reviews (most recent I can remember = San Andreas review). If all that is needed is for the review to be read, then let it be that way!

Although the scoring system explained thing is quite funny.

what are the job pages like these days? still lots available?

I love the fuss about giving a game a 10! It adds an edge(sorry) to their reviews, this famously exclusive club.

I do have a vague problem with how rockist they can be at times, eg when they gave Half-Life 2 a 10, the next review was a 9 for Rome Total War, where the only glancing slight in the review was that it was made out of other games (masterfully blended and polished to perfection). But on the other hand their columns are fantastic, and their longer thinkpieces and retrospective reviews/articles on games gone by (like their recent five pager about Eternal Darkness) can't be found anywhere else. And I love their round-up of non-game game stuff (t-shirts, books, ads).

I agree with andrew.

I think I like all the retro stuff and in depth features the best; that's where it really seems to differentiate from all other video game magazines.

can't find the thread where sebastian was asking for decent articles about video games. this one will have to do. from slashdot:

http://games.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=05/03/17/0023249

"The first issue of The Gamer's Quarter, a magazine that tries to take a more literary approach to videogames than do current publications, has been released in .pdf format. Included are fourteen lengthy articles, each with a unique perspective; one piece looks at the cultural meaning of Katamari Damacy, while another piece speaks of the writer's gradual acceptance of death as a learning tool."

http://www.gamersquarter.com/