Yakoob on 28/6/2016 at 07:14

---

I have stopped reading paper stuff (except for books) many years ago. In today's digital world the really is no need; everything you want can be found online, on demand and usually for free.

But while i was traveling i picked up some polish gaming mags just to fill some downtime (ie airplanes or no wifi bus/train) and to see what the polish gaming scene looks like.

It reminded me how oddly comforting it is to actually hold and read a tangible piece of press. Its a really nice break from all the staring at the computer screen i do most of my day, not to mention much easier on the eyes.

I'm wondering if others here still follow any traditional media? Any good recommendations for gaming mags in particular in the US? The polish CD Action and Piksel were pretty good but don't know about here. My only worry is that what i read will already be outdated. Not to mention half the mags here seem to be pure adspace...

WingedKagouti on 28/6/2016 at 07:56

---

The time it takes to write articles for and print a magazine makes them less useful for news or reviews of new releases. The cost of printing and distribution forces them to have a large amount of adspace (or "sponsored" articles) if they are to have a "reasonable" price in the eyes of potential readers. Compared to websites the main benefit for a reader is availability while offline.

However, flipping through a magazine is a noticably different experience from reading articles on a website. A while ago I ran across (http://www.dailydot.com/opinion/how-internet-changed-way-we-read/) an article about reading on the internet, which highlights some of the things that happen when we look at stuff online. It doesn't directly touch upon the difference between paper and online reading, but reading between the lines gives me the impression that he feels online reading is less focused than reading something on a piece of paper (or multiple pieces).

Also, picking up a magazine and reading it probably has some psychological effect of "I'm doing this right now and nothing else", whereas reading articles on a website can easily spill into reading stuff on other sites, watching videos, checking your mail, maybe playing a quick game of something, etc. There's almost no barrier in switching to those activities while online, but with a magazine you'd have to put down the magazing, get another, pick up your phone and start fiddling with it, go find some cards or whatever else. If you're online, you're (often) online for every potential purpose your current device allows. If you sit down with a magazine, you'll have to take deliberate action to do something else.

demagogue on 28/6/2016 at 08:23

---

Until recentishly I got The Economist.
Not really gaming or entertainment.

icemann on 29/6/2016 at 01:02

---

I completely stopped reading books after I got fully into the internet side of things. That said, since the early 2000s I've been an avid reader of Retro Gamer Magazine. That's the one paper based thing I've never given up.

Sure you could read it digitally on a screen, but nothing compares to having the magazine in paper in your hands. Of recent, I've discovered that they sell for a fair bit on Ebay (which considering I had nearly every issue of the magazine meant that that made me a fair bit of cash :)) which was a nice added bonus. Regardless though, the magazine has seen me through nearly every paid job I've ever had. I just love it's content about all the old retro franchises and consoles as well as articles on old stuff inspiring new things etc etc. Love it.

scumble on 29/6/2016 at 08:48

---

A compromise is pulling feeds onto a kindle, which has the same sensory properties as a piece of paper when the backlight is off. It won't replace a colourful mag but the reading is more comfortable.

This has reminded me that I'm not reading much at all at the moment...