Want A Job in Video Game Journalism?

It's not easy getting your foot into the door that leads to the realm of video game journalism. If you're like me, you are looking for a way into the business. I wish I could give pages of helpful advice, but all I can say is that networking is very important. I want to share a site that I recently stumbled upon that allows gamers that are in the business, or aspiring to be, to let their voices be heard. It's called Videogames Journos Network. It's a social networking site where intellectual people meet to discuss gaming. So if you're tired of reading potentially insightful forum topics that get derailed by childish banter, check out this site. A lot of people from the business are members, and I'm sure a dedicated writer will be a very welcome addition to the site.

The Death of Print?

Out with the old, in with the new is how the saying goes. With the recent demise of GFW magazine, some people are speculating on what this means for print media. With the unstoppable reach of the internet these days, some wonder why anybody would even bother with a magazine subscription. Their argument is that all the breaking news can be covered as it happens by online publications. By the time the magazines hit store shelves, a lot of what is included is relatively old news. This is particularly frightening for aspiring video game journalists that want to write for magazines. It's not a good feeling to have when current trends tell you your dream will be snuffed out because it's no longer marketable. Well, I say fear not. GFW may have gone online, but there are reasons for this other than magazines are not worth the paper they're printed on anymore. There may be hope for us yet.
GFW magazine, or Games For Windows, was a publication that in essence, has been around for well over twenty years. It covered PC gaming and really hit some strides since its inception. However, that streak obviously came to an end. Why is this? Are we so wired into the interweb that we can't be bothered with physical media anymore? Maybe. But maybe GFW Magazine went under because of the PC as a gaming platform. In the past, the PC was the place to go for the best graphics and online play. Consoles now have come so far, that many games rival their PC counterparts. GFW's fate is the result of a market that can't find a reason to upgrade to a PC worth thousands of dollars just to play Crisis. Next gen, or current gen (for some who hate the first term) consoles are cheaper, just as reliable (unless you see red rings), and much more portable than high end PC's. Those consoles are what make the news headlines at Christmas. Video game magazines barely touch on PC gaming anymore because the same technology has been adapted to more convenient platforms. I think this is the main culprit for GFW's death. It's not prints problem, it's the content it covers.
All in all, magazines are not on their way out. Think of it like newspapers. It's timeless media. As the times change, print media will have to revolve around the current trends to remain a viable source of information. And there is nothing like picking up a magazine, kicking your feet up, and reading it all the way through. You can't really do that on a PC. Besides, have you ever tried to read a whole book online? It's not very fun. So for all of you who want to get a job in magazine journalism, I say stand tall. Don't take the mags behind the barn and shoot it just yet. You've still got work to do.

Got Mine Before You

A ton of people preorder games. Most notably huge titles like the Halo or GTA series. I, on the other hand, have never preordered a game... until now. Recently I took a trip to Gamestop with a couple friends to preorder GTA IV. Usually, I don't do that kind of thing. I always figured I'd just hang around a 24 hour retail store and snatch up a copy when 12am hit. I didn't want to fight through crowds of people who've been up for 48 hours with nothing in their systems but Mountain Dew Game Fuel. Could this very well be a new thing for me to be apart of in the near future? We'll see on the 28th of April. This Gamestop promises to hold contests and play games to commemorate this occasion. So you know what that means. Pics, pics, and more pics! Shortly after that, look forward to an in depth analysis on GTA IV from my perspective. Stay tuned!