Edge Vs NGamer

Edge and Ngamer, two distinctly separate videogame magazines. The clash in both style and tone is considerable. But which is better? Well, there's only one way to find out...

FIGHT! 

Aesthetically aloof and aspiring to art, Edge aims to immerse its readers in the rich history of ‘Videogames Culture’. Its minimalist white backgrounds provide a suitably frosty environment for the detached voice of its anonymous third-person writing style. The unemotional (some say stuffy) editorial stance lends the magazine an unmistakable weight of authority. A jaded and cynical veteran of the gaming world, Edge will only ever award its legendary perfect ‘10’ score to games that it feels have revolutionised the way we play. In its entire 15 year run, the magazine has only ever awarded the elusive perfect ‘10’ to nine games. As a result of this ultra conservative marking method, games that receive this rare accolade cause an immediate buzz. A multiplatform mag, Edge has taken the unusual step of examining the technical side of games too, tackling specialist subjects like 3D modelling. Edge, it seems, is a magazine that objectively dissects every level of gaming with a cool, dispassionate voice, unapologetic in its deliberate effort at distancing itself from the competition.

And then we have NGamer, the self appointed ‘Ultimate Nintendo Magazine’ (Edge would balk at such a cocksure statement). But, of course, its tagline, like the rest of the magazine is infused with a tongue-in-cheek sense of fun. Wrapped in its gaudy flashing foil and packaged with teenage-baiting freebies (again, Edge would blush at such a vulgar display of gratuity), a newcomer to the ever expanding library of gaming mags may dismiss the loud exterior as puerile posturing, not worthy of adult consideration. But they’d be entirely wrong. Behind the flashing lights and fanboy fanfare stands a publication of considerable substance. NGamer is the latest iteration of a magazine that spans over 16 years. From its humble beginnings as a manga-inspired SNES magazine in 1992 (Super Play), through its various transformations (N64, NGC), NGamer has charted the glorious history of Nintendo, slowly building a loyal and dedicated fan base. Written by fans for fans, NGamer has always had a strong link to its readership, more so now with the introduction of an online forum. Every edition has a section called ‘meet the team’, a chance for the reader to gain insights into what makes the team tick (a world away from the anonymous voice of Edge).

It appears then that these magazines are indeed poles apart. But I’d like to argue that there is also a kinship between these two veteran gaming mags, an affinity that runs deeper than mere aesthetic and editorial content. Both magazines were born within a year of each other in the early 1990’s and both are still going strong to this day, sharing a longevity that is rare amongst gaming magazines. They also belong to the same publishing company, Future, who target those of us that share a specialist-interest passion, in this case videogames. Their ‘unofficial’ status means that neither is obliged to ‘toe the line’ with the companies who make the games which they review. Honesty ahoy! But, I think most importantly, both mags share a cult following, a merry band of brothers united under the banner of ‘Videogames’. So next time you see these two mags sharing shelf space in WH Smith, think twice before you tear one away from it’s sibling.