Like most kids my age, I have become well acquainted with the many opportunities individuals have when consuming goods on the Internet. In terms of news, technology, and a myriad of other factors, the internet has changed our lives to an immense degree. In addition, kids who were born in the year 2000 and beyond (!) have had access to the internet since the day they could walk. Which brings me to what happened yesterday: I bought a magazine.
Now you’re probably thinking, ‘why would this kid write a blog post about purchasing a magazine?’ What makes him so special?’
Although my first foray into the world of print journalism is a small feat at best it marks my commitment to be… Well… Different.
With the Internet providing people with up-to-date news every single day of the year, it seems difficult to imagine that a medium such as print can garner any form of public interest. Sure there are ‘exclusives’. But these fine ornaments of journalism capitalism find their way onto the Internet hours after their having been published in a physical medium. It seems ludicrous to believe that a medium such as print can even attest to providing any form of competition in a world that is reaching its digital epoch.
Going along with the subject, I must mention that I had an interesting experience speaking to my tech-savvy, twelve-year-old younger brother about floppy disks (how the conversation came about I do not know) and I quickly realized that he had probably never been exposed to the ancient devices minus a few films from the late nineties. It baffled me that him and I are separated by only 6 years yet, in that gap, a technological-generation gap has occurred incredibly different childhoods.
Dare I say that it made me feel “old”?
No, that’s not right… It encouraged me to reflect – an action that has lost its luster in recent past unless initiated by a top ten songs from the 90s video on ‘VH1’ or a blog post targeted to people who were alive in the 80’s.
If that non-sequitor wasn’t enough for you, keep reading.
So, to continue: I purchased a magazine. Not just any magazine, a magazine that was tailored to my interests of course – interactive entertainment (a fancy term for video games). Now, to begin, there are many magazines concerned with the digestion of video games and the like that consumers may find themselves bewildered to even consider diving into the world of print. However, I did some research and made an educated decision: Game Informer. Yes, GameStop’s in-house magazine which has those fancy looking covers which gamers the world over clamor for month after month. I chose Game Informer because I, quite honestly, judged the magazine by its cover – not its contents. Surprised? Let me explain.
As a consumer I am frequently assaulted by every marketing genius’ attempt to make me feel compelled to give them money. Yes, that is my perspective on consumer-brand marketing – and, quite frankly, I think I’m right. Furthermore, as a consumer, I am entitled to dish out my moneys (this is a real word) any which way I want with the only thing governing my use of said moneys being lodged between my ears. It can be vexing considering how to spend your money – for some it is definitely easier than others. However, in my case, it has become readily apparent to myself and others who know me well that I can be quite cheap. Therefore, purchasing a magazine as a little tike was not an option considering my hesitant nature to spend any form of payment that may find itself in my possession.
Which led me to my actions yesterday
When considering to purchase a magazine, I first and foremost looked for something that would look cool on my shelf. I like my shelf, and I like my room and I figure I should treat them rightly so. In that way, I developed a keen sense for coloration – a skill that I am still working to perfect. Said magazine should sit on my shelf in an adequate manner and I should be able to look at said magazine and say to myself, “well… would you look at that…” with the same beaming pride a father has when staring at his son hit his first home run (for those of you ill-acquainted with the world of sports, this is a baseball reference). So when I decided to get a magazine, I wanted to get one that spoke to me both through its words and through its appearance.
Game Informer did just that.
I mean, I know there are a number of gaming publications that would wanted my cash more but Game Informer seemed the best fit because the guys over at Game Informer don’t spill their guts out on the front cover. What do I mean by this? I mean, I don’t see a short description of a number of items from their table of contents sprawled on the front of the pamphlet – a marketing scheme which I have come to hate especially when waiting in line at the supermarket having only these short snippets of information amidst a captivating image of a ‘recognizable figure in media’ to capture my attention. I simply don’t like it.
Game Informer keeps it simple, short, and sweet by just stating the name of the publication and providing consumers with a fantastic image to add to their collection (my collection consisting of but one magazine unlike this guy or that guy who simply make my arsenal look like a joke – yes, I made magazines analogous to weaponry)
I personally feel like I will not regret my decision anytime soon, however, please feel free to let me know what you think. In addition, I will detail my opinions on my journey into print as I go forward.
Intrinsic Detail 
