Obviously it should be noted that the magazines all have different release schedules, so we would not expect them each to release a certain number of issues per month. Russell’s Quaterly, for example, is actually ahead of schedule whilst GMWeekly are sticking to their promise of one issue per week.

From what I can see there appears to be a pattern in the release dates of magazines in their first few months. GMTech, MarkUp and Scope all took at least a months break after their first issue was released, then managed to produce several months of back-to-back releases (MarkUp released issues in 11 consecutive months!), before slipping to less regular releases.

Exceeding the expectations of some GMWeekly has managed to stick to its schedule of releasing every Friday before today.  Prior to the release today it has received around 85 downloads from its primary host per issue. The short issue length and limited degree of coverage (of GameMaker news which can be found elsewhere) may contribute to these relatively low download figures – however the magazine hasn’t even been around for 2 months yet, so given more time I expect recognition of the magazine to increase.

What are your thoughts on the regularity of magazine releases? Does it even matter?

GMWeekly and Magazine Stats is taken from: GameMaker Blog

GMKing on openness:

In a post on the recently launched GMKing network blog Robin Monks, a co-editor of MarkUp, gives a brief insight into the decision making process behind the magazine.

Matthew from GameMaker Magazine:

The owner of GameMaker Magazine Matthew Haigh has launched his own blog on which he writes about his GameMaker projects and those of others. Like the magazine it could do with an extra proof read.

Blog watch is taken from: GameMaker Blog

GMKing under DDoS attack is taken from: GameMaker Blog

Download MarkUp 14:

• High Quality pdf
• Low Quality pdf

Inside:

• Exclusive 6-page preview of the full version of 65M +1 BC
• “Viscerality” (how to suck people into games)
• Making lists with local arrays
• Expanding GameMaker with .NET
• A bumper “The Making of….”, this issues game is 9 pages of Falling Troy
• Plus of course regular features such as script and extension of the month, MarDar, game reviews and interviews

MarkUp 14 is out is taken from: GameMaker Blog

We haven’t seen MarkUp release an issue since their 13th (or should I say XIII) back in late April. However work is well underway on the 14th issue as this scrambled picture released by Eyas shows.

If you are interested in contributing to the MarkUp game development magazine visit their website or forum.

MarkUp is back (not immediately) is taken from: GameMaker Blog

However it appears that the latest issue of GameMakerTech has been substantially delayed. I believe the original intention was for it to be released before the end of April, but as is so often the case with Game Maker magazines, it wasn’t.

It looks as though we could even see issue 4 of Game Maker Magazine appear first, and if it is I think this is a clear signal that the pairing of MarkUp and GameMakerTech have a real challenger.

I understand many GameMaker users are in or are about to enter exam season but I do wish that we can see at least one magazine release at regular intervals.

Where is GMTech? is taken from: GameMaker Blog

Although not strictly a Game Maker magazine, it’s still one of the best. One thing I’ve noticed that it seems to have a small focus on old (Nintendo) games. "Next time: Wisdom Tree" only pushes this point further.

Great job, Russell.

Russell’s Quarterly, issue 2 is taken from: GameMaker Blog

You can download issue 13 here (pdf, 1.9MB)

MarkUp 13 is out is taken from: GameMaker Blog

Previously MarkUp has been my magazine of choice, but I haven’t really been happy with what has been going on their for the last couple of months. I’m not alone on this as fellow GMB writer tuntis recently left MarkUp and applied to join GameMaker Tech.

I still have a desire to contribute to a magazine though, and I guess to many the obvious choice would be GameMaker Tech. It is a rapidly improving magazine and has strong management, particularly Kay, who I regularly chat with. I’d be perfectly happy working with GMT and it would certainly be interesting to see how working with them differed from working at MarkUp.

However part of me feels that I should stick with MarkUp. After all I have been writing for them for a year now and they were one of the first sites I went to when I returned to the GameMaker world last year. Loyalty is all well and good, but do I really feel I could turn around the magazine? The simple answer is no, not from its current state.

Then my decision became more difficult. Game Maker Magazine may not have had the best start with its first two issues, but I feel my input here would make the most difference. Despite the shaky start I see potential in the magazine and I truly believe that come a few months it could be the main challenger to GameMaker Tech.

Of course another option is not to tie myself down to any magazine and instead submit articles freelance to magazines as and when I feel like it, or if I receive a request for a particular kind of article.

I think I will wait until after the next issues of GMT and GMM are released before making my decision about which way to go.

Which way to go? is taken from: GameMaker Blog

MarkUp has been notably absent as it normally releases to a pretty strict schedule at the start of the month. Whilst GameMaker Tech have been delayed following several days downtime at their forum. Still they plan to use Drupal as the CMS for their main site which I’m sure will please MarkUp’s Robin.

It has been quite a slow period for Game Maker news recently, without any magazine releases and no recent updates from YoYo Games.  YoYo’s ancient civilization competition now has less than 10 days remaining.

April Magazines is taken from: GameMaker Blog