Why can’t we have a good magazine?

Last month for the first time I believe that the GameMakerTech magazine outshone its generally more respected rival publication MarkUp.

The quality of the content in GMT has been improving issue by issue at a steady rate but it still lacks a regular release date. That said the November Issue of MarkUp was released behind schedule and December issue looks like it is heading for a mid-month release.

Why oh why can neither side produce a quality magazine to a set schedule? Reasons often cited include a lack of contributions with the two magazines seemingly have different ‘staffing’ strategies. MarkUp appear to rely far more on outside contributions whereas GMT have a steady number of people looking to join their team.

In April this year MarkUp was one of the first Game Maker related things I had taken an interest in for a good sixth months. I was impressed with the efforts of the team so it made sense to park myself in the MarkUp camp.

Working from a short article on Game Manuals in April this year I have written longer pieces, game and book reviews and even a 9 page feature on Commercial Game Maker Games. I have enjoyed writing for MarkUp for the past 9 months.

Yet recently I have found myself becoming increasingly frustrated at the slow rate of progress being made as things seem to slip further and further behind each issue and with communications to staff members and contributors virtually none-existent.

I appreciate a Game Maker magazine isn’t everyones number 1 priority and our personal circumstances change laa dee daa, but don’t leave your regular contributors in the dark. Hold discussions, decide what to do it the coming months to stop things slipping further away and above all don’t be afraid to ask for help if you need it.

A few months back I was asked if I would like to contribute to GameMakerTech and I politely declined because of my work at MarkUp, now I am again considering taking them up on their offer.

There are two quite good Game Maker magazines – one that appears to be on the way up, the other which appears to be going downhill. Can’t we just have one good quality magazine that is released on time.

Too much to ask? It shouldn’t be.

Frustrated.