The world of print video game journalism is in a pretty rough place right now, with companies like Future Publishing shutting down long-running mags as readership dwindles in the face of online competition.
However, one company is bucking this trend by launching a new magazine. Wireframe is a fortnightly publication that will cost £3 per issue but will also be available to download for free, and comes courtesy of Raspberry Pi - yes, that's the same UK company that makes those little computers that are found in so many retro emulation setups these days.
Wireframe aims to deliver a behind-the-scenes perspective on games and the people who work so hard to make them, and issue one will contain an interview with none other than Alex Hutchinson, creative director for Assassin’s Creed III and Far Cry 4. The debut issue also includes an in-depth look at the history of Treasure (Sin & Punishment, Radiant Silvergun, Gunstar Heroes), one of Japan's most beloved studios. It launches on 8th November, but you can download it right now by pointing your browser here.
Wireframe is helmed by Ryan Lambie, formerly of Den of Geek. If you've been visiting Nintendo Life for a while, then you may recognise Ryan's name, as he was once a contributor here.
Here's what he had to say about the news:
Wireframe will take a more indie-focused, left-field angle than traditional gaming magazines. You’ll be as likely to see coverage of mods, early access games and development tools as you are major AAA titles.
With Wireframe, we want to give readers an inside look into games, and shed some light on how they are made. So many people dream of being games developers, and they don’t realise how accessible that dream is. We want to show that the software and the technology is there for them to start making games now.
What do you make of a company releasing a new video games magazine in the current climate? Let us know with a comment below.
Comments 44
Yuck !
Disgusting !
The articles will be about How to pirate games & Yada Yada Yada about rated 18+ games i Hate most.
Always nice to hear a success story for print media
you can get first issue in print for free no postage so worth a look.
@Anti-Matter actually it aims to, “take a more indie-focused, left-field angle than traditional gaming magazines. You’ll be as likely to see coverage of mods, early access games and development tools as you are major AAA titles.”
And the first issue has an in depth look at the history of treasure, which made amazing schmups. Not sure if you read the article or if your just trashing it based on the fact you saw raspberry pi and some triple AAA games mentioned.
It looks to be less about AAA games than most mags and more about behind the scenes development of games. I know AAA games are the devil to you just remember they need some of that coverage to stay relevant. It’s what most people are interested in.
I already subscribe to the MagPi and Hackspace. Both great mags that encourage youngsters to get their hands dirty with Tech and Maker projects. Hackspace is the standout as it combine tech with other abilities. I highly recommend them to those with kids. I would imagine their gaming mag would be more than just reviews but lead youngsters down the road of modding, experimenting and going beyond just playing games.
Both the above are from the same publisher for those who wondered what the link is
May be enough hobby enthusiast Pi owners to keep it going.
@BarFooToo Thanks for the info on the Pi mags. My kids haven't gotten a Pi yet but they both do coding here and there. Might be time for a Pi for Christmas, it's been in my Amazon wishlist since last year, but the Switch took all my money.
Also nice after reading this on /. over the weekend, both the article and even more so the comments were really depressing me as a dad of 2 smart computer minded kids.
https://news.slashdot.org/story/18/10/27/0143246/with-few-us-students-taking-cs-classes-codeorg-scales-back-funding-for-cs-education#comments
To me, it's a breath of fresh air to see a new print magazine getting out these days. In fact, I think that releasing one, right now, can be in part interpreted as a sign of dedication towards the subject covered by said magazine. Launching one takes money, lots of planification and logistics. A print publication is also, generally, featuring a more eye-pleasing graphic design and reader experience than a website (my opinion), and is much better suited to long, in-depth articles. Websites are unrivaled for staying up to date on news, but magazines are where it's at when you want to deep dive into a specific subject.
Very glad to see print media isn't dead. Although I know that it'll become (already is) somewhat of a niche product in these technological ADD generations.
And digital media is reporting on it!
Successful media stunt, even if nobody buys or reads it.
I am really sceptical that this business model can work any more, just because in general people think certain things should be free these days. We read websites that spread news that used to be in magazines and newspapers, we watch YouTube for music, hobby shows, and copyright bending clips of tv shows, and we even get general knowledge from wiki’s that we would buy books for. Our world is being manipulated that content is not sold, but used to sell adverts. It’s a chicken and the egg question: did we stop wanting to buy magazines, or did the world push us to stop buying magazines?
For the niche market a magazine is fun like this, but you can be sure what’s inside will end up on the internet for free somewhere, which totally breaks the business model. It’s a shame, but that’s the world today.
@rjejr that article does paint a somewhat glumy picture and I while I have no direct experience of the US education system myself, I do now that the US has a fantastic young maker community and hardware scene. So the future for budding tech kids seams bright. My veiws are slightly skewed as I work for the company that creates the reference designs for most mobile chips, including those used in the switch but I see a great landscape for young people to create hardware and software that until now has been only available to large corporations able to spend 100s of thousands on development kits.
This is pretty neat. They ship overseas as well, so I ordered the free promotional copy.
Lol, if they want to burn money, they should just give that money away instead. It'd save them time and effort.
I have nothing against printed magazines. But they are totally obsolete these days. It's not like comics or novels, I'm not going to go back and re-read gaming news (or really ANY news) from years ago.
The internet is perfect for news. You can read something and move on with your life. Everything gets archived so you can always find it again if you really need to, but at the same time, you don't end up with closets and drawers full of old magazines that end up as kindling for a bonfire, or packaging for mailing stuff.
Thanks. I check it out
God help me i luvs my Raspberry Pi's, I'm fixing to get the 3 B+ next month for a special project that most people use Arduinos for, but the Duino is too limited for what I need the 3 B+ for
I was also considering making a PSX out of another 3 B+ in March just for fun and i miss my PSX and games
(and before anyone says "Naughty, naughty, those need ROMs", let me reassure you I don't give a shnizzit about games that have not only been out of production in forever, but I owned the hard copies, so as far as I'm legitimizing, I'm playing backups, so judge me, but also floss your teeth with the hair on my tukus for judging me !!!)
@Anti-Matter That's quite a snap judgment based on no evidence whatsoever! The Raspberry Pi community is doing great stuff for education, and a mainstream print magazine is hardly likely to encourage piracy. (Or feature large amounts of adult content for that matter)
Ordered a copy. I can appreciate a well-put-together magazine every now and then.
@Heavyarms55 When you're messing about with hobby stuff like Raspberry Pi a printed guide is far nicer to use than having to have a laptop open next to you. In fact most printed magazines are much nicer to read than anything online.
@BarFooToo Thing I'm most excited about these days is 3D printers. VR gets all the limelight but building something from nothing is what I like. We were going to get one but then the library got one so we just go there when the kids feel like taking a class. I did get them a 3D pen but they aren't big into working with their hands. Even got them Labo but they only did 3 of the projects then said "nah". My 1 son is now busy writing sci-fi universe mash-ups and the other just tries to come up with mod ideas for Terraria so at least they are using their minds for creativity rather than just playing.
@MrGawain I don't think profits are the main aim of this magazine. The other 2 magazines put out by Raspberry Pi (MagPi and HackSpace) have all issues available to download as PDFs on their website. Their main aim is to expand the Raspberry Pi community and highlight interesting projects.
It's a non for profit organisation looking to get more people into coding and it seems to be succeeding at that and selling a lot of computers in the process.
Am I missing something.
The link in the story does not work.
And when I go to the website, I only get an option for a free print issue (which I don't wish to pay for international shipping).
The link is dead
@SunnyD-Pad
DUMB ?!
How DARE you said like that to me !!
Eat your Dumb in Loneliness, Dude !!
@Anti-Matter Sorry but that is a ridiculously childish reaction.
The Pi is an incredible device that makes it possible for people to experiment with computing at a low price. I've learnt loads using my three.
If you find devices that allow emulation possible so disgusting I presume you don't use any device with a processor and keyboard.
Thanks for the thumbs down button! Now I can properly rate the posts of Anti-Matter
@MaSSiVeRiCaN
And.... that's why i stop reading any Games Magazines.
I just only want to know the appropriate games informations, ignoring COMPLETELY the existence of rated 18+ games. I don't even want to know those Devilish games existences.
That's why i joined on this website to get information about Nintendo games, Just ONLY for Nintendo games.
@Anti-Matter You are here complaining about coverage of games you do not like, yet I have seen you in other posts complaining when people mock the games you like.
We are all people and all different so we like different things. Show some respect and understanding. No game is 'devilish' and to say so insulting to those who enjoy them.
@BumpkinRich (and everyone else responding to A-M): There’s no point in arguing against @Anti-Matter about this. I don’t know if it’s a religious thing or whatever making him go crazy over 18+ games, but he won’t change his mind. As much as I also would love him to shut up about it as it derails the threads, it’s better to ignore him. Hopefully he’ll eventually understand it’s better if he keeps his opinion to himself.
On topic: I think it sounds like an interesting angle for a magazine. And an article about Treasure is something that interests me!
@Anti-Matter I’m not sure what qualifies as devilish but 18+ or rates M games just contain adult subject matter. Like a story or a movie that contains themes which are hard to grasp by children such as existentialism, religion, life, death & sex. The things we all have to deal with as adults and some stories are absolutely amazing and change an outlook or perspective on many topics and subjects.
Christ I know anime like Evangelion and movies like Requiem for a Dream have changed my life and as I get older I see more and more meaning, even as a teen I didn’t fully grasp the concepts of what the material was trying to portray.
From what I’ve noticed most of us commenting on these threads are adults and enjoy having our minds stimulated with deep and philosophical subjects and unfortunately you can’t have that kind of experience in most games and movies rated for kids.
I’d be curious to know what kind of sheltered life your wife & kids lead if that’s your mentality.
@MaSSiVeRiCaN
Let me tell you something :
1. I am Single (Forever). I have NO interest whatsoever with marriage & making family. I'm happy to be a Single forever because NOBODY can engage me or take away my Freedom as a gamer and collector. Beside, some of my family relatives (my Auntie, my elder cousin) are NOT Married until their age 60+ years.
2. I Hate All rated 18+ because they are Pure EVIL. I HATE Strong violence, Gory, Blood, Demonic theme, Horror, Dark theme, Foul languages, Drugs, Smoking, Alcoholic drinks, Bully, etc. I will NOT allow those Devilish contents come to my place, i will DESTROY all of them. I don't care with the storyline or phylosophy inside, to the HELL their philosophy !
I HATE All rated 18+ because i was the VICTIM when i was kid (Accidentally saw or watch those devilish contents). As i grew up, i felt Angry to realize how horrible what i have done or i have experienced. And that's why i BANNED every single rated 18+ contents.
3. I'm not a movieholic, so i don't care with movie trends. The movies i just ONLY watch are some Disney movies ONLY or any Rated General or Parental Guidance movies. I HATE All Adult movies. I can live without that devilish things.
4. I'm not really a religious people, but i know what is right or wrong to do. I'm not a Christian, i follow Confucius religion.
@chardir
"Hobby Stuff",
LOL, Arduino is for "Hobbies", the various Raspberry Pi models are for the production of real and meaningful projects requiring actual computer functions, no, these devices or not for "Hobbies"
@Anti-Matter
Anti-Matter, I like you and everyone is entitled to their own choice of lifestyle, even their preferences for game types, but get this strait my friend...
you are not Jesus or Confucius, phrasing your personal positions as right and other are wrong being fact is not going to happen here, not that it matters because there is ABSOLUTELY NO PLACE FOR RELIGION OF ANY KIND, NOR POLITICAL PROPAGATION IN THESE FORUMS
this is for gaming related talk only, if you wish to assert your superiority, do it in facebook or some other appropriate venue, this site is not it,
even when i defend some preference of some game related subject that others may not, i still assure people, these are my opinions and don't judge those who do not agree with mine
you are losing your objectivity and becoming vain, so either play it cool or play somewhere else
@jhewitt3476
Yeah, i understand.
Sorry for explaining too much.
But i have to answer the user above me.
Well hate is evil, more evil and devilish than any of those 18+ rated games. You shouldn't live with hate in your heart. It clouds judgement, brings down your frequency and poisons the heart and mind. Hate is the only real devilish thing I see here.
M rated games DO NOT equal Devilish or evil let's get that one thing that clear. That was my point, I definitely went off track. There are horror games that more close resemble what you describe as devilish but did u know in China one of Mario's games Has an M/18+ rating? Guess it's devilish too.
Listen just don't get a game with adult themes and subject matter confused with some radical evil. In Japan many ratings are lower than the M/18+, and ratings are subjective. Who knows even you may enjoy a few if you weren't blinded with hate for a label.
@Anti-Matter Read my message all the way through. This is the last time I’ll talk directly to you about this.
Listen buddy... I’m sorry if you had some real life experience that has traumatized you, but that’s not 18+ video games or movies fault. If a human did something evil to you, it’s that humans fault, no-one or nothing elses. If you blame a humans crimes on mature themes like horror, violence or sex in culture, you sound exactly like religious bigots, blaming every bad thing on culture they don’t like.
I read on your profile that you’re a librarian. I’m also a librarian. I don’t know how the profession works in Indonesia, but here in Sweden, I as a librarian need to be open-minded and objective when handling the library’s literature. I can’t be subjective and remove books I don’t like just because they contain certain themes. I also can’t tell my visitors what or what not to read. I can give advice, but I should never judge someone elses taste. That I can keep for myself. My private book collection at home is one thing, but at the library I need to be professional. I hope you are the same at your library, or else you’re not doing your job right.
Now Nintendo Life isn’t a public library, but it’s not your private home either. We’re a lot of people sharing this space and your attitude about mature games is something we’re all tired hearing about. So please, act professional for once and stop screaming out your opinion in each and every thread. We get it! You don’t like them and you don’t have to. But please, dude...
I think you’re an allright guy in many ways, but your attitude against mature games, keep it to yourself, once and for all. If I read more of this from you, I will put you on ignore.
Act like a true librarian!
@Heavyarms55 Magazines don't just report news though. I regularly dig out my old copies of Official Nintendo Magazine and reread some of the features and reviews because they still interest me, and they're so entertainingly written. I imagine this new magazine will include a lot of editorials which will still be interesting in the future.
(I know this is quite a late reply, I started typing it yesterday then got distracted lol)
@Quarth
I understand.
I'm sorry for making you upset.
@Dogorilla They aren't totally meritless, but I just remember piles of Game Informer and other misc mags in my closet back in the day and I remembered throwing them all out with zero interest in re-reading them. It's just not the same as novels or manga. There are novels I own that I have re-read 5 times.
@Heavyarms55 That's fair enough, but I do think there's still a place for physical magazines even with the prevalence of the internet. (Of course, with ONM it helped that there was a lot of humour in there. Honestly some of the stuff they got away with saying was kind of surprising considering the official Nintendo license.)
@Dogorilla That's fair enough. I wont say there "shouldn't" be any. If they can make it work, all the power to them. But you wont see me betting on it.
@Anti-Matter You’re not making me upset. It’s just tiresome reading the same thing everytime and I know I’m not alone. We can’t change your mind about this kind of games, but at least we can make you realise you don’t have to proclaim it everywhere.
Think like a librarian.
What the bloody hell is going on in this comments section?
@oatmaster War and diplomacy!
@Quarth the mind boggles. The people arguing are like some sort of performance piece about terrible gaming people. It's a new magazine not a new psychic brain parasite.
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