I really wish Jane could explain why Gamer's sales stabilised then went up after taking a more games-experience progressive direction if no-one wants to read it.

I think the "No-one wants to read it" card is just the saddest kind of defeatist bullshit. The sort of people who buy magazines are the sort of people who like *reading*. If they just want reviews, they'll go online and hit Metacritics.

It's always worth remembering that Bangs was actually *entertaining*.

KG

This is assuming, Kieron, that our "Lester Bangs" (if we want such a thing), will be found in print.

Personally, I think it is more likely that he/she will, since that's where you still get the best features and columns, but there is no guarantee of that.

Not being a rock nerd, I have no idea why Bangs is such hot stuff since most music and entertainment journalism is still crap. Likewise with games.

There are a half-dozen writers I will read just to *read* even if I have zero interest in the game itself. Does this count as Bangs-ness?

This does indeed presume something in print being the dominant medium.

Sometime after video killed the radio star, Rolling Stone became irrelevant.

As much as I love words, and writing, and writing words, I wonder.

We already agree (do we?) that print is dying, and the web is everything.

Now, at every conference you cover, you see more and more video crews.

And after seeing them in action, I shouldn't wonder if the brilliant Daniel Kayser from GameTrailers is the next great voice, bringing games to people. Not through words, but through Internet/Video.

"We already agree (do we?) that print is dying, and the web is everything."

Nope. I'm not willing to concede yet. Print just has to be different. Because of the delayed reporting, especially in monthlies, print is protected from the now-ism that plagues websites and many news-blogs, where the only thing of importance is whatever fresh content is available today. Print magazines can provide a perspective that most websites (as yet) can or will not.

Troy: Wasn't arguing whether "our" lester bangs would be found in print or not - just whether or not anyone is interested in reading the sort of shit "our" Lester Bangs may write. That people ARE paying for it and reading it suggests that there is at least some manner of audience for it.

KG

It seems to be, not so much the medium, but the production values that go into the medium. Print is just a higher-quality because of the way things used to be. And that can begin to change.

Look at Edge, doing an issue with the three hardware icons. Then look at Next-Gen.biz running those same features. The words were the same.

I will agree that the web begs an instantness not found in print, but if you want non-instant internet, look at something like the Gamer's Quarterly (which we hope is quarterly) or the Escapist (which is weekly)...

In his Sims essay in Sex Drugs and Cocoa Puffs, Klosterman says he will NEVER consider video games art.

So if he doesn't think video games are art, why would he expect a Lester Bangs?