Whenever a new publication comes along in the computer/video games market, I like to give it the once over (click here to see past magazine posts). In another sign that the printed word is alive and well outside of the traditional newsagent market, Debug arrives with a laser-like focus on the world of Indie video games.
An 80-page (including covers) high quality magazine, Debug is a timely reminder that over the last decade or so, the Indie developer scene has grown and matured into what is the most exciting and vibrant sector of the video games market. Not that I don't like big AAA titles, but the advent of the £70 RRP and, let's be honest, a very "corporate" approach to modern day blockbusters, has meant that I've found myself moving towards Indie and smaller scale developer titles for my gaming experiences. That, and I have neither time nor patience for anything like another generic Ubisoft-style collectathon. Or live service games for that matter. Hell, even Starfield, what should be another brilliant Bethesda RPG (and all that particular label entails) and due out later this year, is looking like a push simply because of the amount of spare time for gaming I don't have. Excuse me whilst I shake my fist at the sky and start shouting at the clouds, considering whether a future post about my thoughts on video games is in order, but I digress...
What you get for your £7.50 is a mix of previews, interviews, reviews and features, all aimed at informing you about the latest and greatest games from the Indie scene. Nothing upsetting the applecart as regards to games magazines content. There is, however, a definite style to the layout, which some might consider quite "busy", but actually makes great sense as articles have sections dedicated to a developer's previous releases, similar titles in a particular genre, fun facts, and second opinions where it comes to some of the reviews. I also like the footnote style presentation of specific screenshots.
When it comes to the aforementioned reviews, sixteen games are covered, two of which I have reviewed in Fusion magazine - Lucy Dreaming and Atomic Heart, and I found the opinions expressed here to be fair and balanced. Having seen the score for Horace, I know what my next purchase is going to be. As for the previews and the developer interviews, many a promising title is coming up and it's great they get some coverage here.
There is a nice balance between text and imagery, and the quality of the writing is as you'd expect considering the team behind issue one. In another word, excellent. Another nice touch is the inclusion of QR codes that will take readers to videos of many of the titles mentioned.
Overall, I can find nothing to criticise about the first issue of Debug. It is about time the Indie scene had a dedicated outlet and an independent physical magazine feels a great fit. The back cover promises issue 2 on 07.07.23 and yep, I'll be there for that one. Hopefully for many more issues too, as I genuinely believe there is still a place in the world for the printed word, and this issue is an excellent start for the title. If you like the look or content of Debug, check out their website here, and you can follow them on Twitter here.
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