A Pair of Threes - From Gamers Magazine Issue 3 and [Lock-on] Volume 003 - Review

May was a good month for publication deliveries, what with the (slightly) delayed third issue of From Gamers Magazine and the third volume of the increasingly successful [Lock-on] journals from the team at Lost in Cult. Let's start with the former, shall we?

From Gamers Magazine has developed quite nicely since its first issue back in June 2021. Issue three expands the content from the initial issue's 52 pages to a whopping 92, excluding the covers. Print and stock quality remains as superb as ever and the editorial and content team has now expanded to thirty people - you can see why when read through the magazine.

We begin with a guide to the best Indie titles of 2021, 19 of which get write ups and 6 more get honourable mentions. I've only played three of the nineteen (Genesis Noir, Overboard and The Forgotten City), but based on the mini-reviews here, I'll be checking out some of the others as and when time permits. This is followed by an interesting piece on the use of 3D audio in Returnal, a game that has interested me but I don't have a PS5 yet. The Sonic the Hedgehog movie gets four pages, with a cracking opinion piece on Sony's attitude to the console market and its competition. It's definitely not fanboy clickbait and should provoke some thoughtful discussion, especially as all three major players have different approaches to the current console generation. And, just so you know, I am platform neutral and have always tried to own each format in the different generations. I'll get round to a PS5 at some point but there are more pressing needs than video gaming for my hard earned cash at the moment.

Horizon Dawn: Forbidden West gets fourteen pages split between three articles. The first covers the open world nature of the title, the second looks at the way environmental concerns in the game mirror the real world, whilst the third questions the nature of photography in the title. 

The Art Corner takes up sixteen pages and provides some lovely two page spreads of art from titles such as Saints Row, Elden Ring and Oxenfree II. The topic of multiplayer stealth games gets a good airing, followed by a character guide to the main characters from Saints Row. 

The subject of sensitive topics in videogames is covered with extreme care with a six page piece that will definitely get you thinking about the questions and viewpoints raised here. Then come the reviews.

These are always subjective but, having played the likes of Halo Infinite, The Artful Escape (brilliant, by the way, you have to give it a go!) and CrossfireX, I have to say that the reviews here are well put together and will be useful to the reader if you haven't already played the titles covered in this section. And no, I did not pay for the second campaign in CrossfireX - dodged that bullet! The issue ends with a section on the best pixel art in games, highlighting just how good that particular art form in gaming can look. 

On to [Lock-on] and this was a bit of a change for me. I'd purchased the hardcover editions of the first two volumes, but this time decided to see what the softcover one was like. 

As with my review of Volume 002, I've included a picture of the contents page as there truly is a huge amount of content here. There is very much a Dreamcast and Sega theme to this edition, covering everything from the hardware to accessories, online connectivity to some of the more unique titles, and a good focus on the NAOMI arcade hardware that really should get a bit more love - which it does here.

It's not all Dreamcast though, as Genesis Noir, Broken Sword and Project Zero (as well as many others) get articles that take a different view on such well-received titles. Each piece gets unique artwork as well, perfect in tone and style to the writing. The volume ends with eight pieces written by Kickstarter backers, and I know I am going to have to replay Catherine: Full Body again following that write up. 

You might think I am short changing [Lock-on] here, with it a handful of paragraphs compared to From Gamers Mag, but what I really want to avoid is spoiling your experience with this volume. You need to read it, from cover to cover, to truly understand what this publication is all about. The combination of new and established writers and artists, the unique perspectives they bring to their respective topics, and the care and attention lavished on the presentation make [Lock-on] truly something you have to enjoy yourself to understand, and I heartily recommend you do. 

So there you have two of the latest editions of two worthwhile publications. From Gamers is planning a fourth issue, which is already listed as pre-launch on Kickstarter, and I know I shall definitely be supporting that when it goes live. As for [Lock-on], well, their fourth volume is also approaching and it shouldn't be long before they too hit the start button on funding for that, and yes, I'll be picking up a copy. Check out From Gamers website here, as well as follow them on Twitter here. [Lock-on] can be found on the Lost in Cult website, along with their other projects and products. They are also on Twitter here. 

[lock-on] Journal 002 - Review

Volume 2 of [lock-on] arrived shortly before Christmas and provided some very entertaining reading over the festive period. The quality of the publication matched that of volume one and the sheer amount of stuff that arrived in the package was a delight to see. From the art cards to the poster, the card game to the stickers, all combine with the actual volume itself to provide a hefty package that was well worth the asking price.

Yes, there's a journal in there somewhere.

As you can see from the contents page below, there are a ton of articles to read and this latest volume reinforces the serious approach to the topic of videogames. Perhaps serious is not the right word... intellectual? Maybe. Let's say a combination of the two along with enjoyable, as whilst there are serious topics discussed here, there are also some playful articles as well. The variety of tone is spot on, at least in my humble opinion. 

What I especially liked was the personal approach taken by many of the writers. These pieces drill down to some of the core reasons why people play videogames - the warm comfort provided when loading up a long time favourite title or the joy of unwrapping (figuratively these days) a new release. Videogames can also be reminders of the bad times as well. I know I have relied upon gaming to get me through some difficult periods - going back into Mass Effect with the Legendary Edition last year was both a fun reminder of how great these games were, as well as a tremendously cathartic look back at a very different time in my life. [lock-on] volume 2 has given a lovely focus on that area of videogaming. 

I admit that I found my approach to volume 2 changing from that of the first. Whereas I read that one pretty much over the course of a day, this time I read a couple of pieces then put the tome down, taking time to consider what the author was saying and how they had approached their subject. This allowed me to savour the writing and the artwork, which once again excels. It is [lock-on]'s ability to get you to ponder on the author's point that makes it such a great journal to read and, in the future, to return to. As you can see, this volume has taken its rightful place next to volume one in the bookcase. 

The card game is also fun, just so you know. 

This hasn't ended up being the review I originally thought I'd write. The original plan was to cover all of the articles and give an in-depth look at this classy and highly worthwhile publication. Instead, I'll leave you with a final comment and some pictures. After only two volumes, [lock-on] has established itself as an essential entry on the reading lists of anyone interested in videogames. No matter your background to gaming, there has always been, and always be, a deeply meaningful cornucopia of topics to discuss and [lock-on] is a brilliant place to hear some of those conversations. The editorial team and the numerous contributors should be congratulated on a job very well done. Let's see what volume 3 brings!

You can find out more about [lock-on] here, and you can purchase pdf copies of the journal as well as any remaining physical copies here. You will also find links to their very active social media accounts which are also definitely worth a follow. 

[lock-on] Journal 001 - Review

The [lock-on] project was a dream given form. It's goal, to provide long form content and bespoke artwork, to prove that videogames are more than just an entertainment medium, to demonstrate that videogames are art. One hundred and fifty-four pages, featuring work from dozens of writers and artists, wrapped up in a high quality hardback cover. This is a review of a new videogames journal. The year is 2021, the name of the tome: [lock-on].

Volume one with custom obi strip.

I apologise. To J.M. Straczynski for ripping off his Babylon 5 opening monologue and to you, gentle reader, for really reaching with that intro. I'm sorry.

Anyhoo, here is [lock-on], a videogaming periodical from Lost in Cult, a new indie publishing company that aims to provide premium content for fans of videogames. Launched via a Kickstarter campaign that raised £16,567 from a requested £13,000 in April, the publishers have certainly achieved their original goal in getting the first volume of their new journal out to backers, and gone further by setting up a new funding stream to support the journal and grow the readership. More on that later.

As a backer of the physical hardback edition, I was interested to see what would arrive. When it did (two days early compared to the expected date, which was a pleasant surprise), it was wrapped in bubble wrap, along with an A3 poster, four artwork postcards, a little sticker and a review booklet. Everything was supported by a piece of card and the black, padded envelope topped off the package. 

The extras are of high quality and the poster, along with the artwork cards, beg to be framed and put on the wall. As for the journal itself, the cover is nice and sturdy, and shows off the artwork brilliantly. The pages are of good stock but not glossy, and I think that suits the journal very well. 

The existential reason for this journal are the articles, and after a good intro from Digital Foundry's John Linneman, there are 32 commissioned articles plus four pieces from backers of the campaign, all linked to the core topic of this volume, Sony's PlayStation. I'm not going to list all of the articles or authors, you see those in the picture below, but what I will say is that there is a lovely variety of topics: from retrospectives on specific titles, to the approach to accessibility in videogames; from a personal reflection of growing up with Sony's consoles from day one, to how the PlayStation 2 rocked the Indian videogames market; from a run through of Housemarque's best games, to an interview with Limited Run Games - there is a breadth of topics that make this volume a joy to read. 

Contents page.

What really lifts [lock-on] is the presentation. Each piece has a different art style and layout - some make good use of blank space to reinforce the text, others are side on, so you have to turn the book 90 degrees. Fonts, layout and tone are individual to each author and artist, highlighting how unique each piece is. You get a good feel for each author's style and there is a definite love of all things PlayStation here. I especially liked the Kickstarter backer's entries, and I hope they will be a feature in future volumes, but having said that, there isn't a wasted word in here from any contributor. However...

The review booklet.

Now don't hate me... yet. Finish the paragraph before collecting your assigned pitchforks and flaming torches and joining the queue for the Megabus (other methods of mass transport are available) to Durham. [lock-on] is not 100 percent perfect - the article on Silent Hill will be a troublesome read unless you are in good reading light (red text on a black background is a design choice but my tired and aged eyes didn't like it), and it rams "Bills, Bills, Bills" in to your head with all of the subtlety of a pneumatic drill, but that's the only, teensy minor issue I can raise. If I scored my reviews out of one hundred, [lock-on] would lose a couple of marks for the text decision and a good thirty or forty for the half hour it took to get that bloody song out of my head... Oh, fudge, it's back again! Curse you, Dickinson!

That minor quibble aside, I can find no further fault. Lost in Cult have delivered gloriously on their promise and have a second volume planned for a Kickstarter campaign launching 17th August. This could be an expensive month, what with this, Ninty Fresh and E1M1 starting to hint at another batch of issues, but I am not complaining. Indeed, it's exciting and reassuring that such varied videogames-centric publications are continuing to thrive. 

As for Lost in Cult, well, they have another source of funding as well. There is a membership drive via Steady, where from £2.50 to £10 per month (if billed annually), £3 to £12 (if billed monthly), you can support the team and gain access to podcasts, Discord, exclusive articles and even a digital copy of the journal, subscription amount dependent. The intention is to widen the community around [lock-on] as well as ensure content creators get paid for their work. You can check out the various tiers and options here.

Back to the journal itself and if this is something that appeals to you, you can buy a digital copy for £18 or a softback copy for £20 -  the hardback is now sold out. Any purchases of these in August will also result in a 15% donation from the price you pay going to safeinourworld.org, a charity aimed at supporting mental health in the videogames world. A worthy cause that will cost you nothing extra to support.

Will I be buying the second volume? Yes. [lock-on] fills a niche and it does so gloriously with style and verve. This is a premium journal and one that, based on the first volume, is worthy of support. 

You can find out more about [lock-on] via their website here, where you can check out snippets of volume one, preview info for volume two and see details of their Steady membership.