Gaming print magazines are officially dead in South Africa. Where were you when you bought your first NAG (then, New Age Gaming) magazine? I remember where I was. I was in a Spar in a little ‘dorpie’ called Camperdown when I first bumped into what would become my connection to the gaming world for years. We’ve all owned a NAG magazine at some point in our life.

Why is the magazine closing down? Michael James, the publisher and once Editor of the magazine, tells you:

[quote] The July 2015 issue of NAG magazine will be our last issue.

The print industry is diminishing quickly and because NAG speaks to a very connected, early adopting reader it has seen a faster than predicted drop-off in advertising and readers. We’re kind of in the middle of a storm of fewer people buying magazines, fewer companies spending money on print advertising, and an ever-volatile gaming industry.

To those readers who are upset about this, I’m sorry. There’s just no way that we can keep this amazing publication alive anymore. I don’t want NAG magazine to become an anchor that drags the rest of the company down, so it’s time to accept the inevitable.

I must take this opportunity to thank three sets of people. First up, the readers. Without your fiercely loyal support over the years we’d be nothing; there’d be no rAge and the gaming industry as a whole would be far weaker than it is (bit of trumpet blowing here). Secondly are the people in the local industry that have supported us over the years. Lastly, thank you to the staff that worked on the magazine over the years, without your energy NAG magazine would never have made it across the deadline stretch each month. We’ve had a lot of fun and probably played too many games when we should really have been working. This is a one of a kind environment.

As for the future, NAG Online will evolve into a busier website – we’ll keep doing what we’ve been doing in print, but now it’ll be on our website. So make sure you visit the site (www.nag.co.za) and join up on our social platforms so we can keep you informed about a few exciting plans we have on the horizon. Think of NAG Online as a print quality website – not something you see every day. There will be some shuffling and changing in what and how we do things but this is a new fresh energy and the future is exciting.

And don’t forget about this year’s rAge, which is coming together well, and is scheduled to take off over the weekend of 9 October 2015.

In terms of the technical stuff, the June issue will be on shelf on 4 June 2015 and then the July issue will follow a month later, on the 9th of July. It’ll be something of a collector’s edition because it signifies the end of an era and the beginning of a new one.

It’s been a good run. 17 years isn’t too bad for a locally produced, seat-of-the-pants gaming magazine. Thanks again to everyone who made it possible.

Michael James

Publisher NAG magazine [/quote]

Garth (the Wookiee kind) and I experienced something very similar not so long ago when PCFormat and G3AR magazine closed down. Running a print magazine is incredibly expensive, but, as he mentions, the content gets to the reader too late and with the interwebz taking control it’s a very tough battle to fight.

NAG will live on in its web site, as well as through IGN.

We at SA Gamer wish all the writers and various people involved all the best as we stem from a very similar background and can relate to the changes that will be taking place at the NAG offices.