Double page magazine spread

What do you think? the writing is of no consequence but it is my own
I didn't want to go too much into graphics but it's really not about me making loads of little bits of vectored crap or whatever technically, do you like it? also any ideas on anything like ways i can improve or just things you'd do differently i'm open to ll suggestion and don't hesitate to say you hate it.
http://xs116.xs.to/xs116/07265/magazine.jpg

I think below the text there is that bright area which is on the image i think perhaps i should remove it and so it stops the attraction to that area rather than the text. Anything else?

http://xs116.xs.to/xs116/07265/magazine2gkntgkjtrn.jpg
Edited spelling mistakes (hadn't slept when i wrote lulz) and added a larger quote to attract more attention to it. Thoughts?

(this is not shown to the actual size of the magazine, actual magazine is bigger)

The quote you added doesn't really stand out. To attract more attention to it, use a different coloured font or accent the quotations with a different colour. something to set it apart. As for the text, it's toooooooooo cramped. you have to space out the columns a bit more..

The graphics are great, as usual. No problem with that. Just work on the layout itself a bit.

what fade said, and I think the font size should be bigger. bit hard to read.

yeah i forgot to mention this spread will be alot bigger, size doesn't take effect with this because i made it smaller than what it will be printed thanks for the ideas with the font colour man i'll get on that and cheers for pointing out the columns i tried to make the gutter wider but for some reason indd wasn't having it.. i'll work on it though =D

you should use more of the image. Also, try to point out various prominent aspects of the text by quoting a portion of a quote, make room for it, and blow it up to about 4x the size of the normal text. This way you make it easier for someone who wants to scan the text and look at the important aspects rather than be forced to read the whole thing. Your layout of the text just seems extremely bland.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Solaris

you should use more of the image. Also, try to point out various prominent aspects of the text by quoting a portion of a quote, make room for it, and blow it up to about 4x the size of the normal text. This way you make it easier for someone who wants to scan the text and look at the important aspects rather than be forced to read the whole thing. Your layout of the text just seems extremely bland.

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Good point i'm glad you mentioned because i was experimenting with the columns being in zig zagged positions across the page and with the image i wanted to grab the attention of the read by having it overbearing on them almost like it's looking right at them as it is. The problem being that it's hard to find space to position the text where it doesn't disrupt the image though since you mentioned this i would would the text to follow the line of the combine robot into a curve around it i'm going to try that now.

lemme make an example for ya to show you what i mean

http://xs216.xs.to/xs216/07265/magazinepage2.jpg

Like this maybe? (ignore the black line and the gradiant i can remove them)

Is this an advertisement or an article. If it's an article it's great, but if it's an ad there is WAY too much text.

haha god no not an advertisement, i know that with advertisements it's maybe 1.. 2 words max XD haha

but seriously it's an article because i have so much to write about (and it'd get me extra marks) i'm thinking of continuing the article and making it a one time magazine possibly dedicated to just half life 2 or a full pdf magazine which would go nice in my portfolio.

I guess you could call it a splash but the idea was that you'd be drawn into reading by the huge picture and then continue onto the next page so if i do proceed to make the next page i'll cut off most of the text here and distribute it throughout with an added few paragraphs (initially leaving only the text under the half life 2 logo) the text can be placed anywhere which is becoming a problem because it's difficult to decide on where to put it as the ideas i'm getting from your input are all so good.