Video game Journalism - from orbit, do the necessary

[DCharlieJP]

I want to Scorched Earth video game journalism.

It's shit - across the board , it's fucking awful.

Every now and then we get a weird left field piece with the makers of Cannon Dancer and the Strider team issues and maybe the odd insight into what happened at company X but right now video game journalism is BEYOND piss poor. And the whole Polygon fucking WANK is the pinacle of the whole fucking sorry state of WANK that we have to put up with: self important , self absorbed cock mongers wanking lyrical over their own awesomeness (Tim Rogers and co)

Fuck them all - they mean nothing to me, they mean nothing to ANYTHING to do with my interests and the second they stop stealing our valuable oxygen resources the sooner mankind can progress in the right direction.

fuck every single one of them.

[Damian79]

I didnt post in the other thread.  But you are right.  VIdeo game "journalism" sucks ass.

[Beezy]

Don't read the shit anymore. I promise that you won't miss it.

[Barry Egan]

Ive wondered if any of you have been checking out the AV Clubs new section on video games and if its any good.

[Olivia Wilde Homo]

I don't know, they had that super deep and super insightful Game Journalist Symposium that only had one round.

I suspect most game journalism these days is treated as a holding position before they land a PR gig at a publisher.  That is why most of the game journalists seem to spend more time cultivating their personalities and lobbing wiffle ball questions to publishers and developers than playing the damn games.  Nuking game journalism from orbit just means that those glib, snarky personalities have to go back and be assistant shift managers at Gamestop.

[Sho Nuff]

I read none of it

[The Sceneman]

Giant Bomb quicklooks are pretty much the only "reviews" I trust as they showcase actual gameplay and discuss the mechanics and stuff

[Olivia Wilde Homo]

I stopped paying attention to games journalism around the time Dynasty Warriors 5 came out.  After seeing how almost none of them got it right and it became obvious that they didn't even play the game past maybe a few free stages for videos and screens, I up and left.  These days I'll just go on Youtube and look at stuff I might be interested in.  Just the gameplay, no shitty personalities trying to be wacky and kooky.

[DCharlieJP]

Reviews, in particular, are pointless - video games tastes are diverse and as varied as in any other area so why i am supposed to give a shite what random reviewer who has completely different sensibilities thinks about a game is totally beyond me.

I think the thing is that i just don't care what anyone elses opinion is.

[MrAngryFace]

Giant Bomb is all I pay attention to really

[Olivia Wilde Homo]

Giant Bomb pulls some shit from time to time.  I wound up ditching the Bombcast to make room for better podcasts.  They're definitely the best around though for gaming podcasts.

[pilonv1]

Felt this way for years, used to read Edge because it was a bit smarter but it hasn't been that way in years. I don't miss previews, reviews, interviews that say nothing. I probably enjoy the games I do play more now because they're not dissected to death before release, that is on the off chance a site actually covers a game I'm interested in.

But I think The XP nailed it. None of it is interesting, none of it useful and a lot of it exists to push their own ego or relationship with a publisher. I'd rather read some blokes blog, it's more honest and more insightful.

That said most of the ones I know are nice people.

[Human Snorenado]

I gave up on the notion of vg journalism forever ago, probably around the beginning of this gen I guess?  Now it's just something I mock whenever I run into it, kind of like the whole "games as art" BS (note- let's NOT derail this thread for that, mkay)

I have pretty narrow tastes in games these days.  ARPG lootfests or well done rpgs are pretty much what I'm interested in.  There are some people whose opinions I will trust on certain genres (interestingly enough, they're mostly fellow Cruncheons) but as for paid game "journalists" the notion is pretty much laughable.  I like the idea of Giant Bomb but really anything without a well defined structure will end up being essentially a drunken octopus reaching around for daylight unfortunately.  A site dedicated to actual impressions from people with good taste but somehow don't manage to take themselves too seriously would be awesome but probably impossible to maintain.

[Positive Touch]

gaming internet culture has made previews/reviews irrelevant - previews are never critical and dont say anything that a trailer & press release can't say, and i can always find people i know to give their opinions on games once they're released.  interviews have almost always been boring and any choice quotes are going to be picked up by blogs/twitter.  what else is there?  top 10 lists and wacky "did you know...?"-type articles?  i can live without that shit.

[CajoleJuice]

Ive wondered if any of you have been checking out the AV Clubs new section on video games and if its any good.

I didn't even know they had one of these.

[Beezy]

gaming internet culture has made previews/reviews irrelevant - previews are never critical and dont say anything that a trailer & press release can't say, and i can always find people i know to give their opinions on games once they're released.  interviews have almost always been boring and any choice quotes are going to be picked up by blogs/twitter.  what else is there?  top 10 lists and wacky "did you know...?"-type articles?  i can live without that shit.

yep

[Barry Egan]

Ive wondered if any of you have been checking out the AV Clubs new section on video games and if its any good.

I didn't even know they had one of these.

It's only like a month old or thereabouts.

www.gameological.com

The Gameological Society is an independent-minded online magazine that explores games as works of art and pop culture. Our voice is thoughtful, witty, and curious—informed by a passion for play and grounded in a broad cultural awareness.

So basically if you're not in to the Tom Chick thing it probably isn't for you.  Although I trust the brand enough to expect more then pure self-involved wank.

[Trent Dole]

The GB guys all made their own remixes taking the piss on that dumb Poly trailer. This is the best one imo:

They've already failed cause they've got a former Kotaku douche involved. Fuck that site and pretty much everyone ever involved with it.

[Olivia Wilde Homo]

[Human Snorenado]

The GB guys all made their own remixes taking the piss on that dumb Poly trailer. This is the best one imo:

They've already failed cause they've got a former Kotaku douche involved. Fuck that site and pretty much everyone ever involved with it.

I guarantee you this will be better than the entirety of Polygon's content.

[Trent Dole]

I guarantee you this will be better than the entirety of Polygon's content.

I don't doubt it in the slightest. Don't get why publicly navelgazing about a hobby that's basically twiddling your thumbs is considered a good idea let alone something one could make a living off of doing.

[Robo]

Ive wondered if any of you have been checking out the AV Clubs new section on video games and if its any good.

I didn't even know they had one of these.

It's only like a month old or thereabouts.

www.gameological.com

The Gameological Society is an independent-minded online magazine that explores games as works of art and pop culture. Our voice is thoughtful, witty, and curious—informed by a passion for play and grounded in a broad cultural awareness.

So basically if you're not in to the Tom Chick thing it probably isn't for you.  Although I trust the brand enough to expect more then pure self-involved wank.

I read it from time-to-time when an article is posted to the AV Club proper—it's pretty awful, sadly, but gaming coverage was always very far from their strong suit.

On the other hand, Pitchfork's gamejourno-wank pub Kill Screen posts some surprisingly good stuff on an irregular basis.  They have a blog, as well, but it's typical blog stuff: links to shitty off-site articles and amusements with added comments.  And they publish a magazine, but I've never read it because it's a magazine, what the fuck.

[Momo]

Giantbomb can suck on my clit

[Joe Molotov]

A site dedicated to actual impressions from people with good taste but somehow don't manage to take themselves too seriously would be awesome but probably impossible to maintain.

www.thebore.com

[The Sceneman]

A site dedicated to actual impressions from people with good taste but somehow don't manage to take themselves too seriously would be awesome but probably impossible to maintain.

www.thebore.com

/topic

[Cerveza mas fina]

I've stopped reading previews and reviews last gen I think.

I read actionbutton for laughs though.

Never cared about reviews, previous and other shit *shrugs*. You are kinda used to NOT caring when you were playing english games in Poland in 1989.

There were some quality mags in Poland back in the day, Top Secret.

[pilonv1]

Now my twitter feed is full of stuff like this.

"Remarkable how gamers cry "Why don't you take games seriously?" & "Stop taking games seriously, you pretentious wanker!" in the same breath."

"Of course, calling something "pretentious" is usually shorthand for "It hurts my tiny brain to think that much.""

"The internet loves to mindlessly attack games journalists, so of course they're scrambling to shut down a documentary which humanises them."

[Purple Filth]

A steaming pile of shit that means absolutely nothing in this day and age.

Previews are one of the biggest offenders since its just the journalist sucking off the publisher's cock for the duration of the article.

[tiesto]

Apart from Parish I don't pay any attention to games journalism at all. Been that way for a while.

[frod]

it peaked with Crash.

now that everything is corporate PR handouts with distinguished mentally-challenged fellows lapping up "leaks" and keynotes there is no possibility for anything good to happen.

for me Iwata is the best videogame journalist   

[demi]

http://www.sacbee.com/2012/08/21/4745478/ign-partners-with-the-university.html#storylink=cpy

[Stoney Mason]

The rise of the internet sort of destroyed video game journalism, not that it was ever especially great. When there are no gatekeepers and people can easily communicate with each other and form communities then professional game reviews seems like a mostly unnecessary thing especially for the hardcore core audience. And the casual audience is too busy playing iphone games to give a shit about reviews. That's not how they pick what they play anyway.

The other issue is that the dedicated audience for a more sophisticated evolution of video game journalism (and I don't mean the artsy shit that tries to pass for this) hasn't really been embraced by a very large audience from what I've seen. Yeah you have stuff like the Penny Arcade report that is trying to bridge that gap but I have a feeling very few people are reading that stuff.

I flip by sites like IGN and such for news and even check out the reviews but its mainly out of habit and a perverse sense of wanting to mock rather than actually to get useful information. Like a lot of people Giant Bomb Quicklooks and the podcasts are the only real videogame entertainment I tend to check out. And not because I think they are the end all be all when it comes to games criticism. But mainly because they seem like four friends talking shit about games. Which is more natural and less pretentious than just about every other gaming site out there.

[Joe Molotov]

Now my twitter feed is full of stuff like this.

"Remarkable how gamers cry "Why don't you take games seriously?" & "Stop taking games seriously, you pretentious wanker!" in the same breath."

"Of course, calling something "pretentious" is usually shorthand for "It hurts my tiny brain to think that much.""

"The internet loves to mindlessly attack games journalists, so of course they're scrambling to shut down a documentary which humanises them."

[EmCeeGrammar]

I'm not even sure why we necessarily yearn for good video game journalism tbh.  This isn't genocide or economics or the weather.  Videogames are toys and will never be  worth the 'serious business'.

[Stoney Mason]

I'm not even sure why we necessarily yearn for good video game journalism tbh.  This isn't genocide or economics or the weather.  Videogames are toys and will never be  worth the 'serious business'.

We don't "need" good video game journalism but like any aspect of life having something good is better than having something crappy. 99% of sports journalism is also crap. Sports is just as inessential as videogames. But its nice to have the 1% that isn't crap to create good sports journalism or good sports documentaries, or good sports analysis. Videogames don't have that. May never have that. But it would be nice if it did.

[EmCeeGrammar]

Eh, the 1% exists, its just not well publicized. 

[Stoney Mason]

Eh, the 1% exists, its just not well publicized.

The best of what videogame journalism has produced over the best of what Sports journalism has produced over the last 10 years to take a random example doesn't even compare to each other. Which is what I'm more saying. The good stuff in video game journalism is so rare as to be virtually non-existent.

What I'm saying is we need more Old Man Murray.

[EmCeeGrammar]

Which is because more people like sports, more people partake in watching sports, sports makes more money, etc.

Its a much larger pool to wade in and draw from.

I'm just saying I've read plenty of nice things about localisation and cultural differences in development here and there and various interesting glances at games. Its out there and its nice.  What exactly are people suggesting game journos 'should' be doing?

[bork]

Don't read the shit anymore. I promise that you won't miss it.

I read none of it

The correct responses.

[Joe Molotov]

Don't read the shit anymore. I promise that you won't miss it.

I read none of it

The correct responses.

[Huff]

We need the Dan Patrick of video games media

[DCharlieJP]

I don't need gaming journalists "humanised". Who the fuck is asking for that?

I know what they go through, but here's the thing : i don't care. In the same why they don't give a shit about what my job is and what I have to go through. I don't want -or- care to know. You're a fucking games journalist, entertain me with interesting topics.

[Howard Alan Treesong]

as with all things in life I blame Harry Knowles

[Eel O'Brian]

he's so fat

[EmCeeGrammar]

Like, I don't have a problem with the ign guy who makes top 10 lists or whatever.  He likes games, someone's willing to pay him to do jack shit. Everyone wins.  I would say the pretentious types who start talking about games in abstract metaphorical terms grind my goat for sure.  Its why I stopped listening to the giant bomb guys because although they are funny folks i couldn't put up with the constant focus on world building and narrative. 

But I also take issue with what seems to be people who expect intense investigative reporting in what is absolutely a frivolous culture built around toys. Its just not the nature of this particular beast.

[Stoney Mason]

Like, I don't have a problem with the ign guy who makes top 10 lists or whatever.  He likes games, someone's willing to pay him to do jack shit. Everyone wins.  I would say the pretentious types who start talking about games in abstract metaphorical terms grind my goat for sure.  Its why I stopped listening to the giant bomb guys because although they are funny folks i couldn't put up with the constant focus on world building and narrative. 

But I also take issue with what seems to be people who expect intense investigative reporting in what is absolutely a frivolous culture built around toys. Its just not the nature of this particular beast.

You don't have to do "intense investigative reporting" to do better game journalism. IGN and most mainstream coverage sucks because their content sucks. Not because they aren't doing what gamasutra or penny arcade report is doing.

[frod]

Gamers get what they deserve tbh.

Pre-ordering and buying on day one, demanding reviews on day one (if not prior to launch).

Sites need to be on good terms with the PR departments to get early access required for launch day reviews. So PR forever rules the roost and sites just regurgitate press releases ad infinitum.

[frod]

Well, I just treat them as adverts, but I don't really feel the same about listening to Mark Kermode on a Friday afternoon or reading Q. Other industries have critics worth at least listening to imo, even if you can't relate to them.

Maybe it's the maturity of the audience as much as anything, but I don't feel like gaming is going anywhere while there are still exclusives, platform wars, and people are still readily throwing around ntard/snigger/xfag at any opportunity. It works both ways.

[treythemovie]

Games Journalism is less about news journalism and more in common with sports commentators. Like the guys who rant during ESPN's off hours.

[etiolate]

I don't quite understand the importance of metacritic right now. For the casual populace, do they even know of the site or care? The enthusiasts don't trust the website. A lot depend on the word of mouth of friends if anything.

Yet, I hear that metacritic scores are important to the game companies and bonuses and such are tied to it. If nobody buying cares then why do they care?

[treythemovie]

I don't quite understand the importance of metacritic right now. For the casual populace, do they even know of the site or care? The enthusiasts don't trust the website. A lot depend on the word of mouth of friends if anything.

Yet, I hear that metacritic scores are important to the game companies and bonuses and such are tied to it. If nobody buying cares then why do they care?

Companies don't use metacritic to actually judge quality. They use it as another "objective" stat other than sales to dish out such bonuses. They would willingly use twitter trends if they had to. They just want "something" number based; anything really. The only requirement is that they can argue in favor of it to human resources/court/the union.

[Great Rumbler]

Sites need to be on good terms with the PR departments to get early access required for launch day reviews. So PR forever rules the roost and sites just regurgitate press releases ad infinitum.

But apparently this isn't a problem with movies, which regularly have pre-release screenings specifically for critics.

[bork]

Sites need to be on good terms with the PR departments to get early access required for launch day reviews. So PR forever rules the roost and sites just regurgitate press releases ad infinitum.

But apparently this isn't a problem with movies, which regularly have pre-release screenings specifically for critics.

A movie is only going to be a few hours at most- what about a 30+ hour game?

[Stoney Mason]

I don't quite understand the importance of metacritic right now. For the casual populace, do they even know of the site or care? The enthusiasts don't trust the website. A lot depend on the word of mouth of friends if anything.

Yet, I hear that metacritic scores are important to the game companies and bonuses and such are tied to it. If nobody buying cares then why do they care?

Trey sort of hit it, but they need a metric to determine quality beyond just sales. That metric serves a lot of uses for them. Bonuses. Allocation of resources. Future planning of titles.  etc.

[EmCeeGrammar]

I will say this. Fuck Dave Halverson. 

[Purple Filth]

Like, I don't have a problem with the ign guy who makes top 10 lists or whatever.  He likes games, someone's willing to pay him to do jack shit. Everyone wins.  I would say the pretentious types who start talking about games in abstract metaphorical terms grind my goat for sure.  Its why I stopped listening to the giant bomb guys because although they are funny folks i couldn't put up with the constant focus on world building and narrative. 

But I also take issue with what seems to be people who expect intense investigative reporting in what is absolutely a frivolous culture built around toys. Its just not the nature of this particular beast.

You don't have to do "intense investigative reporting" to do better game journalism. IGN and most mainstream coverage sucks because their content sucks. Not because they aren't doing what gamasutra or penny arcade report is doing.

Pretty much.

I think Patrick Keplek is one of the good ones that will do actual reporting and not just "hurrrr durrr i got this completely from my ass".

I don't quite understand the importance of metacritic right now. For the casual populace, do they even know of the site or care? The enthusiasts don't trust the website. A lot depend on the word of mouth of friends if anything.

Yet, I hear that metacritic scores are important to the game companies and bonuses and such are tied to it. If nobody buying cares then why do they care?

Trey sort of hit it, but they need a metric to determine quality beyond just sales. That metric serves a lot of uses for them. Bonuses. Allocation of resources. Future planning of titles.  etc.

It was pretty sad seeing certain incidents showing how far metacritic has gotten into this gaming thing. (Obsidian 1 point shy from getting a bonus, Irrational having a Job placement ad with a metacrtic rating of previous work as a requirement, etc)