Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community - View Single Post - Is there such a thing as a videogame journalist?

irateplatypus · 06-15-2005, 05:10 PM

while reading some poor IGN coverage this evening, it struck me that there are so few actual videogame journalists out there.

so much "coverage" from these sights boils down to simply parroting information. the major news outlets for this industry spend so much energy trying to court favor with developers/console manufacturers and do what they can to stay in their good graces.

some points of frustration...

-when execs give one cliche'd answer after another, the interviewer rarely calls them on it or tries more pointed questions

-major outlets sign non-disclosure agreements on nearly every "story". the news is disclosed how the manufacturers want, when they want, and by who they want.

-the bulk of updates usually boil down to posting screenshots or paraphrasing carefully worded press releases, something any junior high student could do.

-fluff pieces like "top ten" lists or "game of the month"... just recycling the corporate drivel that it started from.

hard-hitting interviews, candor, investigative reporting and anonymous tips (outside of the hackneyed net hoaxers) are all so rare. of course, it is a business... and the videogame developers have every right to protect their projects how they see fit. it just seems that the media has allowed the manufacturers to dominate the conversation more than in other sectors. those commenting on the industry seem content to devour the scraps the companies decide to drop from their table.

are there any good examples of serious trade journalists out there? i've seen some who do a decent job, but cover it from a purely business angle. what about coverage that includes a gamer's perspective?

sometimes 1up.com does a decent job, that's about all the positive appraisal i can muster at the moment.

06-15-2005, 05:10 PM	#1 (permalink)
irateplatypus can't help but laugh Location: dar al-harb	Is there such a thing as a videogame journalist? while reading some poor IGN coverage this evening, it struck me that there are so few actual videogame journalists out there. so much "coverage" from these sights boils down to simply parroting information. the major news outlets for this industry spend so much energy trying to court favor with developers/console manufacturers and do what they can to stay in their good graces. some points of frustration... -when execs give one cliche'd answer after another, the interviewer rarely calls them on it or tries more pointed questions -major outlets sign non-disclosure agreements on nearly every "story". the news is disclosed how the manufacturers want, when they want, and by who they want. -the bulk of updates usually boil down to posting screenshots or paraphrasing carefully worded press releases, something any junior high student could do. -fluff pieces like "top ten" lists or "game of the month"... just recycling the corporate drivel that it started from. hard-hitting interviews, candor, investigative reporting and anonymous tips (outside of the hackneyed net hoaxers) are all so rare. of course, it is a business... and the videogame developers have every right to protect their projects how they see fit. it just seems that the media has allowed the manufacturers to dominate the conversation more than in other sectors. those commenting on the industry seem content to devour the scraps the companies decide to drop from their table. are there any good examples of serious trade journalists out there? i've seen some who do a decent job, but cover it from a purely business angle. what about coverage that includes a gamer's perspective? sometimes 1up.com does a decent job, that's about all the positive appraisal i can muster at the moment. __________________ If you will not fight when your victory will be sure and not too costly, you may come to the moment when you will have to fight with all the odds against you and only a precarious chance for survival. There may even be a worse case. You may have to fight when there is no hope of victory, because it is better to perish than to live as slaves. ~ Winston Churchill