Joystiq and the fate of video-game journalism

, then respond with your thoughts on the fate of video-game journalism.

As for me personally, it scares me quite a bit. It's another case of the big guys winning out over the little guys. For example, IGN is going strong, but is obviously not objective in a lot of its reviews. Other video-game journalism websites I used to visit
that are no longer available are 1UP.com, gamespy.com, as well as the magazine Official Xbox Magazine.

:)

 

The state of video game journalism.

So for those who may not know, Robert Florence wrote an article on Eurogamer a couple of days ago criticising video game journalism: http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2012-10-24-lost-humanity-18-a-table-of-doritos



Florence was forced to amend part of the article after criticising another writer and he was then subsequently fired: http://www.cinemablend.com/games/Eurogamer-Writer-Fired-Pointing-Out-How-Much-Video-Game-Journalism-Fails-48600.html



Earlier today, Totalbiscuit did a video on the topic, I think he sums up the situation very well:

[View:]

I agree with Totalbiscuit's opinion, video game journalism/reviewing is a mess. Thoughts on this?

 

Bad Journalism?

[quote user="Frag Monger"]

TRUE journalism offers NO opinions - just facts.

-

Walter Cronkite was the master.

[/quote]
I would hardly call reviews of video games, "journalism", IMHO. (But that's just my P.O.V.)

 

I only really bother with one these days because they are local.
http://www.ausgamers.com/

Always nice to be able to read a review of a game that has been played on my soil (or at least reviewed by someone local) because sometimes games play differently in different regions. Playing a games multiplayer in the USA is often not always the experience
of someone playing in Australia for example.

 

Good riddance. It's hard for most of the big gaming sites to be objective when they are getting paid big bucks to advertise the same games they are reviewing.

In the PC world the Steam Curator program has made it so I can get objective reviews from individuals that share my same interest and aren't being bought by developers and publishers.

It's individuals or small groups of people that you actually get to know by their reviews. I take a review much more seriously from a person reviewing a racing game that I actually know plays racing games. It brings some integrity back to the art of reviewing
video games.

All it would take is an app to get something similar to the consoles.

 

I agree @rand most of these sites have been garbage for years I like Chemist use Ausgamers and my sub to gameinformer for the ins an outs of games and rarely touch this resolution console wars garbage.

 

I agree with Randver 100%. Most of these sites rush through games just to get a review out anyway.

 

I mainly read reviews from Gamers and Modders from smaller website forums that I've been part of for years. GG, I didn't watch your video attached (At Work) but I get the drift.

Chemist, as a fellow Australian you make a point with your comments.

 

It has little to do with journalism and has more to do with business progression IMO.

 

I don't put too much emphasis on reviews from major sites, because of Randver's point about advertising as well as several other reasons. There have been many cases where reviewers are given sweeteners - free gifts, meals and what have you. There have been
cases where publishers have said "you can publish a review early, but only if it's positive". There have been cases where people have reviewed games made by their friends, or made by people whose Kickstarter projects they've donated money to.

I think it's hard to be objective unless you've bought the game with your own money and you're not benefiting in any way from the company that made or published the game. If you are, then at least disclose that stuff so readers know.

I think a good business model may be to use something like Patreon, so you have no ads, you sign no NDAs, you don't take any games/gifts from any companies, but you ask your readership to support you. Obviously there's pitfalls there too, as people may question
who some of the Patreon backers are, but an independent "by gamers, for gamers, funded by gamers" site would be more trustworthy to many people IMO.

 

Good topic GG. =) It's a strange one because the real guys with no conflict of interest and a genuine passion and love for video games can be found in this Xbox community. You guys.

There's the rising stars of YouTube doing simple let's plays, giving a firsthand look at how a game plays without shoving a bunch of adverts in your face, or editing the clips to pull a game into a more favourable light. [But even some of the bigger names
here are getting a little somtin' somtin' from some publishers now.]

If Arno Dorian in Assassin's Creed Unity starts glitching against a fence post and the NPCs around him start flipping out and walking on their heads... a gamer isn't going to edit that out because it's gold and it's funny. Heh ha. {=D

Guys like Jim Sterling left The Escapist because of the ever increasing boundaries of the game-critic world he occupied professionally. He has moved onto YouTube and he relies on YouTube and Patreon to get paid now. I rarely agree with his reviews and his
scores are usually absurd, but I like his Jimquisition stuff when it challenges the video game industry, often corporate nastiness, so I'll donate to his Patreon.

But the weirdest thing of all for me is that in recent years gamers haven't needed reviews to buy games, and it's getting stupid. Publishers can put a time and date on when critics can publish their reviews...

... meanwhile the only thing in the gaming media and on the web is adverts, promotion, marketing, and trailers. Gamers pre-order a game, the game gets released, critics reviews are released, and the game sucks, the reviews for it sucks, consumer feedback
sucks. No refunds... what a mess.

I'm not a fan of the pre-order trend. It's not all bad, but doing it doesn't make a great deal sense to me as a consumer. But that's another topic. {=D

 

While all of you have given great responses, I'd like to remind you that this about more than just reviews.

 

Well true, but previews, and reviews are the mainstay of websites like Joystiq. At least, that is, when they're not pushing no-news click bait articles -- and that news and reviews format is dated and struggling to survive in a world in which consoles have
recording capabilities and are tied into
social media and huge online communities in the realm of the console manufacturer.
Consumers/gamers are becoming the content creators.

If 1UP, and gamespy had survived, they would just be subsidiaries of the parent company that also owns IGN. You're not getting a choice by following a different logo under a different brand, it's all the same "big company" and there are increasingly few
"little guys" trying to survive in, or even have a desire to exist in that space.

Blogosphere, Twittersphere, YouTube channels, Facebook pages, public forums... [I know if I wanted a good opinion of some games I'd just ask some of the guys on the Regs Board here. They have huge gamerscores, extensive libraries, and have put a lot of time
into the games they play - to completion. They're not playing under duress working toward a deadline, neither are the guys on YouTube for the most part, and they don't have an agenda beyond playing and enjoying games.] On YouTube I like and trust Achievement
Hunter/Rooster Teeth, and I'll watch Angry Joe sometimes.

IGN is good at doing what it does, and it is fantastically good at being at the top of your searches. But if somebody conducted a survey of gamers I bet trust in the IGN brand is hysterically low. If you want to see a trailer though, and you Google it, chances
are great the hit at the top will be a video uploaded by IGN. Maybe closely followed by Gamespot and Machinima. IGN also exist as an entity to which publishers pander, because they're so good at giving exposure to content by forever being at the top.

I don't click on IGN links. Heh ha. But I get why people do. It's at the top so is convenient. But if I want a cursory glance at how a game is looking I'll check Metacritic, I'll ask friends, forumites who've played the game, and if the game ain't out I
want gameplay footage, and hands-on playtime for people I trust who can get to do that, and let me watch their content.

Sooo yeah, technology is passing the game critics website by, and consumers are linked to the critics they trust through social media, and publishers are allowing early access for gamers to test the games, and to critique the games early. The gaming website
is kinda like a newspaper, it has some circulation but it ain't your first choice for information, and with all of the content, there really isn't one place people to go for info like they used to when the Net was youngish and gaming was a considered a nerdy
pastime for kids. IMO {=]

 

Are game journalists still needed when we can get news directly from devs/publishers,feedback/reviews from gamers on forums,gameplay videos on Twitch/You Tube,ect ?...

My answer is no,not anymore.

20 years ago,i needed to buy a magazine to know what did happen at E3 (usually 1-2 months after,today i can watch it live...

 

@GG

What else is it about? Are you referring to video game "journalism" in general?

In that case I think all our views still apply. Any topic can be spun to the writers point of view. I think their has been a general decline in the quality of console games over past several years, I hate all the DLC garbage we are seeing now (premium/limited/season
pass).......you think if I worked for a big gaming website they'll let me write an article blasting the current state of console gaming when EA has advertisements plastered all over it for their next AAA title and it's 90 dollar price tag with the season pass?

I'm seeing more and more gaming related articles on non-gaming websites that are written by people with journalism degrees but apparently have never played a video game in their life The articles are utter nonsense.

If video game journalism is dying then it's their own fault and I stand by my "good riddance" comment. I'd much rather hear the opinions/views of my fellow gamers.....most of which are nonsense too but at least I know they aren't getting paid for it. ;p