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I'm a former game journo - AMA

Chimpzy

Adherent
Messages
67
Runic Rogue said:
But looking back at all discussed so far, what would you suggest as a solution of sorts, away from the decline in journalism back to pre1900's style, and more akin to that golden age that was seen as the ideal.
As I mentioned before, good old-school journalism with thorough research and all those bells and whistles is still being done. But to put it bluntly, there’s little reward in it anymore. You cannot reasonably expect someone to work dozens or hundreds of hours without making a decent living from it, especially when that may be dangerous, depending on where that journalist lives. It’s not realistic.

But there is pretty much no chance of the Golden Age conditions that allowed that kind of hard and expensive journalism to prosper in the first place to return. The world is a whole new beast. Aside from the differences in how news media are being run, the advent of the internet has completely changed how media are being made and consumed. In a sense, this created a new Golden Age, since journalism is more democratic than ever. Modern media have made it possible for anyone to publish news and opened up new avenues to make a living off it.

So, on a basic level, I think that if the big (more traditional) news media themselves won’t back old-school Golden Age style journalism anymore, then perhaps the consumer can instead. You can’t make bias go away. Nor shoddy sensationalism. But you can support the people that do good work. Give them views, likes, subscribes, whatever. If more direct financial backing like a Patreon is an option, do that maybe. Doesn’t need to be much, every little bit helps.

It’s not an ideal solution. In fact, it’s not a solution at all, because it doesn’t resolve any of the underlying issues. And that’s beside the fact that those with political agendas can use the exact same method to push their views. But think of it as keeping the flame lit.
bluegate said:
I very much dislike it when something like this happens, not saying that you were guilty of this, but I have often seen that lead to just plain bandwagon hating rather than actual reviewing of the game.

Thanks for answering in the detailed manner that you did
Yes, that’s the big stumbling block. At the end of the day, journalists are people and there is a strong allure in the safety of conformity, and games journalism is probably where I felt its effect the most. A desire to not affront people: your readers/viewers, your journalist peers, your businessmen bosses (and by extension the publishers and advertisers they deal with).

It was never outright spoken, just hinted at, but there was definitely pressure from the company top (i.e. the big wigs) to follow the majority opinion for a review, to not rock the boat too much. Or getting a call from a publisher PR rep asking why we rated game x lower than average and wanting to know our reasons (or, you know, they could read the review). Or messages from readers complaining how we rated game x too low, or too high, although the reasoning behind those complaints was sometimes pretty out there, so that was kind of fun.

So, you then either stand your ground and deal with the inevitable replies, or you start playing it safe and follow. Think of the latter as the Dark Side of the Force: quicker, easier, more seductive. It might seem like a small thing and part of the job to resist it, but given time and frequency, it becomes tempting.
 

SupahEwok

Can't Stop the 'Wok
Messages
44
What's your professional opinion on that slate of "Gamers Are Dead" articles that really kicked GG into high gear? Did such obvious coordinated collusion betray journalistic ethics?
 

Chimpzy

Adherent
Messages
67
SupahEwok said:
What's your professional opinion on that slate of "Gamers Are Dead" articles that really kicked GG into high gear? Did such obvious coordinated collusion betray journalistic ethics?
Well, one of the core principles of journalistic ethics is that a journo should be independent, i.e. not act, formally or informally, on behalf of special interests whether political, corporate or cultural. So, yes, journalists agreeing to write opinion pieces on the same topic from the same angle at the same time would be a breach of ethics.

As I've mentioned before though, the idea of journalism having any kind of ethics at all is fairly new and they can go out of the window fast when it's convenient. Think of it as the Pirate Code in Pirates of The Carribean.
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jl0hMfqNQ-g[/youtube]
 

Arnox

Master
Staff member
Founder
Messages
5,285
Chimpzy said:
Arnox said:
Why don't you make more threads?

Are we not cool enough for you???
Yes, that's the problem. Like so many, I was scared off by so much hotness contained in one place.
Stop being a baby. Immerse yourself in the new hotness.
 

Signa

Libertarian Contrarian
Sanctuary legend
Messages
764
What is the best anime? Were two nukes enough?
 

Vendor-Lazarus

Arch Disciple
Sanctuary legend
Messages
936
Do you agree with all the blaming and lamenting certain game journalism publications do in their article about Steam allowing all games on their DRM Platform?
 

Chimpzy

Adherent
Messages
67
SupahEwok said:
What food must be intaken to form the most aerodynamic feces for throwing?
Well, ideally you want your poo to be firm enough to throw easily and careen through the air, but not so firm that it won't splat on impact. That means food that has fiber, but not too much.

In other words: bananas.

Although sometimes you'll specifically want the poo gooey. Won't have much range, but it will compensate with AoE. In that case, prunes are your quintessential classic.

Signa said:
What is the best anime?
Whichever you can bother to watch in its entirety more than once. In my case, that would be Cowboy Bebop, Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann, Ouran HIgh School Host Club and a few others. That's my rule for pretty much all forms of entertainment, btw.

Signa said:
Were two nukes enough?
Maybe not. It's a common misconception that the two bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki were the sole reason for Japan's unconditional surrender. Recent studies of Japanese historical records show that the Soviet Union’s unexpected entry into the war against Japan on Aug. 8 was an even greater shock to Tokyo than the atomic bombing of Hiroshima. The bombs were A reason, not THE reason. (Also kind of implies the Japanese feared the Russians more than the Bomb ...) It was enough for the people of Hiroshima and Nagasaki tho.

Although you're more likely referring to that ‘Anime Is A Prime Example Of Why Two Nukes Just Wasn’t Enough,' comment by some dumbass US senator. Put simply, dumbass comment is dumb and should be treated as dumb.
 

Signa

Libertarian Contrarian
Sanctuary legend
Messages
764
Chimpzy said:
Although you're more likely referring to that ‘Anime Is A Prime Example Of Why Two Nukes Just Wasn’t Enough,' comment by some dumbass US senator. Put simply, dumbass comment is dumb and should be treated as dumb.
Well that is the meme after all :)

-alternative reply-

No u. Ur dumb.

I don't dislike anime, but there is a lot of cancerous material in the genre.
 

Chimpzy

Adherent
Messages
67
Vendor-Lazarus said:
Do you agree with all the blaming and lamenting certain game journalism publications do in their article about Steam allowing all games on their DRM Platform?
Honestly, I don't give a rats ass. If people want to complain about Valve's policies, let them. They have a right to it. If Valve wants to allow anything and everything on their platform, barring some exceptions for legal reasons? Their platform, their choice. Only part of the complaints I actually agree with is the assertion that Valve ties its name to whatever it allows on Steam. Doesn't matter that they only provide the platform. Whether they like it or not, whatever is on Steam will be perceived by the public as having gotten Valve's approval.

Signa said:
I don't dislike anime, but there is a lot of cancerous material in the genre.
Still very dumb to make comments like that about an entire country and culture based on a small part of it. It's like stating reality shows like Duck Dynasty, Here Comes Honey Boo Boo, Jersey Shore or whatever as proof that all Americans are the dumb and/of fat. The comment came from a politician though, so it's to be expected.
 

Signa

Libertarian Contrarian
Sanctuary legend
Messages
764
Chimpzy said:
Still very dumb to make comments like that about an entire country and culture based on a small part of it. It's like stating reality shows like Duck Dynasty[/], Here Comes Honey Boo Boo, Jersey Shore or whatever as proof that all Americans are the dumb and/of fat. The comment came from a politician though, so it's to be expected.

I'd accept jokes about nuking us for those shows. They were clearly profitable enough that they got produced for a while, which means there were enough people watching that garbage. Nothing wrong with a bit of a purge[nb]specifically jokes about a purge[/nb] once in a while ;)
 
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