Why Video Game Journalism Will Never Be Taken Seriously

[StephenArdrey]

I have been writing about video games for about ten years now. Most of it has been ghost writing work for reviewers from major magazines. What I am about to share is what video game journalism actually is. Many of us know this already but very few really know the depths it goes.

First, let's start with that Seanbaby fucker. This guy was paid to write articles about games he never played. Most reviewers actually don't even play the review copies they are given. It goes to someone else to play and then they are given an overview as well as some main points to cover. Even if it's humorous, most critics don't have time to actually play a 100 plus hour game followed by a thorough review. Your actually better off going to Amazon and reading user reviews except alot of those are bot scripted as well.

They will pick out about 50 or 100 employees from their company and give them Amazon gift cards. Then the employees will purchase the game and write a review before they even get it. It's kind of a fucked up system but this is happening more and more. Since Amazon can't ban company employees from buying their own game to write a user review about, then it's kind of pointless effort to mention.

Game Informer, is really big on its exclusives. These exclusives are really just away to push preorders at GameStop. Usually the exclusive comes the month that they start accepting preorders on a product and most of these aren't really exclusive. These are just carefully arranged pieces so that everything ties in from the corporate level down to you. Which brings me to the marginalization of PC games.

The big three are really anti-PC gaming as well as anti-indie. Do they release indie games on their direct download services? Yes, if it ties into bigger corporate interest. You may never see Postal, Binding Isaac, or The Path on a major console because of content but then why does EA get away with it?

EA, is a billion dollar company. You can't get your share of licensing unless EA is allowed to release on your system. Most journalist hate covering this, but companies like EA and Activision can do whatever the fuck the want. If an indie company released MW2, chances are we would have never been able to play it at all. Journalist don't even touch this least they want to slice their own advertising throat.

In the end, it's all jut advertising and money. It's a ploy to keep major companies ahead of the smaller guy and I really hate it. That's part of the reason I will never get a wide audience but it's a sacrifice I am happy to make. I would rather be read by the intelligent few then the drooling masses. It could also be because I love showing pictures of Princess Peach sucking cock.

[Mouse]

I totally agree with you. I'm so glad you aren't with TGV anymore. Those guys are douchebags! Whats up with them deleting comments  that they don't like? Futhermore they are D-bags for doing 45 mins video reviews for a demo.  Plus a long ass review that nobody read anyway.  As far as Seanbaby goes I'm not impressed with his stuff either. Keep up the great articles!

[badgirl_696969]

great article steve!

[The_YongGrand]

Agreed on that.

I love Mass Effect series. One and the two. Never played much of it, I played it with my sibling. It's like a combo of Knights of the Old Republic plus some other thing. You can even import characters like the classic Quest for Glory series. What fun!

I felt disgusted at the attempt of EA by launching and dangling the Mass Effect 3 copies on space orbit. What made them do this? Cheap marketing technique? (Wait, extravagant marketing technique which looks cheap sounds better) I know I gonna like/enjoy the released game already, but pushing the product into our mouths isn't going to work. So, when it is irradiated in space, the game's going to be all better? EA's all becomeing "I'm good, you are not" behaviour.

If there is Ass Effect, I'd rather play it now. Mass Effect 3 may get very high ratings from those review sites because it looks cool to be dangled in space and then land these copies on Earth, and because EA made a parade on it.

Postal series never get a good attention because of the prejudice. Prejudice sucked. If one person said it sucks, the whole thing spreads like a freaking wildfire. Assholes will be assholes. People love playing 'serious' games and then ended up being worked up too much, but they will never understand 'humour'. How many games are using humour nowadays to entertain? So far, GTA4 only managed to crack me up.

[StephenArdrey]

Agreed on that.

I love Mass Effect series. One and the two. Never played much of it, I played it with my sibling. It's like a combo of Knights of the Old Republic plus some other thing. You can even import characters like the classic Quest for Glory series. What fun!

I felt disgusted at the attempt of EA by launching and dangling the Mass Effect 3 copies on space orbit. What made them do this? Cheap marketing technique? (Wait, extravagant marketing technique which looks cheap sounds better) I know I gonna like/enjoy the released game already, but pushing the product into our mouths isn't going to work. So, when it is irradiated in space, the game's going to be all better? EA's all becomeing "I'm good, you are not" behaviour.

If there is Ass Effect, I'd rather play it now. Mass Effect 3 may get very high ratings from those review sites because it looks cool to be dangled in space and then land these copies on Earth, and because EA made a parade on it.

Postal series never get a good attention because of the prejudice. Prejudice sucked. If one person said it sucks, the whole thing spreads like a freaking wildfire. Assholes will be assholes. People love playing 'serious' games and then ended up being worked up too much, but they will never understand 'humour'. How many games are using humour nowadays to entertain? So far, GTA4 only managed to crack me up.

Most people who have reviewed it haven't even played it. Actually, I am trying to find a way to kick them in the nuts but so far none of them are taking me up on that offer. The whole Mass Effect series was ok, but it really was a testament to how much stock we put into advertising.

[Aerix_Spades]

I totally agree on this as well.
Here in the Netherlands there's a group of game reviewers (under contract) called Game Kings.
They had their own TV series called under the same name, and still have a magazine called Power Unlimited Gaming Magazines.

Bust most of their reviews and previews are totally based on the opinions of the masses (or better said, they where payed to make a positive review/preview). They really gave me the idea that they just looked up some video clips/gameplay videos on the interwebz, and thought up random ratings for only looking at a 15-30 min. clip.

Maybe that's why they lost their television siree... "^.^
Because people see how amateuristic they sometimes where when they rated games, on their body language.

[FaTony]

Sheesh. Those pesky commercial game developers and their average moron consumers.

You can always go into free and open source scene for some real art.