Editorial RPG Codex Editorial: Where Journalism Goes to Write Itself

[dnf]

Perhaps his reaction was an effort to drum up some easy good PR for Kotaku by goading Grunker into making erroneous claims. He would then show edited chat logs in a blog post to boost visibility of his ability to spin a negative truth on the doomsayer. With a click bait title it might drum up enough views that he can post it proudly on his resume for a position at a prestigious publishing house. That is the whole point of 'games journalism' isn't it?

Yeah, I'm waiting for the Kotaku article to show up any day now. Can't wait to see the spin and how ignorant Grunker is about "real" journalists and their best practices...

Yeah, i remember Jim Sterling of Destructderp making some sellective quoting of Vault Dweller review of FO3 in his famous piece "video game fans needs to shut up"

 

[mindx2]

From the NeogGAF thread: http://thedoyouinverts.bandcamp.com/track/gamesjournalismlol

 

[Rahdulan]

That was amazing. Can't wait to hear the reactions.

 

[Drowed]

Yeah, i remember Jim Sterling of Destructderp making some sellective quoting of Vault Dweller review of FO3 in his famous piece "video game fans needs to shut up"

Oh, I remember that! I can only imagine what would he say today when we point to him that Wasteland 2 is pretty much that "impossible" Fallout that the "rabid, unreasonable" fans wanted.

 

[VioletShadow]

Great article. The sad state of gaming "journalism" is really hopeless. I'm so tired of all the dysfunction and bullshit that goes on. Disgusting.

 

[Zewp]

Perhaps his reaction was an effort to drum up some easy good PR for Kotaku by goading Grunker into making erroneous claims. He would then show edited chat logs in a blog post to boost visibility of his ability to spin a negative truth on the doomsayer. With a click bait title it might drum up enough views that he can post it proudly on his resume for a position at a prestigious publishing house. That is the whole point of 'games journalism' isn't it?

I was thinking the same thing. This looks like just the thing Jason Schreier would jump at writing about.

 

[Gondolin]

This asks the question, what is the point of a preview? If all you're doing is telling us what you saw, why can't we just watch an actual video of what you saw? What is the point of having a person there?

The answer is that the publishers/developers are using your credibility to make their advertisement seem like it's something else.

This entire thread is like a slow-motion, dragged-out replay of an Insomnia article I remember reading some years ago.

The problem with games is that they started gaining recognition as more than just a niche pastime in an age of advanced marketing and PR techniques. "Journalists" and their previews are the equivalent of fake testimonials on shady online stores.

 

[Menckenstein]

This asks the question, what is the point of a preview? If all you're doing is telling us what you saw, why can't we just watch an actual video of what you saw? What is the point of having a person there?

The answer is that the publishers/developers are using your credibility to make their advertisement seem like it's something else.

This entire thread is like a slow-motion, dragged-out replay of an Insomnia article I remember reading some years ago.

The problem with games is that they started gaining recognition as more than just a niche pastime in an age of advanced marketing and PR techniques. "Journalists" and their previews are the equivalent of fake testimonials on shady online stores.

 

[dnf]

This asks the question, what is the point of a preview? If all you're doing is telling us what you saw, why can't we just watch an actual video of what you saw? What is the point of having a person there?

The answer is that the publishers/developers are using your credibility to make their advertisement seem like it's something else.

This entire thread is like a slow-motion, dragged-out replay of an Insomnia article I remember reading some years ago.

The problem with games is that they started gaining recognition as more than just a niche pastime in an age of advanced marketing and PR techniques. "Journalists" and their previews are the equivalent of fake testimonials on shady online stores.

You mean this one: http://insomnia.ac/commentary/the_videogame_news_racket/ (applies more to the IGN gamespot crownd)

Or this one: http://insomnia.ac/commentary/on_new_games_journalism/ (Applies to the RPS Eurogamer crowd)

 

[Gurkog]

Yeah, i remember Jim Sterling of Destructderp making some sellective quoting of Vault Dweller review of FO3 in his famous piece "video game fans needs to shut up"

Oh, I remember that! I can only imagine what would he say today when we point to him that Wasteland 2 is pretty much that "impossible" Fallout that the "rabid, unreasonable" fans wanted.

From what I recall, Sterling doesn't mind admitting he was a pompous ass before the jimquisition show started. At least he is honest about it.

 

[Gondolin]

You mean this one: http://insomnia.ac/commentary/the_videogame_news_racket/ (applies more to the IGN gamespot crownd)

This is the one, I think.

 

[Roguey]

Oh, I remember that! I can only imagine what would he say today when we point to him that Wasteland 2 is pretty much that "impossible" Fallout that the "rabid, unreasonable" fans wanted.

Just wait until it turns out to be a complete disappointment.

See the comments about the latest video for a preview.

 

[dnf]

Oh, I remember that! I can only imagine what would he say today when we point to him that Wasteland 2 is pretty much that "impossible" Fallout that the "rabid, unreasonable" fans wanted.

Just wait until it turns out to be a complete disappointment.

See the comments about the latest video for a preview.

Yeah, turn based game may turn out to be shit, but so what? is turn based to blame for this?

 

[Murk]

Hrmm, we seem to have an issue with people (a person) mistaking "implication" for "inference" and mostly overlooking the "gaming press itself is systematically flawed" argument for the sake of "but I'm not a bad guy!".

Reminds me of that oh so classic line, "mistakes were made (but not by me)".

I do not believe the intent of the editorial was ever to identify any one single or group of people as the culprits, and such cases of Wainwright or Rausch are not to be treated as the main reason for any contempt at the industry, they are just exemplars of the fail/decline. The real issue is in the minute and seemingly innocent problems that are overlooked regularly because they, in the larger scheme, cease to be considered problems at all.

When the "bad" is treated as the "normal" then the entire goddamn machine is malfunctioning. That's what this editorial was about -- not any one cog or gear, but the whole thing resulting in some horrible gestalt output of untrustworthy and tainted shit.

 

[Roguey]

Yeah, turn based game may turn out to be shit, but so what? is turn based to blame for this?

Sterling's article wasn't anti-turn based. It was anti-"fans who want everything to remain the same."

 

[dnf]

Yeah, turn based game may turn out to be shit, but so what? is turn based to blame for this?

Sterling's article wasn't anti-turn based. It was anti-"fans who want everything to remain the same."

Defending baby Jim is a new low for you Roguey. Wanting turn based combat is the same as wanting everything to be the same? He also criticized Diablo fans for disliking the WoW pandering of Diablo 3. Turned out that the fans was right in this one. What about the quoting out of context of VD review 3 pages review them?

 

[Roguey]

Defending baby Jim is a new low for you Roguey. Wanting turn based combat is the same as wanting everything to be the same? He also criticized Diablo fans for disliking the WoW pandering of Diablo 3. Turned out that the fans was right in this one. What about the quoting out of context of VD review 3 pages review them?

I doubt many Fallout fans would be satisfied with the content of Fallout 3 with turn-based combat.

Also it is true that many Fallout fans are/were really finicky.

The point, in case zealots ever want to accept it, is that your tastes are not the only tastes in the world. Really, I know this may be hard to believe, but if you like playing a turn-based game set in three counties of Utah in 2242, and you like miniguns but don't like lasers, and you like the ratio of combat to dialogue to be about 4:1, and you like cars that look more like Buicks than Pontiacs, and you think 50s-style monsters are okay but 50s-style aliens aren't, and you think Max's jacket from Mad Max is okay but the football pad armour isn't, and you don't like it when italics are used in dialogue but you do like it when boldface is used, and you want it to be longer than 100 hours but no longer than 120 hours, and like games to be non-linear but only to a point, and like big cities, but only two because four is too much BUT HEY NOT THAT ONE, and you like the desert but don't mind a little grass BUT HEY NOT THAT MUCH BECAUSE IT'S NOT FALLOUT...I am terribly, terribly sorry, because we are not going to make a game just for you. We're not trying to make a game for everyone. Really, we aren't. But we're not making a game just for you and ten other angry guys with tastes that are narrower than a hallway in a camp of pygmy dwarves.

 

[communard]

The Toldocalypse

Shots fired! Where you at Jason? Where you at son?

Good article, outstanding smackdown Grunker.

 

[Harg Harfardarssen]

Defending baby Jim is a new low for you Roguey. Wanting turn based combat is the same as wanting everything to be the same? He also criticized Diablo fans for disliking the WoW pandering of Diablo 3. Turned out that the fans was right in this one. What about the quoting out of context of VD review 3 pages review them?

I doubt many Fallout fans would be satisfied with the content of Fallout 3 with turn-based combat.

No, but the Fallout 3 content was low quality. Note that many Fallout fans are fairly fond of New Vegas despite the absence of TB combat.

Also, googled that article: http://www.destructoid.com/videogame-fans-need-to-shut-up-about-everything-164476.phtml

Hilariously, the other game Sterling thought people needed to shut up about was Diablo 3. Turns out the premature whining was on to something.

 

[Lhynn]

Sterling is a decent journalist that has awful taste when it comes to games. But at least hes not a movie bob.
Prof of that is that he didnt see the turd that was diablo 3 when it was announced lilke most people with a little sense did.

I still like to watch him call BS on obvious issues that most mentally challenged gamers/fanboys are not aware or have thought of.

 

[dnf]

Defending baby Jim is a new low for you Roguey. Wanting turn based combat is the same as wanting everything to be the same? He also criticized Diablo fans for disliking the WoW pandering of Diablo 3. Turned out that the fans was right in this one. What about the quoting out of context of VD review 3 pages review them?

I doubt many Fallout fans would be satisfied with the content of Fallout 3 with turn-based combat.

No, but the Fallout 3 content was low quality. Note that many Fallout fans are fairly fond of New Vegas despite the absence of TB combat.

Also, googled that article: http://www.destructoid.com/videogame-fans-need-to-shut-up-about-everything-164476.phtml

Hilariously, the other game Sterling thought people needed to shut up about was Diablo 3. Turns out the premature whining was on to something.

There is some codexer rage in the kkkomments with Brother None and shihonage

 

[Ninjerk]

Sterling is a decent journalist that has awful taste when it comes to games. But at least hes not a movie bob.
Prof of that is that he didnt see the turd that was diablo 3 when it was announced lilke most people with a little sense did.

I still like to watch him call BS on obvious issues that most mentally challenged gamers/fanboys are not aware or have thought of.

Because various concessions were made to the loot and environment in order to keep the game playable and fun, it was a betrayal. Oh no, unlooted first aid boxes! No, it wouldn't make sense for such things to survive in Fallout's world, but it's a videogame, and it has to function like one, which is something that these so-called fans seem to forget.

So for something to "function like a video game," mind you it has a narrative and a setting that we are meant to invest in, it has to throw versimilitude out the window? I for one felt the same as the "crazy NMA" people about Fallout 3 because I loved the TB combat and overhead third person viewpoint. I appreciate other styles of game, too, but this guy is/was out of his mind.

 

[Lhynn]

Sterling is a decent journalist that has awful taste when it comes to games. But at least hes not a movie bob.
Prof of that is that he didnt see the turd that was diablo 3 when it was announced lilke most people with a little sense did.

I still like to watch him call BS on obvious issues that most mentally challenged gamers/fanboys are not aware or have thought of.

Because various concessions were made to the loot and environment in order to keep the game playable and fun, it was a betrayal. Oh no, unlooted first aid boxes! No, it wouldn't make sense for such things to survive in Fallout's world, but it's a videogame, and it has to function like one, which is something that these so-called fans seem to forget.

So for something to "function like a video game," mind you it has a narrative and a setting that we are meant to invest in, it has to throw versimilitude out the window? I for one felt the same as the "crazy NMA" people about Fallout 3 because I loved the TB combat and overhead third person viewpoint. I appreciate other styles of game, too, but this guy is/was out of his mind.

I didnt really mind that fallout was a third person shooter, a bit at first, but it was mostly because beth was doing it, that meant it was going to be a bland piece of shit no matter the gameplay.

 

[Ninjerk]

Sterling is a decent journalist that has awful taste when it comes to games. But at least hes not a movie bob.
Prof of that is that he didnt see the turd that was diablo 3 when it was announced lilke most people with a little sense did.

I still like to watch him call BS on obvious issues that most mentally challenged gamers/fanboys are not aware or have thought of.

Because various concessions were made to the loot and environment in order to keep the game playable and fun, it was a betrayal. Oh no, unlooted first aid boxes! No, it wouldn't make sense for such things to survive in Fallout's world, but it's a videogame, and it has to function like one, which is something that these so-called fans seem to forget.

So for something to "function like a video game," mind you it has a narrative and a setting that we are meant to invest in, it has to throw versimilitude out the window? I for one felt the same as the "crazy NMA" people about Fallout 3 because I loved the TB combat and overhead third person viewpoint. I appreciate other styles of game, too, but this guy is/was out of his mind.

I didnt really mind that fallout was a third person shooter, a bit at first, but it was mostly because beth was doing it, that meant it was going to be a bland piece of shit no matter the gameplay.

I enjoyed exploring the Capitol Wasteland (I 100% hated the game, however), but I put FO3 in the ground long ago. I'm only taking issue here with who this guy is as a person here.

 

[Machocruz]

So for something to "function like a video game," mind you it has a narrative and a setting that we are meant to invest in, it has to throw versimilitude out the window? I for one felt the same as the "crazy NMA" people about Fallout 3 because I loved the TB combat and overhead third person viewpoint. I appreciate other styles of game, too, but this guy is/was out of his mind.

Verisimilitude doesn't matter to joe bro gamer. Until it does and hey complain because the game doesn't have the latest shaders to make the world look more realistic and thus immersive. But having skill requirements in order to ascend the ranks of a specialist guild, which is logical and increases the verisimilitude of the world, and thus intellectual immersion? Nah, that shit don't matter bruh, it's just a game.