[Dennis]

One games journalist, Lauren Wainwright, tweeted: "Urm... Trion were giving away PS3s to journalists at the GMAs. Not sure why that's a bad thing?"

If this quote of what she said is correct she should own up to it instead of threatening Eurogamer.

If you can stand by your words what is the problem?

[Cartman86]

Libel laws in the UK rearing their ugly head?

Is it me or has Twitter become a "You can't take anything said on my twitter as serious or real ever" machine?

[Larsen B]

What Rab wrote was hardly defamatory.

A shame that Eurogamer have chosen to bend to those inside the circle, rather than the one outside of it.

And so it goes on.

[Hero]

How they hell can you even threaten legal action over something you post on your public Twitter account? Shameless.

[Empty]

yeah the comment is just making the point about the importance of the appearance of propriety in journalism as the relationship between reader and writer depends on trust. it wasn't directly accusing her of anything. how can you sue for that or take that threat seriously.

[Zeliard]

They didn't just remove Wainwright, they also removed Dave Cook, who also whined about his inclusion.

Incredible.

Here's the omitted Lauren Wainwright part:

One games journalist, Lauren Wainwright, tweeted: "Urm... Trion were giving away PS3s to journalists at the GMAs. Not sure why that's a bad thing?" Now, a few tweets earlier, she also tweeted this: "Lara header, two TR pix in the gallery and a very subtle TR background. #obsessed @tombraider pic.twitter.com/VOWDSavZ" And instantly I am suspicious. I am suspicious of this journalist's apparent love for Tomb Raider. I am asking myself whether she's in the pocket of the Tomb Raider PR team. I'm sure she isn't, but the doubt is there. After all, she sees nothing wrong with journalists promoting a game to win a PS3, right?

And the omitted Dave Cook part:

Another journalist, one of the winners of the PS3 competition, tweeted this at disgusted RPS writer John Walker: "It was a hashtag, not an advert. Get off the pedestal." Now, this was Dave Cook, a guy I've met before. A good guy, as far as I could tell. But I don't believe for one second that Dave doesn't understand that in this time of social media madness a hashtag is just as powerful as an advert. Either he's on the defensive or he doesn't get what being a journalist is actually about.

The truth stings, apparently.

Gross turn of events. And incredibly ironic. Here is a guy writing a story about lapses in journalism in the industry and his own editors stab him in the back.

[CyclopsRock]

That's the original article, pretty sure the bolded was removed.

Thanks for that.

Sad from Eurogamer.

[Corto]

If Rab stands by that original article (edit: the part about Laura Wainwright) then he is an idiot.

[cameron]

Lauren Wainwright, then Dave Cook.

I doubt Keighley approves of the article, so Eurogamer should just reduce the article to a bunch of general statements.

[Margalis]

Lol, this turn of events makes "Games Journalism" that much more of a joke.

This was the best piece of the article:

And instantly I am suspicious. I am suspicious of this journalist's apparent love for Tomb Raider. I am asking myself whether she's in the pocket of the Tomb Raider PR team. I'm sure she isn't, but the doubt is there. After all, she sees nothing wrong with journalists promoting a game to win a PS3, right?

It cuts right to the heart of the problem: if you are willing to tweet that you like a game just for a chance to win a PS3 it calls everything you tweet into question.

[Cartman86]

If this quote of what she said is correct she should own up to it instead of threatening Eurogamer. If you can stand by your words what is the problem?

If it was her she probably threatened because the article used her as an example of how a reader can't trust a journalist when in one tweet they say that there is nothing wrong with a journo using their twitter to win a video game context and then a little while later saying that they are obsessed with Tomb Raider. I think it's an honest question. The article never said that she was in the pocket of SquareEnix. It said she probably wasn't. The point is that the doubt is raised when these conflicts exist. Conflicts that exist in all media. Obviously her tweet wasn't her admitting that she herself was trying to win a PS3, but as a "reader" I question why she didn't see the conflict and if it's systemic of the games media in general. Is there any other context around this story I'm missing? Did she not actually mean what she said? Twitter confusion?

[Omi]

So. This is kinda ridiculous. I was only talking about this article with people this morning saying how much I appreciated it. :-/

[dreamfall]

How they hell can you even threaten legal action over something you post on your public Twitter account? Shameless.

Seriously! This is pretty ludicrous. I'm not entirely sure how I feel about the piece, but I'm definitely convinced "games journalism" and "integrity" have nothing in common.

Sheesh. Eurogamer could've been better to stick by their writer's word. But legal action? From calling out bullshit PR/writer giveaways? My goodness.

[Rodhull]

Pretty sad really. Professional critics should really have thicker skin than this surely?

[Ikuu]

https://twitter.com/atheistium/statu...80209412919296 :lol

[Mastperf]

So people now sue when they get called out on their shit?

People sue for everything. As a matter of fact, you'll be hearing from my lawyer.

[aeolist]

Yeah, don't forget they're under the UK's batshit crazy libel laws.

What really gets me is when these people defend themselves by saying "I'm just a big fan!" That's fine, but if you're going to put yourself out there as some incorruptible voice of journalistic authority YOU DON'T GET TO ACT LIKE A STUPID FAN ANYMORE.

[pa22word]

That's the original article, pretty sure the bolded was removed.

Thank christ someone managed to save it. Hey Eurogamer - you're pathetic.

[jet1911]

This industry clearly has no standard.

[Goldmund]

Some people are professionally dumb. We need them, too. HNNGNGFNGNGNNNGGNGNG.

[reptilescorpio]

Fucking disgusting. I was hoping journalists would be willing to actually take a look at themselves and their practises. Apparently not.

Back to the teat for most again.

[Jburton]

Thank you Rab Florence for writing this article and fuck the rest.

I like Geoff even though he is a shill, those other two can go fuck themselves.


I wonder if Miss Wainwrights threat to sue was sponsored by corporate PR, seems possible everything else is.

[D_prOdigy]

So Eurogamer has finally given up the mantle of being the last publication with decency.

[Twinduct]

Yeah this is so silly. Oh well, awesome article.

[Spookie]

Thank christ someone managed to save it.

Aye, thanks Ikuu. What a fucking joke though they are getting threatened with legal proceedings. :/

Also, don't blame Eurogamer for this. The threat of legal action brings unbelievable pressure. I am clear on who the bad guys are in this.

[Zia]

https://twitter.com/atheistium/statu...33486580264960

Thank you @eurogamer – apology accepted.

[Wolfgunblood Garopa]

Shut it down!

[Jintor]

Truth is a full defence against libel in the UK, I'm pretty sure.

[CrunchinJelly]

https://twitter.com/atheistium/statu...80209412919296 :lol

Then you see tweets like this: https://twitter.com/atheistium/statu...95462656454656

and retweets of this: https://twitter.com/GamesMediaAward/...13057891340288

And wonder if Rab was right all along.

[Shurs]

I feel like the bigger story here is Eurogamer giving in to Lauren Wainwright and Dave Cook.

It seems worthy of its own thread.

These people should be called out.

[Ikuu]

Aye, thanks Ikuu. What a fucking joke though they are getting threatened with legal proceedings. :/ Also, don't blame Eurogamer for this. The threat of legal action brings unbelievable pressure. I am clear on who the bad guys are in this.

Found it at GameTrailers of all places, lol.

[Canis lupus]

The image really, truly is hilarious, and very telling. Rab Florence wrote a solid article but nothing even necessarily had to be written about it. The image completely speaks for itself.

A picture says more than a thousand words.

[Ventilaator]

No wonder every hyped game gets 100% positive reviews. You apparently get legal threats if you go ahead and are anything else than a mindless robot. Jesus christ that business is fucked and game journalism can truly only be spelled with quotation marks around it.

[Zeliard]

I feel like the bigger story here is Eurogamer giving in to Lauren Wainwright and Dave Cook. It seems worthy of its own thread. These people should be called out.

Yeah the thread has taken a completely different turn now.

[Jintor]

I feel like the bigger story here is Eurogamer giving in to Lauren Wainwright and Dave Cook. It seems worthy of its own thread. These people should be called out.

Shit gets really messy once you call in the lawyers. I have to say, the comments were perhaps libellous under the strict legal definition, but - and here's the important part - they were also true. So...

[Derrick01]

You have to have some nerve to be a douchebag, get called out in public for your douchebaggery, and then instead of doing the right thing continue to be an even bigger douchebag.

[Goldmund]

Thank you Rab Florence for writing this article and fuck the rest. I like Geoff even though he is a shill, those other two can go fuck themselves. I wonder if Miss Wainwrights threat to sue was sponsored by corporate PR, seems possible everything else is.

I've got the message right here!

Dear Mrs. Wainwright, You've been fighting for Lara's cause for a while now. She's taken notice of your struggle. Lara is on your side, she wants you to feel protected. Take any legal measures deemed necessary, we'll generously reimburse you. HNNGNGFNGNGNNNGGNGNG, Squeenix

[Jubbly]

https://twitter.com/atheistium/statu...34983506403328

Lauren Wainwright ‏@atheistium @GamerGuides I've got no issue with the actual idea and content just the libelous comments about me were unfair and unjust.

MCV is a shadow of its former self. Once upon a time it was a serious trade mag, now it's more of a news outlet, filled with general gaming stories, dodgy headlines, stories about unrelated topics, poor writing, and a ton of grammatical errors, most of which come from senior writer Ben Parfitt.

I've got the message right here!

The way she goes on about Square Enix and Tomb Raider I honestly reckon she's angling for a PR job with them.

[Shatner's Bassoon]

Lauren Wainwright's lawsuit brought to you by Frito Lay.

[Interfectum]

oh man... this is gonna get ugly.

[Despera]

Aye, thanks Ikuu. What a fucking joke though they are getting threatened with legal proceedings. :/ Also, don't blame Eurogamer for this. The threat of legal action brings unbelievable pressure. I am clear on who the bad guys are in this.

Yeah, seriously. People in here like to jump to conclusions.

[renitou]

If Rab stands by that original article (edit: the part about Laura Wainwright) then he is an idiot.

How so?

[Dennis]

Lauren Wainwright ‏@atheistium @GamerGuides I've got no issue with the actual idea and content just the libelous comments about me were unfair and unjust.

What libelous comments?

Did she say what she was quoted as saying or not?

Rab is surely entitled to then state that he does not trust her opinion.

Libel? Sue my ass.

[Margalis]

I wonder how Eurogamer thinks you can write a piece about video game journalism ethics without using actual names and examples?

Is "I don't want to name names but sometimes people do some bad stuff that I don't want to specify" the foundation for a great piece?

[TheOddOne]

Apology accepted? Yeah, well you get that with threatening a lawsuit.

[Gizmowned]

So many posts with involved names. Watch out for those lawsuits.

[Spookie]

oh man... this is gonna get ugly.

gonna?

[Jburton]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MHCs3v_mFkM

NSFW.

[Rez]

https://twitter.com/atheistium/statu...33486580264960

Classless.

Rab losing his job over this is insane, and should be a much bigger story than it currently is. Unbelievable.

[Empty]

https://twitter.com/atheistium/statu...34983506403328

bah. rab wasn't libelling her, he didn't accuse her at all in the article, he used what she said as a way of explaining the importance of always coming across as very clean in journalism as if you're not people start to mistrust everything else they're saying.

does she not understand the concept of nuance?