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[Htown]

Um.

It's not just the pizza thing, you guys. And it's not just Microsoft.

I count at least two repackaged press releases on Polygon's front page so far.

Like, so lazily done that it took me like 60 seconds each to see that's what they were doing.

Same paragraph breaks and everything.

Someone clearly went CTRL-C, CTRL-V and then altered the wording a bit.

 

[Hot Coldman]

Green Scar, I can't go through all these pages, please explain this thread

It's a long fucking story. :lol

 

[Lancehead]

I also think ghst should make a thread about this, with some scathing commentary.

 

[kassatsu]

Advertorial would mean we're being paid to put this here – instead, this was an article vetted by the team as something of interest to readers. Like Nipah says, it's a story. Don't like it, read another one.

http://www.polygon.com/2012/10/30/3...me-offered-free-from-u-k-pizza-huts#124514629

 

[Dennis]

Polygon has changed the picture in the Pizza Hut 'story' to a generic Halo image instead of the original Pizza Hut image supplied to them by PR.

lulz

 

[dave is ok]

http://www.polygon.com/2012/10/30/3...me-offered-free-from-u-k-pizza-huts#124514629

They were never paid any money by Microsoft, guys. Ever.

EDIT: Andddd comments section closed.

 

[Htown]

http://www.polygon.com/2012/10/30/3...me-offered-free-from-u-k-pizza-huts#124514629

Holy fuck.

So, no negative comments allowed on Polygon.

"Don't like it, read another one."

REALLY?

 

[Ledsen]

OP is a little behind. I don't think they've been to GAF since Jeff posted. Even the guy a couple pages back who is helping keep it up to date is missing the new Jeff stuff, though on the "release notes" it said it was added and has 5 links, but I don't see them.

They are there, you just didn't find them. Bottom of "comments from the industry"

 

[grimshawish]

So...I'm a company looking to advertise online, right? However - adblocker and the like are used by many people, and the demographic I'm aiming at are more likely to use it than anyone else...

What do I do? I turn the content people go to these sites to actually read into my advertisements!
= Profit.

 

[Flavius]

B-but...it isn't advertorial if they weren't paid to post it, right?

Right???

Spoiler

Pretty fucking stupid move, no doubt about it.

 

[Gowans]

This needs a new thread.

DONE

http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?p=43775667#post43775667

I'll fill out the op now.

 

[Air Zombie Meat]

Advertorial would mean we're being paid to put this here – instead, this was an article vetted by the team as something of interest to readers. Like Nipah says, it's a story. Don't like it, read another one.

Called it.

 

[RedNumberFive]

Polygon has changed the picture in the Pizza Hut 'story' to a generic Halo image instead of the original Pizza Hut image supplied to them by PR.

lulz

Am I incorrect in thinking that a responsible journalist would write a retraction to go along with these changes, or am I crazy?

 

[bernardobri]

lol

http://nukezilla.com/2008/11/23/so-this-tomb-raider-controversy/

Oh wow.

 

[grimshawish]

haha - in the comments:

NoBullet
Eww, kotaku readers are coming here now? Ugh.
----Nipah
----We were here before you were, actually.

 

[Eighthours]

LOL POLYGON:

Please read our Community Guidelines here – we reserve every right to delete comments that aren't helpful or on-topic. If you want to criticize us, you're welcome to send us an email to feedback@polygon.com. If you want to make a new account – which all the detractors here have done – and come here to rile up negativity, we're going to stop you.
We're closing this thread for now and will reconsider opening it later.

Ironically, I think they need to employ a PR firm...

 

[TheSeks]

I hope this one stays, cause it's gold:

:lol But you know they'll delete it. They always delete the snark comments.

 

[Dennis]

Fucking lol at the yo yo comments counter.

It goes up, it goes down!

 

[Lancehead]

Advertorial would mean we're being paid to put this here – instead, this was an article vetted by the team as something of interest to readers. Like Nipah says, it's a story. Don't like it, read another one.

Does this story have a happy ending?

 

[mclem]

I'm struggling to keep up with this thread, but I must highlight the fact that whenever I skim-read the title, I keep misreading "Doritos" as "Death threats". That would make it yet more terrifying.

 

[Unhandled Exception]

Man, could not be more embarrassed that I submitted an application to Polygon back when it was announced. Should've stuck with the gut instinct.

 

[RedNumberFive]

LOL POLYGON:



Ironically, I think they need to employ a PR firm...

Ironically, they already employ a giant PR team.

 

[Hot Coldman]

Does this story have a happy ending?

Find this story's happy ending today, at the end of a hot 12" Meat Supreme available at your local Pizza Hut!

What do you mean, pizzas don't have "ends"? Fuck you, go to Pizza Hut anyway!

 

[Branduil]

They deleted my comments:

 

[Hydrogen Bluebird]

Am I incorrect in thinking that a responsible journalist would write a retraction to go along with these changes, or am I crazy?

Most games "journalists" aren't really journalist.

 

[grimshawish]

So Polygon will publish ALL deals they hear about? Awesome news, I need a good feed source for deals. Or is it just the ones sent out in press releases from a company they have deals with and a company who has already tied the press to their marketing with food in the US?

God damnit Polygon. You let me down. No point reading your site I guess.
I'll just 'read something else' as your Editor-in-Chief has asked me to do.

 

[GarthVaderUK]

So much for Polygon's ethics statement, looks like it was just for show.

 

[CrunchinJelly]

Man, could not be more embarrassed that I submitted an application to Polygon back when it was announced. Should've stuck with the gut instinct.

You don't want a pizza the action?

 

[CecilRousso]

Polygon is a lost cause from the beginning, but it would be fun and interesting to see how they handle a situation where they are constantly pushed by readers who expect more from them.

 

[Flavius]

Please read our Community Guidelines here – we reserve every right to delete comments that aren't helpful or on-topic. If you want to criticize us, you're welcome to send us an email to feedback@polygon.com. If you want to make a new account – which all the detractors here have done – and come here to rile up negativity, we're going to stop you.
We're closing this thread for now and will reconsider opening it later.

Didn't need a magic 8-ball to predict that one.

Also pretty dumb to make the vetting comment about something so blatantly promotional. Given the content and the fact that the graphic was changed, would suggest that they might need to take another peek at their vetting process as well.

 

[Rapstah]

You don't want a pizza the action?

Ha, that's lo.

 

[Unhandled Exception]

You don't want a pizza the action?

8/10

 

[Ledsen]

Current articles/videos/podcasts
Wings over Sealand (Stuart Campbell) articles (second article has early summary) 1 2 3
John Walker's (Rock Paper Shotgun) blog (start with Games Journalists, And The Perception Of Corruption, includes guest post by Rab Florence)
TotalBiscuit
Jim Sterling
Penny-Arcade 1 2
Gamasutra
Forbes
Worthplaying
GiantBomb
Jason Lauritzen editorial and GAF post
RPGCodex writes an excellent summary
Destructoid
BoingBoing
TheSixthAxis
EDGE article that was written a few weeks ago
PlayerOne Podcast
Eurogamer's Tom Bramwell (editor who edited Rab's column) about the last few days
Rock Paper Shotgun official stance
The Guardian

Old (but still relevant) articles/videos/podcasts
Rab Florence (the guy who started all this) criticizing games writing since 2008
An old episode of CGW Radio discussing Gerstmann-gate
Old Gamasutra article on the influence of PR
Old GFW radio bits

Comments from the industry
Shawn Elliot - 1 (aegies is Arthur Gies of polygon.com) 2 3 4 5 6 on the psychology of PR etc
and some more Arthur Gies - 1 2 3 4 5 and some replies 1 2 3
Jeff Green on the way it actually works, and another post, an another
ShockingAlberto on his view as a former games writer
Jason Schreier (Kotaku) - 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28
N'Gai Croal initial reaction on Twitter
Chris Schilling (freelance) likes both people involved and so doesn't want to write about it
Danny O'Dwyer (Gamespot UK) on why his site won't cover this (audience is not interested) - 1 2 3
pastapadre on being shunned by the industry
Stephen Totilo (Kotaku) doesn't think this is an important story (has changed his mind about that part, read post 9). Wants to focus on good games journalism, this prompted a pretty funny picture and a comment about it, then Stephen Totilo enters the thread 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 (ignore the comment on 18, couldn't find a direct link to Totilo's comment) 19
Weekend Confirmed 1 2
Syriel on his experiences of PR
Jeff Gerstmann short comment on swag
Christian Donlan and Simon Parkin of Eurogamer want to change how they do things[/QUOTE]
Nert on his experience as PR in the tech industry 1 2
John Walker (RPS) on why the site won't cover it (they did anyway) like his blog did
Rab Florence tweets
Jeff Gerstmann 1 (1 is from Tumblr) 2 (2 via EternalGamer, highlights some other stuff) 3 4 5 (3-5 are comments by Jeff in this thread)

Comments from others
GillianSeed79 and firehawk12 on how journalist do criticize their peers
voodoopanda highlights that the issue is not in any way black or white
Snowden's Secret comments on gaming press reactions
Zissou weighs in

Other relevant/interesting links and examples of PR
Examples of various press kits
The 3DS comes to GiantBomb
Letter sent to reviewers from UbiSoft along with their press copy of Assassin's Creed 3
How Rockstar handled the reviews for GTA4
Battlefield 3 review questionnarie

 

[Sojgat]

I've been saying how none of this surprises me, but Polygon's collective lack of self awareness is kind of amazing. They should have at least tried to fob it off as some form of high level critique that we just aren't getting. With the UK reporter posting it, I could almost have believed that. For the longest time I didn't even believe Brian Crecente was a real person, but he must be because this is exactly like something Kotaku would do. What a joke.

 

[krae_man]

You could pretty much tell what Andrea's deal was back during her first couple of appearances on WC when she mentioned she had never used Steam. This was in 2011.

That doesn't mean anything. I've played like one game on Steam ever(Torchlight).

 

[Ape Gone Insane]

Current articles/videos/podcasts
Wings over Sealand (Stuart Campbell) articles (second article has early summary) 1 2 3
John Walker's (Rock Paper Shotgun) blog (start with Games Journalists, And The Perception Of Corruption, includes guest post by Rab Florence)
TotalBiscuit
Jim Sterling
Penny-Arcade 1 2
Gamasutra
Forbes
Worthplaying
GiantBomb
Jason Lauritzen editorial and GAF post
RPGCodex writes an excellent summary
Destructoid
BoingBoing
TheSixthAxis
EDGE article that was written a few weeks ago
PlayerOne Podcast
Eurogamer's Tom Bramwell (editor who edited Rab's column) about the last few days
Rock Paper Shotgun official stance
The Guardian

Old (but still relevant) articles/videos/podcasts
Rab Florence (the guy who started all this) criticizing games writing since 2008
An old episode of CGW Radio discussing Gerstmann-gate
Old Gamasutra article on the influence of PR
Old GFW radio bits

Comments from the industry
Shawn Elliot - 1 (aegies is Arthur Gies of polygon.com) 2 3 4 5 6 on the psychology of PR etc
and some more Arthur Gies - 1 2 3 4 5 and some replies 1 2 3
Jeff Green on the way it actually works, and another post, an another
ShockingAlberto on his view as a former games writer
Jason Schreier (Kotaku) - 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28
N'Gai Croal initial reaction on Twitter
Chris Schilling (freelance) likes both people involved and so doesn't want to write about it
Danny O'Dwyer (Gamespot UK) on why his site won't cover this (audience is not interested) - 1 2 3
pastapadre on being shunned by the industry
Stephen Totilo (Kotaku) doesn't think this is an important story (has changed his mind about that part, read post 9). Wants to focus on good games journalism, this prompted a pretty funny picture and a comment about it, then Stephen Totilo enters the thread 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 (ignore the comment on 18, couldn't find a direct link to Totilo's comment) 19
Weekend Confirmed 1 2
Syriel on his experiences of PR
Jeff Gerstmann short comment on swag
Christian Donlan and Simon Parkin of Eurogamer want to change how they do things

Nert on his experience as PR in the tech industry 1 2
John Walker (RPS) on why the site won't cover it (they did anyway) like his blog did
Rab Florence tweets
Jeff Gerstmann 1 (1 is from Tumblr) 2 (2 via EternalGamer, highlights some other stuff) 3 4 5 (3-5 are comments by Jeff in this thread)

Comments from others
GillianSeed79 and firehawk12 on how journalist do criticize their peers
voodoopanda highlights that the issue is not in any way black or white
Snowden's Secret comments on gaming press reactions
Zissou weighs in

Other relevant/interesting links and examples of PR
Examples of various press kits
The 3DS comes to GiantBomb
Letter sent to reviewers from UbiSoft along with their press copy of Assassin's Creed 3
How Rockstar handled the reviews for GTA4
Battlefield 3 review questionnarie

Thanks for compiling all these into a list.

It would be awesome if there was someone out there that made one long compilation article summing up all of these. But I think that's asking too much!

 

[NaviLink]

Timing : very poor.

Please tell me this is part of a twelve step marketing plan or something. It's getting hilariously sad.

 

[BlackJace]

At this point, we can write a book about this stuff.

 

[RedNumberFive]

At this point, we can write a book about this stuff.

No joke. This has been a fascinating case study.

 

[ShockingAlberto]

At this point, we can write a book about this stuff.

We can call it Press Reset.

 

[bigdaddygamebot]

That doesn't mean anything. I've played like one game on Steam ever(Torchlight).

Yeah...but you're not on the Weekend Concerned podcast.

...or are you?

 

[Safe Bet]

GAMES JOURNALISM YOU GUYS

"May it be a light to you in dark places when all other lights have failed."

<3 GAF <3

 

[Hydrogen Bluebird]

Thanks for compiling all these into a list.

It would be awesome if there was someone out there that made one long compilation article summing up all of these. But I think that's asking too much!

I'd like to be that guy, and maybe post it on Gamasutra, but that would be really hard. Might take up a whole day.

 

[Dennis]

At this point, we can write a book about this stuff.

We could hire Lauren Wainwright to be the editor.

She may need the work.

 

[Lime]

The Assassin's Creed 3 Press Kit salesman from E-bay is apparently Hardcore Gamer. And he/she even uses the review of AC3 to pimp his/her Ebay auction of the press kit (while also sounding like a mouth-drooling fanboy):

Assassin&#8217;s Creed III is one of those rare games conceived to be revolutionary from the beginning. Games like this only come around once in a generation. One of the most, if not the most, ambitious titles ever created. An inspiring testament to what can be accomplished with unbridled devotion, it&#8217;s possible that nothing of this magnitude will ever be attempted again. It&#8217;s a truly definitive event that will be looked-back as a crucial step in gaming evolution.

It will blow you away. If you want to own a piece of the gaming event of the generation, check out my auction.

Credit to VibratingDonkey for posting it in the AC3 review thread.

 

[sflufan]

You know, I used to do a little freelance news writing for IGN:

http://www.ign.com/articles/2005/07/22/battlefield-2-tour-of-duty-announced

(Feel free to Google "Wade Steel IGN" and see what other articles I've written)

I used to get press releases all the time and I'd turn them into stories. Now, I'm not a "journalist" (my background is finance/accounting) and this is something I did in my spare time for fun and to earn a (very) little money. Trust me, I was NEVER dependent on this little hobby as my main income.

However, I'd like to think that whenever I did use a press release to write a story, the reader was pretty damned clear that it was based on a press release.

For example, I VERY liberally used quotation marks as well as saying "According to Microsoft" or "As claimed by Capcom" etc. etc. Sometimes, if it came directly from a company website, I'd link directly to the source of the information. At no point did I EVER want to leave readers with the impression that this was original work on my part!

 

[bigdaddygamebot]

We could hire Lauren Wainwright to be the editor.

She may need the work.

The sad thing is...I highly doubt she won't. She's probably fielding job offers right now.


Any publisher or developer that employs her however. I won't be buying any of their games.

I doubt she's the worst example out there of what's going on but she certainly is an example and one seemingly free of any sort of contrition.

 

[megalowho]

Holy fuck.

So, no negative comments allowed on Polygon.

"Don't like it, read another one."

REALLY?

Especially when the title+image of the article itself is, for all intents and purposes, an ad. You don't even need to click through and read it to get the impression that PR likely wants from sites running the story.

Edit: So they changed the ad image to a generic shot of Master Chief. I'm not sure if I should give them credit for recognizing the first choice was not appropriate or be disappointed that they let it run in the first place.

 

[Dennis]

The Assassin's Creed 3 Press Kit salesman from E-bay is apparently Hardcore Gamer. And he/she even uses the review of AC3 to pimp his Ebay auction of the press kit (while also sounding like a mouth-drooling fanbo):



Credit to VibratingDonkey for posting it in the AC3 review thread.

Jesus Christ.

Whole new level of shameless. Run site to get free stuff. Sell free stuff for massive profits.


Also, my pure hate for using the name Hardcore Gamer.

 

[krae_man]

Yeah...but you're not on the Weekend Concerned podcast.

...or are you?

"If you work for X website, or are on Y Podcast you must own and play games for all of the following..." is a seperate argument and not a good one. Not having a gaming PC is no different then not owning a Vita no matter how much the PC Master Races seems to think otherwise.

Anyway this is off topic.