Keep up the good work, Kotaku is one of the few sites who seem to do actual journalism. Not saying there aren't others, but I like the work you guys do.
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Kotaku has been blacklisted by Bethesda Softworks and Ubisoft
- Thread starter Nirolak
- Start date
Keep up the good work, Kotaku is one of the few sites who seem to do actual journalism. Not saying there aren't others, but I like the work you guys do.
Broken Joystick
At least you can talk. Who are you?
Will Kotaku ever go out of their way to "make up" with these companies, or will you simply remain as you always have? Will we be informed if they ever decide to "make up" with you?
You mean like they've been doing for a long while now? What the hell are you talking about?
IdreamofHIME
Member
Last two years for Bethesda and the last year for Ubi and they're just finding outnow?
Typical slowtaku.
#meme
Zombie James
Banned
Shitty behaviour, glad both Bethesda and UbiSoft are getting called out.
CambriaRising
Member
I guess the Articles on Destiny's issues, Crytech's internal problems, etc are all tabloid journalism.
OdysseusVA
Banned
That too! Their games are terrible
It's sad that Kotaku got blacklisted, but these self-destructive acts only give Kotaku ammunition in the future to tout their integrity and make the publishers look even worse. Seems the chickens are coming home to roost today, even though Totilo had the good grace to try and repair the relationships in secret, without having to name and shame.
Serves them right that it's come to this.
Yup. Totilo has done some great work to make Kotaku one of the better ones, and he's got some good people working on their output.
Serves them right that it's come to this.
Yup. Totilo has done some great work to make Kotaku one of the better ones, and he's got some good people working on their output.
NeOak
Member
No, you don't report this unless nothing can be done about it.
theepicoftyler
Member
Is there really anything of value lost by being cut out of the official PR channels?
serenewarfare
Banned
That's just as bullshit a reason. Tons of big outlets leak info about new tech when it comes available (I mean how many "New iPhone leaks" have you seen?), and you don't see them getting blacklisted.
DrFaustPhD
Member
Regardless of the fact that I've been ignoring Kotaku for a while now, I am glad to see them not submit to being an extension of the game industries marketing arm. Unfortunately journalism in our sector (and in general) needs lots more improvement still.
Dr. Black Jack
Member
I hate leaks, they're awful.
If I was working on a game Id want to present it to the public when its ready and not when some dumb Kotaku "journalists" think its ready.
So fuck em, honestly.
Like when they leaked the Fallout 4 voice actor documents, spoiling us on the setting and more of the game years before it was even announced.
If I was working on a game Id want to present it to the public when its ready and not when some dumb Kotaku "journalists" think its ready.
So fuck em, honestly.
Like when they leaked the Fallout 4 voice actor documents, spoiling us on the setting and more of the game years before it was even announced.
UnemployedVillain
Member
Well leaking games before their announced shouldn't be all there is to games journalism, should it? I'd definitely side with Kotaku if this was a Kane & Lynch issue, and they were being blacklisted over negative comments, review scores, indictments of those companies, etc, but for leaks? I mean, that's common sense that you'll ruin relationships that way. I mean, NDAs are signed for a reason, right?
YianGaruga
Banned
Keep doing the non-PR stories and leaks and screw the pubs. It's the only thing worth reading anyway.
Kotaku really turned themselves around and are probably the closest thing we have to gaming journalism
Kotaku really turned themselves around and are probably the closest thing we have to gaming journalism
SliceSabre
Banned
Even a broken clock is right twice a day.
Ragnar Blackmane
Member
I'd personally argue that reporting on the existence of unannounced games doesn't do much but instill early expectations from the fanbase which ultimately leads to a game not hitting those expectations.
There are times when reporting on leaks are okay. To me, personally, reporting big details about Fallout 4 almost 2 years in advance is not okay. Nothing good came from that expect for website hits on Kotaku, hurt feelings, early expectations and disappointed developers. Sure, whoever leaks the stuff to begin with needs to just simply not do that, but sometimes reporting on leaks can do more harm than good.
Just my two cents, I guess. Boasting that you reveal games way in advance (which has a multitude of effects on the developer, the publisher, and the fanbase) isn't exactly something to be proud of in my opinion.
Features like those exposing work conditions at Rockstar are good. Acting like a victim because you front-paged something that was not meant for public eyes (and not for any sneaky reason other than it wasn't done yet and announcing a game is a huge part of a game's marketing push) is kinda off-putting to me.
There are times when reporting on leaks are okay. To me, personally, reporting big details about Fallout 4 almost 2 years in advance is not okay. Nothing good came from that expect for website hits on Kotaku, hurt feelings, early expectations and disappointed developers. Sure, whoever leaks the stuff to begin with needs to just simply not do that, but sometimes reporting on leaks can do more harm than good.
Just my two cents, I guess. Boasting that you reveal games way in advance (which has a multitude of effects on the developer, the publisher, and the fanbase) isn't exactly something to be proud of in my opinion.
Features like those exposing work conditions at Rockstar are good. Acting like a victim because you front-paged something that was not meant for public eyes (and not for any sneaky reason other than it wasn't done yet and announcing a game is a huge part of a game's marketing push) is kinda off-putting to me.
King Tubby
Member
No you're right , we should applaud any publisher blacklisting sites they don't like and only speaking to friendly sites.
If you don't like Kotaku fine , but your stance is fucking stupid.
I think it just show that gaming as an industry is basically in the same state as movies in the "golden era" when everything was controlled by a few large studios. I'm pretty sure in those times certain journalistic outlets could also be "shunned" if they'd angered Warner Bros. or somesuch.
Also, the fact that Kotaku is doing just fine without Bethesda and Ubisoft "helping" them also shows that it is mostly the publishers that need the media, not the other way around.
Cymbal Head
Banned
Press sneak fu--oh, beaten, nevermind.
I'll see myself out.
Good on you, Kotaku, for sticking to your guns.
On an facetious note, I like the phrase "dozens of months." If only there were a word that meant "12 months."
I'll see myself out.
Good on you, Kotaku, for sticking to your guns.
On an facetious note, I like the phrase "dozens of months." If only there were a word that meant "12 months."
Gentleman Jack
Member
Then why have any coverage of games if the only publishable material is on the game maker's schedule and only with their complete control over the editorial message?
What NDA did Kotaku sign and then break?
SuperBanana
Banned
Didn't they reveal the Destiny backstory? That was one of the most wanted stories in gaming I've ever seen.
Keep on fighting the good fight.
Solid Samus
Banned
Kotaku played a pretty big part in exposing Zenimax and Bethesda for their vampiric bullshit to a lot of people so I'm not surprised there. I'm surprised that the rest of the gaming journalism circle didn't take that shit and run with it, in fact. Bethesda deserves to be kept under a watchful fucking eye, even if there were only a hint of truth to the allegations made toward them re: Arkane and Human Head.
So what you're saying is that you have never ever been on an internet gaming forum before last year?
So what you're saying is that you have never ever been on an internet gaming forum before last year?
SketchTheArtist
Member
I'm guessing the Bethesda is because of the uncovering of their underhanded dealings with that one game prey 2 or something.
For Ubi I guess it's about them always leaking the new ac months in advance which is annoying to me bc I'm a big fan of the franchise and like to imagine what it could be but still no reason to black list them.
I know it's counter culture but I actually like kotaku
For Ubi I guess it's about them always leaking the new ac months in advance which is annoying to me bc I'm a big fan of the franchise and like to imagine what it could be but still no reason to black list them.
I know it's counter culture but I actually like kotaku
looks like you aren't even on the level of a broken clock.
and just resort to cliches with no evidence behind your statements.
^
I really don't see what's so wrong about this.
Why would Ubisoft and Bethesda continue a professional relationship with a website that fucks their PR plans over and over? Not to say Kotaku should stop, because they shouldn't, but I also don't expect those companies to continue to help them out.
If you keep biting the hand that feeds you, don't be shocked when it no longer wants to give you free games, I mean food.
If they get the leaks then they should report on them.
However I don't blame the companies for responding in this manner.
While it'd certainly be nice to get responses when we ask Bethesda or Ubisoft PR for questions about, say, bugs in their games, or issues at their companies, it's not necessary. We have no plans to change anything in our approach to reporting and serving readers just to make up with publishers that try to make our jobs more difficult.
BTW, our Fallout 4 review, which was published yesterday, eight days after the game's release, based on a copy we bought ourselves, is already at a quarter million pageviews. And growing.
NeOak
Member
Poetic.Injustice
Member
Bethesda because of the Prey 2 leaks?