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[Victor Omega]

"Gaming Journalism" always seems to be an oxymoron. One is an occupation where one seeks truth, maybe in the form of justice for oneself of for another, educates an audience to better understand a subject, and can even bring aware to a problem or cause that in return could tear down an corporation /organization or give rise to an industry. Then we have "Gaming" a hobby yes, but also an industry where many are employed inmany different field with many different stories...

Are there examples of gaming journalism that reach this level? Sure we get our "opinions pieces" or "developers talk" (these tend to be be only for promoting rather than talks) but there there space for more?

_______

To open the discussion more, Gaming YouTubers today who started mimicking gaming reporters by doing their own (user) games reviews are now going as far as doing gaming journalism all on there own, some even going as far as asking really hard questions t for the industry. How and why do you thin this happened?

 

[VertigoOA]

No. There isn’t. It’s a fake bullshit job. More so now as it’s been hijacked by nonsensical political opinion pieces disguised as product reviews.

Both movie and film critics are worthless shills. Well at least Disney didn’t buy the entire game industry too... yet

 

[Terce]

These days even mainstream journalism in the traditional media delivery methods are pretty weak. The world has taken the sex sells approach to every facet of information and is driven solely by ad revenue, seeking to draw in the reader not to actually inform but to instead market to. Gaming columnists have the same approach, only occasionally trying to save face by writing a shallow "deep dive" into a topic they themselves find interesting.

Even reviews now have this approach, everything is either GOTY or complete trash and it seems like every new game is a race to see who can come up with the flashiest headline to generate those sweet views and clicks.

 

[Nymphae]

The stuff I used to use game magazines and early gaming websites for, namely previews and reviews, I get entirely from independent fan sources/ the games companies themselves. The FGC might as well not even exist to the mainstream games media. I get my fix from Eventhubs, SRK, and Reddit. Youtubers like Maximillian Dood keep me informed of the latest, and keep me entertained inbetween events and announcements.

The mainstream games media to me is, quite literally, nothing more than click bait articles and paid reviews. I'm sure someone like Polygon does a decent interview or in depth piece here and there, but it's too little too late now.

 

[Abriael_GN]

It depends on the individual journalist.

Some prefer to focus on the game themselves instead of covering the drama (which actually tends to bring a lot more clicks, mind you) around them.

Personally, I prefer to provide my readers with pure game-related content. This doesn't mean that I'll just regurgitate press releases, and I do my fair shares of interviews (I fly three months a year to Japan in order to talk to developers who often don't get enough coverage or any at all). But the pure game-specific coverage is where my passion lies, what my readers enjoy, and what my employers like me to focus on.

Am I less a "journalist" than anyone else? You decide, it's not like I care for the title all that much to begin with.

 

[MC Safety]

No. There isn’t. It’s a fake bullshit job. More so now as it’s been hijacked by nonsensical political opinion pieces disguised as product reviews.

Both movie and film critics are worthless shills. Well at least Disney didn’t buy the entire game industry too... yet

Wrong.

And wrong.

It's a real job, and I got paid real money to do it. As an editor and writer for top-tier game magazines and Web sites, I did everything regular reporters/editors at major mainstream publications did.

 

[DunDunDunpachi]

I can't name another entertainment medium where journalism is given such center-stage importance as it is in the gaming sphere. Yet, gaming is the youngest medium. Huh, wonder what happened?

Yeah, music reviewers exist, but when was the last time the public was like "woah, so-and-so from Rolling Stone gave this new album a C+?!? I'm a teenager and that snuffs any passion I had for the artist"? Book reviewers and movie reviewers also exist, but they aren't given nearly as much sway by the general public.

"Staying up to date on the latest games" is no longer a valuable commodity for most videogame players, just like "cheat codes" are no longer a commodity. Game journalists had the opportunity to move onto more interesting content but the majority suck at writing, so the easier option was to get ideological, chug that ipecac, and proceed to vomit all over the audience. Hey, it brought the clicks.

 

[#Phonepunk#]

yes there are good game journalists out there. i think a big part of it is that people conflate "journalists" with some kind of truth teller. in fact they are there to sell products, whether this is newspapers, or tv shows, or video games. if you are a car journalist, your job is to review cars. if you are a game journalist your job is to review games.

but journalists these days see themselves as an elite group there to "educate the public" and have moved more and more into the Op-Ed space. they think of themselves as cultural critics more than game journalists. often they won't even talk about the game itself, or the works from developers, it will be more focused on industry politics, on social media scandals, on gossip, etc. IMO the only really valuable journalism discusses the games themselves to a high degree.

there are a number of good journalists out there that do this. they look at gameplay systems, how they evolve, how series evolve, etc. Tim Rogers is pretty good. Matthewmatosis is wonderful in presenting an overview of games, and in criticing systems by not just calling them good or bad, but looking into possible reasons certain decisions were taken during the making of a game. there are plenty of good kind hearted genuine youtubers doing reviews like Lazy Game Reviewer or Dr. Sparkle.

the good stuff is out there. we just need to get better at ignoring/deplatforming the more clickbait stuff and promoting the good.

 

[VertigoOA]

Complete fuckig hacks. There is no argument here.

 

[NickFire]

Honestly, the gaming journalism industry has become such a joke that I actually miss the days when they were basically 3rd party PR reps for the publishers / devs. It was certainly shitty to pick up a pre-order they hyped to death only to 5/10 it a few days post-launch. But at least then the ride was fun and 5/10 was based on releasing a shitty game. Nowadays its just politics, politics, politics, why we hate more than 1/2 of our audience. And we still don't consistently get negative reviews for most games until after most pre-orders are picked up, at which time the scores seem to significantly depend on the political undertones of the game (if there is any chance conservative minded people may possibly enjoy the story at least).

 

[Abriael_GN]

Complete fuckig hacks. There is no argument here.

So much hate that compelled to post your insults twice.

 

[ROMhack]

I don't know but in no other medium I read about do I feel the writer has less authority than with games. It's really like the quality has run dry over the past few years.

That said, I think games journalism does have a purpose but only if:

1) The writer is telling you something you don't already know (and possibly can't find out elsewhere).
2) The writer is being personal to the point where their view only exists on that page and is interesting enough to stand out.

Instances of Point 1 exist (see below) but it's often impacted by a website's own business model. Websites want to publish as many individual posts as possible to increase the chances of somebody going to the site. It means they don't prioritise informative, original articles.

Point 2 is something we hear often about. I love a good opinion piece as much as the next person but the quality of writer's opinions has diminished massively over the past few years. There's very few interesting insights, intelligent or just plain funny articles anymore. It doesn't feel like they care as it's been taken over by YouTubers who take advantage of low-cost of entry.

Games Journalism isn't always bad. You occasionally get interesting articles like this insider's perspective of Silent Hill 4. Often though it's a pain in the arse to find them.

 

[Nymphae]

I can't name another entertainment medium where journalism is given such center-stage importance as it is in the gaming sphere.

To what degree is this even true anymore? I don't really follow outlets anymore, but if I had to guess I would wager that streamers and "social media influencers" or whatever are given more importance now than any "mainstream game journalist", whatever that even means now.

 

[John Day]

Pretty much. I skim some sites then discuss/lurk discussions here for everything else. GAF fills me!

 

[nkarafo]

Complete fuckig hacks. There is no argument here.

Especially the diversity hire reviewers/writers who do nothing except virtue signaling in their articles.

 

[Nymphae]

Thought I'd see what our good ol' buddy Arthur Gies was up to lately:

Reviews Editor Emeritus

 

[DunDunDunpachi]

Bye Bye Gies?

 

[CatCouch]

I think there are a few people who produce important, great work like Jason Schreier but the good work is often drowned out in a sea of click-bait noise.

I get most my news from social media, forums and YouTube. I rarely read game sites. It's just not fun to read about how "problematic" a game is or wade through all the trolling in the comments. The communities around sites tend not to be fun.

It doesn't help that there is a strong string of contempt toward gamers from some outlets. I left Destructoid after they hired Jed Whitaker, the amount of hate that guy spewed against gaming was ridiculous. Even after he was gone I just couldn't enjoy the site.

I've made a conscious effort to curb how often I read gaming outlets and I've felt much more confident and productive since. Game writers can be such downers.

 

[Deleted member 740922]

I think there are a few people who produce important, great work

Whoa, steady on now.

 

[Afro Republican]

How many gaming journalist websites that started in the 90's or very early 2000's. Were not poorly written nintendo review blogs? 3?

The issue is many of the gaming journalist outlets were grown into bigger companies by outside money. Look at some early IGN and Gamespot reviews, most are garbage and lucky to be a full page article, if you can find one.

Add The fact most were ran by sensitive cowards that were middle class and in most cases started in California it's no surprise why these outlets are in bad shape.

 

[Petrae]

Gaming press used to do important work, especially in the days before the internet was a thing. Gaming mags were the only way fans could find out about new games.

Now, gaming press are activists and outrage peddlers. Sexism, racism, lack of inclusion, self-designated arbiters of right and wrong in the video game space. They post articles that make weak-willed readers react and turn the audience against itself, all in the name of web traffic and engagement. Reviews are no longer about the games themselves, but about whatever tenet of social justice they break or uphold.

Gaming press no longer holds the position of importance or relevance that it thinks it does. They try to play it like they are, by treating its audience like garbage, but now virtually anyone can do the job with a website, a webcam, a healthy dose of subscribers, and a few key industry contacts.

 

[Dthomp]

No. There isn’t. It’s a fake bullshit job. More so now as it’s been hijacked by nonsensical political opinion pieces disguised as product reviews.

Both movie and film critics are worthless shills. Well at least Disney didn’t buy the entire game industry too... yet

This just in, Captain Marvel the video game on mobile, text, PS4, XB1, Switch, WiiU, PC, Epic Game Store, Snail Mail, and Snapchat has just passed 19 billion preorders. Gaming industry also saved by brave bad actress.

 

[CatCouch]

Whoa, steady on now.

His reporting and investigative work is pretty much the best. His past issues with attacking games like Dragon's Crown are hard to forget, though.

 

[Silent Duck]

Is there more to it than Flashy Headlines and Game Reviews? Yes. Yes there is and number 14 will Shock you.
It’s all about the clickbait baby!

 

[zeorhymer]

His reporting and investigative work is pretty much the best. His past issues with attacking games like Dragon's Crown are hard to forget, though.

It depends. I liked how he did a massive 180 on Fallout 76 to get back on Bethesda's good graces.

 

[Whitesnake]

I think there are a few people who produce important, great work like Jason Schreier but the good work is often drowned out in a sea of click-bait noise.

Jason Schreier is a self-aggrandizing loser who is afraid big anime tiddies, and constantly tries to defend corporations from criticism.

Jason Schreier shaking from the horror of big cartoon bazongas.

Jason Schreier defending Bethesda’s usage of old engines and assets to milk money out of consumers.

Jason Schreier spending over an hour white-knighting corporations from criticism.

Jason Schreier white-knighting a woman who was fired from ArenaNet for freaking out on twitter and calling polite fans “misogynists” and “rando assholes”.

Jason Schreier claiming objectivity in journalism is “a silly thing to strive for”.

Plus there’s all the shit-flinging he engaged in during gamergate. And the fact that he works at Kotaku, the least-credible mainstream gaming news site.

This guy’s your pinnacle of gaming journalism?

 

[Abriael_GN]

His reporting and investigative work is pretty much the best. His past issues with attacking games like Dragon's Crown are hard to forget, though.

That thing about Dragon's Crown was one of the most juvenile and immature things I ever saw in this industry.

That being said, that kind of "investigative" work is pretty much overrated. It boils down to having connections (which most have after a few years doing this job) and not having any scruples about putting them on the line of fire hoping (or not caring) that they won't be caught and lose their jobs for telling you what they shouldn't. Corporations have ways to find out, and often even those who feel safe and tell you "sure, you can write it," often aren't as safe as they believe.

That second part is what most wouldn't do because risking other people's career and livelihood to post some news about games ain't exactly the most respectable thing to do. That's why you don't see more of those "Investigations."

 

[Rhazer Fusion]

It’s still a real job, but the nonsensical and agenda filled political crap has invaded and unapologetically polluted it. Most reviewers now just use it as a platform to express their political views and nitpick now which is really unfair to the games and developers who pour their heart and soul into these difficult to create interactive experiences.

 

[Xenon]

It can or could be, but much like real journalism bias and market influences prevent it from being better than it currently is at now. Still the gaming industry has a lot of great stories to tell and there atre great articles put out every now and again. Next Gen was the pinnacle for me as far as print media goes. I never really cared for websites that much.

 

[Whitesnake]

Games journalism is an incestuous hive of self-aggrandizing amatuer writers who are either pandering to corporations or pandering to vocal progressives. Games journalists have no integrity and will use their job as a medium to push their political opinions whenever they’re not lickng the boots corporations to keep their publisher in good graces. All major gaming news outlets are guilty of this. There are countless examples of journalists from major gaming news networks being unethical.

Our only hope for real gaming journalism is youtubers who have dedicated themselves to it, which is sad.

 

[Abriael_GN]

Games journalism is an incestuous hive of self-aggrandizing amatuer writers who are either pandering to corporations or pandering to vocal progressives. Games journalists have no integrity and will use their job as a medium to push their political opinions whenever they’re not lickng the boots corporations to keep their publisher in good graces. All major gaming news outlets are guilty of this. There are countless examples of journalists from major gaming news networks being unethical.

Our only hope for real gaming journalism is youtubers who have dedicated themselves to it, which is sad.

Holy generalization, Batman.

The funny thing is that YouTubers don't do any less "bootlicking" than the average writing journo. Actually, they likely do more.

 

[Whitesnake]

Holy generalization, Batman.

The funny thing is that YouTubers don't do any less "bootlicking" than the average writing journo. Actually, they likely do more.

It’s certainly a generalization, but a it’s true one.

Care to quantify your statement on youtuber bootlicking? I haven’t seen, for example, cleanprincegaming or YongYea try to shill or white-knight corporations. Have you?

 

[Abriael_GN]

It’s certainly a generalization, but a it’s true one.

For it to be true, it would require all gaming journalist or even a sizable majority to be as you describe. I'm quite positive that you haven't ever read a word from the vast majority of gaming journalists and writers.

Care to quantify your statement on youtuber bootlicking? I haven’t seen, for example, cleanprincegaming or YongYea try to shill or white-knight corporations. Have you?

For one example that allegedly doesn't do any bootlicking, there's another that does. How do you think they get all that review product and invitations/flights to this or that event?

Incidentally, I am not familiar with the first example you bring, but the second may not "bootlick" specifically, but is a whole nexus of unbalanced clickbaitish hot takes and rumor mongering often based upon hot air and shitting on people, which isn't any better, just the opposite side of the spectrum.

I wouldn't bring up someone who accused CD Projekt of misconduct without a shred of evidence based on "my source knows they have a vegetarian canteen, so he must be right" (a fact that had been publicly known for years and cited in multiple articles, but Google is hard) as a shining example of ethics in youtubering, or quality reporting.

 

[Whitesnake]

For it to be true, it would require all gaming journalist or even a sizable majority to be as you describe. I'm quite positive that you haven't ever read a word from the vast majority of gaming journalists and writers.

VG24/7, Kotaku, Polygon, PCGamer, Eurogamer, pretty much all mainstream gaming outlets are as I’ve described.

For one example that allegedly doesn't do any bootlicking, there's another that does. How do you think they get all that review product and invitations/flights to this or that event?

I never claimed they were above bias or even above being bought.

Your point of “for every one that doesn’t bootlick, there’s one that does” doesn’t actually contradict my point. I said they were our only hope because there’s a wide variety of them that give out a wide variety of opinions free from publishers. The same can’t be said for mainstream outlets, who all have agendas to push and boots to lick. Some youtubers are disengenuous, yes, but that’s not the point. The variety and independence of this market of opinions will inevitably lead to truth.

Incidentally, I am not familiar with the first example you bring, but the second may not "bootlick" specifically, but is a whole nexus of unbalanced clickbaitish hot takes and rumor mongering often based upon hot air and shitting on people, which isn't any better, just the opposite side of the spectrum.

I wouldn't bring up someone who accused CD Projekt of misconduct without a shred of evidence based on "my source knows they have a vegetarian canteen, so he must be right" (a fact that had been publicly known for years and cited in multiple articles, but Google is hard) as a shining example of ethics in youtubering, or quality reporting.

I did you the favor of crossing out everything that didn’t relate to what I said. You won’t find me claiming YongYea is infallible, or even that he’s great. I said he doesn’t bootlick, a point that you just said you agree with.

 

[Abriael_GN]

VG24/7, Kotaku, Polygon, PCGamer, Eurogamer, pretty much all mainstream gaming outlets are as I’ve described.

You listed five sites. There are literally hundreds thousands out there. That's a long shot from having the material to say "Games journalism is an incestuous hive of self-aggrandizing amatuer writers who are either pandering to corporations or pandering to vocal progressives. Games journalists have no integrity and will use their job as a medium to push their political opinions whenever they’re not lickng the boots corporations to keep their publisher in good graces."

Incidentally, the funniest part of your statement is that you move from calling people amateurs to bashing "major" gaming publications, which is actually where most of the "professionals" are, while the actual amateurs are often a lot more passionate and less political, or not at all.

Gaming journalism is a massive industry with an extremely wide spectrum of workers, pf all ages, wage ranges, political orientation, and more. Your generalization is honestly pretty juvenile, not to mention unfair.

Your point of “for every one that doesn’t bootlick, there’s one that does” doesn’t actually contradict my point. I said they were our only hope because there’s a wide variety of them that give out a wide variety of opinions free from publishers. The same can’t be said for mainstream outlets, who all have agendas to push and boots to lick. Some youtubers are disengenuous, yes, but that’s not the point. The variety and independence will inevitably lead to truth.

There are just as much variety and independence in written gaming journalism. You're just cherry-picking examples to fit your false narrative.

I did you the favor of crossing out everything that didn’t relate to what I said. You won’t find me claiming YongYea is infallible, or even that he’s great. I said he doesn’t bootlick, a point that you just said you agree with.

You can cross out all you want. Artificial controversy-mongering and rage-pandering for clicks aren't any better than bootlicking. They're two sides of the same coin and both contribute to misinformation.

 

[Whitesnake]

You listed five sites. There are literally hundreds thousands out there. That's a long shot from having the material to say "Games journalism is an incestuous hive of self-aggrandizing amatuer writers who are either pandering to corporations or pandering to vocal progressives. Games journalists have no integrity and will use their job as a medium to push their political opinions whenever they’re not lickng the boots corporations to keep their publisher in good graces."

How many of those thousands have as much clout as the ~10 at the top? Surely you understand that those companies hold a bigger share of the market share than the thousands below them, yes?

Or are you seriously going to argue that little indie publications like oneangrygamer hold as much influence as Kotaku or Polygon?

There are just as much variety and independence in written gaming journalism. You're just cherry-picking examples to fit your false narrative.

Sure there is, buddy. Sure there is.

 

[Abriael_GN]

How many of those thousands have as much clout as the ~10 at the top? Surely you understand that those companies hold a bigger share of the market share than the thousands below them, yes?

Market share and clout is irrelevant to alleging that a whole category of tens of thousands of people has "no integrity."

Obviously, you're wrong, and now you're moving the goal posts.

Or are you seriously going to argue that little indie publications like oneangrygamer hold as much influence as Kotaku or Polygon?

Given the examples you bring up, you seem to have a really strong preference for rage-pandering whether in written form or YouTube. Considering the misplaced anger and aggressiveness in your posts, I shouldn't be surprised.

Sure there is, buddy. Sure there is.

When one has no argument, this is the by-the-book response.

 

[Silvawuff]

I personally can't stand Schreier's masturbatory writing style and hamfisted approach to whatever wad of vomit we call gaming journalism these days, but I did appreciate how he tore apart that plagiarist from IGN last year.

 

[Mercer_CAR]

"Gaming Journalism" always seems to be an oxymoron. One is an occupation where one seeks truth, maybe in the form of justice for oneself of for another, educates an audience to better understand a subject, and can even bring aware to a problem or cause that in return could tear down an corporation /organization or give rise to an industry. Then we have "Gaming" a hobby yes, but also an industry where many are employed inmany different field with many different stories...

Are there examples of gaming journalism that reach this level? Sure we get our "opinions pieces" or "developers talk" (these tend to be be only for promoting rather than talks) but there there space for more?

_______

To open the discussion more, Gaming YouTubers today who started mimicking gaming reporters by doing their own (user) games reviews are now going as far as doing gaming journalism all on there own, some even going as far as asking really hard questions t for the industry. How and why do you thin this happened?

Yes there is. Go an watch Austin Walkers talk at NYU where he laments about the poor clicks they get on their "SJW" articles and yet in the very same article he proudly says his hero's are men like Theodor Adorno and other Frankfurt School Alumni whose purpose use critical theory to analyze the true significance of the ruling understandings (the dominant ideology) generated in American society.

Thats all these progressive games writers are. They are dissemblers of culture. Often of a culture they dont even like. Period!

 

[Whitesnake]

Market share and clout is irrelevant to alleging that a whole category of tens of thousands of people has "no integrity."

Obviously, you're wrong, and now you're moving the goal posts.

The goal post hasn’t moved an inch. I’m talking about the industry of games journalism. How much of that industry is generated by each company is absolutely relevant when discussing the industry as a whole.

If I say “humans are birn with two arms” and you say “nuh-uh, sometimes they’re born eith more or less than 2 arms”, that doesn’t actually invalidate my statement. Similarly, if I say “gaming journalism is deeply flawed and filled with disengenuous people looking out for their own interests” and you say “nuh-uh there’s some genuine and ethical people in obscure indie corners of the industry”, you’re not actually invalidating my statement.

I’m talking about the industry as a whole.

Given the examples you bring up, you seem to have a really strong preference for rage-pandering whether in written form or YouTube. Considering the misplaced anger and aggressiveness in your posts, I shouldn't be surprised.

Not an argument. Also, I haven’t been much more aggresive than you.

When one has no argument, this is the by-the-book response.

A nothing-argument deserves a nothing-response. You said I was wrong without providing any examples or reasoning. You engaged in the behavior first, I responded accordingly. So you literally just admitted that you have no argument.

 

[EverydayBeast]

What’s the OP’s point? It’s hard for me to believe gaming journalism has that much of an effect on a games success.

 

[Abriael_GN]

The goal post hasn’t moved an inch. I’m talking about the industry of games journalism. How much of that industry is generated by each company is absolutely relevant when discussing the industry as a whole.

No. You're talking about "Games journalists. "

Games journalists have no integrity

Your words. May want to stop running around with those goal posts, you'll get dizzy.

Not an argument. Also, I haven’t been much more aggresive than you.

I certainly haven't blanket insulted a whole category made of thousands of people.

A nothing-argument deserves a nothing-response. You said I was wrong without providing any examples or reasoning. You engaged in the behavior first, I responded accordingly. So you literally just admitted that you have no argument.

Putting words in my mouth doesn't do you any favor.

 

[Whitesnake]

No. You're talking about "Games journalists. "



Your words. May want to stop running around with those goal posts, you'll get dizzy.

If I say "politicians are dishonest", do you believe I'm calling everyone who has ever served in any elected position in any government dishonest?

I certainly haven't blanket insulted a whole category made of thousands of people.

Are you really that offended over me calling game journalists disingenuous?

Putting words in my mouth doesn't do you any favor.

This was your statement:

There are just as much variety and independence in written gaming journalism.

No examples, no reasoning, you just threw this "nuh-uh" out there and pretended it was an argument. I'm attributing your own words to you. Do you really have that short of an attention span?

 

[StreetsofBeige]

Is There More To "Gaming Journalism" Than Flashy Headlines and Game Reviews?

For sure there is:

Suck up to devs and publishers:

1. Making previews sound like the game is awesome. Can only say good things about it

2. Release reviews on day one even though you've only played 20% of the game

3. By giving game scores on a 6-10 scale, and ensuring reviewers are generous with scores

4. Agree to NDAs

5. When allowed to do Q&A with a game employee, ask pee-wee whiffleball difficulty questions


In return for kissing ass:

6. Access to early code for previews (see #1 above)

7. Access to free gold copies for reviews, and ensuring someone like Jeff Gertsmann (who will give a 6/10) doesn't review your game (see #3 above)

8. Access to exclusive trips, hands-on testing, info for your site (often paired with #4)

9. Opportunity to talk to devs (see #5 above)

10. Additional freebies like collectables and spiffs

11. Get banner revenue, Twitter placement fees, and any other sources of revenue

 

[mcjmetroid]

When reviews starts becoming preachy and political you know you're reading the "tabloid" equivilant of gaming media.

Present the game, tell us what you think of the games content but don't tell US what to think.

Can you imagine if someone said when GTAV came out "I think the game is too violent and has too much sex references". The journalist would have torn apart and now here we are with journalists that have been on the business this long doing a complete 180 on what content should or should not be seen in a game, some of which are the same reviewers who were reviewing GTAV and said nothing back then.

In summary I think games journalists have a habit of pandering to whatever social trend is popular at the time.

Games journalism used to be about the games and only the games. This shit NEVER happened in the 90s and barely happened in the 2000s.

And yes I think it's all about the clicks. Angering people will make people click on links just as angering people with catchy headlines helps sell tabloids.

 

[Valonquar]

It's all that is left of games journalism now. I miss the days of getting news from MagicBox and the NCSX what's new pages.

 

[CatCouch]

Jason Schreier is a self-aggrandizing loser who is afraid big anime tiddies, and constantly tries to defend corporations from criticism.

Jason Schreier shaking from the horror of big cartoon bazongas.

Jason Schreier defending Bethesda’s usage of old engines and assets to milk money out of consumers.

Jason Schreier spending over an hour white-knighting corporations from criticism.

Jason Schreier white-knighting a woman who was fired from ArenaNet for freaking out on twitter and calling polite fans “misogynists” and “rando assholes”.

Jason Schreier claiming objectivity in journalism is “a silly thing to strive for”.

Plus there’s all the shit-flinging he engaged in during gamergate. And the fact that he works at Kotaku, the least-credible mainstream gaming news site.

This guy’s your pinnacle of gaming journalism?

I found Schreier's attacks against George Kamitani to be way over the line and quite insulting. Kamitani is a huge inspiration for me and part of why I became and artist. I had magazine covers with his art on my walls for years.

I will never be able to see eye to eye with Schreier after he came to this forum to argue that big boobs were a "lolicon fantasy" but even if he is making an argument that is ignorant and damaging to artists it doesn't take away from his decent reporting on topics like the issues surrounding Mass Effect Andromeda's development. I try to separate his opinions from his investigative work.

I follow YouTubers I feel I can trust more than any game writers, although I do follow Giuseppe Nelva wherever he writes (Twinfinite now). YongYea, as mentioned, is good and I've taken a liking to Bellular News and Spawn Wave lately!

 

[Sqorin Hammerfarf]

I will never be able to see eye to eye with Schreier after he came to this forum to argue that big boobs were a "lolicon fantasy" but even if he is making an argument that is ignorant and damaging to artists it doesn't take away from his decent reporting on topics like the issues surrounding Mass Effect Andromeda's development. I try to separate his opinions from his investigative work.

I don't know. It takes away a little. It's kind of like saying, "he writes good articles occasionally, but he likes to eat paste and fingerpaint with his poo". The second half of that sentence definitely distracts from the first.

It's all that is left of games journalism now. I miss the days of getting news from MagicBox and the NCSX what's new pages.

Woah. Blast from the past. You just dug up the Encino Man and we had a nostalgia kegger.

 

[Dr. Claus]

His reporting and investigative work is pretty much the best. His past issues with attacking games like Dragon's Crown are hard to forget, though.

He does the utmost bear minimum that is expected out of a journalist - but sadly you are right. He is the best we have which just shows how absolute shite the gaming journalism scene currently is.

 

[Ivellios]

It depends on the individual journalist.

Some prefer to focus on the game themselves instead of covering the drama (which actually tends to bring a lot more clicks, mind you) around them.

Personally, I prefer to provide my readers with pure game-related content. This doesn't mean that I'll just regurgitate press releases, and I do my fair shares of interviews (I fly three months a year to Japan in order to talk to developers who often don't get enough coverage or any at all). But the pure game-specific coverage is where my passion lies, what my readers enjoy, and what my employers like me to focus on.

Am I less a "journalist" than anyone else? You decide, it's not like I care for the title all that much to begin with.

If you dont mind me asking, on which website do you write? I miss the old times where magazines were all about gameplay, story and such.