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Games Journalism! Wainwright/Florence/Tomb Raider/Eurogamer/Libel Threats/Doritos
- Thread starter papersleeves
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Cerebral Assassin
Member
From Polygon's Ethics statement:
"Our policies do not permit placements of advertorial on Polygon. We will endeavor to clearly mark any advertisement or "infomercial" (videos, Flash animations, etc.) shown on Polygon as an advertisement."
Seems like a clear breach to me.
"Our policies do not permit placements of advertorial on Polygon. We will endeavor to clearly mark any advertisement or "infomercial" (videos, Flash animations, etc.) shown on Polygon as an advertisement."
Seems like a clear breach to me.
RedNumberFive
Banned
I'd love for Arthur to return to this thread for an explanation.
EternalGamer
Banned
How about at least, "Well, at Machinima, we let our video producers take money from sponsors and I don't see a problem with it. In fact, this happened just yesterday with Need for Speed."
How about being honest and not being a hypocrite?
We are actually talking about games media getting money from a game maker to post content about their game. Literally. If that doesn't bother you, well, I guess nothing will.
dave is ok
aztek is ok
There are people actually defending the article in the comments now. Ugh
YuriLowell
Member
You should have never expected Polygon to be anything more than another Kotaku.
Your comments have been 'kotaku'd.'
They'll obviously continue deleting until they're tired of doing so, then turn off the ability to comment.
No one's surprised here, really, right?
Wow, that's shitty. I don't really see a problem with reporting on the deal, but deleting comments is a bad move. They should be fostering their community, not censoring it.
Presented as news, yeah, kinda.
Felix Lighter
Member
Deleting comments? There isn't much worse they can do in that situation. There isn't an excuse in the world that could justify that.
What if the writer just LOVES Pizza Hut and Halo that much? What if the writer used to be a section editor at VideoGamer.com, the media outlet David Scammell works at?
Joke post?
You, uh, wouldn't happen to have a link to that would you?
(I'm kidding, it's Tina from DOA).
RedNumberFive
Banned
Yes please!
Lactose_Intolerant
Member
Most previews are always positive because they are told it is unfinished code and all their problems will be fixed in the final game. Bugs are one thing, but everything else should be talked about. Unless they take you out to eat the night before.
fizzelopeguss
Banned
You're conflating Andrea Rene with Machinima, and assuming that everything happens with a purpose, when in reality, sometimes...shit just happens.
Between all the press responses in this thread and the pieces appearing today and over the past few days, there does seem to be some renewed naval gazing going on in the press. It's awesome to see this thread spreading out, and it's incredible to see the effect that readers have had (and continue to have) on journalists.
I just hope this discussion doesn't turn petty and become the caricature that the press always thought it was. I know my reading habits have changed as a result. I can only hope that writers' habits change, as well.
It's unfortunate to see the turn this thread is now taking. I hope its earlier effect and tone is remembered.
I just hope this discussion doesn't turn petty and become the caricature that the press always thought it was. I know my reading habits have changed as a result. I can only hope that writers' habits change, as well.
It's unfortunate to see the turn this thread is now taking. I hope its earlier effect and tone is remembered.
Advertorials are entirely different beasts. This is content that is created by the brand itself and published. No publication worth its salt would actually waste their own resources producing advertorial content.
There are stories you spend time on (actual feature stories) and then there are the daily beat stories, which you essentially take a release (be it, say, police blotter news, city press release, external press release), add some color by following up on some sources, and pushing out a story. A story like this...has nobody to talk to and frankly doesn't deserve to be published.
I think you're being naive if you think that these standards are set in stone or so high. It's common practice in business reporting and all enthusiast reporting.
There are stories you spend time on (actual feature stories) and then there are the daily beat stories, which you essentially take a release (be it, say, police blotter news, city press release, external press release), add some color by following up on some sources, and pushing out a story. A story like this...has nobody to talk to and frankly doesn't deserve to be published.
Now, this is fine.
I'd say yes.
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.
bigdaddygamebot
Member
/cosigned
CrunchinJelly
formerly cjelly
Hahaha. Perfect.
Your goal in PR is to get as much as your verbiage through to the final story as possible.
They set those standards themselves: "No advertorials allowed". This is clearly an advertorial. What now?
Agreed.
dave is ok
aztek is ok
Thanks <3
Free Halo Pizza for GAME customers
https://twitter.com/calz88/status/263254401639133184
https://twitter.com/calz88/status/263254401639133184
bigdaddygamebot
Member
I don't need the article you fucking savage because it's clearly Lara Croft. Just ask Lauren Wainwright.
See what I did there?
Hot Coldman
Banned
Phil, explain this noise 
grimshawish
Banned
This was copied and pasted by one of Polygons' senior reporters.
MY problem isn't reporting on it; its massively HOW its been reported on. Its been fed to them by Microsoft; who just happened to pay for a documentary to hype the site.
MY problem isn't reporting on it; its massively HOW its been reported on. Its been fed to them by Microsoft; who just happened to pay for a documentary to hype the site.
Sir Abacus
Member
Step 1: Walk to the local Gamestop
Step 2: Buy game
Step 3: Write a proper, professional review and post it online with other reviews of games purchased the same way
Not sure where we went wrong in this process. Now we have people splitting hairs about conflict of interest vs individual personal integrity.
I don't like advocating throwing the baby out with the bathwater but the entire current gaming journalism culture needs to be nuked from orbit and started afresh.
Step 2: Buy game
Step 3: Write a proper, professional review and post it online with other reviews of games purchased the same way
Not sure where we went wrong in this process. Now we have people splitting hairs about conflict of interest vs individual personal integrity.
I don't like advocating throwing the baby out with the bathwater but the entire current gaming journalism culture needs to be nuked from orbit and started afresh.
ShockingAlberto
Member
I've left this alone for a while, and I'm sure that if I say this it will suddenly be the first time he does it, but Gies doesn't seem to respond to direct arguments a lot. I don't expect him to have a good reason for deleting comments.
ViewtifulJC
Banned
Phil, explain this noise
Green Scar, I can't go through all these pages, please explain this thread
Surely just coincidental.
Clear
CliffyB's Cock Holster
@Zaph
@Lancehead
Thanks for the replies guys, I appreciate your reasoning even I myself would always prefer to read someone who historically shares my particular "wheelhouse" taste-wise.
The reason I asked the question was that I'm of the opinion that by its very nature this sort of coverage can never be truly impartial; everyone has a degree of bias based on prior expectations, experience and above all personal taste.
I can fully understand gamers demanding truthfulness and transparency from bloggers and reviewers, but I dont believe reviews would necessarily be more accurate or useful to me personally even if all the skullduggery and dodgy-dealings behind the scenes were somehow eradicated.
Because when all's said and done, what I want to hear/read are views that coincide with my personal taste, not what's necessarily the most "truthful". Noone can factually tell you you are wrong for enjoying a game that that they deem "shit", because if you enjoy it, it is a perfect affirmation of its suitability for purpose.
@Lancehead
Thanks for the replies guys, I appreciate your reasoning even I myself would always prefer to read someone who historically shares my particular "wheelhouse" taste-wise.
The reason I asked the question was that I'm of the opinion that by its very nature this sort of coverage can never be truly impartial; everyone has a degree of bias based on prior expectations, experience and above all personal taste.
I can fully understand gamers demanding truthfulness and transparency from bloggers and reviewers, but I dont believe reviews would necessarily be more accurate or useful to me personally even if all the skullduggery and dodgy-dealings behind the scenes were somehow eradicated.
Because when all's said and done, what I want to hear/read are views that coincide with my personal taste, not what's necessarily the most "truthful". Noone can factually tell you you are wrong for enjoying a game that that they deem "shit", because if you enjoy it, it is a perfect affirmation of its suitability for purpose.
Air Zombie Meat
Member
Yeah I've noticed this too. I give credit to him for making appearances in these threads but he usually ignores the toughest questions.
Ill do it.
I'm pretty sure I just felt the wind from everyone on GAF facepalming all at once...
Couldn't be worse timing. "Games industry gets too easily swayed by PR", soon followed by an enormous backlash, then "HEY GIYZ BUY PIZZAS FOR HALO STUFF!"
Seriously, leave the advertisements to Twitter. Leave your website for actual news. The allegation that Giant Bomb gets put on a pedestal doesn't really hold a lot of weight, when was the last time you saw a "buy something here, get X for free" on their front page? You don't. You find it in their forums, or on Twitter.
Couldn't be worse timing. "Games industry gets too easily swayed by PR", soon followed by an enormous backlash, then "HEY GIYZ BUY PIZZAS FOR HALO STUFF!"
Seriously, leave the advertisements to Twitter. Leave your website for actual news. The allegation that Giant Bomb gets put on a pedestal doesn't really hold a lot of weight, when was the last time you saw a "buy something here, get X for free" on their front page? You don't. You find it in their forums, or on Twitter.
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