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Game "Journalism": Major sites fooled by 4chan, Jason Schreier offers GAF apology
- Thread starter Ignis Fatuus
- Start date
Father_Brain
Banned
Thanks. I would constructively suggest that in the future, you and your colleagues should use a significantly higher standard for determining whether tip-based rumors are worth reporting on - i.e., don't treat them as actual tips unless: (a) there is someone actually claiming to be a source (or a publicly available source like an actual listing); and (b) there is reason to believe that the source would have access to the information in question. Not having 100% proof that it's fake doesn't justify reporting on it in the first place, particularly when neither of those two standards are met, which was the case even before the comments I quoted were posted.
Katana_Strikes
Member
:lol this brought back memories!
I remember doing this little project years ago on a forum competition and we decided to go viral with it and ended up on many a site including IGN and the old Gamesradar. S pong even called me a "punk kid". Those were the days... though I guess journalism hasn't really changed much
chickdigger802
Banned
lol at least kotaku updated the post somewhat. Any other sites update their 'rumor'?
And calm the fuck down some of you. How long did it take some people to get suspicious in the other thread?
Meh.
And calm the fuck down some of you. How long did it take some people to get suspicious in the other thread?
Meh.
Down? Studying actual journalism will put you on a mountain above all of these sites. Cheer up!
Kelegacy
XBOX - RECORD ME LOVING DOWN MY WOMAN GOOD
I'm not sure gaming journalism ever existed, or at least it's a rare commodity. There seems to be so much based on rumor and supposed inference. Reviews are basically all I tend to read these days, and I always cross sample many publications. Previews are glorified advertisements/PR releases that site the pros and potentials of a game while too often never mentioning the downsides encountered. It feels like pussy footing around too often.
When in-depth stories surface about the industry that is individual to a magazine/site (i.e. it originated with the reporter, not reported from another reported location as seems to be the norm), that is interesting journalism. I haven't read a really good piece that makes me go "Hmmm," for a long time. Meanwhile I drive home from work and listen to NPR each day and I get bombarded with short segments about stuff that I find interesting about even the most mundane crap, because the reporters actually did research and interviews and it shows.
When in-depth stories surface about the industry that is individual to a magazine/site (i.e. it originated with the reporter, not reported from another reported location as seems to be the norm), that is interesting journalism. I haven't read a really good piece that makes me go "Hmmm," for a long time. Meanwhile I drive home from work and listen to NPR each day and I get bombarded with short segments about stuff that I find interesting about even the most mundane crap, because the reporters actually did research and interviews and it shows.
Ravensmash
Member
It does; but it shouldn't.
One of the most fundamental things in Journalism is verifying statements/checking sources, that not one of those sites decided to look around prior to posting is poor.
I mean, c'mon guys; you could've still got attention/hits by being the first to actually report this as a hoax!
When the big-hitters get hoaxed (and more importantly, print false information without context) there are serious repurcussions. When Kotaku gets hoaxed it's just 'oh, ok...NEXT!'
Yeah I like Jim Sterling's update:
destructoid said:
http://www.destructoid.com/gta-vice-city-nights-monster-hunter-listed-for-ps-vita-223376.phtml
Freeza Under The Shower
Member
It was. And then they broke an NDA that got it unbanned.
Neuromancer
Member
:lol this brought back memories!
I remember doing this little project years ago on a forum competition and we decided to go viral with it and ended up on many a site including IGN and the old Gamesradar. S pong even called me a "punk kid". Those were the days... though I guess journalism hasn't really changed much
Dude those were the days! Quite funny to see GR report the news as fake having previously been reporting it as fact along with every other gaming site.
Good times bud
Aruarian Reflection
Chauffeur de la gdlk
Jason can't even learn from his own posts
http://jasonschreier.com/2011/07/27/twitter-killing-journalism/
http://jasonschreier.com/2011/07/27/twitter-killing-journalism/
Jason can't even learn from his own posts
http://jasonschreier.com/2011/07/27/twitter-killing-journalism/
lmao
Mr.LightMan
Member
Boy if that were to happen, would love to see how things would go.Now watch Sony announce all this on Friday.
Neuromancer
Member
Whoah really? I must have missed the whole thing. How long was it banned for and what was that NDA about?
Darkerkamikaze
Member
Now watch Sony announce all this on Friday.
So many twists and turns, I'd laugh.
Now watch Sony announce all this on Friday.
I don't think the entirety of Sony Corp focused on a single task could create something that awesome.
Besides, they'd want to save GTA for E3, and a ToIR localization isn't going to be announced in Japan. Type-0 HD and Portable 3rd HD (or even Portable 3rd G) could happen.
I think it was the kinect, either the name or it itself.
Jason can't even learn from his own posts
http://jasonschreier.com/2011/07/27/twitter-killing-journalism/
OOOOOOOH Now we're cookin'! LOL
LunaticHigh
Member
So if I read comments and browse gaf / 4chan I can get a job as a games journalist? Why am I in university again?
I think I just realized that Gaf probably provides more news than some of these sites do.
I think I just realized that Gaf probably provides more news than some of these sites do.
Journalism!
DanteFox
Member
The gut is where truthiness comes from.
SLEEPS7ALK3R
Banned
And this is why the Patriots are trying to control the digital flow of information.
Jason can't even learn from his own posts
http://jasonschreier.com/2011/07/27/twitter-killing-journalism/
LOL. I wanna see him respond to these. Maybe he already jumped ship.
VeryGooster
Banned
Thanks for clicks!
In other gaming news......
Marvel Vs Capcpom 3 is available now for Playstation Vita!
50 Epic Characters * Wi-Fi Multiplayer * Touch Screen Controls * Replay Analyzer
In other gaming news......
Marvel Vs Capcpom 3 is available now for Playstation Vita!
50 Epic Characters * Wi-Fi Multiplayer * Touch Screen Controls * Replay Analyzer
That's what it's all about. It's almost worth it to continually make a mockery of actual reporting to fund their site, and ultimately, their jobs.
The Capcpom typo from the Steel Battalion trailer that happened this week is nowhere to be found on a site like Kotaku. And why not? That actually happened and it's something I think gamers would get a nice little kick out of while attempting to read their blog.
However, I highly doubt the suits at Capcom would appreciate a site they're currently sponsoring/presenting bringing their own boneheaded gaffes to light to the readers they're trying to market and sell games to.
This industry, like most, is all about money. Nothing will ever change for these sites while they're in the pockets of the companies they're suppose to be reporting on. The balance of power is far too one sided to ever change that. And that's really the sad part of all of this when these situations arise every few weeks.
The Capcpom typo from the Steel Battalion trailer that happened this week is nowhere to be found on a site like Kotaku. And why not? That actually happened and it's something I think gamers would get a nice little kick out of while attempting to read their blog.
However, I highly doubt the suits at Capcom would appreciate a site they're currently sponsoring/presenting bringing their own boneheaded gaffes to light to the readers they're trying to market and sell games to.
This industry, like most, is all about money. Nothing will ever change for these sites while they're in the pockets of the companies they're suppose to be reporting on. The balance of power is far too one sided to ever change that. And that's really the sad part of all of this when these situations arise every few weeks.
creid
Member
TheExplodingHead
Banned
Awww, I want to write in games when I finish (I'm actually studying Journalism on my course now haha), you guys getting me all down.
But there's a huge difference between reporting and digging for leads on interesting stories, or doing engaging write-ups...and simply being indirectly paid employees of the PR/biz grapevine. What we have now isn't "journalism" in a professional/traditional sense, it's largely commercialized and under scrutinized glorification of the "industry" and "what can we report sooner than X or Y, regardless of fact". Where hits and traffic are more appreciated over substantive fact and cross references, and that "news" is put out there for expediency of the moment regardless of their immediate and long term credibility. That totally flies in the face of what "journalism" should be and is. Nevermind journalistic integrity, where's the actual journalism?
And if we need more proof on who these outlets ultimately pander to, take a look at the media coverage of the RROD scandels and the PS3 hacking scandels. Compared to the gravity of what was going on, they choose to report on other things rather than focus the laser on those issues. In respect to the PS3 hacking stuff they hardlly reported at all despite it being a international issue as well as a legal and cultural issue, where was the integrity of the journalism community then, as they instead did podcasts and reported heavily on other things? And while all media is guilty of this to some degree, the gaming media has consistently dropped the ball on credibility and who and where they choose to report.
echoshifting
Banned
The twitter story is a bit unfair imho. A guy can be right about something, make a dumb mistake pertaining to that topic, and still be right about it. Particularly since he has already more or less admitted that he made a mistake.
FlyingTeacup
Member
well respond to what? calling out to a forum poster to prove a fake is really fake? shooting himself in the foot? the response is probably, meh, shit happens.
He didn't say that he got a reply from the related companies though.
In this case I retract some but not all of my sarcastic comments.
But only if someone can prove it was actually me using my account earlier to type those comments.
FelixOrion
Poet Centuriate
HamPster PamPster
Member
Fuck it. I'm not doing shit the rest of the day at work. My clients want some financial analysis? How about $54,321. Yeah, that feels right
Hey Jason got a new game for you to post about!
someone with a ridiculous username send this along
And this is what is wrong with game journalism
"Sony's big Vita announcement plans on Friday"
It's a SONY JAPAN webcast with information about unannounced Vita titles, upcoming releases, and Vita services.
No one said anything about big vita announcements.
Freeza Under The Shower
Member
I'm not sure what it was. It might have been Natal / Kinect, but it may also have been this story.
At any rate, Kotaku wasn't supposed to report on whatever it was, did it anyway, citing a responsibility of informing consumers about stuff, and that got the site unbanned.
most gaming enthousiasts do not have university education at all. However, the large amount of amateurs and pro's available make sure you have either no chance in hell of getting in or you'ld be doing it for almost free.
It's not a very fun job, I'ld imagine. Despite the whole image that is maintained.
Oh man, apparently I am today's NeoGAF punching bag.
Okay - let me address this one more time before I get back to work. When I see a rumor, it seems plausible to me, and I feel as if our readers would want to hear it, I'll do several things:
1. Contact all of the companies involved.
2. Do as much research into the story as possible.
3. Make it clear that what I'm reporting is an unverified rumor.
After doing all of those things, if I still feel that the rumor is plausible, I'll post the story. As I did in this case. As more information becomes available, I'll update the story accordingly. As I did in this case. (In case you didn't notice, both Sony and Square Enix responded with a resounding "no comment." Other companies didn't respond.)
Now, I sure hope this doesn't turn out to be fake, both because I don't want to be wrong and because I really want a Vita version of Type-0, but if it is, so be it. I've been wrong before. I'll be wrong again. I hate being wrong as much as anyone would, but it happens. We live in a world where publishers are excruciatingly tightlipped and Internet denizens with lots of spare time like to make things up. All I can do is follow my instincts and do my best to make sure everything I'm reporting is accurate. And when it isn't, all I can do is hold myself accountable for my mistakes and do my best to correct them as quickly and as clearly as possible.
Okay - let me address this one more time before I get back to work. When I see a rumor, it seems plausible to me, and I feel as if our readers would want to hear it, I'll do several things:
1. Contact all of the companies involved.
2. Do as much research into the story as possible.
3. Make it clear that what I'm reporting is an unverified rumor.
After doing all of those things, if I still feel that the rumor is plausible, I'll post the story. As I did in this case. As more information becomes available, I'll update the story accordingly. As I did in this case. (In case you didn't notice, both Sony and Square Enix responded with a resounding "no comment." Other companies didn't respond.)
Now, I sure hope this doesn't turn out to be fake, both because I don't want to be wrong and because I really want a Vita version of Type-0, but if it is, so be it. I've been wrong before. I'll be wrong again. I hate being wrong as much as anyone would, but it happens. We live in a world where publishers are excruciatingly tightlipped and Internet denizens with lots of spare time like to make things up. All I can do is follow my instincts and do my best to make sure everything I'm reporting is accurate. And when it isn't, all I can do is hold myself accountable for my mistakes and do my best to correct them as quickly and as clearly as possible.
But who can prove that it was a photoshopped picture?
Shit happens when you are a click whore who reports news based on bullshit and "gut.".
HamPster PamPster
Member
I'm pretty sure I did. Dissidia Portable 3rd. Monster hunter influences. Fight famous bosses from the Final Fantasy series. FF Tactics characters
There isn't a box art yet but thats how you know its real. All the fake games get photoshopped box arts