Businesses make the laws here my friend.
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GameSpot lay-offs 2014
- Thread starter benny_a
- Start date
Businesses make the laws here my friend.
Gutsy Frog
Banned
I'm not at all inherently against the idea of lowering a game's overall score because you viewed it as sexist, racist, transphobic or anything of the sort. I think subjectivity will always play a role in video game reviews, and no, game reviews should definitely not be the same as reviewing a kitchen appliance. I think that as long as a game wants to be taken seriously as making a real statement about the human condition (and games like GTAV and TLOU are definitely doing that), it should be reviewed as such. Basically, "get your politics out of my video games!" is a silly thing to say if you're talking about a game that's blatantly trying to be political.
And yet, the type of person who views Anita Sarkeesian as an overall-good media critic and sees no glaring flaws with her methods is not really the kind of person who I personally think is truly fit to make such commentary. That doesn't mean there's never any amount of truth behind the statements of someone like that (I don't think GTAIV constitutes poignant social satire), but that kind of commentary is very new to video games and should be done in a more effective manner in order to truly stick with the gaming public at large. The current method of sociopolitical commentary applied to games is hardly winning over most people who weren't already invested in that sort of thing, and I think there are better ways of doing it.
And yet, the type of person who views Anita Sarkeesian as an overall-good media critic and sees no glaring flaws with her methods is not really the kind of person who I personally think is truly fit to make such commentary. That doesn't mean there's never any amount of truth behind the statements of someone like that (I don't think GTAIV constitutes poignant social satire), but that kind of commentary is very new to video games and should be done in a more effective manner in order to truly stick with the gaming public at large. The current method of sociopolitical commentary applied to games is hardly winning over most people who weren't already invested in that sort of thing, and I think there are better ways of doing it.
AlteredForms
Banned
So Martin Gaston is still a member of the company? Fuck this shit.
Hero_of_the_Day
Member
Yeah, I could obviously be wrong it's my complete random guess. I suppose Vinny is starting up the second office kind of and Patrick certainly still puts out a good amount of content. I have to imagine his solo quick looks don't bring in nearly the numbers the main crews do and they have all made plenty of comments about how nobody reads shit, which sucks for the one of them that actually writes.
Either way, at least the main office has been understaffed having lost them. And even including them that still leaves Ryan and at least the one behind the scenes guy I can think of that they've lost over the last year (can't remember his name, dude with beard and glasses).
yeah, I hear businesses are people over your side of the pond too. Crazy.
funkystudent
Member
Times I heard about Gamespot in the last 2 years.
Danny making appearances on GiantBomb
Whenever Carolyn says something "controversial" about whatever the current AAA hotness is.
And thats it.
The site has been in need of a drastic shift for years.
There E3 coverage was the industry leader in the mid 2000's but everyone has caught up.
The big, 20+ person site of writers, video editors and presenters is a dying model
Still... some of those 15 year vets of the site losing jobs is a real kicker.
Danny making appearances on GiantBomb
Whenever Carolyn says something "controversial" about whatever the current AAA hotness is.
And thats it.
The site has been in need of a drastic shift for years.
There E3 coverage was the industry leader in the mid 2000's but everyone has caught up.
The big, 20+ person site of writers, video editors and presenters is a dying model
Still... some of those 15 year vets of the site losing jobs is a real kicker.
I am all for more games that cater to a broader audience, but I am dead against the PC crowd scoring games based on their politics.
For clarification: So stories in story-based games shouldn't be analyzed?
They certainly should be if the game takes it's story seriously IMO. But if someone is going to reduce (or raise) a review score because of a social justice issue, then I won't be bothering to finish reading their review or taking any further review seriously. Everyone has the right to express their opinion, and my opinion is simply that I don't want to listen to the PC police when deciding if a game is fun for me.
RicoTheMad
Banned
Not against whatever fad is running around in "game journalism" circles at the moment.
If you go watch The Expendables or some other summer action braindead flick, you don't take off points if the guys don't read enough poetry during the movie. Likewise, if the game is about shooting aliens in the face to save earth, you don't take points off for there not being enough female/crossgender aliens in the game. I think that's his/her point here.
If a game's story tackles with certain issues, sure, judge them on that. But game scores should represent the enjoyment you get out of a game (they really shouldn't even exist though) not whatever agenda the writer is trying to push, regardless of how worthy a cause it may be.
Not every game is supposed to be a social statement. Some games are just about... you know, fun.
I very much agree with this. Both that Luigis Mansion 2 review, and McShaes Skyward Sword review stand among the worst reviews I have ever seen, and I would HATE Nintendo to listen to their complaints.
I am also in the camp that feel that Gamespot has been in decline for 15 years. It used to be my go to gaming site in the early 00s, but the site just got more and more convoluted to navigate, their editorial less and less interesting, and reviews like the mentioned made them loose credibility as well.
Anyways, while I did not care for the reviews of those two writers, I DO care for their well-being as humans, and it sucks to see them and others loose their job. Really hope they and the others will be able to get work as soon as possible!
See You Next Wednesday
Banned
Gamespot uses Twitch & Youtube. If anything they add viewers to Gamespot.
Dota & mobile are fads that will be gone in two or so years.
There was that F2P farm sim or something awhile ago, was worth a billion at one time & then just became worthless & never recovered.
Ghost_Messiah
Member
Man this is getting ridiculous now. Reminds me of when I hit up CVG and was shocked to learn the entire site is now predominantly run by three people. Seriously, three. Three people running the current incarnation of the world's longest running and first ever games magazine. I was saddened to say the least particularly with the rumors that CVG might be closing soon.
GameSpot hasn't been the same since the Jeff Gerstmann incident IMO. The site seemed to fade quite rapidly after that.
GameSpot hasn't been the same since the Jeff Gerstmann incident IMO. The site seemed to fade quite rapidly after that.
Raptomex
Member
I agree with this.
reynal1287
Member
Boom.
I'd say game journalism as a whole died a bit that day. Maybe not in revenue, but certainly in respect for the profession.
Gutsy Frog
Banned
The thing is that some people WILL care about that. Say if a game contains content that is genuinely racist towards black people, a black person would take it more personally than you would. You won't agree with every review and I don't think you're meant to.
I just think that most game journalists who tackle these things have a really strange idea of what is offensive or worth going on a social justice rant about; see the "Mario Kart doesn't have enough racial diversity" thing and other stuff like that.
He left weeks ago for a new job. PR firm or something like that.
Oh please, you don't even read Polygon, clearly.
BUNTING1243
Banned
They recently laid off two of their three video people and I'm pretty sure they don't have any ongoing series aside from those Quick Look-things.
Barricade_28
Banned
2 main things usually drive game sales:
1. Pre-release hype (E3, social media, commercials/marketing, people being fans of previous games in the series or by the same devs etc.)
2. Critic reviews (essentially post-release hype)
Note: Sometimes word of mouth/playing at a friends place etc. will also drive huge game sales, but its rare phenomenon (ie: Wii, Guitar Hero etc.)
As for #2, sites like GameSpot and IGN are huge influences on game sales. As is Metacritic scores of course, but GameSpot and IGN are clearly the biggest gaming review sites. If GameSpot and IGN each give Destiny a 5/10 a few days before release (and everyone else gives it 8's and 9's) you don't think that would cost Bungie a few hundred thousand in sales? I'll bet a review from GameSpot determines at least 5% of total sales for most console games.
Barricade_28
Banned
I won't, but it looks like she will be from now.
See You Next Wednesday
Banned
Any news of some of them getting new jobs?
Particularly Ryan MacDonald?
I bet they fired him just because of his tenure.
He was probably making more money from that & they didn't like that.
Particularly Ryan MacDonald?
I bet they fired him just because of his tenure.
He was probably making more money from that & they didn't like that.
GlamFM
Banned
Does "PC crowd scoring games based on their politics" mean that reviewers aren't allowed to call out games that directly insult them as human beings?
firehawk12
Subete no aware
Now I hope they freelance her for all major reviews.
I didn't dislike her, but she came up with some totally invalid arguments over the years.
http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=517674
See You Next Wednesday
Banned
Just terrible reviewer that makes biased reviews.
who cares you dumb weirdo
dragonbane
Member
Too bad about McShea. I tend to agree with him a lot, even if he was considered controversial on here.
This. That's literally all you need to know.
Dragonborn
Member
No, reviews are based on opinion, yes, but the reviewer should still have some level of objectivity. Her pushing her agenda in her reviews is something that shouldn't be done, and it's the reason many people dislike her. Not because her opinion is different, but because she used reviews as a vehicle to press her issues (I don't know if she did it for the clicks, but it's still bad). I don't think there's anything wrong with disliking that. Not to mention, she's one of those reviewers who has issues with higher difficulty levels and, iirc, she complained about exactly that in her Luigi review (which isn't even hard). Stuff like that is one of the reasons there's so much hand holding.
With that said, while annoying, it didn't affect me personally, I just avoided Gamespot (I'd check it out now but apparently it's still all around bad). Hopefully she lands on her feet, as I wish her no ill will.
What agenda was she pushing, how did that affect the objectivity of her reviews, and what kind of objectivity would her reviews have if she wasn't pushing that agenda?
Totaly a Duder
Banned
Can't say I'm sad to see them go.
CGwizz
Member
tom and petit made some shit reviews and i never agreed with a score these 2 had, some tom articles where terrible and he always seemed a guy that hates everything, i remember some things he said in a video about tlou that made me facepalm.
but its always sad when people loses a job they like to do.
but its always sad when people loses a job they like to do.
Hero_of_the_Day
Member
Slow learners in this thread...
That is still an opinion. She had no agenda, just a different viewpoint. I think its fun and insightful to read reviews and features that stray from the pack. There are enough sites that repeat the same old crap.