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[Juice]

That'll be harder than you think. :lol

Seriously though, writing for videogames is harder than most people think but it doesn't make the criticisms thrown around here any less valid. While the rest of the article isn't too shabby, that line is absolutely atrocious. You'd think these people would proofread their own work first before submitting it.

Totally agree. Gaming faux-journalism is how I learned to write in the first place. I lied about my age to get onboard with IGN's top-ranked affiliate back when I was in middle school and started making bank at that point. The money fizzled out as I realized that striving to provide readers with good writing was far more enjoyable than spending my time milking cash from ads for Dutch pillow companies.

My point is and what I don't understand is, if these people cared at all about writing, they'd care about every little mistake that was magnified 300,000 times over when it was noticed by readers. It's lazy, it lacks professionalism, and worst of all it shows a disinterest in one's actual job (where "writers" are a commodity and getting paid for this shit should be considered a privilege). I understand all the pressures and immediate deadlines, but this shit should not be the kind of stuff someone can crank out and actually use to attain job security through promotions.

Maybe GAF can act as a check on bad writers by black-listing and mobbing them with hatred until they're canned. I wouldn't be opposed as we already have the requisite hate stored up, and God knows there are enough writers out there that deserve e-pink slips.

 

[Belfast]

Probably one of my worst vices is relying too much on writing cliches that have been drilled into my head after reading so many gaming pieces over the years. Christ, it sucks when I'm trying to think of the right wording for something and all that pops into my head is "FANS OF THE SERIES WILL LIKE THIS GAME, BUT ANYONE ELSE MIGHT WANT TO SPEND THEIR MONEY ELSEWHERE!!" or "X GAME IS THE LATEST IN THE CLASSIC SERIES..." blah blah blah.

My brain begins to hemorrhage just a little every time I read something like that.

 

[DDayton]

A lot of folks here have really intelligent things to say, but writing a good article isn't as easy as you think. In fact, I doubt most of GAF who so criticize game journalists can do it much better themselves. I'm not saying they don't have a right to call out s---- writing, but that seems to be the point you're making: there are folks (presumably, here on GAF) who would kill for an opportunity to write for a site like Gamespot.

I've tried recruiting writers from GAF. I've found two consistently good ones: drohne and wellington. Trust me, it isn't that easy.

If it helps, I'd offer to strangle one GAFfer of your choice in exchange for a writing gig.

Edit: I'm serious. I've spent too much time without proper employment, and I'm getting rather desperate.

 

[Open Source]

A lot of folks here have really intelligent things to say, but writing a good article isn't as easy as you think. In fact, I doubt most of GAF who so criticize game journalists can do it much better themselves.

http://www.g4tv.com/techtvvault/features/41505/Everquest_Planes_of_Power_PC_Review.html

Writing this was easy. Is it good?

However, I would not kill to write for a site like Gamespot. No killing, and they would have to pay me, too.

 

[sprsk]

I don't read reviews. (cause im fucking hard)

 

[shantyman]

Man, with all you assholes sitting around all day long, I'm so glad I got the fuck out of games "journalism."

Oh come one, any college graduate should be able write better than that.

 

[teruterubozu]

Oh come one, any college graduate should be able write better than that.

Depends on the college :lol

 

[EOGamer]

I've seen better hands-on impressions, but I've seen worse as well. It's better written than any of the garbage I used to pass off as a reader review on that site, that's for sure. I guess Gamespot could use a better "wordsmith" (Kimi from 1up's term, not mine) though, I have noticed alot more glaring errors. When someone with the spotty grammar I have notices alot of errors in your article, you have a problem.

 

[jarosh]

Oh come one, any college graduate should be able write better than that.

Are you a graduate?

 

[Jonnyboy117]

Probably one of my worst vices is relying too much on writing cliches that have been drilled into my head after reading so many gaming pieces over the years. Christ, it sucks when I'm trying to think of the right wording for something and all that pops into my head is "FANS OF THE SERIES WILL LIKE THIS GAME, BUT ANYONE ELSE MIGHT WANT TO SPEND THEIR MONEY ELSEWHERE!!" or "X GAME IS THE LATEST IN THE CLASSIC SERIES..." blah blah blah.

My brain begins to hemorrhage just a little every time I read something like that.

mixed bag

 

[btutterrow]

With all this talk about gaming journalism, you would think that it was the only medium fundamentally flawed with horrendous writing. Our local newspaper has misquoted me at least three times and just this weekend apparently pulled some statistics out of the 'arse' (I should know because I am the one that tabulates the correct stats) to not only prove a point that is wrong, but then proceeded to use quotes to back up their false claim.

Yeehaw for journalism.

All things considered, I would rather read poorly written articles about my hobby, thank you.