I am aware that we usually don't want promotions here for crowdfunding campaigns that are not directly about actual games, but I feel like this one is worthy of of our attention nonetheless. I checked with the staff if that's ok.
Our fellow gaffer Pete Dodd (aka famousmortimer) is currently running an Indiegogo campaign to kickstart a new website about video games. In the light of all the criticism of gaming journalism that is frequently voiced on GAF, the concept behind his website is particularly interesting.
That's what he writes on the campaign's website. Check out the website for the full text.
This is what he wrote in the kickstarter OT, which naturally didn't get much attention.
If you don't know Pete, he started #PS4NoDRM, is a level-headed, rational guy with industry contacts, has frequently posted here interesting insights into the industry, writes a blog and has a podcast which I can both recommend. I like his stuff and I would like to see him have a shot at this, regardless whether his "unsustainable" website will work or not.
Our fellow gaffer Pete Dodd (aka famousmortimer) is currently running an Indiegogo campaign to kickstart a new website about video games. In the light of all the criticism of gaming journalism that is frequently voiced on GAF, the concept behind his website is particularly interesting.
That's what he writes on the campaign's website. Check out the website for the full text.
famousmortimer said:The problem:
A major failing of the gaming media is that they are beholden to the companies they cover. Whether they fear being blacklisted and not receiving review copies, or that the journalist in question is using their platform as a springboard to get a job in the industry proper, there often seems to be a conflict of interest: review scores that are far too high, repeating press releases as if they are news, and dismissing facts completely because they go against the narrative they are trying to build... This is a problem and it seems like gamers have far less trust in these sites because of it.
The problem is that a website needs to play ball with publishers to have any chance of success. If you don't get your review up when the embargo is lifted, you will receive far fewer clicks than you would otherwise. If you are critical of a company and they blacklist you so that you no longer get press releases, early screens or videos, or other such materials, it puts you behind your competitors. Life is a thousand times harder for small sites or blacklisted sites because they don't get the access of the bigger sites who have this symbiotic relationship with developers.
Dodd Scientifics will not be about any of that.
My idea:
The site I want to create will be strictly independent. There are certain things we will go along with that are the industry standard, like embargoes and NDA's, but we will not shy away from reporting a story because it may damage our relationship with a publisher. Nor will we fail to give a game a review score we think it deserves because it will anger the publisher, the fanboys, and lessen our chance of being on Metacritic. If we are blacklisted, we will tell you. If there are gaming companies who refuse to give us any access we will write stories about that. This whole underbelly of the industry needs to be exposed and eradicated if "games journalism" is to survive. And as an active member at NeoGAF, Reddit, and other popular forums, I'm well aware that the bigger gaming sites are not as invaluable as they may think they are. They (and I) need you a lot more than you need them.
I want to do everything that a gaming website shouldn't. This is an approach that is currently believed to be unsustainable. I'm not arguing that it isn't. What I'm arguing is that irrespective of this, it needs to exist, and it currently does not. There are some wonderful independent voices in our community but not a central hub where you can reliably hear from an outsider's perspective. I've been referred to as "industry insider Pete Dodd" when websites publish my tweets as stories, but I want to be the opposite. I don't want to be a part of the industry, I want to look at it from the view of an outsider. Or, as you may know them as... consumers.
I would also like to use the website as a platform for talented people in need of exposure. This could range from an indie developer using the site as developer diary to things like gaming related artists, podcasts, comics, and of course writers. In addition, whenever we pull a news story that has been posted elsewhere we will go above and beyond to credit the source. We won't just say "Source: Neogaf" with a link. We would mention the user by name and even link to that person's personal site if it is in their bio. Likewise if it's pulled from another site we will of course link to the original article but will also name the writer as the source. Sources should be given more credit than they currently are. We plan to do our best to contribute to that.
This is what he wrote in the kickstarter OT, which naturally didn't get much attention.
My project to turn doddscientifics into a staffed, actual website, is on indiegogo.
The idea is simple and based a lot off of how Tyler Malka described NeoGAF in the gametrailer's documentary. We will operate without fear of being blacklisted. If we are blacklisted, we will discuss who blacklisted us and why. I don't want it to just be a site reporting on how crooked gaming journalism is, but whenever it tries to get crooked on us I plan to make it public.
Other influences include how Rock, Paper, Shotgun cover the pc gaming space and how PastaPadre covers sports games. Also, Fugazi is the baseline for everything that is right in turning creativity into a business.
We also have some interesting ideas on delivering news, reviews, videos, and other things.
If you give a hoot: http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/dodd-scientifics/x/6501995
My twitter.
The site twitter.
If you don't know Pete, he started #PS4NoDRM, is a level-headed, rational guy with industry contacts, has frequently posted here interesting insights into the industry, writes a blog and has a podcast which I can both recommend. I like his stuff and I would like to see him have a shot at this, regardless whether his "unsustainable" website will work or not.
I was on with boogie (aka Francis) last night if anyone gives a flop.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MmKiWE3t-pg&feature=youtube_gdata_player