Support NeoGAF

[Arrowgigantic]

Sony PR has caught a case of the KaneLynchitits, cancelling an Infamous developer's scheduled interview with Tom Chick, apparently because of his Infamous coverage.

Tom wrote two articles about Infamous; the first being "Top Ten Stupid Things About Infamous", and the second "Top Ten Cool Things About Infamous". One of which is, of course, OVER THE LINE.

The skeeziest part is, they didn't tell him the interview was cancelled until after he showed up for it.

Who do these PR people think they are? Personally, I think they do this kind of stuff because they're lazy-- if they only R with the fluffy P, it's less work, right? Ironically, it just makes their jobs harder.

It's harder because now everyone knows that Infamous is not a good enough game to allow any sort of critical writing to go unpunished.

 

[Gravijah]

$ony strikes again. =/

 

[Walshicus]

I'm literally angry with rage!

 

[MvmntInGrn]

It's harder because now everyone knows that Infamous is not a good enough game to allow any sort of critical writing to go unpunished.

I don't get this part.
EDIT: Aside from the quoted. I think it a bad thing to do professionally to just cancel out on him, even though I find him annoying.

 

[PuppetMaster]

Tom deserves to be treated this way. He is a professional troll.

 

[emic]

dirty.

from both sides.

 

[XonoX]

It's harder because now everyone knows that Infamous is not a good enough game to allow any sort of critical writing to go unpunished.

Thank-you for your social commentary. I will however choose to use my own brain and make up my own mind.

 

[Acosta]

Absolutely stupid, a disaster PR wise that luckily will escalate into something exploding to the responsible in the face. If rest of the press begin to run with the story someone at Sony is going to have rough day.

 

[TheGreatDave]

He shouldn't get an interview on account of writing stupid top 10 lists.

 

[valkillmore]

This doesn't make any sense. I read a review of the game by David Manning and he loved it.

 

[F#A#Oo]

Hmm...

They should have told him it was cancelled before he showed up...

Regardless i think he should have maybe anticipated he wouldn't get a warm reception...he isn't helping them with their job.

 

[CTLance]

Not mine, and just posted for the lulz because I have nothing constructive to add besides a noncommittal gluttural sound:

Seriously though, that's a really stupid PR move. Cut the interview short, be terse or whatever, but shit like that don't fly.

 

[Troidal]

Tough call.

It's like taking a big nasty dump, and the kid says it smells awful, and you get pissed off at the kid but doesn't change the fact that the shit does smell.

Never change, game industry.

 

[Blablurn]

Not mine, and just posted for the lulz because I have nothing constructive to add besides a noncommittal gluttural sound:

Seriously though, that's a really stupid PR move. Cut the interview short, be terse or whatever, but shit like that don't fly.

cosider my mind...BLOWN!

 

[Gravijah]

Tough call.

It's like taking a big nasty dump, and the kid says it smells awful, and you get pissed off at the kid but doesn't change the fact that the shit does smell.

Never change, game industry.

Why the fuck are you taking a shit around kids?

 

[Walshicus]

Thank-you for your social commentary. I will however choose to use my own brain and make up my own mind.

I think the point he is making is that however good Prototype is [and everything points to it being pretty cool], by doing this Sony PR gives the impression that it can't stand up to criticism.

 

[SecretBonusPoint]

Tom Chick's trolling articles of undulating liquid shit have resulted in him not getting to waste someone else's time and money with exclusive interview content? Surely not!

 

[StuBurns]

As much as I hate Sony PR, I don't have a problem with this. It works both ways, publications need support from the first parties because they need people to visit their site/buy their magazine. It seem perfectly fair to pull your support of that institution if they're criticizing your product. Sony PR aren't doing charity.

 

[Arrowgigantic]

Hmm...

They should have told him it was cancelled before he showed up...

Regardless i think he should have maybe anticipated he wouldn't get a warm reception...he isn't helping them with their job.

It's not his job to help Sony PR. And apparently, it's not Sony PR's job either.

 

[Truant]

In other news, Sony launches website that reviews game reviews so reviewers can feel how it feels. Eurogamer has reviewed the site giving it a 6 out of 10, claiming it to be 'Ambitious, but ultimately flawed'.

 

[Ramenman]

Sony PR has caught a case of the KaneLynchitits

Do want.

 

[gtj1092]

Tough call.

It's like taking a big nasty dump, and the kid says it smells awful, and you get pissed off at the kid but doesn't change the fact that the shit does smell.

Never change, game industry.

So infamous is a shit game now? :lol

 

[Interfectum]

Tom Chick's trolling articles of undulating liquid shit have resulted in him not getting to waste someone else's time and money with exclusive interview content? Surely not!

This.

 

[Barrett2]

Who cares

 

[$h@d0w]

deserved it

 

[NinjaFridge]

Who cares

OP, no-one else does though.

 

[Doc Evils]

That did this to tom dick?!

Spot on Sony.

 

[Chinner]

Tom Chick should be just ~HONOURED~ that the miggghty SONY-SAN even considered him for a interview. SONY has great ~WISDOM~ and you have to be ~worthy~ to stand in front of them.

 

[neojubei]

Who cares

Pretty much my thoughts.

 

[Cat in the Hat]

I've always enjoyed Tom in Tom and Buce in CGW/GFW. Sony has to understand Tom just says what he thinks and get over it.

 

[Arrowgigantic]

As much as I hate Sony PR, I don't have a problem with this. It works both ways, publications need support from the first parties because they need people to visit their site/buy their magazine. It seem perfectly fair to pull your support of that institution if they're criticizing your product. Sony PR aren't doing charity.

Yes, it's absolutely fair. It's also incredibly bad PR.

 

[Jack Random]

As much as I hate Sony PR, I don't have a problem with this. It works both ways, publications need support from the first parties because they need people to visit their site/buy their magazine. It seem perfectly fair to pull your support of that institution if they're criticizing your product. Sony PR aren't doing charity.

those damn critics and their criticizing!

A silly top ten list isnt the greatest think one could do, but removing access for it is not very far from giving access in exchange for positive coverage. It feels like Sony's unhappy that Chick isn't Famitsu.

 

[leesmapman]

Gamefaqs worthy topic, this.

 

[WrikaWrek]

Bitch move.

 

[SecretBonusPoint]

Yes, it's absolutely fair. It's also incredibly bad PR.

Not really? Tom Chick isn't exactly the Roger Ebert of gaming and snubbing him isn't exactly going to bring down tidal waves of scorn and fury upon Sony. As for bad PR, what is worse?

- Sony tells idiot to stop wasting their time. Idiot whinges.
- Article: Top ten stupid things about Infamous

Yeah.

They havent said he couldn't review the game or asked him to pull the articles, they just decided they couldnt be bothered having him waste their time. Hell, perhaps even the dev he was supposed to be meeting with didnt feel like doing the interview. "Oh who is this? Oh the guy thats been trolling our game for a fortnight before release? Yes, excellent. Lets give him an exclusive interview!!"

 

[NinjaFridge]

I've always enjoyed Tom in Tom and Buce in CGW/GFW. Sony has to understand Tom just says what he thinks and get over it.

He says things, i'm not sure he thinks about them.

 

[neojubei]

It would be funny to have Tom come into the interview room only to be met by Nelson Muntz and his HA HA.

 

[WrikaWrek]

Not really? Tom Chick isn't exactly the Roger Ebert of gaming and snubbing him isn't exactly going to bring down tidal waves of scorn and fury upon Sony. As for bad PR, what is worse?

- Sony tells idiot to stop wasting their time. Idiot whinges.
- Article: Top ten stupid things about Infamous

Yeah.

But top best things about infamous is alright?

 

[Danne-Danger]

I just read through his top-ten review and it does contain a lot of stupid shit. I mean he's complaining about the backpack. The backpack is awesome.

However he did say it was better than GTA4, though worse than Saints Row 2.

In the end though this event will probably net Chick with more clicks than if he'd done the interview.

 

[StuBurns]

those damn critics and their criticizing!

A silly top ten list isnt the greatest think one could do, but removing access for it is not very far from giving access in exchange for positive coverage. It feels like Sony's unhappy that Chick isn't Famitsu.

Sony isn't stopping them criticizing. It's just not supporting them.

The press doesn't have a right to coverage, the publishers are doing them a favor. Publishers don't need the press as much as the press need the publishers.

 

[jonnyp]

It's harder because now everyone knows that Infamous is not a good enough game to allow any sort of critical writing to go unpunished.

That's even more stupid than what Sony did....

 

[Arrowgigantic]

In the end though this event will probably net Chick with more clicks than if he'd done the interview.

Which is part of the reason why it's such bad PR.

 

[SecretBonusPoint]

But top best things about infamous is alright?

traditionally annoying missions like "escort the target" and "protect the target"

The electricity theme might feel a bit forced

The graphics look soupy at times

Cute, but I already saw that trick in the last Spider-Man game, so it doesn't count as one of the cool things in Infamous.

No multiplayer. You might think this would go under the "ten stupid things" list.

I'd imagine they were put off by both?

 

[deepbrown]

SCEE PR is not great. It's true. They try though. SCEA is much better.

 

[WrikaWrek]

I'd imagine they were put off by both?

I don't know who this guy is, and i haven't read his stuff, just saying that critics will remain critics.

Telling the dude there's no interview after he gets there is a bitch move.

 

[Epcott]

Who is Tom Chick and why should I give a fat babies buttocks?

 

[Miburou]

His Top 10 Stupid Things article is both funny and informative, and is more than evened out by the less funny but no less informative Top 10 Cool Things article. His overall view of the game is actually a positive one, but seems Sony's PR can't get past the title of one of those two articles, and apparently neither can some of you.

 

[Interfectum]

Which is part of the reason why it's such bad PR.

Not really. Only forumites will even care about this and it's not going to stop anyone from buying the game.

 

[neojubei]

I'd imagine they were put off by both?

*shakes head*

 

[HurricaneJesus]

They should have just told him in advance. I read both his articles, and from what he wrote, the game sounds pretty good. Now the game is going to get this negative press, which is never good.