Why is vid game journalism so....

[m7406]

....decidely "little league" considering this is an industry that is, and has been for a couple of years, bigger than the moview industry. Listening to the crew over at allgames was tortuous. The video game business as a whole does not enjoy the perception of respect it's dollars command because of the unprofessional, slacker-like, delivery of many of its media personel. This site is great and wish it enjoyed even a higher profile in terms of radio shows, podcasts, etc.

[born_bad]

Re: Why is vid game journalism so....

It's probably because educated journalists aspire to cover topics a little more involved than how scantily clad the girls of DOA will be in the next game and the bouncy-boob technology on display.

Seriously, the industry has to mature a whole lot before it gets taken seriously.

[ComaFaction]

Re: Why is vid game journalism so....

I think the thing that I find more surprising than this is the lead-up to games now...the amounts of details on the game and the development process that gamers demand and scrutinize to the most minute detail; drawing conclusions on games before they've even played them. it's insane. trailers being dissected frame by frame and whatnot.

I remember for me personally, even as recently as say NCAA05. I would buy the game, throw it in and play it -- have fun and that was that. MAYBE, I'd go check out a review on the game somewhere first. This expanded culture is kind of overwhelming to me to be honest...really turns the screws on developers though, I suppose.

(Don't take this as an attack on you -- just a similar observation...I'm out of the times, I suppose.)

[The GIGGAS]

Re: Why is vid game journalism so....

I'm not surprised by anything any more. In games... nothing really makes me say... "whoa".

I think that's a horrible thing.

But yeah, the video game media is pretty bad.

[wwharton]

Re: Why is vid game journalism so....

I agree with you comafaction, but it's more than that... it's the internet these days. I just saw a serious news story on TV yesterday about whether or not Google was helping terrorists. It's a new age.

There was a time when writers had to go through a serious process to get work published and now there are websites and blogs. The journalists even in the gaming magazines applied for the job, interviewed, etc. Online you just need a little business sense and enough money to buy a domain and some hosting and you can talk about whatever you want. It's insanely diluted.

Add to that our need for everything right away and we can't even wait for the more reputable sites (which are also bad at really reviewing sports games) but want to break down info from anyone or anywhere. It makes this a good niche for someone looking for 15 minutes to get into.

It also means that if you know what you're doing and have an unbiased nature, it's an easy way into the industry. Please step up, we'd all appreciate more news worth reading.

[wwharton]

Re: Why is vid game journalism so....

I'm not surprised by anything any more. In games... nothing really makes me say... "whoa".

I think that's a horrible thing.

But yeah, the video game media is pretty bad.

this is also true. we're not going to see as many big time increases in visual quality as we get closer and closer to realistic looking models.

[born_bad]

Re: Why is vid game journalism so....

I dunno... playing Gears of War had me saying, "whoa" quite a few times.

I was also floored the first time I saw Fight Night Round 3 on the 360.

There's plenty of room to grow with graphics and animations that could have me saying, "whoa" for a lot longer.

[The GIGGAS]

Re: Why is vid game journalism so....

I'm not even talking about whoa as in graphics and animations.

I mean like... new controls, storylines that are like nothing we've ever seen before, unique art styles that are mindblowing...

I don't really want lifelike because we'll be crossing over into uncanny valley before we know it.

I want games that are like movies. Long gameplay... interesting visual, artistic, and storyline ideas...

[born_bad]

Re: Why is vid game journalism so....

I'm not even talking about whoa as in graphics and animations.

I mean like... new controls, storylines that are like nothing we've ever seen before, unique art styles that are mindblowing...

I don't really want lifelike because we'll be crossing over into uncanny valley before we know it.

I want games that are like movies. Long gameplay... interesting visual, artistic, and storyline ideas...

Generally, games that take chances and offer something new and interesting don't sell well (ex. Ico, Rez, Viva Pinata, Psychonauts etc.). People are content with sequels and more sequels. It's people's purchasing that drives the industry and what they buy is the same ol', so that's what the developers are going to stick with.

[The GIGGAS]

Re: Why is vid game journalism so....

Bah... screw people.

Anyway, screw IGN and such... journalistic integrity... yeah, my foot.

[djordan]

Re: Why is vid game journalism so....

Bah... screw people.

Anyway, screw IGN and such... journalistic integrity... yeah, my foot.

Bah..Screw you...

[TJdaSportsGuy]

Re: Why is vid game journalism so....

I'm moving this to the Non-Sports Gaming section. It doesn't really fit here.

[The GIGGAS]

Re: Why is vid game journalism so....

Bah..Screw you...

...?

I didn't mean you as a person... I meant people as in the unwashed brainless masses that buy games that are **** blindly.

[mgoblue]

Re: Why is vid game journalism so....

I think it's slowly getting to be a legit area. One problem is that quite a few of the writers don't really have the skills necessary to write professionally. One area I think is starting to pick up steam is gaming editorials. Look at Penny Arcade, or our own Shawn Drotar, I much prefer to read their musings on the industry. It's there that they can let the unique flow/viewpoints out, not just in a review or preview. I care more about what people like Shawn think, not just telling me info on games.

[DaveDQ]

Re: Why is vid game journalism so....

I think the thing that I find more surprising than this is the lead-up to games now...the amounts of details on the game and the development process that gamers demand and scrutinize to the most minute detail; drawing conclusions on games before they've even played them. it's insane. trailers being dissected frame by frame and whatnot.

I remember for me personally, even as recently as say NCAA05. I would buy the game, throw it in and play it -- have fun and that was that. MAYBE, I'd go check out a review on the game somewhere first. This expanded culture is kind of overwhelming to me to be honest...really turns the screws on developers though, I suppose.

(Don't take this as an attack on you -- just a similar observation...I'm out of the times, I suppose.)

Good points.

Does anyone remember Atari baseball? You could run a defensive player behind homeplate and he'd end up in center field. To this day, I can remember people getting furious if someone did that, because it was so unrealistic. Baseball on the Inellivision didn't do that.

I bring that up to at least try and make the point that examining a game, and making a judgement on its performance as a game, has been around since the very first gaming system.

By nature, people are very opinionated. The internet has allowed an unfiltered rush of information to flood our society, giving people options and alternatives like never before. Very quickly, we went from receiving a copy of our favorite gaming mag in the mail, with a few profiled games and reviews, to getting "first looks", previews and reviews before the game even hits the stores.

With all this information, we have no business being uninformed, we just need to decide for ourselves to not be misinformed.