Why Gaming Journalists Will Never Be Taken Seriously
See this picture? This an inside look at the mentality of so-called adults masquerading as gaming journalists on the Internet these days.
If we want to make any sort of headway whatsoever; if journalists in this industry want to earn even the tiniest sliver of respect from journalists in other entertainment venues, things need to change. Rapidly. A bunch of kids - or 30-year-olds acting like children - running their own blogs and playing pretend, are not journalists, and yet, they get more attention than the real professionals. ...why? The spectacle of it? There are plenty of fine, ethical, talented journalists in this industry; I'm absolutely positive of it, and they work for all sorts of places, ranging from GameSpot to IGN. But they're all being overshadowed by those who bring us all down, day by day, bit by bit. As some of our readers know, my roots actually lie in music and comedy journalism for newspapers, which means I was among the group that would often look down on gaming journalism. At the time, it always irritated me...until I became Editor-in-Chief here and saw, with a heavy heart, why we are the subject of much derision and mockery at places like the New York Times.
It's because the level of immaturity is through the roof. It's because nobody actually reads a single solitary word outside of the headline. It's because those who follow the news are only interested in generating petty, adolescent arguments in forums, all for the sake of maintaining and enhancing an all-encompassing superiority complex the size of Wisconsin. Everyone has to prove they are the lone voice of reason, and they are the definitive voice on any given subject. Eventually, it all subsides into name-calling and other ridiculous behavior, which is another reason why gamers and fans are often stereotyped as childlike. But those within the industry can't really help that; what they can help is how they conduct themselves on a daily basis. If you consider yourself a legitimate journalist and you consider your publication a legitimate source, words like "fanboy" absolutely cannot be in your repertoire. This leads me to the most frustrating aspect of this business.
When I was writing for the papers, I'd do features that included interviews with musicians and comedians and the like. In the feature, I would put forth what was said, and why readers might be interested in buying a ticket to the show. ...not once did I ever receive any feedback from any reader in circulations of hundreds of thousands that said something like, "oh, you told me to go tot he Anthrax concert. You must be an Antrhax fanboy." At no point did they look at the name of the newspaper I wrote for and say, "yeah, no wonder you would say that. You write for 'such and such.'" This never happened. I was dealing with adults. Now, I write something about how the PlayStation 3 has left a lot of the hate behind due to its more positive image thanks to an influx of software and a better Network, and the snap assumptions begin to flood. I'm being addressed and countered by people who haven't the slightest clue who I am or what this site stands for. This isn't the schoolyard, fellow so-called "journalists."
It matters not that I took the job at PSXE as a gig, which has nothing to do with my personal gaming preferences. I shouldn't have to explain that in a quarter-century of gaming, I've only played games I've wanted to play on whatever console they ended up being on. I shouldn't have to say I've owned both the Xbox and the Xbox 360, or that my favorite system of all time is the SNES. Nor should I have to continually defend the name of PSX Extreme as a legitimate news site. The content should speak for itself...but this is exactly the point. In a normal print publication, the content would speak for itself. People would actually read what's in it. You could search this site until you're blue in the face. You'll find editorials of me taking Sony to task on a number of different issues, how I think the PS3/360 may be the best gaming combo ever, and more literary pieces involving complex topics like the storyline of MGS4. You'll see us bash the bad games and praise the good ones and our news is news; both bad and good, regardless of the situation.
I'm a journalist and a writer. That's it. I'm really sick of having to deal with people who live their lives vicariously through a virtual wasteland of infantile arguments and rampant hostile negativity. If you have a legitimate gripe, I'll gladly give an ear. We do serve the reading public, after all. But when those who are supposed to be "colleagues" behave no better than the kids who bash on everything they can find, the industry suffers. The problem? I suppose it's this- far too many of those who say they're "game journalists" actually have zero experience or training in the field. Nothing whatsoever. They're just gamers with access to a computer. And that's why we won't ever be taken seriously. It's just depressing.
P.S. Many props to the readers here at PSXE, who are both informed and civil. We've worked hard to keep the community this way, and I really can't thank them all enough. It's cheesy, but we really do feel like a family around here now; I don't mind talking about my own life in public editorials, either. And like I said, there are indeed plenty of great gaming journalists out there. But my point remains.
5/7/2009 Ben Dutka
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Comments (82 posts)
Scarecrow
Thursday, May 07, 2009 @ 10:55:42 PM
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I agree, anyone who owns a website and is a gamer always has the urge to "review" games and talk 'bout consoles. And then they think that they're actually journalists since they're "reporting news."
I think the worst thing is when pass off they're "reporting" as actually being factual. Or even worse when they challenge real journalists.
The worst thing of all is that labels will always be thrown at us gamers. All due to the immaturity of the new generation of gamers who connect to a computer and act as immature as any 10 year old.
I'll say this, Playstation has been around way longer then XBOX. Playstation has history and has for the most part always been the example of greatness as far as gaming consoles go.
So all these cheap ass 360 fans can go to hell for all I care for.
Just I admit my PREFERENCE for ps3 but on the other hand I do not bash the 360 every single day of my life. In fact if I ever say anything it's stuff that is actually TRUE, such as the horrible RROD issues the Microsoft infected its consoles with.
Scarecrow
Thursday, May 07, 2009 @ 11:18:08 PM
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Recentely been playing some of my fave ps1 games. Tried them on ps1, then on ps3....
^It looks 10 times better when played on ps3(mainly 'cause it shrinks the screen down to fit the game's true resolution).
But anyway BC is really important. So they should definitely bring it back.
HeXeN
Friday, May 08, 2009 @ 12:36:42 AM
mexgeo86
Friday, May 08, 2009 @ 10:24:05 AM
sunspider13
Friday, May 08, 2009 @ 3:26:17 PM
Crudii
Thursday, May 07, 2009 @ 11:20:24 PM
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I chose to ignore such self proclaimed journalism and would advise the rest to do the same but in a world like this it just ain't gonna happen.
You just keep up your end of the deal and keep the REAL news and unbiased editorials comming and maybe one day people will realise the difference between professional journalism and fanboys.
WorldEndsWithMe
Thursday, May 07, 2009 @ 11:26:19 PM
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But by God at least everyone here tries to keep it civil and all family like.
Ben, I think the true fanboys lash out at you because they aren't allowed to voice their unfixably biased opinions on this site so they do it elsewhere. You and the mods do a fine job of keeping this place decent and I feel damn glad that I ever found it in the internet wasteland because it and it's forums are where I make my gaming discussion home.
Crudii
Thursday, May 07, 2009 @ 11:47:33 PM
WorldEndsWithMe
Friday, May 08, 2009 @ 7:08:29 AM
Ben Dutka PSXE [Administrator]
Friday, May 08, 2009 @ 10:18:41 AM
Tim Speed24
Friday, May 08, 2009 @ 12:19:41 PM
Deadman
Friday, May 08, 2009 @ 7:51:59 PM
AntDC
Saturday, May 09, 2009 @ 3:47:10 AM
About Squall being "relationship-stupid", you're not kidding. I think this quote about the prospect of Rinoa being his girlfriend sums it up pretty nicely...
Rinoa: Are you serious!? Squall!? I'm gonna take it seriously.
Squall: I'm serious.
Rinoa: Woo. I'm speechless.
Squall: ...I'm seriously joking.
Oh no he di'int!
Dehshizknight
Friday, May 08, 2009 @ 12:25:49 AM
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Reccaman18
Friday, May 08, 2009 @ 12:31:55 AM
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Scarecrow
Friday, May 08, 2009 @ 12:38:36 AM
Fane1024
Friday, May 08, 2009 @ 4:50:56 PM
I even voted against Xbox Nerds because I wanted this site to remain focussed on PlayStation.
However, IGN is one of the few "multi-plat" sites I still read, mainly because they have a PS3 "front page". I recently gave up on their sister-site GameSpy because they were STILL showing the PS3-hate.
Last edited by Fane1024 on 5/8/2009 4:55:07 PM
SerichA
Friday, May 08, 2009 @ 12:46:37 AM
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HeXeN
Friday, May 08, 2009 @ 12:52:09 AM
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Highlander
Friday, May 08, 2009 @ 12:54:14 AM
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::applause::
Keep reading folks. Reading is amazingly educational. Not only do you learn about the topic, and the writer, but you improve your own vocabulary and grammar through your exposure to quality prose. In this day and age quality writing is at a premium, in some fields it's rarer than hens teeth.
Unfortunately I don't believe that the situation will improve any time soon, we are in a transitional phase where traditional print journalism is fading in the face of the immediacy of the internet, and the flicker of a video screen. I'm not sure where the future is, but I know one thing, the immediacy of news aggregation and RSS feeds does nothing for journalistic integrity or quality analysis.
Last edited by Highlander on 5/8/2009 12:54:53 AM
b3mike
Friday, May 08, 2009 @ 2:06:40 AM
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baseballdude_ [Administrator]
Friday, May 08, 2009 @ 2:09:37 AM
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Hmm, Ben...I'm trying to decide if there's a hidden message in there and if I should be offended or not. :)
Ben Dutka PSXE [Administrator]
Friday, May 08, 2009 @ 10:19:26 AM
OriginalSin
Friday, May 08, 2009 @ 2:12:56 AM
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Firstly all the other sites I use to go to was blatantly a "fanboy" site. Didn't matter if it was towards the Xbox,Ps3 or Wii, it was just obvious they favored a certain platform above any other. And therefor I would never get a truly objective review or story that wasn't out to "hurt" the competition.
So the reason I finally registered here was because of the way you guys (Ben,Arnold and John) report on things. I really think you guys are objective and honest about what you write. So I know you call a spade a spade. Therefor I trust your reviews and enjoy your editorials.
You even say when the competition has something great. This is a site dedicated to Playstation, but you still told the truth by saying you have a 360, and that you think Gears 2 rocks. I respected that even thou this is a Playstation site. But you didn't bash Gears 2 just because it was on Microsoft's console. Stuff like that go far with the RIGHT people reading it.
That brings me to my next point. The people on this site is awesome in my opinion. Everyone here especially the more regular posting members are really informed and also not bias or blatantly fanboy. Sure they obviously have their favorite but they "keep it clean" if I can call it that. They write good comment and make very good arguments when needed. And almost every day there is someone or some comment that really make me laugh...
Okay enough now, not trying to l*ck your d*c*s or make you all teary eyed... My point is just that I can come to this site read good articles, reviews, laugh and just be relaxed on a site that I enjoy without nearly having an aneurysm because there is an argument about "how crap MGS4 is and how it's a movie and not a game...blah blah F****** blah".
Not saying all the other sites are like that and sure they have some talented journalist there as well, but unfortunately their reputation also got tarnished by one or two individuals that give journalism a bad name... What makes it even worse is that those hand full of individuals make it hard on ALL gaming journalist on ALL (Gaming) sites.
This situation will most likely remain a problem. These days like you said Ben, almost anyone can write and have a forum or a blog but that in itself creates that problem. So for the really uninformed or young readers they might get to this site or blog and take that persons word as "God", and what he/she says MUST be right. they don't know any better. But still that is what they will then believe...
Okay I'll stop now. I have the habit of yapping on and on.... Should have been a writer ;)
Banky A
Friday, May 08, 2009 @ 2:24:37 AM
Ben Dutka PSXE [Administrator]
Friday, May 08, 2009 @ 10:21:16 AM
OriginalSin
Friday, May 08, 2009 @ 2:54:27 AM
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OverlordZero
Friday, May 08, 2009 @ 3:20:34 AM
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Dancemachine55
Friday, May 08, 2009 @ 3:58:22 AM
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Finally!!! A smart and well thought out place to discuss video games. I was sick of seeing so many biased sites, comments, reviews, etc. against the PS3 when it was uncalled for.
I love that many people here appreciate PS3 for what it does right AND appreciate the Wii and 360 for what it does right as well. No more flaming fanboy comments about how Halo is the greatest game ever or how the PS3 sucks at everything. I think I will feel right at home here.
OriginalSin
Friday, May 08, 2009 @ 3:59:26 AM
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Even if the game wasn't their "type" they will still rate it according to a system. Gameplay, Graphics,Sound and all that. they won't just rate it low if it's a game they usually don't play.
Now you get people like that. they play it for 2 hours in creation mode as you said, and then rate it a 2 because they don't like it but they never looked at what the game had as a whole... Now someone goes and reads that review and then doesn't buy the game just because of that. Who knows that person might have actually really enjoyed that game.
It basically playing 2 hours of FFVII and saying it sucks and rating it a 3... Or giving Killzone 2 a lower score because it doesn't handle like C.O.D... It's not fact or objective but more of a personal preference. And that's not always good, especially if you're a journalist. Personal opinions is not what it's about. Right Ben?
OverlordZero
Friday, May 08, 2009 @ 5:44:46 AM
thepill
Friday, May 08, 2009 @ 4:29:42 AM
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I know there is no shortage of mental midgets ready to climb the proverbial water tower to defend their console of choice, I just wish they would come to grips with the FACT that all THREE consoles have their good points as well as their bad. What appeals to you is just that, and someone else may have different interests, and that's perfectly fine, that's what makes us PEOPLE, and not mindless robots.
These people that HATE on one console over another don't realize that competition breeds new and exciting thing in the gaming industry. If every console fails, except the one YOU like, this industry gets stagnate and will die.
Ben Dutka PSXE [Administrator]
Friday, May 08, 2009 @ 10:24:37 AM
Fane1024
Friday, May 08, 2009 @ 5:02:07 PM
I'm not trying to get political, but (whatever your perspective) you have to recognize politically-motivated, biased rhetoric when you see it.
I mean, they're trying to characterize Obama as a fascist dictator and a socialist at the same time. DOES NOT COMPUTE.
Talk about fanboys.
Last edited by Fane1024 on 5/8/2009 5:07:38 PM
rjmacready
Friday, May 08, 2009 @ 4:47:43 AM
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Douchebaguette
Friday, May 08, 2009 @ 4:49:19 AM
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I used to just google "PS3" in the News section, and of course there would be any proper news from different sources, but sometimes I'd find really bad, biased articles. Obviously I'd question them, but at the time I couldn't help but take in information like that to mind.
Then I joined this site [and bought a PS3] around the same time. I can now read news [and editorials] I'd enjoy reading, knowing it's genuine, whilst playing happily on my PS3, which actually destroys nearly every bad point that anyone said about the system. My days are now good days. Chias, Ben.
www
Friday, May 08, 2009 @ 6:40:15 AM
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BTW once PSX is the only site that keeps backing and speaking the cold hard truth about the PS3 looking the best this year,you're sure to catch flak.Way of the world,"follow the crowd"...."go with the norm",do otherwise and you're an outcast/alien therefore you need to be eliminated.
Ben Dutka PSXE [Administrator]
Friday, May 08, 2009 @ 10:22:40 AM
Powershifter
Friday, May 08, 2009 @ 10:32:08 AM
www
Friday, May 08, 2009 @ 2:17:32 PM
Deadman
Friday, May 08, 2009 @ 7:03:03 AM
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JPBooch
Friday, May 08, 2009 @ 8:40:45 AM
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Jordahn
Friday, May 08, 2009 @ 9:04:12 AM
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Skatejimmy5
Friday, May 08, 2009 @ 10:06:24 AM
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AwRy108
Friday, May 08, 2009 @ 10:16:55 AM
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I also strongly believe that Microsoft--an American company--positions much of its business model around PR, marketing, and slander, rather than around building quality products. Unfortunately, much of the "professional" media bought into this, which is why the PS3 has had to shake off so much negativity. Anyone with half a brain can see that the PS3 offers a much higher standard of exclusive content and inherent value in its hardware, but Microsoft's PR had managed to brainwash much of the general public before the PS3 even had a chance to show its cards.
Case in point: now that the PS3 has finally started to lumber forward, look how much higher the "quality software" bar has been raised. When Microsoft was on its huge marketing push for the 360, all we got was green-and-brown-tinted shooters; whereas SONY is supporting a very diverse, expressive library of games.
Anyway, just my thoughts. I'll always be a PSXE fan and a SONY fan, despite the "popular media" trying to convince me otherwise.
Fane1024
Friday, May 08, 2009 @ 5:12:08 PM
Ben Dutka PSXE [Administrator]
Friday, May 08, 2009 @ 10:28:18 AM
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You guys really do appreciate the work we pump out every day, and you understand that we hold no biases, grudges or whatever. We play games 'cuz we love games. We write about games 'cuz we love games. The reviews are as honest as we can make them and we give credit where credit's due, regardless of the manufacturer or logo on the box. It's that simple. I just wish more outside readers would READ what we wrote, rather than see the name of the site and write entire retarded posts about something we never even said. :(
But like some of you have already written, it's bound to happen and there isn't much we can do about it. Guess we'll just have to keep doing everything as best we can, and hope a few more people recognize what YOU all recognize.
telly
Friday, May 08, 2009 @ 10:31:44 AM
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Are you saying people actual game journalists are giving you grief over your work here? Or are annoying readers identifying themselves as "journalists" and taking you to task? If it's the latter, screw 'em, who cares what someone thinks of you on the internet?
If it's the latter, though, you should take your responsibility as a journalist seriously and call them out for being unprofessional. Watchdogs need to watch each other too, Ben (awesome sports writer Jason Whitlock just had a great column on this very issue.) If you step on a few toes, so be it.
Powershifter
Friday, May 08, 2009 @ 10:34:13 AM
Ben Dutka PSXE [Administrator]
Friday, May 08, 2009 @ 10:38:56 AM
Highlander
Friday, May 08, 2009 @ 11:35:39 AM
I could easily have my own gaming blog, and I could easily re-link dozens of stories a day with a quick one line controversial 'take' on the story in order to generate hits and comments. That's really all that a lot of these so called gaming 'journalists' do.
Then there is another crowd, journalists who have some actual writing credentials but have at some time laid down their journalistic ideals in favor of spin and bias. You can read folks like this all over the net too, Don Reisinger at Cnet comes to mind as an example, although I'm not sure of his journalism credentials. Both of these groups are capable of some truly biased writing, and some truly self important posturing and downright 'fanboy' attitudes. It's not good journalism, it's ego and propaganda.
I wonder whether the worst part for Ben and others like him is that no matter how hard they try to stay clear of the bias, ego and immaturity of the gaming media in general. They are still associated with those things because they are part of the gaming media. They're all tarred with the same brush - so to speak. It's not fair, and it's not right, but it's what happens.
Ben Dutka PSXE [Administrator]
Friday, May 08, 2009 @ 12:32:02 PM
Robochic
Friday, May 08, 2009 @ 10:37:28 AM
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I like this website cause u're not named called as well as i don't get harrassed for being a girl like i do on the GAP, which i stoped going to due to the harrassment and name calling.
Ben and Team great job and keep doing what u're doing. Oh i also only trust this website for reviews or previews on games :)
piratedrunk
Friday, May 08, 2009 @ 10:45:19 AM
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telly
Friday, May 08, 2009 @ 10:47:36 AM
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Again, I know I'm not a game journalist (not yet, anyway:) but I was a reporter for five years and covered some pretty big stuff. I know all too well reporters tend to adhere to the "stop snitching" ethos all too often (paraphrasing from that Whitlock column, check it out everyone!!!!) and there's no reason to be mean for it's own sake. But some of these guys need to be taken DOWN, Ben. And a lot of will gain a new level of respect for you or anyone else who tries to take out these morons.
Shatterday
Friday, May 08, 2009 @ 10:54:03 AM
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Doomsquirrel
Saturday, May 09, 2009 @ 10:55:07 PM
Deathb4Dishonor
Friday, May 08, 2009 @ 1:06:58 PM
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kevyd09
Friday, May 08, 2009 @ 3:19:20 PM
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And the bonus is that the writers care about the stories they are writing about, and they care about games and the readers of this site, how many site's does any1 know of that has the writers responding to the post and comments on the articles that spark a healthy debate? not many i can assure you!
it feels like im coming home into a warm comfy place when i log on to get the latest news and reviews, which may i add are well displayed as other sites seam to have the same articles on their pages for weeks on end and it requires a seach for the lastest news of the day!
Ben and Co. i hope ya all keep up the good work as i shall be a regular vistor for many years to come
Last edited by kevyd09 on 5/8/2009 3:20:25 PM
Ben Dutka PSXE [Administrator]
Friday, May 08, 2009 @ 8:49:28 PM
Alienange
Friday, May 08, 2009 @ 9:20:12 PM
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Truer words have never been spoken... still, my wife catches me laughing every single day and wants to know what's so funny. Every time I tell her it's this great PSXE site... every time.
BikerSaint
Friday, May 08, 2009 @ 10:26:30 PM
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SnipeySnake
Sunday, May 10, 2009 @ 2:56:43 AM
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