Comments on: Gaming Industry Blows Up http://brokentoys.org/2007/12/02/gaming-industry-blows-up/ Random Comments About Games and Tractors Fri, 19 Mar 2010 17:15:42 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: wowpanda http://brokentoys.org/2007/12/02/gaming-industry-blows-up/comment-page-1/#comment-11287 wowpanda Tue, 04 Dec 2007 23:16:30 +0000 http://brokentoys.org/2007/12/02/gaming-industry-blows-up/#comment-11287 I wonder if they will put more pretty graphics in WOW now. Oh maybe the bg will be more like a FPS game? I wonder if they will put more pretty graphics in WOW now. Oh maybe the bg will be more like a FPS game?

]]> By: J. http://brokentoys.org/2007/12/02/gaming-industry-blows-up/comment-page-1/#comment-11317 J. Tue, 04 Dec 2007 21:32:21 +0000 http://brokentoys.org/2007/12/02/gaming-industry-blows-up/#comment-11317 Actually, Ebert & Roeper has been a production of Buena Vista Television, an arm of Disney, for most of its life. I don't think they've ever been accused of giving Disney/Touchstone/Hollywood Pictures/Miramax/whatever properties a break, though. Both Ebert and Roeper (and Gene Siskel, God rest him) are/were newspaper employees whose salaries were paid largely through advertising. Most news/information agencies know how to balance this. Actually, Ebert & Roeper has been a production of Buena Vista Television, an arm of Disney, for most of its life. I don’t think they’ve ever been accused of giving Disney/Touchstone/Hollywood Pictures/Miramax/whatever properties a break, though. Both Ebert and Roeper (and Gene Siskel, God rest him) are/were newspaper employees whose salaries were paid largely through advertising.

Most news/information agencies know how to balance this.

]]> By: Ardanna http://brokentoys.org/2007/12/02/gaming-industry-blows-up/comment-page-1/#comment-11288 Ardanna Tue, 04 Dec 2007 20:53:51 +0000 http://brokentoys.org/2007/12/02/gaming-industry-blows-up/#comment-11288 Yeah... I find the minute by minute (or hour by hour or whatever) report on joystiq's website a little overly dramatic. That seems like an effort better reserved for something a little more serious and than this. I agree with (someone who posted above me) who said "the insanity is in the editorial and reviewing staff being unaware that their industry they work for (Interweb gaming website supported by online ads of which the majority is from gaming companies) - CANNOT SUPPORT HONEST REVIEWS." Yeah... imagine listening to Ebert & Roper's review on "Knocked Up" sponsored by... the guys who made "Knocked Up"! When the report it's witty and well thought out - a raucous riot or whatever other buzz words are used no one is going to take them seriously. Course... if they did say something untoward and then mysteriously were "replaced" it would make their replacements seem even more dubious. It's no different in gaming except that, oh yeah, much of the gaming population buys it. So being that reviews are inherently no trustworthy... do what I do. Download the game first, try it out. If you like it buy, if not delete it. I'm sure I'm not the only one who's sick of buying shitty games you can't return (unlike any other piece of crap product where you can hold the manufacturers accountable on some level). Yeah… I find the minute by minute (or hour by hour or whatever) report on joystiq’s website a little overly dramatic. That seems like an effort better reserved for something a little more serious and than this.

I agree with (someone who posted above me) who said

“the insanity is in the editorial and reviewing staff being unaware that their industry they work for (Interweb gaming website supported by online ads of which the majority is from gaming companies) – CANNOT SUPPORT HONEST REVIEWS.”

Yeah… imagine listening to Ebert & Roper’s review on “Knocked Up” sponsored by… the guys who made “Knocked Up”! When the report it’s witty and well thought out – a raucous riot or whatever other buzz words are used no one is going to take them seriously.

Course… if they did say something untoward and then mysteriously were “replaced” it would make their replacements seem even more dubious.

It’s no different in gaming except that, oh yeah, much of the gaming population buys it.

So being that reviews are inherently no trustworthy… do what I do. Download the game first, try it out. If you like it buy, if not delete it. I’m sure I’m not the only one who’s sick of buying shitty games you can’t return (unlike any other piece of crap product where you can hold the manufacturers accountable on some level).

]]> By: Spatch http://brokentoys.org/2007/12/02/gaming-industry-blows-up/comment-page-1/#comment-11316 Spatch Tue, 04 Dec 2007 14:54:20 +0000 http://brokentoys.org/2007/12/02/gaming-industry-blows-up/#comment-11316 I'd always kind of hoped the Verant Ass Kissers were doing so publically in the hopes that they'd land a GM or Guide position. To think that they may have actually been shills purposefully put in place to bolster "public" sentiment for the company is a bit troublesome but on the other hand a bit hilarious, because they were always so <i>bad</i> at it (the folks who, during Brad McQuaid's tenure, told the haters that The Vision(TM) was good and holy and it was all about a giant world anyway so take your Freeport - Qeynos corpse run and take it like a man, dammit ... and then, once McQuaid was gone and Luclin introduced, kept raving about how awesome it was an how great Planes of Knowledge helped decrease travel time sooooo much, boy those corpse runs don't suck anymore and aren't we relieved!) Regarding online "magazines" and reviews, anybody who doesn't think these presences are revenue-driven is hopelessly optimistic and brother, I believe you. But I've written freelance for several websites on several products. On one site there was an open policy mandating that 3/4 of the reviews be 3 out of 5 stars or higher, and positively described as such. Any reviews less than 3 stars only had a 25% chance of being published and, of course, freelancers only got paid when they got published, and even then getting the beer money out of the business was like pulling teeth with beer money paychecks underneath. "We're in the business to sell this stuff," the editor told me. "We can't afford to continually slag the stuff we have a big 'BUY NOW!' button next to on the review." "Yeah, but our readers will happier knowing which stuff to avoid and which stuff to continually buy," I said naively and altruistically. "Stock is stock," the editor retorted. "We push what we got." I collected my beer money pay and found other things to write for. It wasn't a matter of standing for Honest Review Principles, I just had more fun writing the snarky reviews and if I wasn't gonna be allowed to do that, I'd find another outlet for ad hoc sarcasm and silly references. I’d always kind of hoped the Verant Ass Kissers were doing so publically in the hopes that they’d land a GM or Guide position. To think that they may have actually been shills purposefully put in place to bolster “public” sentiment for the company is a bit troublesome but on the other hand a bit hilarious, because they were always so bad at it (the folks who, during Brad McQuaid’s tenure, told the haters that The Vision(TM) was good and holy and it was all about a giant world anyway so take your Freeport – Qeynos corpse run and take it like a man, dammit … and then, once McQuaid was gone and Luclin introduced, kept raving about how awesome it was an how great Planes of Knowledge helped decrease travel time sooooo much, boy those corpse runs don’t suck anymore and aren’t we relieved!)

Regarding online “magazines” and reviews, anybody who doesn’t think these presences are revenue-driven is hopelessly optimistic and brother, I believe you. But I’ve written freelance for several websites on several products. On one site there was an open policy mandating that 3/4 of the reviews be 3 out of 5 stars or higher, and positively described as such. Any reviews less than 3 stars only had a 25% chance of being published and, of course, freelancers only got paid when they got published, and even then getting the beer money out of the business was like pulling teeth with beer money paychecks underneath.

“We’re in the business to sell this stuff,” the editor told me. “We can’t afford to continually slag the stuff we have a big ‘BUY NOW!’ button next to on the review.”

“Yeah, but our readers will happier knowing which stuff to avoid and which stuff to continually buy,” I said naively and altruistically.

“Stock is stock,” the editor retorted. “We push what we got.” I collected my beer money pay and found other things to write for. It wasn’t a matter of standing for Honest Review Principles, I just had more fun writing the snarky reviews and if I wasn’t gonna be allowed to do that, I’d find another outlet for ad hoc sarcasm and silly references.

]]> By: Bonedead http://brokentoys.org/2007/12/02/gaming-industry-blows-up/comment-page-1/#comment-11290 Bonedead Tue, 04 Dec 2007 14:27:23 +0000 http://brokentoys.org/2007/12/02/gaming-industry-blows-up/#comment-11290 The only reviews/ratings for games I support comes from PKer.org, even though we're all fags. The only reviews/ratings for games I support comes from PKer.org, even though we’re all fags.

]]> By: Ophelea http://brokentoys.org/2007/12/02/gaming-industry-blows-up/comment-page-1/#comment-11289 Ophelea Mon, 03 Dec 2007 22:38:38 +0000 http://brokentoys.org/2007/12/02/gaming-industry-blows-up/#comment-11289 Regarding the Penny Arcade link, they don't just go in and post positively about their clients' products, they also go in and slam the competition. Because they are "trusted" members and do so professionally - ok, maybe not professionally but not as a total moron - people trust their opinion. Viral PR at work. Regarding the Penny Arcade link, they don’t just go in and post positively about their clients’ products, they also go in and slam the competition. Because they are “trusted” members and do so professionally – ok, maybe not professionally but not as a total moron – people trust their opinion.

Viral PR at work.

]]> By: ubvman http://brokentoys.org/2007/12/02/gaming-industry-blows-up/comment-page-1/#comment-11313 ubvman Mon, 03 Dec 2007 20:13:32 +0000 http://brokentoys.org/2007/12/02/gaming-industry-blows-up/#comment-11313 RE: the two links above. Dang! You know what? That kinda explains how there were so many Verant Ass Kissers (VAKs) back in the old days of the EQ whineplay forums... It also kinda explains why there are still so many SOE ass kissers defending the evil empire. RE: the two links above.

Dang! You know what? That kinda explains how there were so many Verant Ass Kissers (VAKs) back in the old days of the EQ whineplay forums…

It also kinda explains why there are still so many SOE ass kissers defending the evil empire.

]]> By: Axecleaver http://brokentoys.org/2007/12/02/gaming-industry-blows-up/comment-page-1/#comment-11312 Axecleaver Mon, 03 Dec 2007 19:56:33 +0000 http://brokentoys.org/2007/12/02/gaming-industry-blows-up/#comment-11312 Everybody knows, in the back of their minds, that there is no integrity in gaming journalism. But it's still shocking to have it confirmed for you in such black and white terms. The best source for honest information on games is your private guild forums or meatspace buddies. Public forums are overrun with paid shills like this: http://www.penny-arcade.com/news/show/21589 http://www.aegmarketing.com Lacking access to your own personal circle of confidants, you're on your own. Everybody knows, in the back of their minds, that there is no integrity in gaming journalism. But it’s still shocking to have it confirmed for you in such black and white terms.

The best source for honest information on games is your private guild forums or meatspace buddies. Public forums are overrun with paid shills like this: http://www.penny-arcade.com/news/show/21589
http://www.aegmarketing.com

Lacking access to your own personal circle of confidants, you’re on your own.

]]> By: Zen of Design»Blog Archive » On Frankness and Other Things http://brokentoys.org/2007/12/02/gaming-industry-blows-up/comment-page-1/#comment-11314 Zen of Design»Blog Archive » On Frankness and Other Things Mon, 03 Dec 2007 19:24:39 +0000 http://brokentoys.org/2007/12/02/gaming-industry-blows-up/#comment-11314 [...] people repeatedly. Lucky attendees got to hear me sing ‘Celebrity Skin’, Scott sing ‘Tom Sawyer’, Will sing ‘Sabotage’, and Brandon sing ‘Run to the [...] [...] people repeatedly. Lucky attendees got to hear me sing ‘Celebrity Skin’, Scott sing ‘Tom Sawyer’, Will sing ‘Sabotage’, and Brandon sing ‘Run to the [...]

]]> By: Octopaganini http://brokentoys.org/2007/12/02/gaming-industry-blows-up/comment-page-1/#comment-11315 Octopaganini Mon, 03 Dec 2007 18:55:26 +0000 http://brokentoys.org/2007/12/02/gaming-industry-blows-up/#comment-11315 ActiBlizzion is clearly the most phonetically pleasing amalgam. ActiBlizzion is clearly the most phonetically pleasing amalgam.

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