Adam “The sky is falling!” Sessler

I used to respect him as a game journalist, I really did. I used to watch X-Play all the time back in the day (I love you Morgan Webb!). I watched that show back when it was on Tech TV, before G4TV even existed (I also watched it on G4).

Lately he's lost all credibility and any respect he once had from me. I knew he was always biased in favor of Xbox, but that never bothered me. Everybody has a preference, even people with all consoles have that one that they hold a little more dear. There's absolutely nothing wrong with that, it all comes down to personal preference and experiences with said console. But lately I'm wondering if it's just a matter of simple preference or something more, but I digress, I'll get into that later. Let's get on with this rant..

It started with his FUD, doom and gloom twitter freak-out. You are a journalist, it is your job to provide us as the consumer with information that others in the industry might not be willing to share. People follow you on twitter and youtube and everywhere else that you want to give us info. If you have some kind of issue that doesn't effect us or that you don't want to openly speak about then don't post vague things that can incite paranoia or uncertainty in your fan-base without at least shedding some light for them on the issues at hand. It's not fair to keep us, your supporters, in the dark. I understand there are some things that don't need to be said to us, but that's just it, then don't post it on SOCIAL media for the whole world to see.

These are things that should have been shared between you and your peers privately. You also posted just barely enough info on the ordeal that everybody knew who it was that you were having issues with, while also being so vague and depressing that it actually seemed like a legit thing to be worried about. That is also not fair as it leads to uncertainty in a company's practices, when nobody actually even knew what issue was in the first place.

Then the hypocrisy and contradictions ensue. At the Screw Attack convention after E3 he openly stated how important 1080p 60fps is, he mocked consoles for not having this as a standard. Just the other day he posted a new video called “Resolution Gate” about how resolution and what-not doesn't really matter because he's seen games that were 720p that he wouldn't be able to tell if they were 1080p or not. A total contradiction of what he said right after E3...

Something doesn't add up, I was hoping when he released his next video he would clarify that things with Twittter and what-not got blown out of proportion. I was hoping he would earn my respect for him as a journalist back. Instead I got nothing, he acted like nothing even happened and on top of it totally contradicted something that he was so passionate about earlier this year. The hypocrisy was staggering. I actually wonder how his reaction would've been if it would've gone exactly this way, but from the other side. I genuinely wonder if he would've openly, even blatantly, criticized Sony for this if the shoe was on the other foot.

These events have actually made me wonder if there is more than just a simple little bias or preference for him. I mean look, his show was called “X”-play, the website he works for now has this as a logo: http://cdn.shopify.com/s/fi...
Now, what does a green “X” conjure up in your mind as far as consoles go? Now I admit, I might be reaching here and I might need to take off my tinfoil hat, but after everything that's gone down lately I legitimately question whether he just prefers Microsoft or whether he's a paid shill.

[fenome]

I would've posted this back when it happened so it would be more relevant, but I didn't know how to post a blog..

[Hatsune-Miku]

I believe he probably got paid by Microsoft for his resolutiongate video. I cant believe how one can go from saying 1080p @ 60fps should be standard on next gen to saying that its perfectly ok to have 720p @ 30fps and how he cant discern a difference. His contradiction is like two months later right along with other apologists saying that 720p is totally ok for next gen consoles.

Within the past month there has been a spate of industry insiders and fanboys alike apologizing and saying that 720p is ok on xbox one and how it doesnt matter that the ps4 is more powerful.

[xHeavYx]

What pisses me of is that he hasn't acknowledged this issue. He is probably waiting for people to just forget about it

[sAVAge_bEaST]

Agreed, Sessler showed his paid shill colors, over the course of this last month.

[fenome]

@xHeavYx

That's what pissed me off the most about the whole thing! He never once just cleared the air, or anything. He just acted like nothing ever happened and swept it under the rug. Everything's all gravy now, he got his engraved PS4 like the rest of the media. It's pathetic, I was honestly hoping he'd clear the air.. at least on twitter, that's where this BS all got started BY HIM in the first place..

Guess we're just not even worth his time on explaining his situation... whatever...

[Kryptix]

I got this feeling Microsoft sent him a free Xbox One with a lot of other goodies and a note that says, "you know what to do." lol

[dedicatedtogamers]

It wasn't just Resolutiongate. He has always been needlessly critical of Sony while brushing off similar concerns when it comes to Microsoft. He makes a habit of creating controversy out of thin air by the way he reports rumors.

When the Xbox One was revealed, he was standing on the front lines to defend the Xbox One, even going so far as to make up weird comparisons (like saying the PS4 was actually as expensive as the Xbox One) or letting Microsoft off the hook for their behavior.

[_FantasmA_]

Sorry but 720p may look good to this blind fanboy right now, but what about in 2,3 or even 5 years. Launch games never look that good, but wait a few years and they will blow your mind. Plus with 4k and technology moving at light speed, 720p won't look like its HD anymore pretty soon. He must have been offered a lifetime supply of Doritos to be a puppet.

[JakemanPS31994]

At the end your really grasping at straws for the whole Microsoft/Xplay/Rev3 X conspiracy....

[fenome]

I agree, and I do admit to this. It's just hard not to scrutinize him after everything he's done lately. Plus, it was brought to my attention that Xplay actually stands for "extended" play. I just figured that if he gets to rant and rave like a lunatic, then so do I.

[Fireseed]

You want a video clarifying why those journalists were having an issue? It's not Adam Sessler but Marcus Beer did cover it.

http://www.youtube.com/watc...

[fenome]

Thanks for the vid! Haven't seen that one yet. Here's another good one about what happened and also the secrecy and information control in the game industry

http://www.youtube.com/watc...

[Fireseed]

Was just about to post that video as well! But yeah the whole level of secrecy Adam kept it made things a much bigger issue than it had to be. But at the end of the day I can understand why he was so panicked.

[Sleet]

Sessler is a classic example of someone dissapearing up their own ass. He seems to be conflicted by what he wants to be true and what reality is which is why he is having these contradictody meltdowns.

I think that at E3 he had heard from MS that 1080p 60fps was what they were aiming for with the xbone and so he backed his favourite horse and did his first speech about how that should be the standard. Now thats gone tits up he is trying to backpeddle much like the other MS employees did.

[jessupj]

I think I speak for most people here when I say that we will be disregarding any of his future reviews.

It's very disappointing when so called professional journalists act this way. He acts like a childish little fanboy because his preferred console isn't performing too well at the moment and than he has the audacity to compare gamers to chemical weapon dealers when they call out his blatant hypocrisy.

Like the blog says, it's perfectly ok to have a bias, but when you're a game journalist you're job is to be as objective as humanly possible and give the gamers the facts and your professional (not personal) opinion while not letting your bias interfere.

The hypocrisy of Sessler is really astounding. I really hope people don't forget this and hold Sessler accountable until he admits his childish behavior and apologises.

Even if he does that though, for me he's still lost all his credibility, but if he does admit his mistakes at least I can have a very very small amount of respect for him as a human being.

[starchild]

You fanboys are the hypocrites, but you are so blinded by your own bias that you can't see it.

People essentially have to share your radical fanboy perspectives in order to be "objective" in your eyes.

He's far more objective than any of you fanboys can ever hope to be.

[evenstar]

@starchild
Funny that the tone of your comment and repeated use of the word 'fanboy' makes you look far less than objective.

[jessupj]

Wow.

People say some stupid things on here, but that was one of the stupidest comments I have ever read.

Sesslers hypocrisy is so obvious and clear and to say he's actually objective... you seriously must have a medical learning disability.

http://www.youtube.com/watc...

I seem to be having to use this link a lot lately. I think the more bad press microsoft gets in the lead up to launch the more stupid fanboys get.

I'm very curious though, where in my comment did I come anything close to hypocrisy. I'd love to hear how you got to that conclusion. And how about this time you have an actual structured argument.

[starchild]

I've seen enough hypocrisy from you and the rest of the Sony fanatics on N4G and other sites to last three lifetimes.

To see people like you talk about objectivity or hypocrisy is truly ironic and laughable.

I'm not getting either upcoming console, but I recognize people's right to game on whichever platform(s) they choose. I also understand that there are valid reasons to game on any of the platforms currently or soon to be available, whether it's PC, Wii, PS3, 360, Wii U, PS4, XB1, 3DS, Vita, Android, iOS, Ouya or any other platform.

The fanboys on N4G don't understand that, and they can't see how terribly biased they really are. Trying to have a rational discussion with people that are that wedded to a piece of plastic is a lost cause.

[Imalwaysright]

@ starchild Fanboys are hypocrites, I would never deny it and that is pretty much what can be expected from them but them being hypocrites doesn't excuse Sessler's hypocrisy. I also find funny that in your mind only "sony fanatics" are questioning Sessler's integrity.

Ultimately I agree with Sessler: it is all about the games but after what he said after EA and knowing very well that there are paid "opinions" on gaming "journalism" it will be hard for me to trust him as someone that gives his honest unbiased opinion.

[MysticStrummer]

I never respected him as a game journalist, I just put up with him to watch Morgan Webb.

[MidnytRain]

That is so @$$backwards.

[MysticStrummer]

Why? I didn't say I respected her as a game journalist any more than him.

[MidnytRain]

I know you didn't, but maybe you're just the kind of guy who prefers to watch women with the shoulders of a linebacker.

[MysticStrummer]

lol I honestly never noticed that, but of all the areas on a woman's body her shoulders are pretty far down on the list of potential deal breakers.

[GeisT]

I love how the console isn't even out yet and you kids want to declare a winner based on nothing except tech specs for a few launch titles. So a few games aren't 1080p who cares? The original 360 titles looked like dump and that console stomped the PS3. I also love how people aren't allowed to change their opinion about anything in gaming or else they are automatically wrong about everything. I'm pretty sure Mr. Sessler has spent more time with nextgen consoles than any of you, and to be honest his biggest message so far about the next generation has been to quit the fanboyism and wait and see until after we have our PS4s and Xbox Ones in our hands.

[fenome]

Are you replying directly to my blog or just saying this in general? If you're responding directly to me, then "kid" doesn't cut it 'cause I'm 32. I'm also not trying to declare a "winner" I don't care who wins the race, I don't have stocks invested. I also directly say that it doesn't matter what you game on. Everybody is going to have different preferences and tastes when it comes to gaming, to each their own. I still own my NES, SuperNes, and Sega. Why would it affect me that other people game on other consoles other than what I like?

I just want more out of "professional" journalists, that's all. Look at what just happened with polygon. The guy that they had review Killzone Shadowfall had it out for it before it was even announced
http://i.imgur.com/SnauxLw....

He had his fingers crossed it wasn't going to be another Killzone. He doesn't like Killzone, who cares? That's all fine and dandy, but why the hell would you get him to review the game when you know all he's going to do is bash it? I'm not saying reviewers should only review games that they like, but to purposely go in with pre-conceived notions with bad intent and getting paid for it is closer to slander in my book. I just expect more integrity I guess. Their voices actually get heard, I deal with enough 'fanboys' as it is in comment threads, I guess I just expect more out of professionals who get paid for this..

[ruefrak]

I never understood how this guy was where he was. He talks like a spastic ten year old, and when your job is to talk for a living, that's not a good thing. But whatever, I could deal with it.

Then there was the "bro's before ho's" incident where the noble Adam Sessler came to the defense of women everywhere. He was all in a tizzy because of a misogynistic trophy name, despite the fact that the WOMAN who wrote the trophy name was by no means offended by it. In fact, she thought it was funny. But our dear Adam was too busy feeling offended for women everywhere to check on that.

And lastly there was his secret tirade on Twitter about how his career was doomed because of something one of the console makers was doing (presumably Sony). Now I don't know what he was referring to, but after not seeing the live-streaming function of the PS4 in action, I agree with him. His career is doomed. There is now no longer a need to watch this guy when everyone now has the tools to broadcast their games to a wide audience. I have a feeling it's going to change everything in this business.

[ZombieGamerMan]

I really hate how you people jump on Adam calling him biases cause "gasp" he likes more than one system. Look Adam ain't biased. If he was he wouldn't have given The Last of Us a 5 out of 5 and this is the guy who had an issue with a GoW trophy.

I don't always agree with his views like the afford mention trophy but I don't go claiming he bats for the green team simply because his opinions aren't like mine.

Plus he gave Shadow Fall a 4 out of 5 and gave a good review of it, and if he does come off as a Xbox One promoter its definitely not because MS slipped him some Bills but because our community is filled with dumbass fanboys that pledge allegiances to their entertainment systems and denounce other systems at every turn.

I'm a PS3 owner whose upgrading to a PS4 and I have no intention in giving MS my money until they prove to me they have earned it so I am not an Xbox supporter. I'm simply a gamer and have been since they day my dad bought me a Super Nintendo.