260°

How Broken is Game Journalism? An Analysis of Three Gaming Sites

Joseph Jackmovich of gamrFeed analyzes 161 articles from Kotaku, Destructoid, and Joystiq in order to determine the quality of gaming journalism.

He focuses on the problems of misleading headlines, sourcing, sexism, and other topics.

How does your favorite gaming site stack up?

Read Full Story >>
gamrfeed.vgchartz.com
TheGameLlama4886d ago

Totally expectable though... :/

Cevapi884886d ago

only tip of the iceberg, if you ask me

LORD-PHOENIX4886d ago (Edited 4886d ago )

this article comes from vgchartz..

CrzyFooL4886d ago

Is run by Sonic the Hedgehog!!

A HAHA!! A HAHA!! A HAHAHAHAHAHAAAA!!!

ChrisW4886d ago

A better question might be, "How broken is N4G?"

mikeslemonade4885d ago

How broken is gaming journalism? They give GT5 a 86.17 avg. score. That is straight up broken if you ask me.

MegaPowa4885d ago

@mike

That's not broken its just an honest review. Something we need more around here.

HolyOrangeCows4885d ago (Edited 4885d ago )

LOL, they took some of the worst sites to examine possible.

Not to mention, this is made by VGchartz.

Edit: Nice article. Not that I needed this article to know, but LOL @ Kotaku; they're full of crap.

anh_duong4885d ago

new year's resolution for journalist:

stop screwing the readers by over-rating games.. under rating games is not so bad but over rating games is spineless because it screws the people who you ought to really look after

stop prostituting yourself to the games publishers.. for example, stop reviewing games and have adverts for the game on the same page..

stop inciting fanboyism

start playing the games properly before reviewing the games

stop making up news using fictitious sources

impossible tasks?? well we can always wish..

+ Show (6) more repliesLast reply 4885d ago
CrzyFooL4886d ago

those pie charts are HAHlarious.

pixelsword4886d ago

How did my favorite site stack up?

Those three aren't my favorite; not even close.

Godmars2904886d ago (Edited 4886d ago )

Ironic that this is coming from vgchartz who's stories - and numbers - get questioned as much if not more than Kotaku.

@spdk1:
Do you work at vgchartz? Submitted this story? Cause those are the only reason I can think of that someone would call my my comment trolling.

Everytime someone posts numbers from vgchartz, PS3 or 360, the other side calls BS. Its a sad annoying fact of this site.

Duke_Silver4886d ago (Edited 4886d ago )

And this has what to do with anything in the article? quit trolling.

EDIT: you changed what you originally said, but you're still trolling, this is from gamrFeed, one of the sub-sites of VGchartz, not the numbers site. How does whining about numbers make any sense?

I'd like to see one instance of anything that gamrfeed does that is worse than "OMG HERE IS A CELEBRITY NEXT TO AN X-BOX" posted as news from Kotaku.

EDIT: I did not post this story, I just got annoyed by folks brushing this aside without reading it, the guy supported his ideas pretty well. instead I see folks going "lame vgchartz...lol" I actually really like that site and their news blog is one of the better ones out there. these guys get put on NPR, wall street journal, are cited on guiness world records, and fanboys still whine....

Godmars2904886d ago

I read up to the Sterling quote but didn't feel like going over the whole essay.

He's right, gaming "journalism" is wholly compromised, but that nor NPR using them doesn't their rep *Here*. 360 fanboys are going to complain about their PS3 number and PS3 fanboys are going to complain about their 360 numbers. Me, I wonder why it takes their number site months to change console numbers after they've been publicly announced by their companies. And they never seem to match up or even come close.

I'm just annoyed that in accusing me of trolling, of stating the obvious from a site who's reputation isn't perfect, that you're trolling. That the only point of your comment was not only to troll, but to whine because you're a fanboy of that site.

Surly at the very least you have to appreciate that irony...

Duke_Silver4886d ago (Edited 4886d ago )

@ Godmars

that's fine - I fully accept the fact that calling you out was basically counter-trolling, but if you parrot off crap others say without reading an article you are no better than the other patrons of a site in which you so eloquently condemn:

"Everytime someone posts numbers from vgchartz, PS3 or 360, the other side calls BS. Its a sad annoying fact of this site."

I could care less about the popular opinion about a site the writer is from, what I am "whining" about is a general mentality of folks that can't be arsed to read a damn article on here, and seem to share the same opinion just for the sake of "fitting in".

also you keep bringing up "numbers" from this sites sister site, what he crap do they have to do with an article like this, your just finding justification for your post.

ssdninja4886d ago

What's even better is that this article is actually a semester-long final project. Considering I have nothing to do with the numbers of vgchartz, it's even separated further by being something produced not originally intended for the site at all. I wanted to get the research out there so I decided to publish it.

Ironic? Or just jumping to conclusions?

WharenPeace4885d ago

I'm merely curious, why did you not focus on the bigger sites, like IGN and Gamespot (especially since they portray themselves as actual game journalist sites)? I don't think I've ever seen either of the gamer blogs hinting that they were not biassed (or I could be wrong)?

visualb4885d ago

yeah I agree its ironic. but if i'm not mistaken VGChartz is kind of blog based? (ala WordpresS) so anyone can write an article?

I could be wrong...point being, the article does have a point

as I've said, VGCharts loses all credibility when talking about sales or itself.

in this case, it does have a point, and although the chart lacks actual evidence, its pretty obvious:

KOTAKY, DESTRUCTOID AND GAMESRADAR ARE JOKE SITES - they can NEVER be taken seriously. they are retarded blogger fanboys like most users on this site.

if you haven't figured this out by now you are new to gaming websites.

ktchong4886d ago

Haven't paid attention to gaming in a long while.

Let me guess: a high-profile PS3 exclusive has just been released, and it's been receiving less-than-stellar review scores. So now it must be the bias and fault of the "journalists".

Something still stays the same.

Cratos87804886d ago (Edited 4886d ago )

"Let me guess: a high-profile PS3 exclusive has just been released, and it's been receiving less-than-stellar review scores. So now it must be the bias and fault of the "journalists"."

What has Gran Turismo got to with this article, troll?

visualb4885d ago

"Haven't paid attention to gaming in a long while. "

it shows....keep it that way please =| you aren't contributing anything positive.

and next time, read the article instead of being a ***** *** *****

Ponurasky4886d ago

Gaming journalism is broken beyond words. They even shouldn't be called "journalist" in the first place.

Ilikegames764885d ago

More like fanboys masquerading as journalists.

NJShadow4886d ago

What a great write-up! OK, now this is one example of gaming journalism done right. Granted, it has to do with other sites, but this was an excellent read!

suicidalblues4886d ago

Totally agree. One of the best articles written in months.

Show all comments (46)
110°

70 percent of devs unsure of live-service games sustainability

With so many games fighting for players' attention and interest losing out over time, time sink games are at risk of eventually losing steam.

Read Full Story >>
gamedeveloper.com
thorstein7h ago

It was worrisome to begin with.

It's a niche genre with only a handful of hits that can stand the test of time.

CrimsonWing696h ago

What’s to be unsure of!? Look at the ratio of success to failure!

shinoff21835h ago

Yes. Stop all the live service bs.

jznrpg5h ago

Only a few will catch on. You need a perfect storm to be successful in GaaS and a bit of luck on top of that. But a potential cash cow will keep them trying and some will go out of business because of it.

MIDGETonSTILTS174h ago

Helldivers 2 manages just fine…

Keep production costs low… don’t just make custscenes until the mechanics and enemies are perfected first.

Make so much content that you can drip extra content for years, and the game already feels complete without them.

Most importantly: make weapons, enemies, levels, and mechanics that will stand the test of 1000 hours. This might require more devs embracing procedurally generated leveled, which I think separates Helldivers 2 from Destiny’s repetitiveness.

Show all comments (8)
60°

The Battle Pass Is The Worst Thing To Happen To Modern Gaming

Nameer from eXputer: "Some exceptions aside, I don't think the battle pass is a net positive for gaming with how they're implemented in most live service titles."

got_dam9h ago

Battle passes AND meta gaming both.

DivineHand1257h ago(Edited 7h ago)

I like the way Helldivers 2 does battle passes. It allows you to make purchases on each level of the battle pass and gives you the option of choosing which item to unlock first. The more purchases you make using medals the further you progress. There is no timer and you can earn medals towards purchasing stuff via personal orders and Major orders.

I haven't played much live service games that have battle passes but I remember some games that have battle passes where you progress through it linearly using an exp system. What makes it really bad is that the battle pass will have like 50 or more levels with the cooler stuff being closer to the end. They also have an in-game shop that sells exp boosters so you can reach the end of the pass before it refreshes. Everyone ilse will have to grind their way through.

lucian2296h ago

battle pass in fortnite is perfect; buy one and it buys the rest for every other season as it gives you more money than the first cost. so 8.50 and season ends with you getting 13.00, it pays for the next and you have some pocket change to save up for cash shop. All of which is optional

470°

PS5 Pro specs leak video taken down by Sony

Sony is taking actions as video by Moore’s Law is Dead, has been issued with a copyright claim.

Read Full Story >>
videogameschronicle.com
andy851d 2h ago

And people say it's all fake because Sony haven't said anything 😂 conveniently forget the PS4 Pro was only announced 2 months before release.

BeHunted1d 2h ago

It's fake. There's no factual evidence other than his own made up specs.

Hereandthere1d 2h ago

What were the specks Sony was afraid of showing?

Shikoku1d 1h ago (Edited 1d 1h ago )

Digital foundry put a video out saying what he leaked was exactly what they also knew about the PS5 PRO. So no it's not just stuff he made up

Babadook722h ago(Edited 22h ago)

If it’s fake what copyright does MLID infringe upon?

😂

andy8522h ago

Aye because they'd go to the effort of copyright claiming it if it didn't exist 🙃😂 you'd have to be a special kind to be thinking its not a thing by now

Cacabunga21h ago

They need to reveal it with uncharted killzone or a heavy hitter like this

Ironmike21h ago(Edited 21h ago)

U mean the specs that we'll established digital foundry which said these are the actual specs published a video on 2 weeks ago I mean they are only one of most trusted sites for tech information but they just made up a video for the sake of it

Christopher8h ago

I would love for it all to be fake, but lots of people are saying they've seen/heard the same thing. But, man, we 100% don't need mid-gen upgrades when we're failing hard to optimize current hardware.

+ Show (4) more repliesLast reply 8h ago
Seraphim3h ago(Edited 3h ago)

if I recall Sony lowered sales expectations for PS5 earlier this year. if that is the case we won't hear anything about a Pro until next year or shortly before/when it's dropping. After all, if the Pro was dropping this year/fiscal year they wouldn't have lowered expectations.

As for squashing rumors. Yeah, shit like this prevents potential buyers from adopting now, just like slim rumors in the past. It only makes sense to keep things under wraps from a business perspective. Despite living in a technological age of unfettered access to information we don't need to know whats going on behind closed doors be that at Sony, Nintendo, MS, or amongst any development studios. When the steak is done we shall feast.

JackBNimble2h ago

By the time games are actually made to take advantage of the pro spec's the ps6 will be released or close to it.

jznrpg1d 1h ago (Edited 1d 1h ago )

Just announce it already! I want to preorder one asap. But in reality they don’t want to lessen PS5 sales until Pro is ready to launch so I understand the business part of it. September is probably when they announce it with an early November launch like the PS4 Pro

Ironmike21h ago

Pro won't lessen sales sames ps4 pro never and the ps4 pro was more relevant at the time cos move to 4k this not needed

RaidenBlack15h ago(Edited 15h ago)

Yea, my brother got his PS4 (coz of a good deal) after the PS4 Pro's release.

darthv7211h ago

^^same here. I got a base 4 for only $100 off a guy who bought the Pro. then a few months later I found a guy on craigslist selling a pro for $100 because it was left behind by his former roommate who moved out. That was the beginning of my obsession to buy up the different variants of the PS4 that were released.

As of now I am really only missing the 500m one and the gold slim but otherwise I have pretty much all the other retail ones. https://consolevariations.c...

crazyCoconuts4h ago

Anyone with 4K that appreciates 60fps is gonna disagree about it not being needed.
DLSS is a god send for Nvidia, and there's been nothing like it for AMD...yet ...

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 4h ago
DeadlyFire9h ago

They will announce it around E3 timeframe about May-June whenever they do a showcase for the year.

neutralgamer19921d 1h ago

Just announce it this thing will sell well

Ironmike21h ago(Edited 21h ago)

I don't think it will pll still haven't seen the potential of ps5 yet

Cacabunga8h ago

agreed, but it might sell if they announce some 1st party games to lead the way. if people see the difference with the base version they can move on. for my sake I am still gaming mainly on PS4 (still not finished with RDR2 due to lack of gaming time). I have a huge backlog on PS5 I am hoping to get into.

mark3214uk17h ago

why? game makers havnt even come close to maxing out current spec yet, were getting al lthese new TFlops and game maker are making crappy remakes not worthy of the ps3

Minute Man 72112h ago

The guts of the 5 and X are 5 years old

fr0sty5h ago

People keep saying that, yet we still have games running at near HD resolutions, 30fps, and ray tracing features turned off.

PRIMORDUS22h ago(Edited 22h ago)

I would take that video and upload a torrent of it, fuck that copyright bullshit. If your going to do something that has a chance of being taken down, make a torrent first share it. Then Sony or any other company is helpless and you can laugh in their faces, taunting them to try to take it down 🤣

LoveSpuds15h ago

With kind of analysis and advice, you could be a lawyer for Trump!🤣

tronyx1215h ago

As much as the PS4 Pro didn't represent a major % in the playerbase, announcing a 'better' model will hinder sales from the 'base' model. They are right, business-wise.

Show all comments (36)