230°

A brief note about the continued discussion about Kotaku's approach to reporting

After a week of bashing the gaming community about issues unrelated to concerns that we've all had about the integrity of video game journalism and the sometimes "incestuous" relationship between developers and journalists, Stephen Totilo from Kotaku has finally addressed these concerns with a post on Kotaku.

The site now promises more clarity and transparency for readers regarding the relationships that some writers may share with the development (and/or publishing) communities.

This news forges a proper step in the right direction that gamers are seeking from the outlets that provide them with the news and information relating to the products and culture that they enjoy.

-Foxtrot3531d ago

"I believe you readers want the same thing my team, without exception, wants: a site that feels bullshit-free and independent, that tells you about what's cool and interesting about gaming in a fair way that you can trust."

LOL

Yeah I'm sure you guys do

Baka-akaB3530d ago

You'd have to fire everyone and make a whole new site for that

Eonjay3530d ago (Edited 3530d ago )

Exactly. Its too late when they have used their power to target, hurt, or give gifts for sexual favors.

They gets no clicks from me.

Baka-akaB3530d ago

It goes beyond that appalling affair , Kotaku have been useless to gaming in general for a long time . They were never an unbiased or reliable source of infos , they'd always follow the lead on the "trendy to bash" hype train , when not flat out starting it .

And pretend their reviews is less full of crap than the others , because they dont feature a score

xHeavYx3530d ago

Feels like he said a lot about nothing

morganfell3530d ago

Just drop off the radar Kotaku, you bunch of untalented hacks. You have used your magic wand so many times to damn companies and games you didn't like and all without justification. Now you smug bastards won't even admit what a mess you have made, will not come clean and seriously apologize for the tons of incidents over a period of years, driven solely by your ego and you want a clean slate so you can go back to business as usual?

Hell No.

Your pretended rockstar days are over. I hear the local Denny's is hiring.

NukaCola3530d ago

Current story on Kotaku's front page..

"This GoPro video shows Christian Yellott zipping through the incredible narrow canyons of Lake Powell but if I squint a little bit, I can convince myself that I'm watching kid Anakin podracing in Tatooine. Either way, it's pretty awesome."

THANKS FOR THE QUALITY NEWS KOTAKU! /s

guitarded773530d ago

You have to destroy FOX News financially. They were the damn breaker that brought the money train to news/journalism. Since then, we have seen things as disgusting as editorial advertising. There has almost always been some sort of bias in media, it's just at a point now where we cannot believe anything anymore, or question the intentions of the source.

+ Show (3) more repliesLast reply 3530d ago
Baccra173530d ago

It would be nice if certain game sites could be blacklisted from N4G, that would send a message.

-Foxtrot3530d ago

They probably can but it's like higher ups on here don't want to

They said something a while a go about down voting it as a community but the amounf of down votes its probably got it should of been blacklisted by now

morganfell3530d ago (Edited 3530d ago )

I recieved a PM from Cat that promised more control was coming to the community but that never happened. It was one of those remarks designed to calm you down until you forget. Well I didn't...

How many people here would be interested in a site where you actually could, by sheer user votes, control whether a story appears on the main page? How many people here would like a site where links repeatedly shown to be FUD, such as vgchartz would be banned? A site where personnel by vote could be given guest mod privledges for a period of 2 weeks? A site where game reviews were laid out with detailed guidelines and standards rather than some highschoolers opinions and such reviews were site published based on user voting?

iamnsuperman3530d ago (Edited 3530d ago )

@morganfell

There is a huge problem with that idea. It would create a website that is heavily bias to one side with no hope of returning to any form of balance. It would be very incestrial that would not allow a conflicting opinion to migrate here. We see the problem already with the Lame report function. People report lame when they disagree. Imagine the ramifications of allowing sheer votes to decide which websites are banned. Positive articles about the less popular devices would be pushed aside in favour of websites that run positive articles about the most popular device. That would descend the website into focusing on one platform and be no better than all the other websites out there.

That is not a good system. Mods are needed to keep the peace (as it were) and such an idea of yours would drive more users and articles from across different platforms/opinions away (which is something N4G isn't about despite what people may say). I would create a bubble of a single minded view point

morganfell3530d ago (Edited 3530d ago )

Did I not say there were mods there? Also it isn't strictly a one to one voting. But what you will not have is the tripe that goes on here where stories are published depsite their being repeatedly packed with lies all because this site takes a payoff from such individuals. Apparently many people have forgotten about news and journalism that serves the public and the gamer rather than themeselves.

And how could a site not have articles about various devices when it has various sections? How could a site have a less popular device discussed when it is popular enough for voting? You see the issue here is the approval system for members is absurd allowing multiple accounts from users as well. Several sites have fixed this issue quite nicely. You can do that when your goal is not web traffic but rather community service.

And I would rather act and have to make some adjustments as we learn the best way to run the site than sit around and do nothing.

DeadMansHand3530d ago

@morgenfell. Sounds like you need to come to NeoGAF. Your comments are always articulate and backed up rather than drivel with no logic or reason. I've been there for a year now and I only come here to remind myself of what idiots can do when left unregulated and to see how many more tweets DualShockers are reporting as "news".

Mods here let the inmates run the asylum. It will never change until they start making policy changes and enforcing them.

+ Show (2) more repliesLast reply 3530d ago
Back-to-Back3530d ago (Edited 3530d ago )

They're still a trash site. Who here remembers the fake GT5 loading times? Bottom line is they have zero journalistic integrity.

#BoycottKotaku

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 3530d ago
iamnsuperman3531d ago (Edited 3531d ago )

This is something they should have done from the beginning. I can't believe it takes the backlash of the community to make them see this. It is like amature hour. Even as reporters you must keep impartial. Any evidence of conflicts of interest should never happen in the first place (i.e. you, as writers, should never put yourself in positions where this could be raise). You shouldn't be supporting patreons or kickstarters if it is your job to report on such things.

You and other sites have lost your integrity and credibility for something so careless. You will have to earn it back

WilliamUsher3530d ago

I agree and disagree about the Kickstarters -- as a gamer I feel it's the duty of the community to do all that they can to help see some of these titles come to life because the POS publishers don't care.

If I had $10k to donate to something like Mighty No. 9 I would do it in an instant. If I were writing for one of the larger sites and I wrote about the game, I do feel that that should be made known, but it doesn't take anything away from the site or the coverage since without the support of the community (both for media marketing and financial backing) some of these games just wouldn't exist.

I do think that transparency is what's key, though. And making these things obvious enough so readers have an idea of where everyone stands on the board.

If the readers request that a certain writer not write about a game they backed on Kickstarter then it's something the publication should take into consideration.

But shacking up with devs and then reporting on their game(s) is a huge no-no. That's just crossing the line.

iamnsuperman3530d ago

Though directly funding a game and the reporting on it brings a credibility issue (even if they make it clear that they have funded the game). It is important to just avoid that situation all together. I get it they may be big fans but at the end of the day their job depends on their continued credibility. Openness is a must but avoiding a situation in the first place should take priority.

Joe9133530d ago (Edited 3530d ago )

I think it depends on if it is a review or not because if it is then the writer's opinion is worthless because they are funding the game how hard could it be to avoid the bs by having someone not funding a game review it sounds simple to me but I see nothing wrong with writing about the game you are funding just to get awareness.

rainslacker3530d ago

Most journalistic entities of good reputation often take on causes or promote things that their target audience may like to support. I don't feel that gaming should be excluded from doing so.

I don't believe that funding or promoting a game through a publication is a bad thing. The issue comes from doing so in a way that isn't transparent.

They shouldn't at any time make it where it's underhanded. If they review the game, they should disclose in the review that they promoted the game. They should disclose that KickStarter is not a guarantee of success to those that may donate because of their articles, and they should at least have a link to an article on the pros and cons of kickstarter.

So really the key thing to take away is to remain transparent on their support at all times, so the reader can decide what is best.

Godmars2903530d ago

So, weeks after the fact and when it was likely best to put themselves before it, Kotaku's addressing thing.

The heat must still be rising. Their traffic falling.

WilliamUsher3530d ago (Edited 3530d ago )

There's already groups working together to spread the word on how to affect traffic for the larger sites.

You can learn more from this comment here:
http://www.escapistmagazine...

The entire thread is pretty useful. (comes from this page here)
http://www.escapistmagazine...

---

That's just a start. 4chan is also working hard to get the ball rolling, too. Reddit is still somewhat on lockdown so I doubt they can "witch hunt" quite in the same way but hopefully they'll pick it up and spread the word.

EdoubleD3530d ago (Edited 3530d ago )

We have to keep putting the pressure on them, it ain't done yet. Remember they're not the only ones.

pwnsause_returns3530d ago (Edited 3530d ago )

Don't even dare give em a click... Just move on...keep pressuring them...

Show all comments (39)
240°

Microsoft’s Surface and Xbox hardware revenues take a big hit in Q3

Microsoft just posted the third quarter of its 2024 fiscal financial results. The software maker made $61.9 billion in revenue and a net income of $21.9 billion during Q3. Revenue is up 17 percent, and net income has increased by 20 percent.

Read Full Story >>
theverge.com
darthv7220h ago

Xbox content + services up 62% while hardware down 31%... seems about right with the way they tout you don't need the hardware to play. People can play on their phones or smart tv or other means. I don't hardly play on my consoles directly since getting devices like the logitech g-cloud and ps portal. Which is to also say I have been playing more digital than physical because of these devices.

solideagle7h ago

you should apply in MS PR team buddy, I think you will do a great job in my humble opinion :)

Sonic18815h ago

I thought darthv72 and Obscure_Observer already work for Microsoft 🤔

dveio4h ago

MS: "Xbox services and content without AB up 1%, with AB up 62%. Hardware down 31%. In total a loss of 350 mill."

darthv72: "Seems about right."

MS: "Excuse m ..."

darthv72: "I don't hardly play on my consoles directly."

MS:

Cacabunga7h ago

I can tell people like you are an absolute minority..

If service is up means their fans and fanboys accepted this model and subscribed to it. The near future you will see a big decline because the service is saturated.

shinoff21836h ago

But that's been ms for years. When things aren't going their way they try to change the way things are said. For instance console sales are down, they stop telling how many sold instead telling us how many hours spent in halo or headshots. So it makes sense console sales down just say people are playing on more devices then previous. What they won't say is how many xbox players jumped ship to ps5.

Cacabunga5h ago

Hardware sales are so bad that Sony and Nintendo are blowing the sales off the water with their hardware.

If Xbox are losers, others aren’t..
Xbox already tried everything with Xbox live then subscriptions went down so much that they had to find something else. Their fans subscribed then reached saturation rather quickly.

Hardware and exclusive games is where it’s at! Keep gamers excited, announce decent software and people will support you

itsmebryan1h ago

@shin
Well keep it simple Sony 's operating income is down 26% and Microsoft's is up 32%. No MS spin there, just facts. 😉
Cheers

romulus234m ago

Odd that a company that touts you dont need the hardware to play is already touting another console in the works.

+ Show (2) more repliesLast reply 4m ago
purple1019h ago

Xbox hardware revenue tanks to lowest point of Xbox Series generation

Profchaos9h ago

I'm not surprised surface is struggling they aren't relevant anymore

XBManiac8h ago

Too expensive hardware when others offer the same or more for less? Good work, Green Team.

SimpleDad8h ago(Edited 8h ago)

"Despite some early successes for Xbox games on rival platforms, Xbox hardware is down by a massive 31 percent this quarter."
"Without Activision Blizzard, Microsoft’s overall gaming revenue would have actually declined this quarter."
"Xbox content and services would have only been up a single percent without Activision Blizzard..."
"It looks like next quarter is going to be a similar story for gaming at Microsoft, too."

That is crazy... so A/B/K is carrying the whole Xbox gaming.
Oh and Microsoft will be fine. Windows, Office and Cloud are growing with each pc purchase.

purple1018h ago

Activision: "we gonna need a bigger rucksack/backpack please"

Microsoft: "why's that"

Activision: "to carry yo' weak ass'

Profchaos7h ago(Edited 7h ago)

Top brass have also wanted to start seeing returns on the 100 billion they have put into various Xbox related moves so seeing more multiplatform games is highly likely especially from abk

It's basically saying that PlayStation is the reason Xbox is afloat right now thinks to Ps5 versions of COD

Kornholic6h ago

So basically PS and PC gamers' money is keeping Xbox on life support.

Show all comments (27)
140°

Why Monopolies In Gaming Must Not Be Allowed

As of right now, there are no monopolies in the games industry, and for the sake of the medium as a whole, they never should either.

thorstein19h ago

Shouldn't be allowed in any field.

Inverno15h ago

And yet the biggest tech companies in America are essentially that. They buy up all the small comps only to kill them off and steal what they have, and if they can't buy em they bleed them to death.

jwillj2k414h ago

Eventually they’ll realize the value is with the employee not the company. Buying an IP means nothing if the people who contributed are let go. They’ll get it one day.

MrCrimson13h ago

tech is different because they buy threats and then kill them. Twitter bought Vine and did nothing with it. Despite people seemingly liking it. Could've had tiktok a decade before bytedance. go figure.

Zenzuu14h ago

Monopolies shouldn't be allowed regardless. Not just for gaming.

MrCrimson13h ago

They buy IPs not talent. That's why these buyouts never work and the IPs die. Right now it's too expensive to develop games - but I expect that to shift maybe as AI tools can make it easier. The best games have been indie games for awhile as big developers fuck their ips to death with "games as a service" -

70°

The INDIE Live Expo 2024 event is to feature over 100 game titles

INDIE Live Expo, Japan’s premiere online digital showcase series , will debut never-before-seen games & content updates across more than 100 titles on May 25th.