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International | Feature

Feature: Video Game Journalism Demystified

Feature by Blake Snow | 06/19/2007 | 11:35:17 AM PST

Game journalism sometimes gets a bad rap, but many of the worst accusations aren't based in reality. Here are eight of the most popular myths about game reporting...and what really happens behind the scenes.

8. Video game journalists aren't as responsible as traditional media.

Conventional wisdom suggests that most gaming journalists are uninspired, inconsistent, overly sensationalistic, or even fail to fact check before running a story. While some outlets are more irresponsible than others, this isn't the case across the board. Game journalism didn't get where it is today by being inaccurate and irresponsible. Additionally, widespread video game coverage has existed no longer than 20 years since the late 80s. While the media is anything but nascent, it still has its growing pains. Was the mainstream media as reliable as they are today? Not likely. This same is true of video game journalists.

The Verdict: It depends on the publication and the reporter, but more often than not, game journalists are right up there with most media in terms of credibility.

7. Gaming outlets are in bed with game companies.

It's no surprise that journalists enjoy behind the scene access to game makers. It's their job to. However, it has been long rumored that those relationships get compromised when game makers threaten to pull advertising or deny exclusive previews if a certain game isn't guaranteed a favorable review score. Basically, game companies like to have a hand in how a game gets critiqued due to the influential nature of reviews. While I'm sure the line has been crossed in some form or another in the past, I think the buying public does a good job keeping any offenders in check, especially considering how fast information travels on the Internet.

The Verdict: Game journalists usually keep things professional, but better disclosure and publicly stated policies should be used to deter desirous publishers and in helping gamers gauge critical bias, if any.

6. Game reporting is too sensationalistic.

Drama is an easy sell. There's no denying that the gaming media use overly dramatic headlines and unnecessary teasers in an effort to boost viewer ship. Sample: "Halo 3 Gets Delayed!" only to quickly find out upon reading the article that game is merely being released a few hours later than originally expected. And just thinking about lame April Fools jokes makes us throw up a little in our mouths. Fortunately, however, tasteless headlines and pranks appear to be on their way out, at least in widespread form. And let's not forget that traditional media have also been criticized for exploiting the positive commercial effects of hyperbole, so everyone is a little guilty in this regard.

The Verdict: Though gaming isn't immune in being tempted by headlines that sell, this is common practice in media nowadays. Plus, the overall trend is looking up.

5. Game journalism only adds to the hype.

The last thing a gamer needs is someone telling him how "incredible" a game is without merit. Despite inflation and rising prices, $50-60 bucks is still a sizable amount of money to drop on a game, so gamers need journalists help to determine if a game is worth their time. A large criticism of everyday game journalism is that many times we just echo what a game company tells us to when previewing a new game. You need not look far to find some cliched game preview peppered with over-the-top promises that tell the gamer relatively little about the actual gameplay experience.

So why is this type of reporting so common? Because companies typically release very little information when announcing a game; a name, a date, a platform, and lots of promises are par for the course. It's challenging enough to dispense little-known information without resorting to press-fed statements to pad the news. Still, reporters should be astutely aware of press talk and filter it out as much as possible when delivering the news.

The Verdict: Sometimes, but only out of a sincere love for games and when faced with little or no available information beyond what a company divulges.