Interview: GameTrailers Explains GRID Controversy

There's been a lot of controversy surrounding GameTrailer's comparison video of Race Driver: GRID, which pitted the PlayStation 3 version up against ... um ... the PlayStation 3 version. Is the site horrifically biased? On Microsoft's payroll? Joystiq spoke with GameTrailers Editor In Chief, Shane Satterfield, to clear up the matter.

[Blademask]

Joystiq is in the same boat as far as I care.

keep pretending that any of these sites dont have a clear sony bias.

[sonarus]

GT is alright. I like GT...leave em alone:(

[rucky]

I like GT too but I just don't trust em when it comes down to comparisons which is a retarded cause it's only a major flamebait if you ask me.

[zapass]

N4G sponsors: time to launch GAMETUBE!
we don't need no stinking 'game journalists' giving their opinions (like we even care!!). we just need a video feed of a game to know if it's worth downloading the demo: period!

hey Blademask, welcome back buddy =)

[Time Lord]

underneath every multiplatform game video.

[Fat Bastard]

"Why do you hate the PlayStation SO MUCH? How much does Microsoft give you?"

Haha, lmao, that was effin funny. And if it was a mistake, why would one version of the PS3's footage look worse than the other footage? Cause they're a bunch of jackasses, that's why

[Timesplitter14]

yeah and I don't buy the "was not a games person" crap

[Real Gambler]

"Wouldn't it be nice if we lived in a world where people just enjoyed video games regardless of what platform they're released for?"

If true, his web site would just close down. The more hits he get, the more money he make. So how could he honestly say something like that! Everytime there's one pixel difference, he is getting thousand hits. So making sure that a PS3 video look worst than the same PS3 video is a sure way to get hits, no matter what he say. Poor guy.

[PSN-JeRzYzFyNeSt]

"It blows my mind and saddens me that people took the time to go in and doctor our original piece of media to make us look worse."

Awww i feel for you guys. NOT!!

next time look over your work so this doesnt happen again.. and im not buying this BS

give me bubbles i need it thx =]

[Condoleezza Rice]

And that ^,ladies and gentlemen,is their official damage control.

[niall77]

I guess not recording PS3 over hdmi was a "mistake" to

and not turning the ps3s RGB on even after you where called out on it is just another "mistake" right?

[season007]

apparently someone who is not interested in gaming AT ALL...applied for a video editing job in a Gaming site...well i say that's a mistake too

[BIoodmask]

Yeah it's a conspiracy. The worlds out to get Sony and slander the PS3. Did you not read the interview?

It was a mistake. LOL, some people. Are you hypochondriacs or something? Their 'job' is to cover videogames and nobody is 'perfect'. But your right it must be 'damage control.' Sometimes this website amazes me.

http://therawfeed.com/pix/r...

[Tmac]

I concur. Bloodmask ban yourself from the Gamer Zone.

[Odonnus]

The reason so much has been made of this is The history of what looks to be a anti-ps3 slant to many people. Otherwise, you are right this story isn't a story! :D GT kind of brought it on themselves lol

[solidjun5]

why did you put a picture of yourself and in such a negative light?!?
you amaze me man!

[Condoleezza Rice]

First and foremost,if you're going to label people with a different perspective than yours as being retards,then you're not worthy of a mature debate,period.

Secondly and lastly,if it was just a mistake,then why the banning of users?Why the deleting of threads?Why the blocking of emails?Why do they respond to this issue NOW rather than then and there?Where's the new comparison video,seeing as how there was an error in the first one that could surely be corrected?

[DJ]

is Not a conspiracy. No way. Only posting Xbox 360 box art of multiplatform games doesn't mean anything either, right?

[Homicide]

Did they even explain why one looked better than the other even though it was from the same version?

[BrianC6234]

"Are you hypochondriacs or something?"

That's it. We all love faking being sick so the world is out to get Sony. Do you even know what you're saying bafoon?

[prunchess]

The amount of times this kind of thing has happened on GT it can only be put down to carelessness, incompetence or deliberately done. What do you think it is?

I've said this before, with the amount of hits GT gets they have a certain amount of influence over console and game purchases. They have a responsibility to give people accurate information or they are just conning gamers out of their cash.

From reading that interview and the time GT has had to prepare a response, I find the excuses unconvincing and I will avoid clicking\ hitting GT's site from now on. I refuse to finance such shoddy and misleading game journalism. I would urge others to do the same.

[Mr_Showtime1]

this guy is great at lieing!
lol

[gtgcoolkid]

i wonder how long it took them to come up with their bs excuse. biased jackasses.

[criticalzero]

Everything they said is utter bullshit!!!!

How can a big gaming site like that not check up and miss such thing....Not only that...While comparing GTA4 also, they always made it so the 360 looked better....The Helicopter of the PS3 version was going much faster hence more texture pop-up, while the 360 helicopter was moving nice and slow so that the textures would have time to load up..Also, the chopper is always closer to the ground on the PS3 version, so that minor details will pop-up, where as in the 360 version, since it is taken far aways, you cant even notice things like lamp posts etc etc

[Tmac]

So they're saying no one reviews the videos before they are given the "A-OK"? This smells like balogna.

I can admit mistakes, but no one caught this post-production? How about in the editing room where they are to stop problems like these from popping up. Really I find this hard to believe and very far fetched.

Comments were being disabled, threads were being largely locked or deleted, their official statement? "Honestly, I don't know anything about this happening...." How about the people who got banned?

Yeah okay GameTrailers.

There was confusion about who was to overlook the process, but they couldnt decide who did or didn't? Are you serious? Is this how a company runs a business?... So what, did it just end up happening that no one looked at it post edit?... Hell, post production? Come on GT anyone with a brain knows you screwed up.

[kingOVsticks]

they are very much dead to me too this is really low if they weren't paid then whats the point of making the 360 look so much better then the PS3 version?they can only answer and say "the person with both consoles can decide to get the one that looks best" which is always the 360 version,its always the 360 version box art for a multiplatform game and its always the 360 version to receive better reviews. This isn't a conspiracy like the 360 extremist or "naive" gamer would say this is just site a site fulfilling their part of the bargain with M$ point blank.

[smokeymicpot]

How do you know that everyone makes mistakes. Its not really a big deal everyone made it as one

[DiabloRising]

Told you. They would claim that their statements were true, and the error was simply in the video content used.

Predictable. Honest mistake? Maybe. Biased site? I'd say so, the RGB Full and HDMI usage being "unfair" to the 360 is a joke of an excuse.

[DR-IVO]

im having a hard time believing this is a legit interview

[Sir Ken Kutaragi]

...'Well we was in a rush to cash in that big Cheque Micro$oft gave us and we F**KED-UP!!!' Sorry!!! ;-D

[SUP3R]

REALLY LMAO!
good one

[Xlll]

Why wasn't the downgrade of the other PS3 footage talked about? Way to dance around the topic GT."we feel betrayed" Boofreakinghoo. Think of all the users you betrayed with biased videos like that sad attempt.

[Sir Ken Kutaragi]

...Oh sorry we showed you MGS1 by Mistake!!! ;-D
The Tea boy 'Bill G' has been sacked now!!! ;-D

@SUP3R;) It's true!!!;-D

[PimpHandHappy]

Why do you hate the PlayStation SO MUCH? How much does Microsoft give you?

Ha! We haven't had any advertising from Microsoft on GameTrailers.com for over two years.

Yea well when you get a boat load of money you dont need to keep getting paid!

This site is dead to me

[solidjun5]

maybe he forgot to answer the complete question (so i'll give him the benefit of the doubt for now but i'll still bring it up), but he still didn't respond to the other part of the question..."Why do you hate the PlayStation SO MUCH?" and just responded to the money from MS part of the question. I was just curious about that.

[EZCheez]

"I'm also disappointed that so many publications ran their stories without contacting us for the real story and instead took the word of random Internet folks who were totally manipulating the situation."

Seriously, what else would happen?

[Kaneda]

is the 360 has better crash physics or not? :) or did the writer or editor saw the PS3 footage and think it was 360 footage.. and think 360 has better crash physics..:)

I am confuse... :)

[Kaz Hirai]

Nazisoft will not be my only victims on Judgment Day!

31 days until Judgment Day, Nazisoft AND GAMETRAILERS!

MWAH-HA-HA-HA!!!

[Sir Ken Kutaragi]

I deleted all their Videos off my PS3 now!!! ;-D

My list of things i hate is getting bigger!!! ;-D

1.Micro$oft
2.xBots
3.Epic
4.Valve
5.GameTrailers.con er erm .com!!! ;-D

;)

[gano]

That's a hoe ass statement. GT is bias, let them be. Fuk'em. I'm sure someone will drop a better version of them soon.

[Obama]

I like GT too as it has the best review out of all gaming sites, but like many here I don't trust their comparison videos. It's not the first time that it showed its bias against the ps3 in the videos.

[iEnzeru]

fanboy or no fanboy, i'm sure that the majority of the people who visit gametrailers actually like what the site gives them. an oppurtunity to enjoy a huge library of videos related to games, both user and non-user generated. that's why at least for me, this entire incident isn't going to stop me from going to their site. it just sucks that now i'm left with a slightly sour taste in my mouth. because even though his answers to the questions were fairly reasonable, him trying to the best of his abilities to "cool the flames", the last two sentences in the article that he provided just seemed backwards to me.

"We work hard to make sure there's quality content for everyone on the site, and when stuff like this happens you feel a litle betrayed by the people you're working so hard for. Wouldn't it be nice if we lived in a world where people just enjoyed video games regardless of what platform they're released for?"

if he truly believes this, then why on earth would comparison videos be necessary in the first place? does he not know that the videos aren't just comparing the images from the two versions of the games, but the ability of the two consoles to run those games?

[Skerj]

"Wouldn't it be nice if we lived in a world where people just enjoyed video games regardless of what platform they're released for?"

Funny that he said that considering those comparison videos are usually tools that are used to prevent that from happening.

[Aclay]

I'm sorry, but I still don't trust Gametrailers 100% anymore.

Gametrailers had even admitted in the past that they were using HDMI cables with the 360 and Component Cables with the PS3 to make comparisions.... but obviously they aren't doing that now.

I still think that some of the Gametraiers staff that work on these game comparisons are baised towards the Xbox 360 though and they knew what they were doing. Gametrailers has had numerous video game comparisons on the 360 and PS3, so why did they slip up on GRID? I guess you can say that everyone makes a mistake, but this isn't the first time that Gametrailers has been caught in the gameplay video comparison controversy.

[ShinMaster]

IT'S TOO MANY "HONEST MISTAKES" ALREADY!!!
He didn't give any explanation about banning members, taking down comments, and forums!

Micro$oft is sleeping with Viacom, who owns GameTrailers!

[harv052]

Fact of the mater is, leaving the screw-up aside, the crashes were way too different....

[JasonPC360PS3Wii]

Now I want ro see some of the excuses of those that edited it for a Playstation agenda. LOL for some I don't have to go very far ^^^---> It does sound like a simple mistake, and I knew it was from the start. It's not a mistake that they can live down anytime soon, but it was just a mistake. Some people just took it to far and wen't off crying and whining as usual.

[Tmac]

From looking at some of your comments I can tell your about 15 or 16. I won't hold it against you but using your brain could make you look less than a rabid and yet psychotic Xbox fanatic.

[JasonPC360PS3Wii]

You don't like me because your a victim of hypocricy, and I caught you red handed. Now your going to follow me around like Nasim and Crazzyman for the next month, stalking me, because your feelings got hurt. This makes about the 5th comment of mine your have stalked me on, ever since I caught you in your lie. :) Are you Crazzyman by any chance? he uses multi's like Nasim, so you never know. By all means, if you feel the need to be slapped around, keep comming at me, I have a bunch of ammo and a big gun.

[hotshot127]

how about they explain why one video looked better then the other but they were the same damn video?

hmmmmmm

@JASON360
hahhaahaahha only a gullable fool like you'reself would just up and believe them. what did you expect them to come out and tell the truth so they can tarnish thier site and reputation?

people these days..............(shakes head in dissapointment)

[ShinMaster]

It's been TOO MANY "HONEST MISTAKES" ALREADY!

He didn't give any explanations as to why they banned members, took down comments, and forums!

Micro$oft is sleeping with Viacom, who owns GameTrailers!

[DJ]

-Why were comments disabled, forums posts deleted, etc?-
"Honestly, I don't know anything about this happening."

"It blows my mind and saddens me that people took the time to go in and doctor our original piece of media to make us look worse."

Wait, so what's with selecting RGB Limited for PS3 videos? Why lower the contrast? I've seen other comparison videos that actually record raw feed from these multiplatform games and they look identical. But when GameTrailers does it, the PS3 version always looks washed out.

They're claiming that everyone added their own agenda to the GRID vid, but it clearly shows sucky crashes for the "PS3 version" and amazing crashes for the "360 version". These guys should've just kept their mouths shut. And it looks like Gamersyde has a big void to fill, now that Gametrailers got caught pulling off their own agenda. The only thing that doesn't come off as biased are the Bonus Round episodes where they bring people who support each console to talk about what's going with the industry.

[Gitaroo]

if anyone want the best comparison on the net, its probably Eurogamers. They actually puts things into a technical perspective and explain the flaws on each version; they also take true HDMI lossless shots from each platform. However they tends to to skip out a few things on PS3 side, like most of the multi platform game has better AF on PS3 and a FP16 HDR. And their comparison article always come out a while after the games were release.

[n00bPwner]

I told u n00bs this was the case. Obviously the 360 versions of every cross plat game is better, they simply showed the wrong footage. but the words are the reality.

OWNED.

[wass007]

Obviously noob the 360 version looked so crap they had to show the superior ps3 version

[Meus Renaissance]

1UP, GameSpot, Gametrailers have all attained reputations over the past year. IGN is the only one left.

[Tmac]

I'd add Eurogamer and Kotaku to that growing list.

[Raupet]

at 27.1:

Eurogamer too? I've always just viewed them as tough but fair. What mess did they get themselves into?

seems like proper game-sites diminishes at the hour, note the emphasis on game. :(

Maybe we need to clease the videogame webpage community old testament style...

[Erotic Sheep]

To be honest IGN, Edge and Eurogamer seem the only ones thrustworthy lately.

But if you're looking for real and honest reviews, Zero Punctuation is the best one out there. Straight, honest and especially funny reviews of populair games..

[Genki]

That's the type of mentality that may eventually develop and allow you to take their word about matters that you otherwise wouldn't.

Don't be so quick to trust a media outlet. If games were more lowkey, and more importantly, if the industry had no ties and ZERO stake in media outlets and review scores respectively, then it might work...but not in today's gaming world.

There isn't a single journalist that can tell you to like a better game than you can...period.

IGN is just as full of it as anyone else is. Why? Because like everyone else, they've got a paycheck to chase. You can buy professionalism, but you can't buy integrity.

Sadly, we all too often feel like integrity is a given when dealing with professionals, yet the biggest swindlers, cheaters, and deceivers have all had...a job.

[Baka-akaB]

Are you crazy ? IGN was "one of the first to go" . Remember their weird PES 2008 review when everyone was trashing it because of technical issues and the overall crappiness of the game ? Remember as well how they were coincidentally enough sponsors of the game ?

[The Wood]

support your own (patriotism to a certain extent), that's understandable. This is the way of the world not just gaming. Both sides should see this. Control the media in attempt to control the masses. Its done all over the world. GT is still a good site its just that they will always be used as a tool when needed. Sony and the eastern world have their tools too but as a westerner, limited by language, Im subjected to the western view of whatever. 360 = West PS3 = East, simple

[Boldy]

Someone is gettin fired.

[KingKirchner]

I don't think this video was a conspiracy. i think it really was a mistake. But I also think a lot of their staff is particularly biased. Especially on Screw Attack. I know that's supposed to be funny, but I don't find humor in constantly bashing PS3 in a video about if you should sell or keep your Wii...

However GT usually has decent reviews (allthough that Uncharted 8.9 stuff was stupid. They just couldn't bring themselves to give it a 9?)
but the main reason i go there is because it loads GAME TRAILERS faster than sites like IGN. Plus they have some cool features like the Bonus Round and their Retrospectives.

but for unbiased journalism and articles, and reviews, I mainly rely on IGN. They seem to be the most proffessional in the bizz, especially by having separate teams for each console and their articles/reviews always seem to emulate proffessionalism and express their opinoin without forcing it on people.

[Baka-akaB]

Dear lord not again . They are far from respectable professionals ... imo when even a single one of your review is tainted (again PES ) there is hardly any trust left in the others . Maybe they are the best bunch out of the lot , but still...

I remember people making fun of famitsu's scores , saying those were jokes and not even proper reviews , but now after a few years western journalism has gone down to their level , and possibly worse .

You can non long trust a single site for the truth , and gotta mix a whole bunch of it to get credible news , all around opinions upon games ...
Hell even that is getting compromised with gta score fixing , most professional sites reviewing a hype and huge potential success , instead of the game's worth , apparently .

Indeed who would dare nitpicking at GTA4 for flaws even obvious , and refuse to give it 9 to 10/10 , when everyone else is doing it ? No one saves a few even more untrustworthy obscure blogs and sites trying to be the edgy rebel hero ...

Who would criticize halo 3 for obvious flaws ? Who would complain about god of war 2 or psp for some too ?

None of those sites want to be left behind by its audience and be the edgy arts and movie critics who would diss a commercial darling and blockbuster , and it horribly shows .

[KakashiDX]

I think they're being pretty straightforward about what happened. Mistakes can occur, you know. I'm gonna give em the benefit of the doubt. Their comparison vids do suck pretty hard in the first place though.

[Baka-akaB]

No they werent straight forward .
It wasnt ONE mistake , but a huge serie of them , with only three possible explanations , all quite serious :

-laziness and negligence during the whole process by everyone concerned
- someone or various people fixing the video to their whims
- some kind of editorial line of conduct and habit only now truly revealed

Nevermind the wrong console labelled , there are still weird things going on ...
Why would two videos of a same game on a same console looks so different if not doctored by someone ?

Why would one crash be simple , yet the other far more spectacular , since the goal was comparison ? Even without the whole mistaking platform issue , someone had to catch and find weird that a comparison video would display such different and incomparable scenarios

Why lie blatently in that interview as well ? Why claims there wasnt any 360 ads of late , when even gta 4 was displayed there for 360 ? He didnt know , so its his honest mistake ? Then why the hell is he even talking about stuff he dont know then , making it worse ?

Why is someone in the wrong , with mistake or ill actions to its list of mischief , trying to rile us its visitors about being fanboys ?
That , is the worst part of that pathetic story . You're caught in the act, apologize or shut up , but dont try placing the blame upon the ones who caught you and usually supported your site .

[The_Nexus]

Ever since ps3 came out they have been dumbing down its version to make the xbox360 look better,We all suspected it,But now we know.This was a video comparison!!!there were alotta people involved, it wasnt like it was a SINGLE dude in a garage!.Okay if both videos were of the ps3 then how come one looks much better then the other???
you cant explain that.The guy said the one who was making this vid wasnt a games person...wtf? the guy is a gamevideo editor and he doesnt care for games? That doesnt make sense.And i believe SONY should get an apology.Trust me guys it all adds up Gametrailers are in microsoft's pocket.Whenever i make a edited video for ex. on youtube i go through it 20-30 times at least!!! THERE IS NO WAY THIS WAS AN ACCIDENT.

[DailyAddict]

The interview still doesn't answer why all the multi platform boxart is the Xbox 360 version. It could just be lazy editors not wanting to upload a different picture, but then the question about why they chose to make sure that ALL of them are 360 is still in question. It'd be different if some were all PS3 or some were all 360 and then it'd be easy to say it's just the editors. But, when all of it is 360, that tends to lean towards one thing.

Finally, the video was not a mistake and ultimately proved that they DO in fact try to dumb down the PS3 in terms of video comparisons. The comparison where they claimed it was PS3 all the crashes were done at an angle to make for a more dramatic impact. All the footage they claimed was PS3 was done straight on into a wall.

They lost a lot of credibility with this one and I hope no one falls for this BS.

[skynidas]

I like GameTrailers but they really blew it this time, but i think that everyone makes a mistake in their lifes

[TodGeck]

Why in the interview they say they haven't received advertisements from Microsoft in over 2 years, but their Grand Theft Auto advertisements contradict this don't they? GTA4 is advertised with 360 as the only console shown, and the 360 emblem/noise at the end. Microsoft or Rockstar sponsors these advertisements, because I can't see Rockstar advertising for 360 only as that limits sales.

[TodGeck]

Why is it in the interview they say they haven't received advertisements from Microsoft in over 2 years, but their Grand Theft Auto advertisements contradict this don't they? GTA4 is advertised with 360 as the only console shown, and the 360 emblem/noise at the end. Microsoft or Rockstar sponsors these advertisements, because I can't see Rockstar advertising for 360 only as that limits sales.

[avacadosnorkel]

is mine

[Genki]

that there are some folks out there that aren't zombies.

It amazes me that even some of the most level headed and reasonable folks on this site believe in the idea of "trusted sites" as if they grew up with the staff or something.

[jackdoe]

Lol. That sounds like bullsh!t. Trying to explain this away, GT comes away as negligent, which is as bad as being biased. Trusting a doctor that hates you is as bad as trusting a doctor who doesn't know what he's doing.