We need more people who actually play games to write about them

A recent New York Times piece highlighted how mainstream media often misunderstands games, leading to a big discussion on social media.

[autobotdan]

The title-Them sound like fightin words!

[Godmars290]

Too many examples that says its more honesty.

[SullysCigar]

I second this motion!

[Tetsujin]

And a gamer like me who's played all types of games wouldn't be qualified because I don't have 30+ years of college.

[Palitera]

Oh, poor you, so mature and qualified.

[anast]

If you know about writing, art, technical aspects and gaming mechanics, you should at least be able to get started.

[Eonjay]

You don't even need all that. You got to simply like games. If you can write well then that will certainly help But that's all you really need.

Oh yeah... Have you noticed that most of us are really good writers because we write so much on N4G? Lol
Any one of us could be a game journalist easily.

[Palitera]

According to Eonjay's High Logic, journalists can write easily about games, because "they play so much Candy Crush on their phones".
I cAn WrItEs FoR NyT bEcAuSe I WriTeS mUcH nErD coMmenTs

"Have you noticed that most of us are really good writers because we write so much on N4G"... God.. The level of simplicity in these people heads.

[Eonjay]

@Palitera
You sound like the self-righteous and condescending journalists people can't stand. I'm sure you want a bigger rise out of me but not this time buddy. You already know we already know, right?

[Palitera]

Is that you not answering? lol smh

[porkChop]

Journalism school actually doesn't take that long lol. I went for 2 years. I learned everything from print journalism, broadcast, video/multimedia production, photography, politics, law, editing, how to conduct interviews, how to talk to people and get them to open up, how to ask really emotional and difficult questions without overwhelming people, Photoshop/Illustrator, actually designing and printing a full newspaper, newsletter and news app production, courtroom reporting, election reporting, etc. You learn a ton of skills and appliable knowledge in a short amount of time. It's a very good use of 2 years, even if you don't go into journalism after.

[SurgicalMenace]

Hells yeah, N4G comment section sets the bar high, I see.😁

[frostypants]

Have you SEEN the losers who write for these sites? Remember the time one published an article about the Series X having "too many holes"? The bar for qualification is so very low at this point.

[DigitallyAfflicted]

What disqualify most of us is the inability to be unbiased and ability to be easily persuaded to lie (positive review to crap game) about game by developers...

[anast]

It's not just NYT, it is gaming sites also. Gaming journalism has shown to be one of the most inept professions in gaming. The whole thing needs to be overhauled and the parasites need to be weeded out.

[Livingthedream]

I only follow a few sites for reviews that generally share my taste of games. I’ve always found it odd to have someone that doesn’t enjoy basketball or sports, review NBA 2k or other sports games. Same for other genres

[anast]

I can definitely agree with this.

[Christopher]

I would suggest finding some good review sites that don't generally share your taste as well. Just going with those who like what you like can limit your experience. You might find something new listening to those outside of that circle.

[Crows90]

@chrustopher

You're making the assumption that the people he follows intentionally limit themselves.

This is gaming not politics...there really isnt any need for a different view point other than the one that closely resembles your tastes.

It doesn't limit you at all. If you're an adult and don't like asparagus. You're probably not gonna like it no matter how it's made..mostly.

If you are completely unsure of the types of games you like then sure...get a larger sample of reviewers...otherwise you really gotta weed out the chaff.

[Christopher]

***there really isnt any need for a different view point other than the one that closely resembles your tastes.***

Tastes can change unless you just stick to eating the same thing over and over.

[Livingthedream]

@Christopher you’re overthinking it, let me give a simple example. Let’s say I love God of war right, and you hate God of War. Your “review” of the game may not paint it in the best light. However if I know you love the series, and end up giving it a sub-par review i will be more inclined to take your review more seriously. This doesn’t mean I won’t be open to new games, but when time is limited I’d rather spend it playing or doing something I enjoy. Just because I love RTS games and rate AOE4 9/10 doesn’t mean non rts fans will enjoy it.

[anast]

@Chris

Is that a suggestion or an assumption?

[Christopher]

***This doesn’t mean I won’t be open to new games, but when time is limited I’d rather spend it playing or doing something I enjoy. Just because I love RTS games and rate AOE4 9/10 doesn’t mean non rts fans will enjoy it. ***

Doesn't mean they won't as well. I never played FPS games, now there are a ton I like. Tastes change, especially as gaming genres evolve and continue to blend.

I'm not saying to play games you don't like, but to not pigeon hole you viewpoint on games to just those who share your tastes. You never know when you're tastes might expand or change.

[porkChop]

The problem is too many game journos never actually went to journalism school. We were taught how to avoid bias and remain independent, how to refuse bribes while not damaging the relationship with a company, etc.

People often think of bribes as money, but that's illegal. What isn't illegal is giving someone a "gift" of like $1000+ worth of exclusive swag. Companies do that because it has a psychological effect on the reviewer. Even if the company doesn't ask for a good review, they're more likely to be given additional leniency from that reviewer.

[frostypants]

The bigger problem is many DID go to journalism school but can't get a job as a general journalist, so take one covering something they don't care about. Historically journalism was something that was often done by people without a degree at all. What is needed is passion for a topic, and a good editor. That stuff went away.

[Profchaos]

Many reviewers at ign are questionable Spyro reignited was lamented for it's difficulty now who do you know that had a single problem finishing that game

[Bobertt]

Journalism as a whole not just gaming has been infested by delusional woke people who just want to push an agenda instead of doing actual journalism.

[Umb]

I second that.

[Killer2020UK]

Woke agenda!? Oh cry me a right wing river.

[BLow]

And we can add YouTube and Twitter to the list.
What a joke.

[Profchaos]

Sometimes I feel like that but I see some legit gamers reviewing games like ACG and is take their opinion over most as they play the games front to back

[Outlawzz]

Video game journalism is a joke at this point thanks to all the crappy corporate incentives

[K-Tuck]

Just so we're clear, what sort of corporate incentives do you mean? And how do they affect video game journalism?

[CrimsonWing69]

Can’t argue with that. Would also be nice to have people passionate about gaming and not so patronizing or jaded with the industry or trying to push politics and agendas.

[annoyedgamer]

Hate Speech!

[fitofficial]

Yeah, the last thing we need is more "game journalism". Hard pass.

[FanboysKiller]

Games are made purposely to try before judging them , vg journalism goes against that , they try to put words in your head and p you o before you start thinking about it , they have it's not what you think mentally, this is not professionalism, the way they do it especially in reviews is beyond 5th grades stupidity.

[Spartacus10]

Affiliate marketing killed journalism. You just have to be a half decent clickbaiter and paraphrase someone else to earn a living as a 'journalist'. The days of investigating, interviewing and having a bunch of sources to create an original and credible article are long gone because that's not what brings in the money. Hundreds of poorly written, click-baiting, quickly published articles is where the money is.

[K-Tuck]

And in comes N4G, skimming off the top, leeching off the work of others by virtue of design, and then creating its own artificial gatekeepers.

If video game journalism is a cesspool, as so many here say it is, then N4G is the rancid layer of scum resting at the bottom.

[isarai]

I cant even say i have a reviewer/site i follow anymore for games, haven't for a few years actually. Best i can think of is easy allies. I usually just wait till i see enough raw gameplay to make my own decisions, if that means waiting a couple days past release, no biggie. In most cases i can figure it out well before release based on track record and gameplay.

[victorMaje]

The fact there’s such a statement & article should tell you part of what’s wrong with game journalism.

[EvertonFC]

I think the same can be said for developers in general? I'm sure half the studios employees don't play games

[Bhuahahaha]

CEO of any big game publisher (EA,activion, ubisoft etc ect )should also have a passion in gaming

[jznrpg]

I’m too busy playing games

[Crows90]

Wow. Imagine this article was about movies.

"We need more people who actually watch movies to write about them."

Or even boom reviews...what a freaking joke.

[frostypants]

Problem is hack media entities like G/O (who own Kotaku) hire lazy randos who are desperate to write about anything at all for a living because they aren't qualified for any other job (including real journalism). If you want passion for the hobby you need to look for writers who do it because they actually want to do it.

[Snakeeater25]

I game to much to have time to write about a game am already done with

[derek]

So many don't review games objectively, and their reviews have become an extension of the console wars or an attempt to generate clicks.

[Bahamut-Shin]

there is a reason I prefer independed Youtubers, more often than you can tell they do care.

[FYouDad]

The majority of reviews are only designed for one purpose: promotion. Pushing the product and pushing the individual/outlet's desired point of view. Do you think reviewers in other areas got in because they're all seasoned filmmakers, musicians and novelists themselves? The idea of maintaining journalistic integrity in this age is a bad joke. People need to stop deluding themselves with the belief that games journalism is anything but free advertising.

[XxINFERNUSxX]

That would make sense, it's like someone who tests cars but never actually driving them, just writing about them 🤣

[mastershredder]

There is also a youtube-era infliction and issue with inserting personal opinions , themselves or worse, their cringe-ass persona as the main subject of the game or experience (it's not about the "anonymous Gamer experience" anymore). I remember when there were breakdowns of the dev teams, music, inspiration and so much more. These days it is VERY shallow and more of a half-assed regurgitated advertisement for the said game in review. Which is where we basically are at today, where big titles are handed off to an entity who really is there like an end-cap in a super market to just pump sales rather than give it a proper studied once-over review. They don't even play the full game anymore, and this is more and more apparent. I get it if a non-gaming publication like NYT or Forbes posts a disconnected cringe review, but IGN and other game-dogs? yeah... We need a game journalist hero game, who rights all the wrongs.. meanwhile ironically decimating the current state of gaming journalism.

[quenomamen]

No we need more Wall Street journals telling us what games to buy. SMH

[sourOG]

Lmao. Good luck with that. I’d like anyone at NYT with any subject to know wtf they are talking about before they publish. They can’t even write a game review without pushing their bullshit. Journalism is dead. The writers killed it.