I remember listening to a 1up poolside podcast they did from E3. I think this was done last year in fact. Shane "God amongst Men" Bettenhausen was on the set and talked about a guy walking around with a wrestling belt proclaiming himself to be the HipHopGamer. At that point I had to find out who this guy was.
I watched one episode of his show and I was hooked. His enthusiasm, his excitment, and his overall demeanor had me from jump. I watched almost every episode he released from then until 2 months ago. I go back to the black blanket background and the weekly freestyle intro. He was a gamer that talked like us, walked like us, and, I bet, with his back against the wall he even fought like us. (Jay Z reference for those that don't know).
But now, now I can't stomach even listening to him. I find him to be an arrogant rambling person with a false sense of knowledge about the industry. If you listen to the Warzone you'll know that HHG suffers from the "George Bush" syndrome-he wants to be the smartest guy in the room, but, just like George Bush, is not the smartest guy in the room.
He uses were and was interchangeably. He sometimes says brought instead of bought. Without going on at length, I'll say he is as proficient with the English language as someone that just learned it. This is not something that's true for all rappers. NaS, 50, and T.I. are all quite proficient in their use of the English language. The same is not true for HHG. He can't just ask a question. He asks a question and then rambles on and on for five minutes. He wants to be like someone that's actually been in the industry for a substantial amount of time (e.g. Torrence Davis) but he's not. Every game is "amazing" or "gangsta." In fact, his decision to make the highest rank on his forum a "gangsta" made me decide to not even get an account. He uses the most ridiculous titles to drive traffic and somehow wonders why people don't take him seriously. I could keep going but I think you get my point.
Despite all this, HHG is prospering. His site is doing extremely well. He's been to industry events that I probably will never get to go to. He's even getting games early now for review (which probably won't last long if you look at the God Father 2 embargo situation).
So what happened? Did I change? Did we, all the people that find ourselves cringing whenever we see a HHG story posted, change? Again, his site is prospering. His site may even one day rise to a Kotaku level of success. I like to think that I'm not a hater but rather someone that loves something enough to not want to see it ruined.
HHG, you are a young black male from the inner city that is a gamer. Your site is somewhat unprecedented just for that reason. You represent two things I love: Hip Hop and Games. Perhaps I'm such a harsh critic of yours because I think how hard it will be for the next young black male that tries to get a site like yours going after you've ruined your credibility. Or perhaps I just want more out of you than someone that says "We was" and "I brought the game from Gamestop."
Take the criticism how you will but know that all of N4G is not united enough to get together and "hate" on you equally. Heck, N4G users can't even agree about whether the Wii is a true "next-gen system." There's a reason that someone that speaks against you and your site will always have more agrees than disagrees. It's up to you to change this. You still can. Take control of your site and the articles posted thereon. Listen to Torrence when he tells you things. Stop acting as if you know the answer to every question.
I, and others, respect that you're one of the few people in the industry that actually likes games and loves his job. Say what you will about HHG but NEVER does he say he's "tired" after a week of playing games and trying to get stories for us unlike the guys at IGN and 1UP. But the flamebait headlines, the cockiness, and the quality of the articles on your site will continue to make me a "hater."
I took the time to write this hoping "that the $hit stops. Cuz who I'm talking bout is Hip Hop." I used to love her, Common.
Hip Hop, you are on the cusp of greatness but even you realize that something is wrong when EVERY SINGLE ONE of your articles gets disparaged. People have had enough. It's up to you. You can continue on your current course and watch your site plummet, or you can change your present course, take control of the articles written on your site, and take a friggin course in English and learn how to speak the language. Just because someone can take a temperature that doesn't mean they're a doctor. Just because someone can read a case they're not a lawyer. And just because someone has a site that reports the news it does not make them a journalist.
It's on you.
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Gematsu writes: "Cooperative third-person shooter Helldivers II has sold 12 million units as of May 5, publisher Sony Interactive Entertainment and developer Arrowhead Game Studios announced."
And well-deserved. I'm having a ball of a time so far. Just need to change out my heavy armour, it's a murder on my stamina and sprinting.
SIE managed to find success with gaas quicker than I suspected. Arrowhead did a great job getting past that initial launch difficulty, I've been playing again recently doing mostly solo missions. Can't even get off the damn planet after completing everything, lol.
12 million is crazy, but it also paints an opposite picture to what the forums would have you believe about gaas. And it being more successful then the single player games of late also kind of proves to an executive gaas IS. what the consumer wants.
Ban HHG, other no name no credibility blogs, and vg chartz. Ban them all.
Really nice article, btw socomnick.... you make good jokes
am i the only one who notices him being a sony fan boy? when it comes to his reviews and comparisons he bigs the ps3 to no extent, then when it comes to the wii and 360 he can never keep "but the ps3 can do dat also" or "with how sony is commin' up, you think that gap between da system sales will stay like dat? na." dont get me wrong he's a good entertainer, but when it comes to reviews you can clearly tell his interest stays with sony and the ps3, leaving the 360 and wii under the bus.
Yeah he runs a website and for such reason he will do anything to create hits and thats why he will do the fanboy talks, but really who hasn't? gamespot,gametrailer,joystiq,e urogamer,1up ect. they all have done the same thing just to get hits thats what its all about when it comes to running a website.
other thing is this dude always seemed to see outside of the box unlike most of your average small town white losers who run the most of the websites i have mention (no offence to white or small town people but really all the guys who run video game website seem to fall under this same stereo type) he is a big city, guy, he is not white, he is from the hood, HE IS SOMETHING FRESH AND DIFFERENT and thank god gaming journalism needed something like that.
i have been a fan of HHG since day one and i will for ever be one, i dont think i will visit any other website related to gaming more then HHG other then us.playstation.com ofcourse.
He's never been a gamer. Anyone who's followed his show knows that he started out as a rabid PS3 supporter, using every "show" to promote the PS3 & Sony like they paid him.
If you don't believe me check this: http://www.youtube.com/watc...
It's only a year old, he was even worse before that.
Then he realized that he would get more hits if he upset both sides with his silly flamebait "articles".
I'm not clicking on his stories anymore, and I don't comment either. Won't give him the pleasure. If we do this and ignore him he will eventually go away.