EGM, GamePro In Ugly Bitchfest Shocker?
December 13, 2005 8:02 PM | Simon Carless
Unfortunately, we don't check IDG's Games.net website that often, otherwise we would have come across Chris Cook's charged editorial on 'The Blame Game' sooner. The editorial addresses a piece by Ziff Davis' Dan 'Shoe' Hsu in the latest issue of EGM Magazine, in which 'Shoe' makes non-specific charges that U.S. gaming magazines and websites have been getting publisher advertising in return for exclusive and/or favorable coverage, commenting: "Those guys can kiss my ass . . . We've never been and never will be beholden to any outside party. If we miss out on some coverage...well, too bad--ultimately, they're punishing their own customers (you guys), not us."
In return, Games.net and GamePro's Chris 'Johnnyk' Cook counters: "It's how you react to this situation that says the most about your journalistic integrity. This is hardly a new problem, or one that's unique to EGM, so Hsu's observations come off as more vindictive than insightful", and the editorial's feedback section gets even more heated. 'Shoe' turns up to add a little cloak and dagger: "My sources told me this information under the conditions that I don't reveal their names or the parties in question, because it could get them fired", and GamePro's Funky Zealot also makes an appearance to get a little sassier still: "The problem with Hsu's piece is that it's essentially a generalization that bashes all competitors. If you're disappointed that Chris didn't call or write, I'm sure those mysterious pubs in question are disappointed that you didn't call or write, either. You've basically trashed all other pubs while having absolutely nothing to show for it."
Obviously, it's not clear who Dan was referring to (Future Publishing's titles and Game Informer are the other major U.S. print publications), but the end result of this particular entanglement? Nobody comes out looking that good.
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3 Comments
Anyone remember Enter the Matrix? The game was suspiciously low on playable previews, and is it ended up, with good reason. Well, that was true for all magazines save EGM. A month before the game came out, EGM scored an exclusive preview, and threw around phrases like, "the next step in movie-to-games." Even though they were careful to keep it a preview, they sure seemed to know enough, and know that it was going to be one of the best games anyone had ever played.
Well, it wasn't. Not surprisingly, EGM was one of the last magazines to print a review, and needless to say it was not glowing.
Hey check it out, EGM has a huge freaking log - stuck in its eye!
John Beeler | December 13, 2005 4:52 PM
Observe the following list from Bill Kovach and Tom Rosenstiel's The Elements of Journalism (Three Rivers Press, 2001). Note #4 and #5.
1. Journalism's first obligation is to the truth.
2. Its first loyalty is to citizens.
3. Its essence is a discipline of verifications.
4. Its practitioners must maintain an independence from those they cover.
5. It must serve as an independent monitor of power.
6. It must provide a forum for public criticism and complaint.
7. It must strive to make the significant interesting and relevant.
8. It must keep the new comprehensive and proportional.
9. Its practitioners must be allowed to exercise their personal conscience.
http://mattpeckham.1up.com/do/blogEntry?bId=6224042&publicUserId=5653164
Matt Peckham | December 14, 2005 7:59 PM
Enter the Matrix was one of the most-anticipated games of the year and part of the Matrix juggernaut. Every major magazine did a cover story on it. Meanwhile Gamepro has done countless DBZ cover stories.
Who Knows | December 15, 2005 9:43 PM