joeblow
09-08-07, 06:57 PM
Hmmm, interesting article (http://vgmwatch.com/?p=1111) that has one example of how the video game review industry might be involved in unethical behavior when evaluating games...
Taint or Mere IGNorance?
Posted in Video Game Media Watch, IGN, Journalism, The Games Industry by David Gornoski on the August 21st, 2007
I have always been a strong opponent of relying on game previews and reviews for a publication’s bread and butter. I firmly believe that much of the problems of corruption and taint that exist in the game media stem from a dependency on publisher exclusives. When a publication makes exclusive game previews and reviews their prime attraction for readers, it cedes power to game publishers. Some publications are often coaxed to cheapen their journalistic standards in an effort to “outbid” competing venues for the exclusive story. This dynamic ends up punishing the honest publications that do uphold their journalistic standards in all cases. I’ll share my take on this topic in greater detail at another time.
There are many stories that illustrate the taint introduced in the game review process. Recently, I was informed of an unfortunate event involving 2K Games and IGN Entertainment. I spoke with a former IGN.com editor who wished to remain anonymous to avoid any apparent conflict of interest (The individual is still employed in the game media). I will let the individual’s story speak for itself. Below, I have paraphrased the journalist’s recollection:
The review embargo for Prey [for Xbox 360] for all press outlets was up on a Monday I believe. But I happened to know through the grapevine that 1up.com had an exclusive review for the weekend. I think they planned to post the review on the Friday before. So the Monday before that Friday, I hear Doug Perry [Former EIC of IGN 360] speaking with Marci Ditter [2K Games PR manager] about this review exclusive. I knew [IGN writer] Tom McNamara was on the review of Prey. I also knew he hadn’t even played the game yet because we’d talked about it that very morning.
I hear Doug saying to Marci something along the lines of “No, I’m sure it is a great game. I’m pretty sure it is going to do well. That’s why we want the exclusive. We don’t want the exclusive on crappy games… ” so on… He gets off the phone and heads over to Tom and asks him, “Tom, what were you thinking you were going to give Prey?” That’s sort of a no-no to begin with, but Tom says, “I haven’t even played it. I have no idea.” Doug persists, “No, but if you were gonna guess… like 9 or higher, right? Nothing lower than an 8, obviously?” (These are pretty much direct quotes.) That’s when I say, “Doug, you can’t ask him that crap.” Doug replies, “Well, we can talk about ranges of scores. That’s okay.” He then proceeds to ask Tom for a score range. Once again, Tom replies that he has no idea. I scolded Doug again and he went back to his desk where he calls Marci Ditter and says that he’s sure it will do 9 or higher. Apparently, 2K Games had shopped the score around to 1up.com previously. After they refused, Marci Ditter had attempted to sell IGN 360 on the exclusive as well by asking for a 9. After I made a big fuss about it, Doug decided not to take the exclusive either. They ended up publishing the review as a non-exclusive with rest of the game media.
While IGN’s Doug Perry did not take this particular offer, the damage had already been done on the review’s integrity. He pressured the reviewer to score the game before he had played it. The IGN editor ended up giving the title a 9 out of 10. We can only assume it was his honest opinion of the title. However, the review was still tainted. Editors should never prod their staff in a particular score’s direction in order to gain an exclusive review. It’s reported that Doug Perry has left IGN to take a leadership role at an upcoming Turner Broadcasting game publication. Let’s hope IGN and Turner’s publication can maintain a professional and honest review process. Millions of trusting readers deserve nothing less. 2K Games deserves even more heat. There is no excuse for PR firms to bully game media outlets by using score requirements to sell exclusive coverage. Yes, the industry’s got a lot of slutty publications that like to walk the streets. But publishers, show some respect for once. Stop the pimping. Game consumers demand honesty when deciding where they should spend their hard earned cash.
A note to all guilty publishers and media outlets: Discontinue this unethical, dishonest form of business. You are dragging the rest of the game industry down. If you continue to abuse consumers’ trust, you will be exposed.
VGMWatch.com attempted contact with IGN editor Tom McNamara for his take on the review process for Prey but has yet to receive a response as of this publishing.
Taint or Mere IGNorance?
Posted in Video Game Media Watch, IGN, Journalism, The Games Industry by David Gornoski on the August 21st, 2007
I have always been a strong opponent of relying on game previews and reviews for a publication’s bread and butter. I firmly believe that much of the problems of corruption and taint that exist in the game media stem from a dependency on publisher exclusives. When a publication makes exclusive game previews and reviews their prime attraction for readers, it cedes power to game publishers. Some publications are often coaxed to cheapen their journalistic standards in an effort to “outbid” competing venues for the exclusive story. This dynamic ends up punishing the honest publications that do uphold their journalistic standards in all cases. I’ll share my take on this topic in greater detail at another time.
There are many stories that illustrate the taint introduced in the game review process. Recently, I was informed of an unfortunate event involving 2K Games and IGN Entertainment. I spoke with a former IGN.com editor who wished to remain anonymous to avoid any apparent conflict of interest (The individual is still employed in the game media). I will let the individual’s story speak for itself. Below, I have paraphrased the journalist’s recollection:
The review embargo for Prey [for Xbox 360] for all press outlets was up on a Monday I believe. But I happened to know through the grapevine that 1up.com had an exclusive review for the weekend. I think they planned to post the review on the Friday before. So the Monday before that Friday, I hear Doug Perry [Former EIC of IGN 360] speaking with Marci Ditter [2K Games PR manager] about this review exclusive. I knew [IGN writer] Tom McNamara was on the review of Prey. I also knew he hadn’t even played the game yet because we’d talked about it that very morning.
I hear Doug saying to Marci something along the lines of “No, I’m sure it is a great game. I’m pretty sure it is going to do well. That’s why we want the exclusive. We don’t want the exclusive on crappy games… ” so on… He gets off the phone and heads over to Tom and asks him, “Tom, what were you thinking you were going to give Prey?” That’s sort of a no-no to begin with, but Tom says, “I haven’t even played it. I have no idea.” Doug persists, “No, but if you were gonna guess… like 9 or higher, right? Nothing lower than an 8, obviously?” (These are pretty much direct quotes.) That’s when I say, “Doug, you can’t ask him that crap.” Doug replies, “Well, we can talk about ranges of scores. That’s okay.” He then proceeds to ask Tom for a score range. Once again, Tom replies that he has no idea. I scolded Doug again and he went back to his desk where he calls Marci Ditter and says that he’s sure it will do 9 or higher. Apparently, 2K Games had shopped the score around to 1up.com previously. After they refused, Marci Ditter had attempted to sell IGN 360 on the exclusive as well by asking for a 9. After I made a big fuss about it, Doug decided not to take the exclusive either. They ended up publishing the review as a non-exclusive with rest of the game media.
While IGN’s Doug Perry did not take this particular offer, the damage had already been done on the review’s integrity. He pressured the reviewer to score the game before he had played it. The IGN editor ended up giving the title a 9 out of 10. We can only assume it was his honest opinion of the title. However, the review was still tainted. Editors should never prod their staff in a particular score’s direction in order to gain an exclusive review. It’s reported that Doug Perry has left IGN to take a leadership role at an upcoming Turner Broadcasting game publication. Let’s hope IGN and Turner’s publication can maintain a professional and honest review process. Millions of trusting readers deserve nothing less. 2K Games deserves even more heat. There is no excuse for PR firms to bully game media outlets by using score requirements to sell exclusive coverage. Yes, the industry’s got a lot of slutty publications that like to walk the streets. But publishers, show some respect for once. Stop the pimping. Game consumers demand honesty when deciding where they should spend their hard earned cash.
A note to all guilty publishers and media outlets: Discontinue this unethical, dishonest form of business. You are dragging the rest of the game industry down. If you continue to abuse consumers’ trust, you will be exposed.
VGMWatch.com attempted contact with IGN editor Tom McNamara for his take on the review process for Prey but has yet to receive a response as of this publishing.