Games Journalism 2011: It Sunk Lower

MattKeil · 2011-12-01T10:50:54.000Z

Translucent Disregard is a fantastic band name.

LMN8R · 2011-12-01T11:05:30.000Z

tTMDo.jpg1020×589

(hehe)

kerzain · 2011-12-01T11:30:13.000Z

LMN8R:

(hehe)

Yesterday was Thursday, Thursday
Today i-is Friday, Friday (Partyin’)
We-we-we so excited
We so excited
We gonna have a ball today
Tomorrow is Saturday
And Sunday comes after … wards

Telefrog · 2011-12-14T10:21:15.000Z

Is this bad journalism or is it awesome?

Samsung Flies a Nomadic Namibian to Korean Video Games Olympics in Exploitative Stunt

tl;dr version:

Cwi Nqani is the only person in Namibia to play mobile game Asphalt 6 at a tent demo. Since he won “Best Player” by default, Samsung flew him out to the South Korean Game Olympics. Pretty cool, right?

Well, it might’ve been cooler if they didn’t have Cwi Nqani on display like some kind of exhibit, as Kotaku accuses. CNN also covered the story, but in a more positive light. Who is right? Was it exploiting Cwi Nqani to fly him to the big city and have him play games in rural bush attire, or was it just a feel-good gesture?

Also, 10,000!!!

Jamie_Madigan · 2011-12-14T11:46:17.000Z

Sounds like the guy had the time of his life. And there’s this:

“I will take the experience and maybe next time I will be the winner,” he said, “because I will learn from others."

I already like him better than a lot of people I’ve encountered in online gaming.

pyjamarama · 2011-12-15T05:55:56.000Z

One wrote a news story the other assumed the poor nomad was explored by the big bad corporation because what does he know his nomad therefore not able to understand the big bad world, I think who is the actual journalist is pretty clear.

DarthMasta · 2011-12-15T05:59:18.000Z

Telefrog:

Who is right? Was it exploiting Cwi Nqani to fly him to the big city and have him play games in rural bush attire, or was it just a feel-good gesture?

Probably both. Damn world, making it difficult to have a simple, black and white view on reality…

nabeel · 2011-12-18T23:21:54.000Z

www.vg247.com/2011/12/19/dear-gaming-industry-grow-up-why-the-vgas-are-only-part-of-the-problem/

See, Spike’s show wouldn’t even exist – let alone possess this level of clout – without some of the biggest movers-and-shakers in the industry supporting it with all their might.

But it’s not Spike’s duty to give “core” gaming’s stereotypical image a makeover. That job belongs to, you know, the gaming industry. The publishers. The marketers.

So whose duty is it? The people responsible or the people responsible?

chequers · 2011-12-19T00:44:25.000Z

I think it’s a fair point. Spike TV is put on as entertainment for existing gamers. The industry is repsonsible for creating games that attract ‘better’ people.

ZekeDMS · 2011-12-22T02:27:00.000Z

We’re also responsible for not insisting we ARE better people. As long as the shit sells, we’re accountable too.

Alan_Au · 2011-12-22T09:34:33.000Z

The problem with the VGAs isn’t that they pander to a narrow segment of the gaming population, but that they reinforce a stereotype that potentially discourages people from considering themselves gamers.

Essentially the VGAs are hyping products for existing customers, perhaps at the expense of future customers. Maybe it’s some sort of “keeping up with the Joneses” where everybody wants their 30 seconds on television, lest they fall by the wayside. Of course, this is the same mentality that gets people fired over mediocre review scores.

inactive_user · 2011-12-22T09:46:14.000Z

How many future customers are watching the VGAs?

Scuzz · 2011-12-22T10:25:07.000Z

Adam B:

How many future customers are watching the VGAs?

None, even as a customer I couldn’t watch that crap.

JoshV · 2011-12-22T13:21:57.000Z

Who watches the VGAs? Who is the intended audience? Of course, I kind of feel that way with the Oscars. Who watches that crap, and why? I can kind of understand actors\directors\etc attending an award ceremony for movies, but why does the public want to watch that kind of stuff?

They give out awards at GDC for game developers, (Or at least they did the last time I attended, that event is expensive) and it’s much less of a circus, I don’t even know if its televised, it’s certainly wasn’t geared that way.

Of course, none of these awards really do much for a game anyway. It’s not like a movie, where it might get brought back into theatre. Instead it’s just some bullet point on a box, that gets crowded with all the other random craptastic blurbs on the box. (And boxes are on the way out anyway…)

Edit: The VGAs should really be called the Spike Game awards, it’s a form of hubris, sort of like calling an event Miss America, but only holding it in the state of Alabama. It would also help folks realize it’s focus. “Awards to the videogame industry from people who like to watch SpikeTV”
Edit2: Another analogy might be if the Porn movie awards were just called “Movie Awards” instead of whatever it is they call them, too afraid to try to google and find out.

Tom_McNamara · 2011-12-22T13:37:36.000Z

I love the porn awards, because then I get to hear about women named Crystal Foxxx winning “Best Ass Licking” for her heroic performance in Anal Cum Sluts 37.

Telefrog · 2011-12-22T13:46:04.000Z

JoshV:

Who watches the VGAs? Who is the intended audience? Of course, I kind of feel that way with the Oscars. Who watches that crap, and why? I can kind of understand actors\directors\etc attending an award ceremony for movies, but why does the public want to watch that kind of stuff?

A big part of the Academy Awards ceremony is the fashion show. A lot of people tune in to see the red carpet strut and then watch for the outfits the presenters and recipients wear. It’s why designers vie for stars to wear their clothing for weeks in advance.

Many people watch because they want to see if their personal picks for winners match up to the academy’s picks. Who hasn’t looked at the list of winners and thought they could do better?

Finally, some people watch because they honestly want to be entertained by the song & dance numbers, the retrospectives, the presenter jokes, and the glamour.

Unfortunately, the Spike VGAs don’t get any of that right. They have terrible presentation, production values, and they skip a lot of awards in favor of their terrible skits.

sinnick · 2011-12-22T17:04:54.000Z

Telefrog:

A big part of the Academy Awards ceremony is the fashion show. A lot of people tune in to see the red carpet strut and then watch for the outfits the presenters and recipients wear. It’s why designers vie for stars to wear their clothing for weeks in advance.

Many people watch because they want to see if their personal picks for winners match up to the academy’s picks. Who hasn’t looked at the list of winners and thought they could do better?

Finally, some people watch because they honestly want to be entertained by the song & dance numbers, the retrospectives, the presenter jokes, and the glamour.

Unfortunately, the Spike VGAs don’t get any of that right. They have terrible presentation, production values, and they skip a lot of awards in favor of their terrible skits.

Also, movie stars are nice to look at. Game developers? Not so much.

Mark_Asher · 2011-12-22T18:24:33.000Z

Movie and TV are personality-driven. Games are product-driven. Award shows work better when people care about the personalities.

HumanTon · 2011-12-22T18:38:10.000Z

JoshV:

Edit: The VGAs should really be called the Spike Game awards, it’s a form of hubris, sort of like calling an event Miss America, but only holding it in the state of Alabama…

Or always in Atlantic City, as a way to boost tourism in the city after Labor Day.

Hubris is what show business is all about, pretty much.

ZekeDMS · 2011-12-30T13:25:18.000Z

Owen Good fishes for controversy, is an asshole.

Because if anyone was in the wrong here, it was those assholes at Penny Arcade. Apparently Paul’s using that article now to say “See, it’s not my fault, they’re a big name and they agree with me!” Great fucking going, Kotaku.