Video game journalism - a response to the controversy

Updating row on the state of play British journalism is an opportunity to rethink how the media interacts with industry

If you are not a source of the gaming industry or a very committed player who has perhaps lost a dispute last week rather harmful. It all started when journalists Games Media Awards this month had the chance to win a PS3 on Twitter about a particular game, including the hashtag in your message. I did not because I thought it was the equivalent of a tweet sponsored, a form of advertising that the guard did not, but the fact that some participants

enter the contest angered many industry observers.

little later, comedian and television writer Robert Florence Eurogamer wrote an article damning question the increasingly close relationship between journalists and publishers games games. Later, some of this virulent diatribe have been removed because of complaints criticized by an author in the text, and Florence announced that it would contribute to the site. A fireball invective and criticism, then consumed Twitter communications industry for the next three days. Veteran games writer Stuart Campbell provided a long chronology of the controversy here, and Robert Florence wrote a response to the storm that followed on Twitter in the personal site of John Walker, the editorial page of PC games, Rock Shotgun paper.

has, in short, has been a tough week for journalism and depressing games. Accusations and insults were thrown around and impartial sources of information, games that rely heavily on working relationships with publishers, has been questioned. There seems to be a lot of players who believe that the perpetrators of games are little more than public relations associates, trade and the critical characteristics favorable for exclusive access to new titles or juicy gifts.

course, as in all forms of entertainment writing, there is a close interaction between regular journalists and public relations major content providers. Access to view and review material is strictly controlled in this industry. This is partly due to the threat of software piracy is always present and terrifying for companies that have invested millions of dollars and countless hours of labor to produce Triple A titles. But it is also because publishers want to design an environment in which its products are considered and discussed favorably. Access to new games now involves a relationship between the journalist and producer, understand that there are two reasons that are uncomfortable aligned. Now, we must consider this properly.

The situation is far from perfect, it is the commitment, however, is the work of entertainment in the form of writing - especially in the digital age. Some might also make a distinction between writing and journalism entertainment news. Very few writers fall into the generally accepted definition of games "journalism" - an investigation in which the goal is exposure. As William Randall Hearst famously wrote: "News is something that someone does not print, everything else is advertising."

There is some truth in this, of course. But it is also true that writing is an entertainment offering people the information they want things they love - like games, movies and music. The best entertainment writers more than that - to analyze and interpret the industry, providing context and interesting results that add depth and soul to experience new things. Quality standards should be the same.

However, when writing about the games can be fraught with difficulties and ambiguities. The rising cost of production has been publishing games quieter and the controller. At the same time, the rise of blog culture created a scene in which journalism games and content fan coexist and combine. There is much debate on what should mean journalism in the digital age - there are arguments that the aggregation is changing. Alan Rusbridger concept of open journalism suggests that some stories are best explored in partnership with other bloggers and outside of traditional journalism. The new framework introduced in this complex scenario, we also need to establish clear rules for working in partnership with bloggers also
Games

were a writer of 18 years, and I have seen many changes in the industry. Today, the work we do involves a lot of communication with the public relations major publishers -. So, ultimately, it is up to myself to reflect limitations in the context of the General The Guardian

I thought a lot about my role in the last week while watching this controversy are developed and made me ask some serious questions. On a personal and professional, got the first drive in everything I write or commission - is sacrosanct. Writing games may not be as "important" than other media sectors, but must be conducted with integrity. I also believe that most public relations professionals are useful people, playing and promoting the game I love.

However, during a period in which it takes the credibility and impartiality of games writers may be useful to recall and explain how games are covered on this site, and how I could improve transparency.

all elements resulting from host press trips and events for the brand as such.
This is common practice in the Guardian and is part of the code of conduct of the newspaper. Press trips are a very useful writing and games that can lead to interesting and fantastic elements - allows access only to those who develop content. But it is important for readers to know that something you read is the direct result of a trip or an event sponsored by an editor.

not on the basis of the opinion of the committees organized by the Event Editor.

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