Finally got my internet back after a huge storm in the D.C. area. Enough time for a quick night update.
I didn't go to E3 this year (never have been, in fact... and I still have the gall to call myself a video game journalist), but I did just receive a 2 DVD documentary on the show from E32003.com. I'll have a full report after I watch the whole thing, but there is one question I have after watching the XBox press conference. My question is this:
What's with all the hooting and hollering?
Most of the people at this press conference are "professional" journalists, correct? Yet as soon as footage of Conker's Bad Fur Day or Halo 2 comes on the screen, the audience morphs into a pack of rabid fanboys. With all the clapping and cheering going on, I'd be surprised if anyone was actually taking notes (plenty of time for that back in the hotel room, I guess).
I understand that most of the people working in the video game journalism industry were video game fans long before they were journalists. Some polite enthusiasm for the games is all right, maybe some light applause after each section of the presentation. But what I saw and heard on this DVD went way past polite appreciation. It sounded more like fans cheering on their favorite sports team than journalists covering what is probably the most important XBox press event of the year.
An interesting effect of this phenomenon: One can pretty accurately gauge the press' anticipation of a game by the amount of noise its video receives. You could almost hear crickets chriping after the True Fantasy Online demo, but it sounded like a bomb went off when they showed Soul Calibur 2. It's pretty obvious which one is more anticipated by the press.
I'd also like to know what kind of a press conference includes absolutely no questions from the press (or was that just not on the video), but I'll save that question for another day.
P.S. To the journalists who cheered and whistled when they showed the bikini clad butt from Outlaw Volleyball for about half a second: You like girls. We get it. Thanks for sharing.
Tuesday, August 26, 2003
The Redesign Game: EGM
A familiar, easily accesible design is important for any news outlet. By putting content in the same format and the same position day after day, month after month, you give readers a sense of where to find the information they're looking for quickly and easily. A sleek design that's aesthetically pleasing will also keep readers coming back time and again.
It's odd then, that some major media outlets that had familiar, accesible, and pretty designs are so eager to change the way they look.
Take Electronics Gaming Monthly, probably the highest profile redesign in recent months. The old design has been constant for years and was probably one of the most well known in the industry. It featured intuitive color-coding by system (Xbox=green, GameCube=purple, PS2=blue), a relatively standard layout for previews (featuring an easy to find vital facts box) and a tight column format for reviews (with big, clear scores set behind each reviewer's text)
Starting with issue 167, EGM changed all that. The new format now has a color scheme that relies heavily on red and black (color coding now differentiates different sections of the magazine instead of systems). Previews are much more freeform as far as space and layout are concerned (some contain only a small screenshot and a few dozen words) and the familiar column-sized review format has been replaced with large rectangles of text (and small white-on-red scores in the corner). The "Press Start" letters and news section got a similar overhaul.
If you had been away for a few months, you might not believe it was the same magazine.
Given the obvious disadvantages to a resdesign (lack of familiarity to readers, cost, time), why do it at all? Well, EGMs layout redesign also accompanied a slight redesign in content. New subsections like "Instant Expert," among others, were added with issue 167, and the new format accompanied an increased design focus on the cover story of the month (speaking of covers, the familiar cover text was also redesigned, removing the heavy black outline). The new, free-form reviews and previews also allow for more games to be covered in one issue, even if some of those games don't get much space. The new format also allows for pictures that aren't in the standard screen-shot rectangle format, which makes the visual appeal that much more exciting.
But overall, I'm not sure these pros outweigh the negative aspects of a redesign. People inherently fear any change, whether good or bad, and you automatically take a small hit in confidence from many readers whenever you change anything about your magazine. True, you don't want to stagnate with a design that looks dated, but I don't think EGM's classic look was in danger of becoming old-fashioned anytime soon.
The best advice I can give, based on my limited experience, is to use redesigns sparingly. Put them at the top of your media outlet's food pyramid, as it were. Unless there is some flaw in the current design that needs immediate attention, I'd leave well enough alone. If it ain't broke... well, you get the idea.
This article has just skimmed the surface of some of the journalistic issues involved in a redesign, but I'll be looking at more examples throughout the week, including Play magazine and GamerFeed.com. So be on the lookout for more semi-informed analysis based almost solely on my personal feelings on the subject.
It's odd then, that some major media outlets that had familiar, accesible, and pretty designs are so eager to change the way they look.
Take Electronics Gaming Monthly, probably the highest profile redesign in recent months. The old design has been constant for years and was probably one of the most well known in the industry. It featured intuitive color-coding by system (Xbox=green, GameCube=purple, PS2=blue), a relatively standard layout for previews (featuring an easy to find vital facts box) and a tight column format for reviews (with big, clear scores set behind each reviewer's text)
Starting with issue 167, EGM changed all that. The new format now has a color scheme that relies heavily on red and black (color coding now differentiates different sections of the magazine instead of systems). Previews are much more freeform as far as space and layout are concerned (some contain only a small screenshot and a few dozen words) and the familiar column-sized review format has been replaced with large rectangles of text (and small white-on-red scores in the corner). The "Press Start" letters and news section got a similar overhaul.
If you had been away for a few months, you might not believe it was the same magazine.
Given the obvious disadvantages to a resdesign (lack of familiarity to readers, cost, time), why do it at all? Well, EGMs layout redesign also accompanied a slight redesign in content. New subsections like "Instant Expert," among others, were added with issue 167, and the new format accompanied an increased design focus on the cover story of the month (speaking of covers, the familiar cover text was also redesigned, removing the heavy black outline). The new, free-form reviews and previews also allow for more games to be covered in one issue, even if some of those games don't get much space. The new format also allows for pictures that aren't in the standard screen-shot rectangle format, which makes the visual appeal that much more exciting.
But overall, I'm not sure these pros outweigh the negative aspects of a redesign. People inherently fear any change, whether good or bad, and you automatically take a small hit in confidence from many readers whenever you change anything about your magazine. True, you don't want to stagnate with a design that looks dated, but I don't think EGM's classic look was in danger of becoming old-fashioned anytime soon.
The best advice I can give, based on my limited experience, is to use redesigns sparingly. Put them at the top of your media outlet's food pyramid, as it were. Unless there is some flaw in the current design that needs immediate attention, I'd leave well enough alone. If it ain't broke... well, you get the idea.
This article has just skimmed the surface of some of the journalistic issues involved in a redesign, but I'll be looking at more examples throughout the week, including Play magazine and GamerFeed.com. So be on the lookout for more semi-informed analysis based almost solely on my personal feelings on the subject.
Monday, August 25, 2003
Karaoke Revolution and the news-itorial
Gamespot has a story about the recently announced U.S. song list for Konami's pending Karaoke Revolution. The story mentions some of the notable artists on the list, gives a little background about the game, and then copies the list verbatim. This is known in the industry as an objective news story.
Gamers.com also has a story about the song list. But the Gamers article has transcended the limitations of objective reporting to become something much more. Rather than let the facts dully speak for themselves, D.F. Smith has infused the story with exciting opinions about the list. By fusing editorial and news elements into a story the site labels as "news," he has created what will henceforth be known as the news-itorial.
A news-itorial is any article that a web site or magazine labels as "news" that includes at least as much of the author's subjective opinion as it does objective facts and reporting. Not all news articles that contain opinions are news-itorials; they have to have enough subjective opinion to overpower the facts. Thoughtful industry analysis is not considered opinion, even though it is somewhat subjective. To be a news-itorial, the opinions must be clearly biased and not based in factual analysis at all.
Let's take a line-by-line look at the make up of an average news-itorial. (article in italics, my comments in regular print. Watch for heavy sarcasm)
The official song list to Konami's Karaoke Revolution has been released, and we must say that we are not pleased.
One sentence in, and already the subjective opinions are apparent. Not only did this author express his disapproval with the list, but he implied that the entire staff of Gamers.com wasn't happy with it by using the royal "we." This may be the case, but it's more suited to a preview than a news story, don'tcha think?
On the one hand, Konami has included Bette Midler and Michael Bolton, among other utterly unsuitable artists.
"Utterly unsuitable" being an objective fact about the artists, of course.
This may, perhaps, be forgivable, considering that the decision was likely made as a misguided attempt to reach a broader audiece.
Yeah, you're right. Why should game companies try to appeal to a broader audience. They should actively try to sell as few copies as possible just so you're happy. Anything else would be "misguided." (Also, doesn't "on the one hand" usually imply "on the other hand" instead of "may, perhaps, be forgivable"?)
However, we challenge Konami to come up with any rational explanation for the omission of Sir Mix-a-Lot's "Baby Got Back."
This is quite the passive-aggressive challenge. Just to play devil's advocate, there are any number of reasons why Konami didn't include the song. Maybe it was too expensive for them to license. Maybe Sir Mix-a-lot didn't want his song alongside Bette Midler's. Maybe Konami thought their target audience wouldn't like to rap along with a decade-old rap (To the author: Just because you obviously want to do something doesn't mean everyone else does)
This would have been the perfect opportunity to actually call up Konami and ask someone there why "Baby Got Back" is not included in the songlist. There's a good chance they would give a blanket "no comment," but the author would be no worse off for trying.
If you'd like to develop your own issues with the selection, please peruse the following list, which comprises the entire inventory of licensed music that will appear in the game when it's released for PlayStation 2 this November.
Thanks a lot for the invitation to "develop my own issues" with the list. Don't you dare let me develop my own untainted opinion. Please suggest what I should think before I start reading.
It should also be noted that this section has the first bit of news not tainted by subjectivity in the article: the Novemebr release date.
*The song list (cut here for spaces reasons. See the article for the full list)
For our part, we will be picking up the Japanese version of the game, replete as it is with the sounds of Ayumi Hamasaki and Rip Slyme.
We're very happy for you. Really we are. You go import your version "replete" with artists that most of your readers have never heard of. You are obviously so amazingly hardcore that we are lucky to even be allowed to read what you write. Please teach me how to be as hardcore as you, Mr. Smith.
Your mileage, of course, may vary, so examine the song lists available and choose accordingly when the game is released later in the fall.
You mean my opinion might differ from yours? I have permission to think differently from you on this highly subjective matter? Thank you, Sir Smith, for your indulgences.
Journalists be warned: This blog is on the lookout for news-itorials from this day forward. Those who post them will not be treated kindly. Readers: If you find an article that you think is a news-itorial, please tell me about it.
Gamers.com also has a story about the song list. But the Gamers article has transcended the limitations of objective reporting to become something much more. Rather than let the facts dully speak for themselves, D.F. Smith has infused the story with exciting opinions about the list. By fusing editorial and news elements into a story the site labels as "news," he has created what will henceforth be known as the news-itorial.
A news-itorial is any article that a web site or magazine labels as "news" that includes at least as much of the author's subjective opinion as it does objective facts and reporting. Not all news articles that contain opinions are news-itorials; they have to have enough subjective opinion to overpower the facts. Thoughtful industry analysis is not considered opinion, even though it is somewhat subjective. To be a news-itorial, the opinions must be clearly biased and not based in factual analysis at all.
Let's take a line-by-line look at the make up of an average news-itorial. (article in italics, my comments in regular print. Watch for heavy sarcasm)
The official song list to Konami's Karaoke Revolution has been released, and we must say that we are not pleased.
One sentence in, and already the subjective opinions are apparent. Not only did this author express his disapproval with the list, but he implied that the entire staff of Gamers.com wasn't happy with it by using the royal "we." This may be the case, but it's more suited to a preview than a news story, don'tcha think?
On the one hand, Konami has included Bette Midler and Michael Bolton, among other utterly unsuitable artists.
"Utterly unsuitable" being an objective fact about the artists, of course.
This may, perhaps, be forgivable, considering that the decision was likely made as a misguided attempt to reach a broader audiece.
Yeah, you're right. Why should game companies try to appeal to a broader audience. They should actively try to sell as few copies as possible just so you're happy. Anything else would be "misguided." (Also, doesn't "on the one hand" usually imply "on the other hand" instead of "may, perhaps, be forgivable"?)
However, we challenge Konami to come up with any rational explanation for the omission of Sir Mix-a-Lot's "Baby Got Back."
This is quite the passive-aggressive challenge. Just to play devil's advocate, there are any number of reasons why Konami didn't include the song. Maybe it was too expensive for them to license. Maybe Sir Mix-a-lot didn't want his song alongside Bette Midler's. Maybe Konami thought their target audience wouldn't like to rap along with a decade-old rap (To the author: Just because you obviously want to do something doesn't mean everyone else does)
This would have been the perfect opportunity to actually call up Konami and ask someone there why "Baby Got Back" is not included in the songlist. There's a good chance they would give a blanket "no comment," but the author would be no worse off for trying.
If you'd like to develop your own issues with the selection, please peruse the following list, which comprises the entire inventory of licensed music that will appear in the game when it's released for PlayStation 2 this November.
Thanks a lot for the invitation to "develop my own issues" with the list. Don't you dare let me develop my own untainted opinion. Please suggest what I should think before I start reading.
It should also be noted that this section has the first bit of news not tainted by subjectivity in the article: the Novemebr release date.
*The song list (cut here for spaces reasons. See the article for the full list)
For our part, we will be picking up the Japanese version of the game, replete as it is with the sounds of Ayumi Hamasaki and Rip Slyme.
We're very happy for you. Really we are. You go import your version "replete" with artists that most of your readers have never heard of. You are obviously so amazingly hardcore that we are lucky to even be allowed to read what you write. Please teach me how to be as hardcore as you, Mr. Smith.
Your mileage, of course, may vary, so examine the song lists available and choose accordingly when the game is released later in the fall.
You mean my opinion might differ from yours? I have permission to think differently from you on this highly subjective matter? Thank you, Sir Smith, for your indulgences.
Journalists be warned: This blog is on the lookout for news-itorials from this day forward. Those who post them will not be treated kindly. Readers: If you find an article that you think is a news-itorial, please tell me about it.
Making a difference or making up a difference?
I think it's the secret desire of every journalist to be Woodward and/or Bernstein at some point in their lives. While getting paid to write about games is all well and good, most journalists want to make some sort of a difference with their writing. Whether this difference is preventing someone from buying a crappy game or bringing down the President of the United States is of little concern; it's the slightly egotistical feeling of importance that is, um, important.
I'll bet Computer and Video Games is feeling pretty important right now. But there are those who say they shouldn't.
For those too busy to read the above-linked articles, I'll paraphrase. In an Aug. 18 story C&VG broke the news that Nintendo's had no plans to release the popular e-Reader peripheral in Europe. This was a bit of a coup for C&VG, as Nintendo had apparently not publicly announced the cancellation. Sites like GamerFeed and Slashdot ran the story, which provoked a "public outcry," from the European citizenry, according to C&VG's follow-up article. By the 20th, C&VG was reporting that a Nintendo spokeperson said "the launch of the E-Card Reader in Europe has been moved into the first half of 2004." (Incidentally, Gamerfeed ran an update when the new information came to light. Slashdot did not)
It seems like a storybook case of "Journalist reports injustice; public demands justice; powers-that-be give in." But Spong has a different take on the matter. In an Aug. 20 article, Spong quoted a Nintendo insider as saying that "this whole thing was purely reactionary and quite ridiculous. The e-Reader was never scrapped for Europe and the fact that it was reported otherwise is shocking," the insider goes on. "This is just a slippage, as happens all the time. To tout it as a snubbing to Europeans was a shamelessly cynical thing to do." It should be noted that Spong did not report on the original cancelation story.
So is this a case of fabricating an uprising on C&VG's part, or a case of sour grapes on Spong's part? C&VG's John Minkley re-confirmed the information in response to an e-mail inquiry by this site. "For Nintendo to move from 'We have no plans' to 'It's coming out next year' in the space of two days is, is my mind, a clear turnaround prompted by the negative reaction from European gamers to the news," he said in an e-mail. Spong editors have not yet replied to a request for comment.
I'm really not sure where I stand on this one. Given Spong's track record, it would be quite easy to dismiss their claims, but I'd like to think that past performance doesn't always predict present predelictions (Hooray for alliteration!) Any thoughts?
I'll bet Computer and Video Games is feeling pretty important right now. But there are those who say they shouldn't.
For those too busy to read the above-linked articles, I'll paraphrase. In an Aug. 18 story C&VG broke the news that Nintendo's had no plans to release the popular e-Reader peripheral in Europe. This was a bit of a coup for C&VG, as Nintendo had apparently not publicly announced the cancellation. Sites like GamerFeed and Slashdot ran the story, which provoked a "public outcry," from the European citizenry, according to C&VG's follow-up article. By the 20th, C&VG was reporting that a Nintendo spokeperson said "the launch of the E-Card Reader in Europe has been moved into the first half of 2004." (Incidentally, Gamerfeed ran an update when the new information came to light. Slashdot did not)
It seems like a storybook case of "Journalist reports injustice; public demands justice; powers-that-be give in." But Spong has a different take on the matter. In an Aug. 20 article, Spong quoted a Nintendo insider as saying that "this whole thing was purely reactionary and quite ridiculous. The e-Reader was never scrapped for Europe and the fact that it was reported otherwise is shocking," the insider goes on. "This is just a slippage, as happens all the time. To tout it as a snubbing to Europeans was a shamelessly cynical thing to do." It should be noted that Spong did not report on the original cancelation story.
So is this a case of fabricating an uprising on C&VG's part, or a case of sour grapes on Spong's part? C&VG's John Minkley re-confirmed the information in response to an e-mail inquiry by this site. "For Nintendo to move from 'We have no plans' to 'It's coming out next year' in the space of two days is, is my mind, a clear turnaround prompted by the negative reaction from European gamers to the news," he said in an e-mail. Spong editors have not yet replied to a request for comment.
I'm really not sure where I stand on this one. Given Spong's track record, it would be quite easy to dismiss their claims, but I'd like to think that past performance doesn't always predict present predelictions (Hooray for alliteration!) Any thoughts?
Thursday, August 21, 2003
Revive Next Generation!
I'd like to take a time out from my Ombudsmanly duties to point you all to a petition to revive what I think is the greatest video game magazine ever: Next Generation.
Next Generation was the first magazine to really take a serious look at the art and business of video games. Their interviews were some of the best around, and their reviews refused to give in to the hype surrounding a game, focusing purely on innovation and fun. You can read the petition for more information on why it was so great. I don't think this will actually work or anything, but a solid show of support for good journalism is always nice.
Next Generation was the first magazine to really take a serious look at the art and business of video games. Their interviews were some of the best around, and their reviews refused to give in to the hype surrounding a game, focusing purely on innovation and fun. You can read the petition for more information on why it was so great. I don't think this will actually work or anything, but a solid show of support for good journalism is always nice.
Tuesday, August 19, 2003
How do you cover a Phantom console?
The unveiling of a new video game console is often a rallying point for the video game media. Web sites do in-depth, multi-page features. Magazines devote whole sections to every scrap of new information available. The entirety of video game news is put on hold when a major player like Nintendo, Microsoft, or Sony reveals any concrete information about their new systems.
Infinium Labs' Phantom console, on the other hand, seems like more of a sidenote to most news outlets.
The Phantom is perhaps a unique case in the history of console releases. Passed off by many as a vaporware joke months ago, the makers have had to fight just to get the media to believe they exist. After a delay caused by the postponement of the Ultimate Gamers Expo. (itself an odd choice for a console unveiling), Infinium finally released a promotional video and some information (including system specs.) about the console on their web site. There was little concrete information or footage of games for the system, but as we know that has never stopped the media from reporting on a system.
In the face of any system unveiling like this, there are two important questions a news outlet has to ask itself: How much coverage should we give it and how should we feature that coverage? The answers to these questions are simple when you're dealing with the big players like Sony, Nintendo and Sega. But with the glut of new system announcements over the past few months, it can be hard to seperate out the serious contenders from the pretenders that aren't worthy of coverage. In fact, the amount of early coverage can sometimes dictate how much of a chance a new system has in an already crowded market.
Then there's the question of what kind of coverage to give the system. Most sites seem willing to simply repeat the information from Infinium's web site, acting as a mouthpiece for the company line. Others went a little deeper, like this IDG reporter who actually talked to an industry analyst and an Infinium spokesman about the release (The article was picked up by PC World, among others). It's interesting that the most in-depth reporting about this story has so far come from an IT site and not a video game site.
The major news sites seemed satisfied with a small mention of the unveiling with the minimum of new reporting necessary. Gamespy had a very small story buried in its crowded news section mentioning the unveiling and linking to the official web site. Gamespot had a slightly meatier story which listed the systems specs and linked to the official site. Gamerfeed also gave the specs in the article, and paraphrased a few of the features straight from Infinium's press materials.
All three sites treated the story like any other; that is, they did not play the story up with a front page link or accompanying features or accompanying articles (at least not yet). While this may seem innocuous at first, it speaks volumes about the Phantom's image in the current video game market. Mentioning a new console in a news story is one thing; hopefully every new release would at least get that minimum of respect. Featuring that story on the front page, however, puts it in quite another league. Public relations companies are constantly fighting to get articles about their products placed in more prominent positions, and the coverage of the Phantom has been anything but prominent. Compared to the ridiculous amount of coverage the PSP has received with roughly the same amount of available information, Infinium Labs might be a little dissapointed by the scant coverage offered by these major sites (not that Infinium Labs has the weight of Sony by any means, but still).
They may be a little more heartened by sites like TotalVideoGames and GamingHorizon, both of which featured the unveiling somewehat prominently on their front pages. Gaming Horizon even got into the act before the official unveiling with a sort of preview article anticipating the press launch (to be fair, Gamespot also had an article previous to the launch, but they focused on Infinium's partnership with Gigex).
The tone of these articles matches the prominent placement on the sites: TVG said they were "certainly impressed" by the system's specs while GameingHorizon dug into the video and talked up the "variety of options" that the main system interface may contain. This is only natural; an outlet that plays a story highly is going to treat that story as more important than a site that buries it in their news section. It's a matter of defending one's news judgement. Reader's should be wary of the bias this often introduces. After all, when was the last time you saw a ten page preview that ended up bashing a game?
Slashdot did a pretty good job of covering the major talking points and providing the important links on Sunday evening, beating many of the major outlets that only update on weekdays. They later updated the story with information garnered from an interview by Gigex (a corporate partner of Infinium, which makes the objectivity of the interview a tad suspect). The interview revealed a price ceiling of $399 and a $9.95 monthly suscription fee for the system, something that most other outlets haven't reported yet.
Other link-and-quote sites gave the unveiling less coverage. Blue's News mentioned it in passing along side the XGameStation in a very short article. Evil Avatar used the news peg as a chance to editorialize about the price point ("it's gonna run 500-600 bucks") and analyze some of the more extravegant of Infinium's claims ("I'm also highly perplexed on the claim, 'More games than ANY other console'"). Spong covered the story with the highly informative headline, "nVidia’s latest home console shown -- Hot bikini action inside!" One had to look at the subhead to see any mention of the Phantom.
Infinium Labs' Phantom console, on the other hand, seems like more of a sidenote to most news outlets.
The Phantom is perhaps a unique case in the history of console releases. Passed off by many as a vaporware joke months ago, the makers have had to fight just to get the media to believe they exist. After a delay caused by the postponement of the Ultimate Gamers Expo. (itself an odd choice for a console unveiling), Infinium finally released a promotional video and some information (including system specs.) about the console on their web site. There was little concrete information or footage of games for the system, but as we know that has never stopped the media from reporting on a system.
In the face of any system unveiling like this, there are two important questions a news outlet has to ask itself: How much coverage should we give it and how should we feature that coverage? The answers to these questions are simple when you're dealing with the big players like Sony, Nintendo and Sega. But with the glut of new system announcements over the past few months, it can be hard to seperate out the serious contenders from the pretenders that aren't worthy of coverage. In fact, the amount of early coverage can sometimes dictate how much of a chance a new system has in an already crowded market.
Then there's the question of what kind of coverage to give the system. Most sites seem willing to simply repeat the information from Infinium's web site, acting as a mouthpiece for the company line. Others went a little deeper, like this IDG reporter who actually talked to an industry analyst and an Infinium spokesman about the release (The article was picked up by PC World, among others). It's interesting that the most in-depth reporting about this story has so far come from an IT site and not a video game site.
The major news sites seemed satisfied with a small mention of the unveiling with the minimum of new reporting necessary. Gamespy had a very small story buried in its crowded news section mentioning the unveiling and linking to the official web site. Gamespot had a slightly meatier story which listed the systems specs and linked to the official site. Gamerfeed also gave the specs in the article, and paraphrased a few of the features straight from Infinium's press materials.
All three sites treated the story like any other; that is, they did not play the story up with a front page link or accompanying features or accompanying articles (at least not yet). While this may seem innocuous at first, it speaks volumes about the Phantom's image in the current video game market. Mentioning a new console in a news story is one thing; hopefully every new release would at least get that minimum of respect. Featuring that story on the front page, however, puts it in quite another league. Public relations companies are constantly fighting to get articles about their products placed in more prominent positions, and the coverage of the Phantom has been anything but prominent. Compared to the ridiculous amount of coverage the PSP has received with roughly the same amount of available information, Infinium Labs might be a little dissapointed by the scant coverage offered by these major sites (not that Infinium Labs has the weight of Sony by any means, but still).
They may be a little more heartened by sites like TotalVideoGames and GamingHorizon, both of which featured the unveiling somewehat prominently on their front pages. Gaming Horizon even got into the act before the official unveiling with a sort of preview article anticipating the press launch (to be fair, Gamespot also had an article previous to the launch, but they focused on Infinium's partnership with Gigex).
The tone of these articles matches the prominent placement on the sites: TVG said they were "certainly impressed" by the system's specs while GameingHorizon dug into the video and talked up the "variety of options" that the main system interface may contain. This is only natural; an outlet that plays a story highly is going to treat that story as more important than a site that buries it in their news section. It's a matter of defending one's news judgement. Reader's should be wary of the bias this often introduces. After all, when was the last time you saw a ten page preview that ended up bashing a game?
Slashdot did a pretty good job of covering the major talking points and providing the important links on Sunday evening, beating many of the major outlets that only update on weekdays. They later updated the story with information garnered from an interview by Gigex (a corporate partner of Infinium, which makes the objectivity of the interview a tad suspect). The interview revealed a price ceiling of $399 and a $9.95 monthly suscription fee for the system, something that most other outlets haven't reported yet.
Other link-and-quote sites gave the unveiling less coverage. Blue's News mentioned it in passing along side the XGameStation in a very short article. Evil Avatar used the news peg as a chance to editorialize about the price point ("it's gonna run 500-600 bucks") and analyze some of the more extravegant of Infinium's claims ("I'm also highly perplexed on the claim, 'More games than ANY other console'"). Spong covered the story with the highly informative headline, "nVidia’s latest home console shown -- Hot bikini action inside!" One had to look at the subhead to see any mention of the Phantom.
Thursday, August 14, 2003
Vacation/all I ever wanted/Vacation, had to get away
Hello to various people reading this,
You may have noticed a drop-off in the number of posts recently. This is because I've been on vacation for the past few weeks. REst assured, though, that I'm sitll keeping track of the happenings in the video game journalism industry and that I'll be back next week with more crazy ramblings. Stay tuned.
You may have noticed a drop-off in the number of posts recently. This is because I've been on vacation for the past few weeks. REst assured, though, that I'm sitll keeping track of the happenings in the video game journalism industry and that I'll be back next week with more crazy ramblings. Stay tuned.
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