Extra! Extra! At a recent Playstation conference in Japan, Sony announced the specs for their upcoming portable, appropriately called Playstation Portable. As was expected, the entire journalism industry got terribly excited despite the lack of an actual system prototype, game demos, or price point being shown or mentioned anywhere at the conference. But this can be forgiven; the system is a long way off, and readers are chomping at the bit to get any information they can on it, even if it is in the form of confusing, techno-jargon specs. Which brings me to the point of this article:
System specs are meaningless on their own
I know the readership for video game websites skews a little more tech savvy, but I find it hard to believe that the average reader will know what a "MIPS R4000 32-Bit core" is off-hand. And while sites like GameSpy, GamesIndustry.biz, GameSpot and Wired wrote out detailed articles explaining what the specs meant for the lay-audience, many sites were content to copy from Ken Kutagari's slide show and mention that the specs were "impressive."
Chief among the guilty are Slashdot and Evil Avatar who simply linked to this cryptic ZDNet Japan story that listed the full specifications in English but had no other information for those who can't speak Japanese. Gamerfeed and Spong aren't far behind, posting abbreviated spec lists with a minimum of analysis.
Some of these specs, like the "Shock Proof" Universal Media Disc, are useful to the public, but others, like "Sub Memory:2MB DRAM — 2.6GB/sec" are meaningless to most readers. It's the journalists job, when presented with confusing specs like these, to decipher them and lay them out in a way that everyone can understand. Sure, you can list the full specs for the technophiles in the audience (something Wired and GI.biz notably didn't do), but you need some analysis that goes beyond the numbers and puts the systems power in easily relatable terms. All the facts and figures in the world are meaningless if your audience can't understand them.
There's nothing wrong with spec lists in and of themselves; they provide valuable, early data on what a system will be capable of. But by themselves, they are useful only to electrical engineers and others who have a deep understanding of a computer's inner workings. Unless this is your main audience, explain the specs a little more.
Wednesday, July 30, 2003
Tuesday, July 29, 2003
When worlds no longer collide
It seems like just yesterday that video game web sites and magazines were reporting breathlessly on each and every new video game property optioned for a theatrical release. But as quickly as the bandwagon can be boarded, it can also be abandoned at the slightest hint of bad news.
That bit of bad news came in the form of a quote by Paramount executive Wayne Lewellen, in which he blamed the latest Tomb Raider video game (which has been selling briskly despite bad reviews) for the failure of their latest Tomb Raider movie (which has been tanking amid bad reviews). Originally from a Reuters article:
"The only thing we can attribute that to is that the gamers were not happy with the latest version of the 'Tomb Raider' video game, which is our core audience."
Some sites, notably Adrenaline Vault and Gamespot reported the story evenly, mentioning the facts and providing a bit of context without jumping to any conclusions. But many sites used the quote as a peg to announce "The Death of Video Game/Movie Collaborations". How quick we are to judge...
Reuters: "The romance between Hollywood and the video game industry is suddenly a lot chillier."
Spong.com: "Is the romance over? We’ll have to wait and see."
EvilAvatar: "What is it that seems to always drive these two industries into conflict?"
GamerFeed: "Say it with me..video game movies don't work...video game movies don't work...video game movies don't work."
It could be argued that these quotes are merely an analysis of the new relationship between video game makers and movie makers in light of Mr. Lewellen's quote. This is a valid point, but good news analysis usually involves more than one data point as a basis for a new trend. None of these articles cite any other evidence to support their claim that video game-based movies are on the outs. Instead, one angry, finger-pointing executive becomes the spokesman for the whole movie industry. A little digging could have revealed whether Mr. Lewellen's thoughts were shared by others in the gaming and movie communities, or how other video game movies have been doing at the box office. But no one seems to have bothered with this extra reporting, and the de facto assumption is that the honeymoon between hollywood and silicon valley is over. Analysis is all well and good, but only when you have suitable data to analyze.
That bit of bad news came in the form of a quote by Paramount executive Wayne Lewellen, in which he blamed the latest Tomb Raider video game (which has been selling briskly despite bad reviews) for the failure of their latest Tomb Raider movie (which has been tanking amid bad reviews). Originally from a Reuters article:
"The only thing we can attribute that to is that the gamers were not happy with the latest version of the 'Tomb Raider' video game, which is our core audience."
Some sites, notably Adrenaline Vault and Gamespot reported the story evenly, mentioning the facts and providing a bit of context without jumping to any conclusions. But many sites used the quote as a peg to announce "The Death of Video Game/Movie Collaborations". How quick we are to judge...
Reuters: "The romance between Hollywood and the video game industry is suddenly a lot chillier."
Spong.com: "Is the romance over? We’ll have to wait and see."
EvilAvatar: "What is it that seems to always drive these two industries into conflict?"
GamerFeed: "Say it with me..video game movies don't work...video game movies don't work...video game movies don't work."
It could be argued that these quotes are merely an analysis of the new relationship between video game makers and movie makers in light of Mr. Lewellen's quote. This is a valid point, but good news analysis usually involves more than one data point as a basis for a new trend. None of these articles cite any other evidence to support their claim that video game-based movies are on the outs. Instead, one angry, finger-pointing executive becomes the spokesman for the whole movie industry. A little digging could have revealed whether Mr. Lewellen's thoughts were shared by others in the gaming and movie communities, or how other video game movies have been doing at the box office. But no one seems to have bothered with this extra reporting, and the de facto assumption is that the honeymoon between hollywood and silicon valley is over. Analysis is all well and good, but only when you have suitable data to analyze.
Friday, July 25, 2003
Spong redeems itself (a bit)
I know I've been quite hard on Spong.com recently, but I do take notice when they do something right.
For instance, their coverage of incompatibility issues with the Japanese version of F-Zero GX. Aparently, Datel's Freeloader disc, which allows Japanese games to play on American and European systems, does not work correctly with the menus in the new futuristic racing game. This led some to speculate that Nintendo had put in some new protection scheme to thwart the import of its games. Almost surprisingly, Spong did not jump to this conclusion in its initial report: Freeloader No-Loader. Even better, they included some very important words at the bottom of the informative article, posted yesterday: "...we've asked Datel to confirm this. Expect full details if and when they reply."
It's amazing how much those little words will do for one's credibility.
Finally, to complete the hat trick, today Spong posted the full reply they got from Datel. In the lengthy note, Datel said they were working on the problem and revealed that they didn't think Nintendo was deliberately blocking the menus. Spong was quick to point out that Datel was speaking exclusively to them, which isn't that surprising, as no one else probably bothered to follow up on the story with a simple e-mail to the Freeloader makers. Thanks to this simple follow-up, Spong jumps ahead of most other outlets that covered the story.
It may seem a little inconsequential on a story as small as this, but getting as much information as possible is no doubt important to anyone interested in importing GameCube games. Through the simple act of following up with Datel, Spong makes the story more complete and worth more to its readers. Kudos, Spong. Keep up the decent work.
For instance, their coverage of incompatibility issues with the Japanese version of F-Zero GX. Aparently, Datel's Freeloader disc, which allows Japanese games to play on American and European systems, does not work correctly with the menus in the new futuristic racing game. This led some to speculate that Nintendo had put in some new protection scheme to thwart the import of its games. Almost surprisingly, Spong did not jump to this conclusion in its initial report: Freeloader No-Loader. Even better, they included some very important words at the bottom of the informative article, posted yesterday: "...we've asked Datel to confirm this. Expect full details if and when they reply."
It's amazing how much those little words will do for one's credibility.
Finally, to complete the hat trick, today Spong posted the full reply they got from Datel. In the lengthy note, Datel said they were working on the problem and revealed that they didn't think Nintendo was deliberately blocking the menus. Spong was quick to point out that Datel was speaking exclusively to them, which isn't that surprising, as no one else probably bothered to follow up on the story with a simple e-mail to the Freeloader makers. Thanks to this simple follow-up, Spong jumps ahead of most other outlets that covered the story.
It may seem a little inconsequential on a story as small as this, but getting as much information as possible is no doubt important to anyone interested in importing GameCube games. Through the simple act of following up with Datel, Spong makes the story more complete and worth more to its readers. Kudos, Spong. Keep up the decent work.
Thursday, July 24, 2003
Will the real journalists please stand up?
The GamesIndustry.biz headline: Conspiracy Entertainment sues Eminem for fraud
The Spong.com headine: Big girlie legal rapper vs games developer handbag fight
This time, I think I'll let you decide for yourself which is the better example of good journalism.
The Spong.com headine: Big girlie legal rapper vs games developer handbag fight
This time, I think I'll let you decide for yourself which is the better example of good journalism.
Tuesday, July 22, 2003
When is a news story not a news story...
The answer: ...When it's actualy an opinion piece.
For example, take the recent Gamers.com article entitled At What Price Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles? This article, which was posted in the news section and showed up under "latest headlines" on the Monday it was posted, details the cost of playing the four-player version of the upcoming Gamecube game, Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles (FF:CC). The multiplayer version requires each player to have a Game Boy Advance and GBA-GC link cable. "If you do the math, averaging the cost of an original Game Boy Advance and the Game Boy Advance SP, the total price of the game, four handhelds, and four $13 link cables works out to around $400," the article states.
The "news" story continues by giving suggestions for other ways to spend your $400, such as a digital camera, a limited-edition PS2 or "just over 30 boxes of Okamoto Golgo 13 condoms."
Let me start by saying that I thought this was a very funny article that took an interesting look at the price-gouging often caused by Nintendo's endless peripherals. It was a well-written piece with a nice layout and a good flow.
But it wasn't news
There is nothing in this story that is remotely newsworthy. The information that FF:CC required four GBA's for multiplayer is months old. The price of the Game Boy Advance and link cables are similarly well known. No sources, written or spoken, are quoted in the article. There are no new facts being conveyed in the article. There is nothing at all that puts it in the realm of news.
Not only does the article contain no facts pushing it towards the news section, but it actually contains many opinions that should push it away from th news section. Calling the price of FF:CC "a fair bit" and "a significant expenditure" may seem innocuous, but it actually makes a large value judgement about what the author is willing to pay for the game. This is the kind ofthing that belongs in a preview or a review, not a news story. The suggestion of other things to do with the money only reinforces the fact that the author doesn't think FF:CC is worth the $400. Again, a fine point to make, but not in an objective news story. The article ends with a slight jab at the N-Gage, saying that FF:CC is "almost certainly the superior choice." Good point. Still not news.
Even the selection of this topic for an article is weighted with subjectivity. Why was there no similar article decrying the thousands of dollars it takes to buy four XBoxes, 16 controllers, and networking hardware for those who wish to play Halo "in the optimum... multiplayer configuartion." No news story about Dance Dance Revolution would decry the cost of an "optimum" $500 pad as a detriment to the gameplay. You can pick and choose what's worth the money all you want in the reviews section, but you can't do that kind of stuff in the news section!
The only explanation I can think of for this story ending up in news: Someone at Gamers.com had a brainstorm and realized that FF:CC will actually cost a lot for four people to play. They wanted to comment on this fact, but did not have a suitable reason to do so (It's way too early for a preview, and the article is too light for a feature). But news can be short and it gets posted every day. plus it gets lots of attention on the site. Why not post it in the news section? Great, done. Time for lunch.
Most visitors to the site will barely notice, I'm sure, as video game news is often just a petty excuse to spew opinions about the industry (see Spong.com, among others) But there has to be a standard. There has to be something that sets news apart from opinion, some objectivity and new information that seperates it from the subjective opinion-mongering that surrounds it. It's about time people started paying attention to this.
For example, take the recent Gamers.com article entitled At What Price Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles? This article, which was posted in the news section and showed up under "latest headlines" on the Monday it was posted, details the cost of playing the four-player version of the upcoming Gamecube game, Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles (FF:CC). The multiplayer version requires each player to have a Game Boy Advance and GBA-GC link cable. "If you do the math, averaging the cost of an original Game Boy Advance and the Game Boy Advance SP, the total price of the game, four handhelds, and four $13 link cables works out to around $400," the article states.
The "news" story continues by giving suggestions for other ways to spend your $400, such as a digital camera, a limited-edition PS2 or "just over 30 boxes of Okamoto Golgo 13 condoms."
Let me start by saying that I thought this was a very funny article that took an interesting look at the price-gouging often caused by Nintendo's endless peripherals. It was a well-written piece with a nice layout and a good flow.
But it wasn't news
There is nothing in this story that is remotely newsworthy. The information that FF:CC required four GBA's for multiplayer is months old. The price of the Game Boy Advance and link cables are similarly well known. No sources, written or spoken, are quoted in the article. There are no new facts being conveyed in the article. There is nothing at all that puts it in the realm of news.
Not only does the article contain no facts pushing it towards the news section, but it actually contains many opinions that should push it away from th news section. Calling the price of FF:CC "a fair bit" and "a significant expenditure" may seem innocuous, but it actually makes a large value judgement about what the author is willing to pay for the game. This is the kind ofthing that belongs in a preview or a review, not a news story. The suggestion of other things to do with the money only reinforces the fact that the author doesn't think FF:CC is worth the $400. Again, a fine point to make, but not in an objective news story. The article ends with a slight jab at the N-Gage, saying that FF:CC is "almost certainly the superior choice." Good point. Still not news.
Even the selection of this topic for an article is weighted with subjectivity. Why was there no similar article decrying the thousands of dollars it takes to buy four XBoxes, 16 controllers, and networking hardware for those who wish to play Halo "in the optimum... multiplayer configuartion." No news story about Dance Dance Revolution would decry the cost of an "optimum" $500 pad as a detriment to the gameplay. You can pick and choose what's worth the money all you want in the reviews section, but you can't do that kind of stuff in the news section!
The only explanation I can think of for this story ending up in news: Someone at Gamers.com had a brainstorm and realized that FF:CC will actually cost a lot for four people to play. They wanted to comment on this fact, but did not have a suitable reason to do so (It's way too early for a preview, and the article is too light for a feature). But news can be short and it gets posted every day. plus it gets lots of attention on the site. Why not post it in the news section? Great, done. Time for lunch.
Most visitors to the site will barely notice, I'm sure, as video game news is often just a petty excuse to spew opinions about the industry (see Spong.com, among others) But there has to be a standard. There has to be something that sets news apart from opinion, some objectivity and new information that seperates it from the subjective opinion-mongering that surrounds it. It's about time people started paying attention to this.
Spong.com gets burned in Shenmue III rumor shocker!
(In case you were wondering about the title of this post, I'm trying to emulate the sensationalist headline writing style of the always-good-for-a-laugh Spong.com staff. Please note I would never intentionally write a headline this bad for any other reason)
Today's karmic lesson: When you play with rumors, sometimes you get burned.
At the forefront of this particular example, as they always seem to be with unsubstantiated rumor-mongering, is Spong.com who as recently as Monday posted this article citing "various Japanese news sources" (none of them named) as saying that Shenmue III is officially in production. They go as far to say that this new "special edition" Shenmue III will include copies of the first two games along with the new installment, for the price of a regular game. If this all sounds like the wishful thinking of some pining fan, well that's because... it is.
A Computer and Video Games story quotes an SOE spokesperson as saying, "there was a bit of Japanese text on the AM2 site which is actually a letter from a fan, saying what they want to see in the game." The article goes on: "Apparently this letter has been taken as official confirmation from AM2 itself in some quarters. Dashed hopes again then - hopefully we'll have some genuine Shenmue news for you one day..."
Now to be fair, Spong showed some unusual trepidation when posting this latest rumor on Monday. "We’re not sure exactly how concrete this all is at present," the article said in what can possibly be described as coincidental foresight. But they couldn't leave well enough alone: "The considerable spike in Shenmue III gossip of late, combined with the fact that Sega recently overhauled its official Shenmue site, leads us to believe that something is brewing in the depths of AM-2." This is what passes for video game news, Spong? "Ooh, there's a lot of gossip and they're redoing the web site. Somthing must be going on! Post post post!" (note: obviosuly not an actual quote from anywhere except my fevered imaginings)
When Spong got wind that their story was based on a simple fan letter, they handled it less than well. In a Tuesday follow up headlined "Shenmue III shows Sega's newfound cunning," Spong tries to play itself off as the victim, blaming Sega's "new level of contrite business acumen" and "a new-found software-centric spin machine," for the misinformation. The article goes on to accuse Sega of "fueling the fire somewhat," generating "a feverish level of anticipation" and putting up "a wall of silence that, in fairness, isn't really necessary." They then backtrack hard and report on the only concrete piece of Shenmue III news they actually have, a quote from Yu Suzuki: "Preliminary work for Shenmue III is underway, though nothing technical has been completed. Art and design has been going on for some time."
If you had just stuck to that story in the first place, you wouldn't be in this mess. What probably happened is that Spong.com was so intent on getting some news, any news, on Shenmue III out there, that they went with a risky story based on a questionable source with no attribution or confirmation. When this gamble didn't pay off, it was a load of sour grapes from Spong, who should be used to this sort of thing by now. Yes, every company has a hype machine in place for its latest releases, but this does not absolve the news organization from posting what is a sloppy, ill-researched and rumor-heavy story. Saying that Sega intentionally tried to mislead you when your article show no evidence of even trying to contact Sega about the story is hypocrisy of the highest order. No one at Sega is out to get you, Spong. You just messed up. Admit it.
Other sites handled the admittedly confusing situation much better. GamerFeed posted their original story with a disclaimer saying that "none of the information in this story has been confirmed by Sega," and then posted an update culled from C&VG that took on a rather mature, reflective tone: "The deal below seemed too good to be true anyway. Hopefully, Shenmue III will be confirmed soon. Keep your fingers crossed." GamePro's story was simply titled "Is Shenmue III happening" and detailed the rumors surrounding the game without making a firm announcement one way or the other (as they couldn't, really, without confirmation from Sega). Slashdot Games posted a summary from Insert Credit that detailed a timeline of the conflicting announcements and mentions a "minor controversy and buzz" around the latest announcement.
None of these sites were as irresponsible in their news postings as Spong, and none of them were as bitter when a more complete picture came to light.
A sentence near the end of the Tuesday Spong article gives a good look into the psyche of the staff there: "Indeed, it would be fair to argue that a game announcement has never been so openly longed for as this." Wishing for something does not make it so, Spong. When you grasp at straws, sometimes all you get is air. There's no reason to be all pissy about it. Admit your mistake and move on.
Today's karmic lesson: When you play with rumors, sometimes you get burned.
At the forefront of this particular example, as they always seem to be with unsubstantiated rumor-mongering, is Spong.com who as recently as Monday posted this article citing "various Japanese news sources" (none of them named) as saying that Shenmue III is officially in production. They go as far to say that this new "special edition" Shenmue III will include copies of the first two games along with the new installment, for the price of a regular game. If this all sounds like the wishful thinking of some pining fan, well that's because... it is.
A Computer and Video Games story quotes an SOE spokesperson as saying, "there was a bit of Japanese text on the AM2 site which is actually a letter from a fan, saying what they want to see in the game." The article goes on: "Apparently this letter has been taken as official confirmation from AM2 itself in some quarters. Dashed hopes again then - hopefully we'll have some genuine Shenmue news for you one day..."
Now to be fair, Spong showed some unusual trepidation when posting this latest rumor on Monday. "We’re not sure exactly how concrete this all is at present," the article said in what can possibly be described as coincidental foresight. But they couldn't leave well enough alone: "The considerable spike in Shenmue III gossip of late, combined with the fact that Sega recently overhauled its official Shenmue site, leads us to believe that something is brewing in the depths of AM-2." This is what passes for video game news, Spong? "Ooh, there's a lot of gossip and they're redoing the web site. Somthing must be going on! Post post post!" (note: obviosuly not an actual quote from anywhere except my fevered imaginings)
When Spong got wind that their story was based on a simple fan letter, they handled it less than well. In a Tuesday follow up headlined "Shenmue III shows Sega's newfound cunning," Spong tries to play itself off as the victim, blaming Sega's "new level of contrite business acumen" and "a new-found software-centric spin machine," for the misinformation. The article goes on to accuse Sega of "fueling the fire somewhat," generating "a feverish level of anticipation" and putting up "a wall of silence that, in fairness, isn't really necessary." They then backtrack hard and report on the only concrete piece of Shenmue III news they actually have, a quote from Yu Suzuki: "Preliminary work for Shenmue III is underway, though nothing technical has been completed. Art and design has been going on for some time."
If you had just stuck to that story in the first place, you wouldn't be in this mess. What probably happened is that Spong.com was so intent on getting some news, any news, on Shenmue III out there, that they went with a risky story based on a questionable source with no attribution or confirmation. When this gamble didn't pay off, it was a load of sour grapes from Spong, who should be used to this sort of thing by now. Yes, every company has a hype machine in place for its latest releases, but this does not absolve the news organization from posting what is a sloppy, ill-researched and rumor-heavy story. Saying that Sega intentionally tried to mislead you when your article show no evidence of even trying to contact Sega about the story is hypocrisy of the highest order. No one at Sega is out to get you, Spong. You just messed up. Admit it.
Other sites handled the admittedly confusing situation much better. GamerFeed posted their original story with a disclaimer saying that "none of the information in this story has been confirmed by Sega," and then posted an update culled from C&VG that took on a rather mature, reflective tone: "The deal below seemed too good to be true anyway. Hopefully, Shenmue III will be confirmed soon. Keep your fingers crossed." GamePro's story was simply titled "Is Shenmue III happening" and detailed the rumors surrounding the game without making a firm announcement one way or the other (as they couldn't, really, without confirmation from Sega). Slashdot Games posted a summary from Insert Credit that detailed a timeline of the conflicting announcements and mentions a "minor controversy and buzz" around the latest announcement.
None of these sites were as irresponsible in their news postings as Spong, and none of them were as bitter when a more complete picture came to light.
A sentence near the end of the Tuesday Spong article gives a good look into the psyche of the staff there: "Indeed, it would be fair to argue that a game announcement has never been so openly longed for as this." Wishing for something does not make it so, Spong. When you grasp at straws, sometimes all you get is air. There's no reason to be all pissy about it. Admit your mistake and move on.
Monday, July 21, 2003
Incoherent Effusive Praise - Insert Credit
Welcome to the first of what I hope will be many installments of "incoherent effusive praise," the place where I babble on about a web site, magazine, or cool piece of writing that I previously had not known about. Know something I should praise effusively? Tell me about it.
Today's praiseworthy target: Insert Credit
What makes it so great?: Insert Credit is less about games and more about the experience of playing games.
Well, actually, it's obviously, ostensibly about games. "The more obscure, the more Japanese, the better," seems to be the unofficial motto. This is not a site for the mainstream. It's a site by the hardcore gamer for the hardcore gamer. References to games both classic and contemporary are thrown out at such a clip that a non-gamer would have trouble keeping up. This is a good thing. Instead of appealing to the lowest-common-denominator casual gamers who know next-to-nothing about their new hobby, the staff of Insert Credit is not afraid to revel in their unabashed fandom. They're not afraid to make fun of gaming "pretenders" or otherr magazines (protip: GamePro) A reader gets the impression that they knowers and lovers of all things video games, and that they expect their readers to be too.
But I've gotten off my main point. The appeal of Insert Credit is that is is all about the experience of playing games. The reviews and features don't harp on the technical or stylistic choices a designer made. Instead, they embody the feeling of playing/experiencing/living/being a game in text form. The writings are full of nostalgic longing for the simple pleasures of games long past, but not so much so that they lose sight of the brilliant pleasures of many of today's games. Reviews on IC are not focused on frame rates or soundtrack quality (although those things do get mentioned). IC reviews hinge on how good a game is as an experience.
The features take the experience of the hardcore gamer and discuss how it extends into real life. From a review of a minibosses concert to a balanced discussion of DDR addiction, the features engender a feeling that video games are more than simple diversions to these people. The games are an important part of their lives, lives that don't seem to fit the reclusive, loner stereotypes that haunt gamers to this day. The subtle and effective writing is peppere with snippets of conversations that show a high level of socialization and integration into the gaming "scene," (if you'll pardon the expression). The staff at IC is connected to both the real world and the virtual world in a way that made this reader think about how games fit into the larger picture of his life.
By now you probably have no idea what I'm talking about. But I've just spent an hour poring through Insert Credit's massive archives, and I'm not even close to satisfied. This is a web site that I will be haunting through for a long time to come. It's an entirely fresh take on the tired and stale world of mainstream video game journalism, and for that it deserves praise. Give it a visit and you'll probably feel the same way.
Today's praiseworthy target: Insert Credit
What makes it so great?: Insert Credit is less about games and more about the experience of playing games.
Well, actually, it's obviously, ostensibly about games. "The more obscure, the more Japanese, the better," seems to be the unofficial motto. This is not a site for the mainstream. It's a site by the hardcore gamer for the hardcore gamer. References to games both classic and contemporary are thrown out at such a clip that a non-gamer would have trouble keeping up. This is a good thing. Instead of appealing to the lowest-common-denominator casual gamers who know next-to-nothing about their new hobby, the staff of Insert Credit is not afraid to revel in their unabashed fandom. They're not afraid to make fun of gaming "pretenders" or otherr magazines (protip: GamePro) A reader gets the impression that they knowers and lovers of all things video games, and that they expect their readers to be too.
But I've gotten off my main point. The appeal of Insert Credit is that is is all about the experience of playing games. The reviews and features don't harp on the technical or stylistic choices a designer made. Instead, they embody the feeling of playing/experiencing/living/being a game in text form. The writings are full of nostalgic longing for the simple pleasures of games long past, but not so much so that they lose sight of the brilliant pleasures of many of today's games. Reviews on IC are not focused on frame rates or soundtrack quality (although those things do get mentioned). IC reviews hinge on how good a game is as an experience.
The features take the experience of the hardcore gamer and discuss how it extends into real life. From a review of a minibosses concert to a balanced discussion of DDR addiction, the features engender a feeling that video games are more than simple diversions to these people. The games are an important part of their lives, lives that don't seem to fit the reclusive, loner stereotypes that haunt gamers to this day. The subtle and effective writing is peppere with snippets of conversations that show a high level of socialization and integration into the gaming "scene," (if you'll pardon the expression). The staff at IC is connected to both the real world and the virtual world in a way that made this reader think about how games fit into the larger picture of his life.
By now you probably have no idea what I'm talking about. But I've just spent an hour poring through Insert Credit's massive archives, and I'm not even close to satisfied. This is a web site that I will be haunting through for a long time to come. It's an entirely fresh take on the tired and stale world of mainstream video game journalism, and for that it deserves praise. Give it a visit and you'll probably feel the same way.
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