So now he's written this he's not entitled to write elsewhere? Yes, Walker and Florence are established, as are a ton of others. The hypocrisy being pointed out was the fact that there is this constant scramble for validation in the 'industry' whilst this PR schmoozing was still in rude health, and the incongruity of it being a subject 'we don't talk about'

Then they talk about it and it blows up, typically, proving the point of the article. Job dun.

The roster of 'editors' and 'writers' they've assembled is fucking awful. The most uncharismatic writers pulled from Kotaku, Joystiq and 1UP over the past 5 years.

EUGH.

IT'S FUCKING HORRIBLE.

Once polygon launches I will likely go and visit it with morbid curiosity. Oh BUT LIVES ARE AT STAKE WITH THIS SAYS THE DOCUMMENTARY

regmcfly wrote:

Once polygon launches I will likely go and visit it with morbid curiosity. Oh BUT LIVES ARE AT STAKE WITH THIS SAYS THE DOCUMMENTARY

It's up now. I've read a couple of decent reviews from them, but it's just another American gaming website.

I'd not heard of it until you mentioned it, so I've just had a look and, uh, it's... there.

Pebble-dashed with unfamiliars.

WE'LL GET HIM WHEN HE COMES BACK IIIN!

I can't believe these people don't already have PS3s.

Linked together to form a supercomputer, no doubt.

If they were offering a debug unit, something that will play the unsigned code often sent out for preview or review, then that would be different, but I fail to see the gain in having another retail console.

And that's my brilliant contribution to the discussion done. Two words, one of which is 'innit'.

Something for free I suppose. Even people with millions in the bank like a good freebie. Seems the more money you have the less stuff you have to pay for. Oscar gift bags etc.

As Walker said, it's one thing to do a drunken tweet in the hope of winning a raffle. It's another thing entirely to not realise why that was stupid and then defend it when you're sober.

People really seem to dial the arrogance up to 11 when they get on Twitter.

People take Twitter and social media far too seriously, including large businesses that seem to think followers directly equate to dollaroo.

Man, i'd have thought the last thing she's going to want to do is put her story to (no offence here) a lightweight writer.

Pretty sure she's had more than enough after the utter unpleasantness she went through yesterday with people calling her a worthless cunt and other incredibly offensive stuff.

I doubt she'd even respond to someone like Walker at the moment.

We've always had our suspicions, Official mags being the most obvious ones.

If you're posting here you're probably more on the informed end, and you're probably going to get a wider range of more genuine opinions of a game if you ask/read.

But we're lucky, other folks who don't spend all fucking day reading and talking about games rely on reviews. And that's the façade the industry erects. It's no wonder they become immensly defensive about it because without that trust the whole edifice crumbles.

Possibly, but after a day of torrid abuse I'd have probably waited a little bit if it was me.

Escape wrote:

The glory days of unbiased reviews never really were.

That's not really the point, I don't think that has been suggested. In fact Walker said it was worse in the past, and then got better for a time, and is now worse again. It's just simply about some knd of integrity. Just because you get free shit or paid a meal, it shouldn't intefere with your criticisms of the product. It's a thing I can believe should happen, beyond idiotic naivety. It's easy to not be inherently critical of the entire construct, because it's frequently correct in its assertions.

You can see where I'm driving, right? And on this imaginary road it's easy to be tempted downhill.

If you're paid for a review it's because it's fit for a readership that's beyond the service of solitary opinion. From there, surrounding components intertwine and magnetise to money.

In-for-a-penny free PS3s, because all clues point to weak-minded reviewers following on behind. In the end, I think there's too much pressure on good reviewers. Failing to please everyone mattered so much less before Twitter-corralled anger; before online readerships grew to tantrum-guaranteeing size; before passers-by could access content for nowt.

You committed £4, disagreed with certain things, maybe went to that mag's forum and wrote 'I disagree with these certain things', and that was the end. Gillen used to like coming in to further his views. No problems.

SHORTY: Writers have Shit Sandwich on loop until their overlords get their collective house in order, which would be a huge risk in the current game-thicko-on-the-street climate. I'm not defending free-Threes-woo!, only empathising with their position.