EGM "Banned," Hsu Cries Foul

[N. Evan Van Zelfden]

You just can't stop someone from reviewing your product...I can see that they might stop providing review copies. Or, they might say, no preview and no interview for you! But they can't ban you. That's just stupid.

It is not uncommon in diplomatic circles. They really can ban you. And it has nothing to do with your freedom to review. When you "ban" someone, you are making a statement about the relationship. It's clear, unclouded, and firm. And if the banned party wants the blockade removed, they can discuss the matter in hopes of changing the relationship.

Turnabout is also fail play. (See this example of "The Fourth Estate Sticking it to The Man," as the kids say: http://www.longtail.com/the_long_tail/2007/10/sorry-pr-people.html?cid=88149552)

There's great virtue in transparency. Would you instead hope for this conversation?

Magazine: Hey!
Publisher: Hey, BFF!
Magazine: Could we do an interview sometime?
Publisher: Sorry, no.
Magazine: Some screenshots, maybe?
Publisher: Not so much.
Magazine: Are we still friends?
Publisher: Absolutely. Best friends. Forever.
Magazine: Sweet. So how about a review copy?
Publisher: Uh, sure. It's in the mail. (But not really.)

 

[Melaisis]

Uh... that would be 1st Amendment, SecretLemur. Unless you plan to shoot anyone who doesn't send you a review copy.

He was a publisher and I was a *****,
The review would make me filthy rich,
Bang bang, I shot him down,
Bang bang, he hit the ground,
I shot the PR down.

 

[midwestisbest]

I see why he wants to rebel, but why does he want to rebel at all? Publicity stunt perhaps? Or just the truth? I wonder...

Since when is journalistic integrity a form of rebellion? Game journalism in general is weak because it's dominated by bloggers without a proper news background and the tradition of ethics that come with it. EGM is an the closest thing to an old-school news rag that gaming has, so it pisses me off to see Hsu's motives being doubted.

 

[kman2686]

Hsu should be praised for his editorial integrity. Give the man credit for coming forward. How many sitting in front of their monitors would have the balls to take on Sony, Midway and Ubisoft at once all while risking the jobs of an entire magazine staff and the magazine itself? These are big players, losing preview and review coverage is not something many mags would be able to cope with especially given the tough times print publications have faced in the past decade. This Editorial WILL NOT SELL magazines. This Decision WILL NOT SELL magazines. Only by bringing it forward can he hope that his colleagues will stand behind him and cry foul and in doing so make these companies rethink their decisions. Whether you agree or not you can bet it's better than the alternative of bowing to their wishes.

The piece is available free online anyway.
http://www.1up.com/do/blogEntry?bId=8568051&publicUserId=5379799

PS

Now, if you were Ed Boon and company, sitting there day after day, pouring your heart into a game, and a magazine, such as EGM always ravaged your artistic expression...

LMAO

 

[SecretLemur]

Uh... that would be 1st Amendment, SecretLemur. Unless you plan to shoot anyone who doesn't send you a review copy.

heh. whoops. I knew that. Brain fart.

 

[viciousmaniac]

Er...assuming ol' Shoe really did have in mind of using the debacle to increase circulation...how is THAT the bigger story over three major game companies (one a Big 3 console maker) allegedly coercing an independent publication into compliance? I'm honestly a bit confused about that.

Bit confused also about EGM's apparently "increasing lack of relevance" as well. Trolls on the internets who are probably the same type of sods attacking Yahtzee nowadays if not corporate plants vs. their recent expose (and borderline panning) on SF4, or their part in the PS3's launch woes. I'm not seeing a great pile of evidence for it.

I work in games, and let me tell you, someone needs to tell them the old saying "Do not shit where you eat".

The greedy pubs playing mafioso towards the gaming press are going to eventually rue this when games become the dominant media. Game review will inevitably be expanded into mainstream, big money print such as Time magazine or a red top. If you make big enough noise/money, the big print will get a hold of you and not let go.

When that happens, good luck with the Soprano bit on that. Ask the makers of Fight Club what happens when you get on the wrong side of the mainstream media review press.

More luck as well with returning to the gaming press for help after the MSM has their way with you. For Sony et all., this would be after having already burned bridges/helped destroy theirs and the gaming news media's credibility.

 

[lewa nua]

Im lost, who is HSU then all of this would make sence to me :ummmL

 

[Arbre]

Look at it from the developer's point of view. VGMwatch gives the example of Midway's "Mortal Kombat development team." Now, if you were Ed Boon and company, sitting there day after day, pouring your heart into a game, and a magazine, such as EGM always ravaged your artistic expression...is it inconceivable that after a while, you'd want to stop showing them your work in progress, your new screenshots, giving interviews..? After enough negative press, you'd become so depressed that you'd be too despondent to even send in review copies.

Or maybe you should stop making some shit and call that games.

Just wanted to say that I'm glad someone else is sick of everyone calling scandals "-gates".

You wouldn't say that if you were aware of the MGG=REVIEWSgate.

 

[Russ Pitts]

Bit confused also about EGM's apparently "increasing lack of relevance" as well.

Im lost, who is HSU then all of this would make sence to me :ummmL

Best sequence ever.

 

[viciousmaniac]

I'd maintain that the other poster knows of EGM the publication, just not necessarily it's EIC. (please don't prove me wrong, Mr. Iewa)

 

[Russ Pitts]

I'd maintain that the other poster knows of EGM the publication, just not necessarily it's EIC. (please don't prove me wrong, Mr. Iewa)

Perhaps, but it's still amusing.

And to clarify my own remarks, EGM may, or may not, still be the number one selling print game magazine, but print magazines as a whole are on the decline. They aren't relevant in the same way they were even five years ago. I know a lot of fine folks who work in print, and they do great work. But a format like EGM's is much better-suited to the online space. Particularly now, in light of the fact they may be getting a lot more games too late to do anything useful with them. Print lead times are death, and it's finally catching up with them.

 

[Skyrider22]

Honestly, I don't think Dan is saying these things just to get attention in the slow months after Christmas. I think it's far more likely that he blows up in January because for months their publication NEEDS to be dominated with the usual Christmas fare and only when it slows down does he get the chance to vent.

That being said, this issue has been slowly building over the last few years as review scores have become noticeably more and more padded. The recent events within gaming journalism have simply blown open the doors and confirmed to consumers what we've suspected for years now, and we're not pleased.

 

[viciousmaniac]

I'd maintain that the other poster knows of EGM the publication, just not necessarily it's EIC. (please don't prove me wrong, Mr. Iewa)

Perhaps, but it's still amusing.

And to clarify my own remarks, EGM may, or may not, still be the number one selling print game magazine, but print magazines as a whole are on the decline. They aren't relevant in the same way they were even five years ago. I know a lot of fine folks who work in print, and they do great work. But a format like EGM's is much better-suited to the online space. Particularly now, in light of the fact they may be getting a lot more games too late to do anything useful with them. Print lead times are death, and it's finally catching up with them.

I agree completely, not just with print either. It's just that I doubt the journalistic institution of EGM or its brand is in any immediate trouble from irrelevancy just for being mostly old media. Why else would Sony et. all pressure them then, especially when gamers are apparently happy to see the gaming media find their testicles as it were? (or: http://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2006/01/20 )

Besides, the whole show (games or not) is still run mostly by old codgers. They are best familiar with (and still pay attention to) the older institutions such as magazines and trade shows.

 

[m_jim]

More interesting will be if anyone gives a damn, now that the internet has effectively made obsolete the videogame news rag a la EGM.

I dunno... I really like EGM. And I'll take it over the internet because I can read it while I'm on the can.