Gaming
Gaming Journalists MUST be Good at Videogames
I wrote an opinion piece regarding my thoughts on the current state of gaming journalism. Back when I wrote the piece, I was being too mean-spirited towards my fellow colleagues in journalism across multiple outlets. However, considering that the question about “Should Gaming Journalists be good at Videogames?” still lingers. It’s about time I cleared out a few points once and for all.
I have the feeling this won’t be the last time I talk about a subject like this publicly. I had to wait until the release of Cuphead in order to make some of my points. Don’t get me wrong, I didn’t expect Cuphead to be a bad game because Dean Takahashi was bad at it. I was rather thinking about clearing out some suspicions. Like whether or not the parrying system was well implemented to how accurate and responsive the controls were.
There is one big reason why gaming journalists are expected to be good at video games. Because we are people who the gamers entrust their judgment on in order to decide whether or not a game is good. And many times before, being bad at games can cloud someone’s judgment about the experience as a whole.
Overhype and Frustration lead to Misconception
The gaming community is a great example of this sort of stigma. See, when people aren’t good at the game, they get frustrated. And in their frustration, they tend to write a negative review about it. I remember talking to a Twitter user who didn’t find Cuphead as entertaining or great as me or everyone else found it to be. When I asked why they told me that they didn’t have fun and the game was too frustrating.
As valid as his opinion is, would it be a good idea to say that a game that had a lot of heart and soul put into it is bad because of the frustration? I have talked to other users who said that Cuphead was overhyped in regards to its difficulty.
Nah, I'd say its more akin to Metal Slug, people think that's difficult but it's not.
— Ule Lopez (@UleTheVee) October 1, 2017
So, who is right in this regard? The person who says the game was too hard for their liking? Or the person who said that the game was easier than expected? The problem arises when you take the experience the two users have into account.
For example, who is to say that people like me or Isaiah are veteran gamers who have known what they were doing for years? Or people like the Twitter user I talked about wasn’t a more casual gamer than anything else? The difference is, when Youtubers, Gaming Journalists or another sort of participants in modern media overstate a feature in a game. They often give a rather larger expectation of the game as a whole. Which can often lead to disappointment or frustration once these large expectations aren’t met. What’s the golden rule for a journalist?
A Gaming Journalist Must Not Create Misconceptions.
Remember that article I wrote about being too hyped over announcements? There were moments during E3 where gaming press and media praised anti-consumer practices. This is one of the reasons why people had such had expectations for games like No Man’s Sky. We all saw the interviews, the exclusive press releases, and trailers. People got hyped to the point of threatening others who saw a small fault on their precious game they didn’t have yet.
What does this have to do with Games Journalism? Well, to give you an example. Let me take you back to the time where the Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy was released. A GamesRadar writer decided to write a review about it based on her experiences at the game. Do you remember the headline for which the article became infamous for?
And this is where the beginning of the issues comes around when it comes to Gaming Journalists and whether or not they are good at games. See, this journalist decided that the game was too hard for them and went for a miserable 7/10 (3.5/5) on her final judgment. It’s still on the “Good” category, but would it really be a deserving note for a game with the amount of polish and care it had? I mean, even with its questionable jump hitboxes, I would’ve given it an 8.
This is a shared issue, not exclusive to Game Journalists.
It’s not like Youtube influences haven’t done a few questionable things either. Nobody really talks about how there are oh-so-many Youtubers defending the horribly cumbersome Storage Capacity problem the Nintendo Switch has. While most people with common sense will agree that this is a big problem for a console with extensive 3rd Party Support. The people in the videos talk about this as “You need to buy an SD, deal with it.” or “The reason people complain is that they don’t have money.”
There are people on Youtube and Journalism alike that defend things such as Microtransactions, DLC or even Broken games. There was one example where a Youtuber named ReviewtechUSA had to talk some sense into a gamer that defended the broken and incomplete release of Street Fighter V. And it wasn’t a pretty argument to watch either.
I mention this problem with Youtubers because some people believe that YouTube users are free of the problems in Games Journalism. This should be enough proof that even that place isn’t free of dumb people who make mistakes every once in a while. However, I think there needs to be a point that Journalists need to understand.
The Gamers Expect Competent Journalists, not eSports players.
Gaming journalists think they aren’t allowed to have fun while playing the games they review. That’s far from the truth in all of the cases. We’re allowed to show how much fun we had playing/failing at the game. However, gamers expect nothing but expertise from us. We’re supposed to be qualified Professionals who know about the games we’re playing.
Yes, I mentioned before that a gaming journalist should also represent the subset audience that plays games casually. However, I think the point should be that Gaming Journalist is expected to be a bit above average at the bare minimum when they play games. How else would gamers be able to entrust their confidence unto them?
I asked for feedback to some of my readers. And they told me that they would trust a person who shows how they play the game more than a person who doesn’t. This is one of the reasons why I started to include gameplay footage on the games I review. With the exception of Jettomero because my graphics card is glitchy.
It’s also one of the reasons why I started the “Gaming Journalist Plays” series. To show that #NotAll journalists are completely helpless at games. You can take a look at it right below.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5k8FMFyt4BU&t=266s
Conclusion: Gaming Journalists need a Renaissance.
Yes, the people at the top are starting to cloud everything for the up and coming next generation of journalists. I have seen enough of my peers agreeing with me on this message more than anything. This whole scandal took a really big toll on me because I had headaches and was forced into taking a small break because I didn’t want to play games anymore.
Gaming Journalism isn’t supposed to be a profession readily available to everyone who knows how to write. This should be a profession that only people who are above average in regards to gaming knowledge can be. Can there be journalists who play badly? In my opinion, no.
I don’t know if I am “Capable” enough for the people who read my articles. I don’t even know if this article is actually correct on the philosophy I believe in. However, I think I can say I’m open on feedback from my fellow readers and fans on Twitter. I’d like to continue this conversation and see how we can make Gaming Journalism evolve like it should.
Gaming
Shift Up unveils the intriguing details behind the physical packaging of Stellar Blade for the PS5
It appears that many
are eagerly anticipating the launch of the highly anticipated PS5 exclusive, Stellar Blade. Shift Up, the developer, has shared a lengthy video showcasing the “secrets” found in the physical box of the game for PS5. From what we can gather, these secrets include a reversible cover/dust jacket and a download code for cosmetic items.
We must clarify that while we do appreciate the variant cover, it may be more appealing than the game’s standard art. However, it is not something we would typically classify as a “secret.”. However, what’s interesting is that Shift Up has confirmed through the comments section that this will be the case in all regions. Additionally, the visually striking action RPG will remain uncensored worldwide.
「Stellar Blade」 Physical Package Secrets⚠️#StellarBlade #PS5 #Disc pic.twitter.com/WQSzKUSDQ4
— StellarBlade (@StellarBlade) April 22, 2024
It’s refreshing to witness a developer going the extra mile for physical collectors, and it’s evident that the developer is determined to leave a favorable mark in the console realm. Stellar Blade is set to make its highly anticipated debut this Friday, April 26th, exclusively on the PS5.
Gaming
Here are all the patch notes for the new PS5 firmware update that adds the community game help feature
Sony has recently launched the newest PS5 system software update, which is always an exciting occasion for avid PlayStation fans. With a size of slightly over 1GB, you can download and install it right away. As always, the question remains: What exactly does the update bring to the table?
According to the official patch notes, there have been some notable improvements, particularly in the area of game help. We are introducing an exciting addition to our platform: the Community Game Help feature. This feature enhances the PS5’s Game Help system by providing you with gameplay videos from fellow players. Players have the option to choose whether or not they want their gameplay videos to be shared using this feature.
If you’re concerned about it, you can now hide your Remote Play connection status as well.
Presenting the complete patch notes:
- Game Help has been enhanced with the addition of Community Game Help features
- Within Game Help, players can find Community Game Help hints in supported games. These cues come from gameplay videos that other players have shared.
- If you’re up for it, you have the option to contribute to Community Game Help by giving permission for your gameplay video to be automatically recorded and included in the feature after it’s been reviewed
- If you want to join in, navigate to Settings, then Captures & Broadcasts, followed by Captures, Auto Captures, and finally Community Game Help. From there, simply choose the option to participate. Users have the option to unsubscribe whenever they choose
- During Remote Play, players now have the option to hide the persistent message “Remote Play connected.” that appears on their game screen. To ensure a seamless gaming experience, navigate to the Settings menu, then proceed to the System section. From there, locate the Remote Play option and activate the Hide Remote Play Connection Status feature
- The system’s software performance and stability have been significantly enhanced
- The messages and usability on some screens have been enhanced
While not the most groundbreaking update, the Community Game Help feature has the potential to be intriguing, contingent upon the number of games that offer support for it. What are your thoughts on the latest update? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments section below.
Gaming
New PS5 Patch Introduces Rare 40FPS Mode for Avatar Game
Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora has received an exciting update that introduces a new graphical mode, elevating the game’s visual experience. With a smooth frame rate of 40 frames per second and enhanced resolutions, players can now immerse themselves in even more stunning and detailed environments. Now downloadable on PS5 with the latest patch 3.2, this mode is compatible with 4K TVs that can handle up to 120 Hz. Before this update, Avatar PS5 only offered quality and performance modes. However, with this new option, players can now enjoy the benefits of both modes after downloading the 2.4GB update.
Throughout the PS5 era, 40fps modes have been a rarity, much to the disappointment of the hardcore community. Insomniac Games first introduced them in Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales and later added the feature to Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart. They also included it in Marvel’s Spider-Man 2. Other PS5 titles, such as Hogwarts Legacy, Lies of P, and God of War Ragnarok, also offer 40fps modes.
In addition to that, Patch 3.2 for Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora brings along the following:
Worldwide:
- Research Station Alpha now features a convenient Fast Travel option
- The issue of controller re-mapping and resetting on game restart has been resolved
- Addressed multiple instances of crashes
- I corrected a few spelling errors
- Addressed the issue of voice lines overlapping during dialogue
Primary Objectives & Optional Objectives:
- [Main Quest: Shadows of the Past] This main quest is an intriguing journey into the depths of history. Addressed a bug that previously hindered quest progression in co-op mode
More bug fixes have been implemented.
- [Available on all platforms] The rescued human characters no longer return to the Resistance HQ wearing masks
- Available on all platforms. There is a noticeable improvement in the visibility of NPCs when they are at the edge of the Player’s vision
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