December 2010
339 posts
1 tag
Hiatus
Two things.
Firstly, I’ve taken the PayPal button down. I haven’t reached my rent goal, but I don’t feel it’s fair to ask you to help me ease my financial burden. If you’ve made a PayPal donation to me in the last two days and want it to be refunded, simply shoot me an email containing your PayPal reference number and I’ll make sure you get your money back in...
5 tags
We here at Blistered Thumbs feel we are above... →
“Guy tries to do something stupid” barely qualifies as actual news, let alone news pertaining to the games industry. Blistered Thumbs campaign for legitimacy continues to take a beating, and their own writers are the ones holding the baseball bats.
Thanks to the anonymous tipster who sent this in.
Anonymous asked: well i'm sorry that i can't help you, but am in a similar situation financially. (in my case, though, i'm just too lazy to look for more work.) also i've never met papa new guinea before, but judging from your comment he must be a big fella.
Anonymous asked: well i'm sorry that i can't help you, but am in a similar situation financially. (in my case, though, i'm just too lazy to look for more work.) also i've never met papa new guinea before, but judging from your comment he must be a big fella.
3 tags
To the person who has anonymously messaged me...
I’m not avoiding the question. In fact I’m already registered on a number of the sites you’ve mentioned including one or two you haven’t, and have long since already syatyed started doing freelance work. The problem is it doesn’t pay regularly enough or greatly enough for me to amass the remaining $320-or-so I need to pull together in the next seven days. December is,...
6 tags
DualShockers posts about rumoured Arkham City... →
DualShockers’ Allen park cites this ComicBookMovie.com article [WARNING: Site plays annoying, loud music] as their source for the Arkham City multiplayer rumour, and while that article doesn’t specifically mention the Blogger account that PlayStation LifeStyle cited yesterday it does contain quotes that appear to have been lifted straight out of it.
aninventoryofthepossible asked: Brother, you are doing God's work. Reminds me of the glory days of Your Webcomic Is Bad And You Should Feel Bad. Keep it up.
aninventoryofthepossible asked: Brother, you are doing God's work. Reminds me of the glory days of Your Webcomic Is Bad And You Should Feel Bad. Keep it up.
13 tags
[Submission] Ten 10/10 games for 2011 →
Reader-submitted content follows:
Now Gamer decides to start reviewing games before they’ve even played them. Because, you know, trailers and hype are a good indication of how good they’ll actually end up being.
Anonymous asked: http://gamejournos.com/post/2502399172/what-happens-on-steams-ninth-straight-day-of
I hate to be a dickhead about this... but this line says "one" one too many times!
"Let’s focus specifically one one game in the pack."
I hate to be a dickhead about this... but this line says "one" one too many times!
"Let’s focus specifically one one game in the pack."
13 tags
[Submission] Ten 10/10 games for 2011 →
Reader-submitted content follows:
Now Gamer decides to start reviewing games before they’ve even played them. Because, you know, trailers and hype are a good indication of how good they’ll actually end up being.
Anonymous asked: http://gamejournos.com/post/2502399172/what-happens-on-steams-ninth-straight-day-of
I hate to be a dickhead about this... but this line says "one" one too many times!
"Let’s focus specifically one one game in the pack."
I hate to be a dickhead about this... but this line says "one" one too many times!
"Let’s focus specifically one one game in the pack."
7 tags
[Possibly NSFW] Is Kotaku's "Culture Smash"... →
The link is to an article about a Japanese “idol” (read: cheesecake model) who’s shtick is having her face replaced in Photoshop with an Anime face. There’s plenty of cleavage in there if that’s your thing, although it’s probably not work-safe.
That said, my favourite thing about these “Culture Smash” posts is the sign-off:
Culture Smash is a...
5 tags
6 tags
This io9 post about Green Lantern was inexplicably... →
I can think of only one reason that this post would have been republished anywhere other than io9, and that’s as part of a paid marketing push by Warner Bros. Obviously that’s just speculation - the Green Lantern has absolutely no place on the gamingblog unless it’s in a post about a game featuring the character.
Anonymous asked: That post you quoted about digital sexism etc seems to be against it. He poses "While it’s very wrong to call a real woman a “ho,” there’s no reason it can’t be funny in a geeky context when referring to fictional video game characters, right?" as a question, implying he doesn't necessarily agree and says "I guess" at the end, further implying...
Anonymous asked: That post you quoted about digital sexism etc seems to be against it. He poses "While it’s very wrong to call a real woman a “ho,” there’s no reason it can’t be funny in a geeky context when referring to fictional video game characters, right?" as a question, implying he doesn't necessarily agree and says "I guess" at the end, further implying...
Anonymous asked: Why does it seem that so many shitty writers are concentrated in game journalism? Are they just a more obvious symptom of an overall failure in the English-language education system that has resulted in many terrible writers being spread far and wide? Or is it something about writing about video games, in particular, that draws in shitty writers like iron filings to a magnet? I would also like...
8 tags
[Submission] Pokémon Black and White versions... →
Reader-submitted content follows, with some edits for clarity:
Both TinyCartridge and Kotaku made an observation about the world of Pokémon Black & White - it’s based on New York, complete with Ground Zero.
These two identical observations were posted on the same day. While I’m not sure which came first, it seems they both… nah, I’m just fuckin’ with you - of...
7 tags
“While it’s very wrong to call a real woman a “ho,”...”
– gamrFeed/VGChartz, Nick Simberg: Peach and Zelda Are Just “8-Bit Hoes” in New Music Video [December 28th, 2010]
Presented without comment.
Thanks to the tipster who sent this in.
Anonymous asked: @jokesound
(I'm the original review event question asker, but not the person who last replied to you.)
The problem with review events is that they highlight a huge problem with video game journalism--journalists are seen and used as giddy man-children who exist to help game companies fill their pockets rather than to report the facts to consumers. If a company offered...
(I'm the original review event question asker, but not the person who last replied to you.)
The problem with review events is that they highlight a huge problem with video game journalism--journalists are seen and used as giddy man-children who exist to help game companies fill their pockets rather than to report the facts to consumers. If a company offered...
Anonymous asked: Why does it seem that so many shitty writers are concentrated in game journalism? Are they just a more obvious symptom of an overall failure in the English-language education system that has resulted in many terrible writers being spread far and wide? Or is it something about writing about video games, in particular, that draws in shitty writers like iron filings to a magnet? I would also like...
8 tags
[Submission] Pokémon Black and White versions... →
Reader-submitted content follows, with some edits for clarity:
Both TinyCartridge and Kotaku made an observation about the world of Pokémon Black & White - it’s based on New York, complete with Ground Zero.
These two identical observations were posted on the same day. While I’m not sure which came first, it seems they both… nah, I’m just fuckin’ with you - of...
Anonymous asked: @jokesound
(I'm the original review event question asker, but not the person who last replied to you.)
The problem with review events is that they highlight a huge problem with video game journalism--journalists are seen and used as giddy man-children who exist to help game companies fill their pockets rather than to report the facts to consumers. If a company offered...
(I'm the original review event question asker, but not the person who last replied to you.)
The problem with review events is that they highlight a huge problem with video game journalism--journalists are seen and used as giddy man-children who exist to help game companies fill their pockets rather than to report the facts to consumers. If a company offered...
9 tags
“What happens on Steam’s ninth-straight day of holiday deals? The service...”
– Joystiq, James Ransom-Wiley: Steam Holiday Sale is Doomed today [December 28th, 2010]
I guess 1993’s Ultimate Doom goes back too far. And let’s not mention that the entire Doom Pack is actually on sale. Let’s focus specifically one on one game in the pack.
Edit: Fixed a typo....
jokesound asked: To that anonymous (and sorry I'm responding over your site):
I haven't seen it that way before, but I also don't see a fair compromise that allows the journalists to effectively communicate their experiences with the game at the moment, though if we thought about it we probably could.
I remember mentioning in the coverage of the launch event (we make sure to write...
I haven't seen it that way before, but I also don't see a fair compromise that allows the journalists to effectively communicate their experiences with the game at the moment, though if we thought about it we probably could.
I remember mentioning in the coverage of the launch event (we make sure to write...
Anonymous asked: The fact that some people think your criticism of morons posting rumors; OPENLY BEGGING FOR BRIBES; and posting shit in general in an attempt to boost ad revenue is worthy of you living in poverty says a great deal about their character. There are people I could wish homelessness on and some guy on the Internet criticizing bad journalism is not high on that priority list. You've made...
Anonymous asked: You talk of freebies and whatnot, and I have to ask: what should a site's stance be on receiving free review copies of games, either digital or physical? For smaller or enthusiast sites, it can be the only form of "payment" for the reviewers (especially sites which refuse to post any intrusive ads). Should everyone reject these freebies, or what? I think it could work both ways -...
jokesound asked: To that anonymous (and sorry I'm responding over your site):
I haven't seen it that way before, but I also don't see a fair compromise that allows the journalists to effectively communicate their experiences with the game at the moment, though if we thought about it we probably could.
I remember mentioning in the coverage of the launch event (we make sure to write...
I haven't seen it that way before, but I also don't see a fair compromise that allows the journalists to effectively communicate their experiences with the game at the moment, though if we thought about it we probably could.
I remember mentioning in the coverage of the launch event (we make sure to write...
5 tags
Someone set up a Blogger page detailing a supposed... →
The Blogger page contains a single post citing “a source” and reads like the kind of thing you’d expect to find on any other gaming news site. The problem is it’s on Blogger, which isn’t exactly a credible source (you may recall the ‘Return of Surfer Girl’ hoax earlier in the year).
But hey, it’s about Batman, right? It’s newsworthy either...
Anonymous asked: The fact that some people think your criticism of morons posting rumors; OPENLY BEGGING FOR BRIBES; and posting shit in general in an attempt to boost ad revenue is worthy of you living in poverty says a great deal about their character. There are people I could wish homelessness on and some guy on the Internet criticizing bad journalism is not high on that priority list. You've made...
Anonymous asked: You talk of freebies and whatnot, and I have to ask: what should a site's stance be on receiving free review copies of games, either digital or physical? For smaller or enthusiast sites, it can be the only form of "payment" for the reviewers (especially sites which refuse to post any intrusive ads). Should everyone reject these freebies, or what? I think it could work both ways -...
Anonymous asked: @jokesound: "But I've always made sure to tell the truth from the events and discuss what I saw and played."
Isn't that playing into the publisher's hands?
A well-intentioned transparent account of an event can quickly turn into an advertisement. Simply stating that a publisher has the means and willingness to splash out reflects on themselves and...
Isn't that playing into the publisher's hands?
A well-intentioned transparent account of an event can quickly turn into an advertisement. Simply stating that a publisher has the means and willingness to splash out reflects on themselves and...
Anonymous asked: @jokesound: "But I've always made sure to tell the truth from the events and discuss what I saw and played."
Isn't that playing into the publisher's hands?
A well-intentioned transparent account of an event can quickly turn into an advertisement. Simply stating that a publisher has the means and willingness to splash out reflects on themselves and...
Isn't that playing into the publisher's hands?
A well-intentioned transparent account of an event can quickly turn into an advertisement. Simply stating that a publisher has the means and willingness to splash out reflects on themselves and...
happyhibisci asked: When people ask you something, do you take them less seriously if they make themselves anonymous? Or do you prefer anonymous questions?
nhaler asked: You shouldn't entertain the provocations of fuckwits like that. By answering each 'question', you're simply validating the vitriolic and absurd.
Don't be fooled into thinking that Journalism isn't about politics. Publish questions, sure, but by Glod, man — don't descend to that level by sarcastically responding to them. The fact you're finding...
Don't be fooled into thinking that Journalism isn't about politics. Publish questions, sure, but by Glod, man — don't descend to that level by sarcastically responding to them. The fact you're finding...
happyhibisci asked: When people ask you something, do you take them less seriously if they make themselves anonymous? Or do you prefer anonymous questions?
nhaler asked: You shouldn't entertain the provocations of fuckwits like that. By answering each 'question', you're simply validating the vitriolic and absurd.
Don't be fooled into thinking that Journalism isn't about politics. Publish questions, sure, but by Glod, man — don't descend to that level by sarcastically responding to them. The fact you're finding...
Don't be fooled into thinking that Journalism isn't about politics. Publish questions, sure, but by Glod, man — don't descend to that level by sarcastically responding to them. The fact you're finding...
jokesound asked: On the subject of review events and swag:
In the very short time I've been writing about games I've been to two preview events and a launch party, and at all three I've met a bunch of nice, enthusiastic writers who seem grateful they get the chance to play the game in advance and broadcast something to their readers.
But I've always made sure to tell the truth...
In the very short time I've been writing about games I've been to two preview events and a launch party, and at all three I've met a bunch of nice, enthusiastic writers who seem grateful they get the chance to play the game in advance and broadcast something to their readers.
But I've always made sure to tell the truth...
jokesound asked: I'll say that even though you do make mistakes, everyone else does and you are at least transparent enough to make it clear when you edit anything.
I mean, yeah you say things that I disagree with, but I like being challenged to think about the kind of writing I like.
Also, since I've started reading this site back in August I've been trying to take everything I see...
I mean, yeah you say things that I disagree with, but I like being challenged to think about the kind of writing I like.
Also, since I've started reading this site back in August I've been trying to take everything I see...
Anonymous asked: I agree with what you said about Blistered Thumbs in your most recent headline. There content has been getting worse since launch, and they are posting some of the most amateurish stuff I have seen on a gaming site yet. For instance they recruited Cr1tikal from youtube to do commentary, which usually amounts to cursing at the screen and burping into the mike. Seriously though, I don't want to...
Anonymous asked: If you had a spine, you'd get into the thick of the industry and try to fix things by doing a better job than everyone else does. You'd start your own game site or get a job doing this thing you care so much about and try to make things better instead of just whining about it. Why haven't you done that?
Someone who sits back and does nothing but complain deserves to...
Someone who sits back and does nothing but complain deserves to...
Anonymous asked: Why are you sitting on here answering questions in the middle of the day when you could be out looking for jobs? At the very least wait till after 5:00 to do this.
Oh, and don't you have some video game systems you could sell? Why should I donate the movie I earned to you, who isn't willing to stop criticizing people long enough to get a job?
Oh, and don't you have some video game systems you could sell? Why should I donate the movie I earned to you, who isn't willing to stop criticizing people long enough to get a job?
Anonymous asked: If you had a spine, you'd get into the thick of the industry and try to fix things by doing a better job than everyone else does. You'd start your own game site or get a job doing this thing you care so much about and try to make things better instead of just whining about it. Why haven't you done that?
Someone who sits back and does nothing but complain deserves to...
Someone who sits back and does nothing but complain deserves to...
Anonymous asked: "I don’t see anybody else doing what I do on anything near a similar scale." is that a request for competition. Maybe a desire for a rival to help you maximize your potential? - W
Anonymous asked: Why are you sitting on here answering questions in the middle of the day when you could be out looking for jobs? At the very least wait till after 5:00 to do this.
Oh, and don't you have some video game systems you could sell? Why should I donate the movie I earned to you, who isn't willing to stop criticizing people long enough to get a job?
Oh, and don't you have some video game systems you could sell? Why should I donate the movie I earned to you, who isn't willing to stop criticizing people long enough to get a job?
jokesound asked: On the subject of review events and swag:
In the very short time I've been writing about games I've been to two preview events and a launch party, and at all three I've met a bunch of nice, enthusiastic writers who seem grateful they get the chance to play the game in advance and broadcast something to their readers.
But I've always made sure to tell the truth...
In the very short time I've been writing about games I've been to two preview events and a launch party, and at all three I've met a bunch of nice, enthusiastic writers who seem grateful they get the chance to play the game in advance and broadcast something to their readers.
But I've always made sure to tell the truth...
Anonymous asked: "I don’t see anybody else doing what I do on anything near a similar scale." is that a request for competition. Maybe a desire for a rival to help you maximize your potential? - W
jokesound asked: I'll say that even though you do make mistakes, everyone else does and you are at least transparent enough to make it clear when you edit anything.
I mean, yeah you say things that I disagree with, but I like being challenged to think about the kind of writing I like.
Also, since I've started reading this site back in August I've been trying to take everything I see...
I mean, yeah you say things that I disagree with, but I like being challenged to think about the kind of writing I like.
Also, since I've started reading this site back in August I've been trying to take everything I see...
Anonymous asked: I agree with what you said about Blistered Thumbs in your most recent headline. There content has been getting worse since launch, and they are posting some of the most amateurish stuff I have seen on a gaming site yet. For instance they recruited Cr1tikal from youtube to do commentary, which usually amounts to cursing at the screen and burping into the mike. Seriously though, I don't want to...