Transcendent One said:
I quote the review: "The reactive dialogue is best demonstrated within the E3 video." That suggests I used the E3 video, does it not?
No, it simply suggests that people can use this as a primary source of info.
And would it make that much difference if I had in big, bold letters, "BASED ON THE E3 VIDEO!" slapped across the page?
Yes, because I've already seen the E3 videos. I can draw my own conclusions, I'm not stupid. I don't need someone to disect and recite to me what happens. I read previews to get info I can't obtain myself, not to get a nicely laid out report about what I already know.
In that case I shall raise the issue with my Editor, and ask if he'd like me to do that in further previews. Again, the point here is that you already knew the info, but as it was VGL's first preview, there was a large chance that the readers did not know this.
Spazmo said:
Our staff is totally unfunded, too. We exist because Saint pays for the domain and Sorcerers.net is kind enough to provide quality free hosting, as well as the odd donation from readers (really odd readers, too). Our staff is scattered across the world (in the US, Canada, Poland, Netherlands, Sweden and Malaysia, if that's everyone) and I don't think any of us have ever spoken face to face with a developer (IRC and email aplenty, though). And we don't get invited to any fancy press events (we're too ruff n tuff I guess). We still manage to remain factual (except when we're BIASED!!!!!!11!!!!). What's your excuse again? You were tired?
I'm not trying to make excuses. I made a mistake. I have corrected it and apologised, and it will not happen again. End of story. With regards to speaking to developers on IRC and via e-mail, I'm not in a position to do that whenever I want, as my Editor runs all the PR. As he is very busy, and we have trouble being recognised, I can't ask or expect him to get a session (in whatever form) with a developer every time I write a preview.
Spazmo said:
I don't want to get into a big thing here because, hey, forum drama, but I just think it's kinda lame to take videos released by a publisher (which serve as a better preview than any written article, BTW) and then use only them to write what is meant to appear as an authoritative preview of the game--without even providing links to the videos in question.
The links to the video can be found on the game page - that's the VGL way of doing things. I didn't just use the videos, however - I used other sources as well, but with the videos as the main one, admittedly. Perhaps that is "kinda lame". But what I was aiming for was a condensed view of Bloodlines for those who know little or nothing about it, and who do not want to search the 'net (and perhaps don't have a high speed connection - in the U.K. we're not quite up to speed (pun intended) - so cannot download the videos) in order to gain knowledge.
Saint_Proverbius said:
You do considerable research but you couldn't take the two seconds to hit Moby Games to look up who made the first one?
Do you know what? You're right. It is a near unforgivable error. Do you know what else? I will learn from this mistake and never make a similar one. Which is why I'd have been grateful if someone had contacted me as soon as they saw the mistake. It's the only way these things are ever going to be sorted out.
Vault Dweller said:
If you can't do it properly, why do it at all? You are not some guy who typed something on a message board, you are a journalist. When you call something a preview, many people are going to read it and maybe even believe it hoping that you know what you are talking about. There is a certain responsibility that comes with that that you seemed to ignore. I know, I know, you've apologized, and that's nice, but at the same time, you keep justifying it (I had a deadline, I work too hard, my readers don't give a shit, etc).
I'm not justifying it. I'm just telling you why it occurred, not saying it's at all right that it did occur.
Vault Dweller said:
There are many other ways of getting info on games.
Like, say, gameplay videos? And other articles? Which I used. Now, I know you're probably going to add forums, developer extranets and what-not to the list, but the sheer amount of crap you have to trawl through in order to find helpful information that, and this is important, is useful to the readers, is amazing. A developer forum may go into amazing detail about a game, how it was conceived, what technology it uses, polygon count, framerate etc. But, due to the cross-sectional nature of our readers, that sort of information would only interest very few of them, whilst alienating others. Please note that this isn't "another excuse", I'm just trying to give an idea of my point of view.
Vault Dweller said:
And another excuse. Ever heard of the internet? It's a really cool thing, you can look things up, you can email people, people can email you back. Fascinating.
As I've already stated, I cannot e-mail developers myself. My Editor is a very busy man, so he cannot do this all the time. If I have a week to write a preview, and my Editor is extremely busy all week, then any e-mail information is not going to happen. There is also an added time when the recipients of e-mails decide whether we're a big enough site to warrant a response. So a week wouldn't allow any useful e-mails anyway. The same applies to IRC, of course.
DarkUnderlord said:
Did you see how Rex said it's not worth it? Now what makes you think that's changed?
Well, I actually do think it's worth it. Otherwise I wouldn't be posting here and I'd brush it aside. But I have an obligation to let people know that I've taken criticism on board, and furthermore that it will affect things greatly in the future. The responses here also prove, despite obviously being aimed at me, that it is worth it.
DarkUnderlord said:
... but the mistakes in your review are our fault?
No. I do believe I've already said that the mistakes are my fault, haven't I? If that wasn't clear enough: The mistakes are my fault, but I will use this incident to build upon and make sure it never happens again. And you can quote me on that.
DarkUnderlord said:
So you look it up on the web, dipshit. Go to this O-ficcial website here (you know, the Official Bloodlines game web-site) and see what it says on the clans. Oh look! You're doing "research", well done.
I should have gone there. There's nothing else to say. Although, and this is NOT an excuse, I was not at a computer at the time of writing the review (I hand-wrote the review before typing it). I was when watching the gameplay videos, obviously, and I should've checked it then. Notice how I am being civilised about this and not resorting to swearing (or "cursing" or "cussing", depending where you're from). I'd appreciate you doing the same, as it's most impolite (before someone says it: as is an incorrect review, I know).
DarkUnderlord said:
Your head's getting too far up your arse now. Pull it out just a little.
I disagree. The one thing that I will not stand an attack upon is my SPG. The amount of appalling SPG across the 'net and in the world in general makes me cringe. I try and do my bit by writing correctly (something that a lot of people aren't just too lazy to do, but simply cannot do). So when someone says, or insinuates, that I cannot use the language correctly (my language at that, being English), I get a tad aggravated.
DarkUnderlord said:
Q: What kind of reviewer writes an overall summary and can't be bothered going to the official web-site to get his facts straight?
A: A retarded one.
I wouldn't use the word retarded, as I am far from slow. I'd use something like "unprofessional" or "slapdash" if I was going to attack myself. Notice that I just did attack myself, signifying that I know I was wrong. The best type of sinners and the ones that repent and mend their ways - often they're better than those mediocre good people.
DarkUnderlord said:
You're a game site, do your own damn research. If you don't get paid doing it, tough luck. The Codex is a game site too. What's the deal here, our job is to correct all your mistakes? Do your own damn job and if you don't like it, quit. You wrote a review, you're only LUCKY that you get to correct it. If you worked for a real magazine and your bullshit got published, you don't get to correct it. Be thankful.
I did do research, albeit not enough. As I've said before, I hardly call three mistakes in my entire career "all". And what's more, you didn't even correct them. Not to my metaphorical face.
If I may be pedantic for a second, I wrote a
preview not a
review. Also, if I worked for a magazine (which I hope to do in the future, and already know a few professional game journos who think I have potential), I would get a chance to correct it. PC Gamer U.K. has a section for correcting any minor mistakes they've made. Also, the chances are that I'd have access to physical rather than 'net press releases, that my Editor would be super-strict, I'd have access to developers, and I'd obviously have more time and incentive to triple-check everything (I also wouldn't be writing articles when doing what people call the hardest exams in the U.K., seeing as I've just done them).
To conclude, and re-iterare the facts: I apologise. It was my fault. The mistake will not be repeated. There are no excuses, only reasons as to why it happened, but it happening is inexcusable. In my opinion, although obviously not good, this is making the best of a bad situation. It also does not require the use of swearing or personal attacks upon me and and my articles - that is just childish and uncalled for. If I could build a time machine, I could go back and correct my mistakes before they happened... but there are far greater crimes against humanity that I'd rather attempt to stop, to be honest. I'm not saying that my errors are not important, quite the contrary, I'm just stating that the medium of time-travel could be used for other things. And also attempting humour.
Think of it from my position - I made a mistake. People point this out, fair enough - in fact, that's what I want. I state this, being civilised and professional in my wording. But then people go further than the mistakes, calling me a retard, calling my work BS, and making presumptions about me. Slightly unfair, I'm sure any right-minded person would think. For three seperate mistakes, or one set of mistakes, this is - I feel - unwarranted. I expect someone will come along and say it is warranted, though, and that further abuse will follow. I ask for this not to happen, so that mature, polite discussion can take place. This is what's helpful to me. There's constructive criticism, which I can cope with whilst remaining grateful and normal, and there's malicious criticism, which I admit to finding harder to cope with, and doubly harder to remain polite and nice when responding to it.
Thanks.
