Fucking Kotaku

[RockyRan]

Well, what else would you call it?

[Cyber Rat]

Because if someone complains assholes stink, and I say it's because shit comes out of it, I'm defending the honour of buttholes?

[RockyRan]

Because if someone complains assholes stink, and I say it's because shit comes out of it, I'm defending the honour of buttholes?

 

Rationalizing =/= "defending the honor". The post below blatantly rationalizes their poor behavior:

 

Presenting opinion as fact is how you get pageviews. You get the attention of people who both agree with you and don't agree with you. Here we are, right now, talking about and linking to Kotaku over an opinionated statement, increasing awareness of the site and giving them more pageviews. It's not lazy, it's effective.

 

Calling this tactic "effective" gives it far more credit than is due. More like sleazy, underhanded, and classless.

[Cyber Rat]

Calling this tactic "effective" gives it far more credit than is due. More like sleazy, underhanded, and classless.

 

Something being sleazy, underhanded and classless doesn't stop it from being effective. I am rationalizing it because I believe they are consciously writing the way they do because they're used to getting views based on that writing style. I am not giving them credit nor saying I agree with them, stop acting like I am.

[deanb]

Kinda old, hence the GTAIV comment and the constant cake refrences, but still kinda funny.

Via @NeoStarr

[Hot Heart]

https://twitter.com/#!/joeljohnson/status/75965917716164608

 

I guess they're still OK with plugging retail editions of their games?

 

http://kotaku.com/5822592/batman-arkham-city-collectors-edition-is-gotham-citys-greatest-treasure

[Thursday Next]

Bwuahahaha. Has anyone pulled them up on it?

[Hot Heart]

I thought maybe someone would have, but Mr. GOH has now anyway.

[Mr W Phallus]

Oh man about to go ballistic over the Steam comment. Just-- man. I need to blow off some-- err, Steam.

Well, you're obviously a fanboy then!

Kotaku are objective. Because they are journalists.

 

I don't get your attitude. If anything it was a completely subjective statement. One that is believed by the writer of the article and not that it is fact. That's why I still read Kotaku along with other sites... multiple viewpoints and opinions. Objectivity is boring anyways.

Sorry to backtrack a little but Faiblesse is right here, if you can't tell the difference between opinion and fact without the writer telegraphing this information for you, then it is you who is struggling with the English language, not the writer. Most articles on how to improve your writing will tell you to exorcise any superfluous prepositional phrases such as 'in my opinion', my university lecturers tell me the same thing. Emphasising the subjectivity of your statements undermines your argument, making your opinion look weak.

 

Kotaku are not the BBC; they are not required by law to be impartial (note that being impartial does not mean that the BBC cannot broadcast opinion, but simply that they have to broadcast a range of opinions). The entire idea of reading a blog for objective journalism is ridiculous.

 

weblog, n. : A frequently updated web site consisting of personal observations, excerpts from other sources, etc., typically run by a single person, and usually with hyperlinks to other sites; an online journal or diary.

OED (my emphasis)

 

As Dean has already said, the percentage of actual gaming 'news' is relatively small, which means that any gaming site is dependent on opinion pieces and editorials for the majority of its substance. I wouldn't be surprised if it was the opinion side of Kotaku (which ties into the close-knit community of gaming discussion which they like to pretend their commentators are) which attracted many of us to Kotaku in the first place.

 

Don't get me wrong, I'm not defending Kotaku; here are a few criticisms you could have made about the statement in question:

 

1. Sheer stupidity - opinions are not all born equal.

2. Lack of evidence - even the most contrary, out-there opinions can be justified with sufficient reasoning.

3. Inconsistency - let's all appreciate the irony that the Joel led the previous paragraph with the statement '"Best" is subjective', which as I mentioned before completely undermines any opinions that follow.

4. Trolling - now maybe Joel really believes that xbox live is superior to Steam, but I find it hard to imagine anyone successfully arguing the case, suggesting Kotaku are simply baiting readers in an attempt to increase the number of comments and make their articles seem more popular.

 

As far as things to criticise go, Kotaku hands it to us on a plate, so if we're going to call them out on it, let's not go for the things that can be easily defended.

[deanb]

https://twitter.com/...965917716164608

 

I guess they're still OK with plugging retail editions of their games?

 

http://kotaku.com/58...eatest-treasure

 

 

I believe they already semi-broke it within a few days by covering some Batman AA limited edition controllers. Still it was all a bit of a joke anyway when the self prescribed embargo ended a few weeks before Batman AA. All they missed out on was a few movie games if they'd properly stuck to it.

 

 

You know, I used to hate Jim Sterling, but now I don't really mind him so much. I just wish he'd tone it down on the salty language. Plenty of kids read sites like Destructoid, and they don't need to see words like "cunt" flung around so carelessly.

 

 

Jim has some good points now and then, but damn does he need to just tone himself down a lot.

 

 

[deanb]

http://gamejournos.com/post/7850235504/you-may-remember-joel-johnson-tweeting-the-above

 

Hot Heart, that wasn't the only article

[Hot Heart]

Yeah, it was just the first I'd noticed.

 

Was I the impetus for that story?

[Thorgi Duke of Frisbee]

I really don't get why so many people just post links to Kotaku being dipshits. It's already a given that they act like dipshits. You're rewarding them with more pageviews when you do this. I see any link posted by stephentotilo or crecenteb on Twitter, and I know not to click it. I have effectively cut out any pageview support I previously gave them. To really send a message and let your voice be heard, I suggest you all do the same.

[deanb]

Since most of us here have gone from regular readers to pretty much nothing at all except the few links here, I don't think it would change much if we completely absolved from reading/linking. In fact, though I'm feeling Deja Vu saying this, I'd say the net result of the posts put up here is an overall reduction in hits since more folks who read this thread then less folks who might read kotaku regularly.

[Hot Heart]

Double post! Ban him! BAN HIIIM!

 

EDIT: He removed his double post. Unban him! UNBAN HIM!

Edited July 20, 2011 by Hot Heart

[deanb]

Hey, Forum just had super derp moment for me just past 10 minutes.

[Thorgi Duke of Frisbee]

http://gamejournos.com/post/7850235504/you-may-remember-joel-johnson-tweeting-the-above

 

Hot Heart, that wasn't the only article

Game Journos guy is a dick. He's guilty of practically everything he calls out other writers for.

[Hot Heart]

http://twitter.com/#!/stephentotilo/status/98513761157128195

 

Too easy...

[deanb]

I assume that's the "let's"?

 

See Mr Hot_Heart I'm doing my lessons and homework good.

[Hot Heart]

Haha. I'm afraid not, Dean. Because 'let's' is the contraction of 'let us' and, therefore, correct.

 

Taken out of context (well, and deliberately misinterpreted), it is a Kotaku editor asking people what Sega is.

Edited August 2, 2011 by Hot Heart

[deanb]

I wouldn't be surprised if you don't need to take it out of context.

[SomTervo]

Jesus Christ I hate Brian Crecente's writing. Holy shit.

 

http://kotaku.com/5828649/the-fantastic-flying-book-of-inventive-story-telling

 

"Wall of text"'s are annoying. But he makes a wall of text consisting of millions of ridiculously tiny tenuously connected paragraphs, with bluntly simple writing and a lack of any opinion other than "it's good".

 

I really think he's the worst writer on there. He's got no sense of how to make something interesting to read, even if what he's reporting on is usually interesting. He never makes me laugh, never makes me feel suspense, he never does anything for me except think "this is nice" in a very bland, kitch kind of way.

 

Jesus, shit.

 

Seems like a nice guy though.

[Thorgi Duke of Frisbee]

Jesus Christ I hate Brian Crecente's writing. Holy shit.

 

http://kotaku.com/58...e-story-telling

 

"Wall of text"'s are annoying. But he makes a wall of text consisting of millions of ridiculously tiny tenuously connected paragraphs, with bluntly simple writing and a lack of any opinion other than "it's good".

 

I really think he's the worst writer on there. He's got no sense of how to make something interesting to read, even if what he's reporting on is usually interesting. He never makes me laugh, never makes me feel suspense, he never does anything for me except think "this is nice" in a very bland, kitch kind of way.

 

Jesus, shit.

 

Seems like a nice guy though.

The only Crecente article I enjoy is when he's playing with one of his kids.

[Maritan]

Hey guys, did you know that MORROWIND IS A FUCKING FPS?

http://kotaku.com/5828687/an-hour-with-skyrim-its-amazing?comment=41662157#comments

[Faiblesse Des Sens]

Now that's just nit-picking.