CheapAssGamer.com‘s CAGcast podcast recently discussed, well, I’ll let CheapyD himself tell it to you:

On CAGcast #133, Wombat and I discussed how major gaming blogs seem to
post any and all gaming rumors with little consideration given to the
credibility of the source or the plausibility of the story.

It goes on to use the specific example of the G4-Xbox 360 “relaunch” that spread like wildfire all the way up to Adam Sessler’s Sessler’s Soapbox segment. As an experiment, CheapyD and Wombat offered a free game to any listener who posted a fake news story that ended up getting picked up on any one of the major gaming blogs (Destructoid, Joystiq, Kotaku). Well, do a Google search for “xbox pure” and you’ll see exactly how that experiment fared (read: very well).

Since then, the backlash from these Blogging sites has been quick and strong, with Kotaku Managing Editor Brian Crecente posting just how he really feels about being duped:

It appears that this rumor story could be CAG throwing their
credibility out the window as part of a contest. Kotaku”s decision to
run rumors is always based on the credibility of the site and the
information contained within it. In the past CAG has proven to be a
reliable site, having broken a number of stories through apt reporting.
It appears that may no longer be the case.

I have been very critical of Video Gaming journalism in the past, only because the industry deserves more. It is a multi-billion dollar industry covered by immature twenty-somethings who would rather emulate gaming blogs rather than rise above them as true journalists. Imagine if the motion picture industry, of which video games is nipping on the heels, had to rely on Ain’t It Cool News or C.H.U.D. for coverage. No Variety, no Premiere, no Interview magazine; just a bunch of kids who started a website to post snarky half-wit comments on multi-million dollar projects of which they have little creative knowledge and no business sense. Just doesn’t sound right, does it?

In regards to video game blogging – these blogs have demanded the same attention from the industry as legitimate gaming sites, such as IGN, GamesRadar, GameDaily, and Gamespot. And the major blogs have been so successful in terms of generating an audience that these said legitimate gaming sites have changed their style and presentation to capture some of that same audience, blurring the line between the two.

But Crecente’s comment made that line a little more clear. Even with his background in traditional journalism, he makes it evident his blog does not follow the same standards or ethics as legitimate news sources. Kotaku, like Joystiq and Destructoid, are nothing more than RSS feeds with commentary. To accuse CAG of any wrongdoing is like the Wizard accusing Dorothy of looking behind the curtain. Those who wish to hide behind a facade are only at risk of being exposed; whereas those who have nothing to hide also have nothing to fear.

I applaud CAG for what it did, and I hope they continue to demand more from the video game press both with intelligent discussion on the website and podcast and creative experiments such as this.

Source: Heard Any Good Rumors Lately?