Auwch.
Over at Kotaku Wagner James Au posted a lengthy article where he claims to have discovered the primary reason that “games, for the most part, unrelentingly suck such ass.” Furthermore, he’s certain that he’s got the solution.
According to Au, the culprit is the mainstream press’ game previews, which are in his assessment “the mortal enemy of good games.” Au announces that the antidote to this source of evil is to be Kotaku’s new feature, “Preview Ho of the Month.” The goal of Preview Ho, in Au’s words, is to “name and shame” publishers of the most egregiously biased game previews, forcing them to engage in honorable journalism, and thereby transforming the medium of gaming.
Unfortunately, Au’s legitimate points about game previews are pretty much lost in the self-righteousness and snarky hyperbole of his rant/announcement/manifesto, as noted by Tom Chick at Quarter to Three. Chick suggests the issue would be better tackled with civility and a measure of critical restraint. Simon Carless at GameSetWatch goes one further, arguing that Au’s damning assessment of the industry and press isn’t necessarily shared by his peers. Carless’s view is that the medium is better served by bloggers and writers who take pains to celebrate creative game design and intelligent game critique.
I’m inclined to agree with both Carless and Chick. Kotaku is certainly a heavyweight among gaming blogs, and I’d typically applaud any effort on their part to better the mainstream dialogue about games. I’m disappointed by this current Preview Ho tactic, though, which strikes me as about as useful as the shallow, juvenile, hype-driven mainstream commentary that Au is so quick to criticize. Au’s tone isn’t skeptical, it’s cynical. It’s not thoughtful, it’s self-righteous. And it’s not critical, it’s merely insulting. It’s not what the medium needs. Gamers would be much better served if Kotaku spent more time producing thoughtful previews themselves, or promoting those outlets that do the same.