Three publishers ban EGM from coverage of their games

[DarkSign]

I didnt see this in the news section...so I thought I'd offer it...

Electronic Gaming Monthly’s Editor-in-Chief Dan “Shoe” Hsu has an interesting editorial in the latest edition of his magazine. The bulk of Hsu’s column deals with topics familiar to VGMWatch.com readers: publishers bullying game publications; overly positive previews; and editorial integrity. In fact, Hsu himself has covered these issues in past columns before. However, what makes his latest editorial unique is what he’s always shied away from doing in the past: it names names.

According to Hsu, Midway’s Mortal Kombat development team, Sony’s sports game division, and Ubisoft have all allegedly banned EGM from further coverage of their products. The reason: Apparently, they didn’t take too kindly to EGM’s review coverage of their games. Still, Hsu maintains that EGM “won’t treat these products or companies any differently.” We have yet to confirm these allegations with the publishers mentioned. However, if the editorial’s claims are accurate, VGMWatch.com is certainly disappointed with these publishers’ behavior. As corporations, publishers have every right to ban any publication they want for poor coverage. But that doesn’t make it right. Gamers should feel disrespected as well.

VGMWatch.com staff will be contacting the companies involved with this story for further comment. In the mean time, readers may want to pick up the current issue of EGM to view Hsu’s editorial for themselves.

http://vgmwatch.com/?p=1137

Is this what it's coming to? I hope these 3 esad.

[SnakeCharmer]

The simple solution is for gaming companies to quit producing regurgitated crap and, more importantly, consumers to quit buying said regurgitated crap.

Problem solved.

[Murgos]

According to Hsu, Midway’s Mortal Kombat development team, Sony’s sports game division, and Ubisoft have all allegedly banned EGM from further coverage of their products.

How, do you ban someone from covering your products in their own privately produced magazine?

Sense, this makes not, hmm?

[MrHat]

According to Hsu, Midway’s Mortal Kombat development team, Sony’s sports game division, and Ubisoft have all allegedly banned EGM from further coverage of their products.

How, do you ban someone from covering your products in their own privately produced magazine?

Sense, this makes not, hmm?

I'm guessing you don't give them interviews, exclusives, or free stuffs to review.

[JWIV]

According to Hsu, Midway’s Mortal Kombat development team, Sony’s sports game division, and Ubisoft have all allegedly banned EGM from further coverage of their products.

How, do you ban someone from covering your products in their own privately produced magazine?

Sense, this makes not, hmm?

I'm guessing you don't give them interviews, exclusives, or free stuffs to review.

Correcto.   Basically, EGM has to pony up the 59.99 now in order to play through and review Mortal Kombat and whatever other shovelware comes out of the studios.

[Venkman]

So they lose the ability to have games on their covers when those games launch. We're talking Midway's Mortal Kombat team, Ubi and Sony sports here. Considering everything they cover, who exactly is losing out here?

[Velorath]

Is this what it's coming to? I hope these 3 esad.

There are movies that studios don't screened for the critics.  There's generally end up with a stigma around them, with the assumption being that they didn't get a screening because they're fucking terrible (which is pretty much always the truth).  I see the same thing as a result here.  If the next Mortal Kombat game doesn't get reviewed by most magazines or websites, it's going to be perceived by most as bargain bin trash.

[schild]

If companies want to be babies, I would just buy their games specifically to point out every fault possible. EGM has pull with mouthbreathers. USE THAT PULL, SHOE. GIVE THOSE GAMES 2.0s. WHO CARES WHAT THEY ARE.

[Rendakor]

Well at least now no one at EGM will risk getting fired for calling a turd a turd...

[MrHat]

Ya, I see the whole thing as Shoe just trying to give EGM some cred.

OMGOSH they won't let us review stuff because we're to 2legit

2legit 2quit.

[Wolf]

Actually 1up is about the only place I still read about games online. That's not here that is. I like them and I trust their judgment. It helps that 1up yours is a pretty awesome podcast. 

[HaemishM]

Bah, the only game reviewer worth a fuck is Zero Punctuation. The rest aren't worth reading with any regularity.

[Phildo]

Bah, the only game reviewer worth a fuck is Zero Punctuation. The rest aren't worth reading with any regularity.

Unless you like JRPGs.

[Tebonas]

  don't need Game Reviews.


Yes I've played Eternal Sonata, but damn is Polka annoying to anyone not into little girls. 

[Sky]

Bah, the only game reviewer worth a fuck is Zero Punctuation. The rest aren't worth reading with any regularity.

f13 isn't bad if you know our biases. 

[HaemishM]

Bah, the only game reviewer worth a fuck is Zero Punctuation. The rest aren't worth reading with any regularity.

Unless you like JRPGs.

I don't.

Also, I don't consider f13 game reviewers, just Internet assholes with an opinion like me. I'm talking about people who get paid to do reviews.

[Fabricated]

Yahtzee is fantastic and probably the only good thing that has and ever will come out of YCS.