Scott Steinberg: Writer's Block
Scott sees games journalism going mass market
Call it inept, corrupt or immature if you will, but there's one thing few can deny about the field of video game journalism. Specifically, that it's more prolific than ever, and evolving at a speed so fast you could scarce match it behind the wheel of a Formula 1 roadster.
I, for one, would like to think such changes are for the better, especially as information-sharing tools like Posterous and Twitter enable instantaneous reporting, and empower everyday individuals to become roving correspondents. Ditto for modern blogging platforms, whose communications facilities offer options for genuine two-way dialogue, eliminating the barriers that once separated reporters from readers, and provide the means for more constructive discussion and feedback. But as may be apparent from our most recent documentary, lovingly titled Rewriting Game Journalism, a major paradigm shift is well underway. And with each passing day bringing news of more colleagues departing for greener pastures, opting to go freelance or 'seeking new challenges,' I can't help but wonder what it means for the field as a whole.
Let's get one thing straight up-front, though: Giving more of today's players the power to stand on the soapbox and spark conversation or effect meaningful change can only be a positive. In all honesty, the only leg up pros ever had over aspiring reporters was often simply the benefit of better connections, a more storied educational background or access to the right hardware, software and corporate gatekeepers needed to obtain information on various studios and titles in advance anyway. Likewise, the luxury of being employed by large corporations and the ability to draw a regular salary often allowed such privileged individuals to devote more time and energy to honing their craft. (Or, for that matter, granted access to the manpower and capital needed to produce a pricey newsstand publication.)
But thanks to the democratizing of publishing platforms courtesy of the internet, suddenly, the playing field has been evened. And as is clearly apparent from the wealth of amazing sites and forums populating the web today, fans can often be just as passionate and knowledgeable, if not more so, than the so-called experts. Moreover, without the pressure of tight deadlines, angry bosses and families to feed at their back, these folks also have the luxury of near-infinite time and resources to devote to any given subject. As we obviously see from sites such as the one you're currently reading, there aren't just promising signs of life beyond the usual staples such as IGN, GameSpot, Joystiq, Destructoid and Kotaku, or mainstream outlets such as Wired's GameLife or MTV's Multiplayer. There's also a huge and thriving community celebrating, debating and dissecting gaming's legacy in all its forms, from slickly-produced podcasts (A Life Well Wasted) to insightful articles (Rock, Paper, Shotgun) and clever videos (GameZombie.TV). Clearly, it's hard to cite an audience that's more passionate or driven about chronicling and canonizing the hobby they so love.
Still, with the decline in overall advertising budgets, and publishers' increasing insistence on tapping a pool of rising talent all too happy to produce content for free, we're also simultaneously seeing a rapid attrition of the industry's most celebrated pundits. True: Necessity is the mother of all invention (no pressure, no diamonds, right?), and some of the best results thus far have been produced as journalists from traditional fields such as newspaper reporting have adapted to online publishing mediums. But it saddens me to think of the talent that's being lost with each passing week, as even the most storied reporters continue to make the switch to games development/marketing/PR, turn to outside fields for employment or see careers crumble in increasing numbers. It always troubled me to see that journalists frequently had few professional options beyond rising up the ranks to become editor-in-chief of a magazine, only to realize that the next stop on their career path would be to either A" assume the reigns of another publication, or B: move into a mostly hands-off management role. Now that times are even tighter, alas, we're seeing even fewer doors swing open.
Admittedly, new blood and ideas are vital to moving any field forward. And there's always room for fresh approaches and starry-eyed individuals to step outside of their current comfort zone and change the entire industry. Having started years ago as an anonymous fan site owner myself, I can say with certainty that today's unknown enthusiasts will undoubtedly be tomorrow's industry leaders - a fact we should all be overjoyed about. But to simultaneously deprive ourselves of the knowledge and wisdom of these elder statesmen and fail to acknowledge their contributions is also to rob our industry of the insight and leadership it needs to meaningfully grow and progress. Moreover, the vicious cycle must ultimately be broken if we ever want this endless turnover to stop. Maybe it's for the best - see natural selection, survival of the fittest, et al. Still, where would the fields of science and technology be if we'd been happy to bench Albert Einstein or Steve Jobs after just a few short years?
Chin up, however: The good news is as follows. In my mind at least, we've reached a critical tipping point, where games reporting has progressed beyond simple reviews and previews, with today's most prominent essayists, academics and storytellers suddenly willing to look deeper than just the on-screen action. Suddenly, we're seeing more in-depth explorations into titles' meaning, influences and effects on society as a whole, as well as their overall intellectual value and cultural significance. And truthfully, it's gamers who ultimately benefit from these changes, with an infinite number of ways now being offered to dissect and discuss any given trend or title. The mandate going forward for those currently in the business is simple, though: change or die. Because we're all aware that in many ways, from its willingness to quickly chew up and throw away its heroes to its reluctance to listen to what readers really want, the old system wasn't working. But I'm confident that both the media and fans will come through these growing pains wiser and happier than ever.
Because, much to veterans' chagrin, while the future may not be glossy 12-page pullouts or exclusive posters of Master Chief to slap up on your wall, it's all for the best. As pointed out in the video, tomorrow's most successful journalists will, by nature of having to survive in a world of fewer golden opportunities and heightened competition, be those who can most artfully adapt, and truly give the public what it demands. And whether it's the guy/gal with their masters in journalism, or simply the lone ranger sitting in their bedroom creating the next GamePro, Penny Arcade or Zero Punctuation, who cares? It doesn't matter who's doing the reporting, as long as the job's done properly, and in a way that encourages us all to step up our game to the next level.
Happily, every tool you ever needed to get started reporting (see: our very own The Videogame Style Guide and Reference manual) is out there now, waiting to be downloaded for free this very instant. So why not get out and do your part? It's high time everyone made their voice heard. Best of all, the world is finally listening.
Video game expert and TV/radio host Scott Steinberg is the author of Get Rich Playing Games and the creator of game industry documentary series Players Only. A celebrated gadget guru and technology expert, he frequently appears as a technology and video game analyst on broadcast networks like ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC and CNN, and has contributed to 400+ outlets from The New York Times to Playboy and Rolling Stone. For more of his insights, visit www.scottsteinberg.com.
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