Support NeoGAF

[Interficium]

Joystiq, where Justin was working when he made that video, didn't exactly take itself seriously either.

can't a man evolve?

 

[DangerStepp]

Better watch your mouth.

He has tattoos.

And emotions...

@Greenspeak @pkollar @djongewaard i'd ask you to entertain the possibility that there is more weight on my shoulders than "playing games."

can't a man revolve with a copy of Skyrim?

Okay, done with that joke now.

Spoiler

for today

 

[John Rabbit]

But I think again the difference there is no one at GB claims to be the second coming of games journalism, even Patrick doesn't and he is a very talented writer. GB is about video games and fun and GB along with Twitch TV have showed me that reviews are obsolete. Anyone that takes reviews as seriously as some posters do (see EDGE review threads) are pretty fucking ridiculous and so is Polygon if they're putting this much weight on reviews. I would rather watch a GB quicklook, some twitch tv playtime or one of 1up's old school round table talks. I get nothing out of reviews except the enjoyment of watching people whine about them on neogaf and the like

you are not the target demographic for game reviews. not everyone (read: most everybody who plays games) is as educated as the average GAF poster on the game industry. jeff himself has said a great deal of their traffic still comes from the posted reviews.

 

[slightconfuse]

And emotions...




Okay, done with that joke now.

Spoiler

for today

woooooooooow this Arthur guy really has his head so far up his own ass i wonder how he still breathes

 

[Interficium]

can't a man revolve with a copy of skyrim

good work soldier.

 

[AkuMifune]

Originally Posted by Arthur Gies:

@Greenspeak @pkollar @djongewaard i'd ask you to entertain the possibility that there is more weight on my shoulders than "playing games."

That's called your head. It's so heavy due to how thick it is.

 

[pseudomyxoma]

you are not the target demographic for game reviews. not everyone (read: most everybody who plays games) is as educated as the average GAF poster on the game industry. jeff himself has said a great deal of their traffic still comes from the posted reviews.

Yeah I know this to be true and obviously people even on neogaf seem to give a fuck, but I don't understand why. It's like I'm getting older and no longer understand why a particular music genre is popular. I'm just an old man yelling at clouds, but listen here you whippersnappers, reviews are fucking dumb.

 

[KefkaTaran]

Just a reminder to those flipping out about me "retaliating" against Jeff on Twitter: Jeff and I are friends and used to be coworkers at 1UP. I was talking to him on Twitter. Obviously I disagree with him, but I was no more trying to fight him or tear him down than he was trying to do that toward me, I'm sure.

But naturally no one was as interested in posting the tweets where we made jokes back and forth.

 

[Absoludacrous]

Just a reminder to those flipping out about me "retaliating" against Jeff on Twitter: Jeff and I are friends and used to be coworkers at 1UP. I was talking to him on Twitter. Obviously I disagree with him, but I was no more trying to fight him or tear him down than he was trying to do that toward me, I'm sure.

But naturally no one was as interested in posting the tweets where we made jokes back and forth.

Just a reminder that you're surely and steadily bleeding the support of people who would actually care about a new take on games journalism.

 

[Gannd]

Just a reminder to those flipping out about me "retaliating" against Jeff on Twitter: Jeff and I are friends and used to be coworkers at 1UP. I was talking to him on Twitter. Obviously I disagree with him, but I was no more trying to fight him or tear him down than he was trying to do that toward me, I'm sure.

But naturally no one was as interested in posting the tweets where we made jokes back and forth.

I don't think most people think you guys were fighting. I think that the Polygon crew has no one to blame but themselves for this "backlash". An earlier post summed it up pretty well: you guys are getting paid to write book reviews about toys. That's an awesome job. You guys are working for a start up and I'm sure there is an equity arrangement for you guys.

To me, it seems like a lot of guys that I used to listen to on other podcast seemed really cool and relaxed are now coming across really smuggy about what they are doing. Why the change? Is it just the direction you're supposed to take for this silly documentary? Or is it all the stress from working for a well funded start up?

I take the condescending attitude (not from you Phil) from people like Arthur to show that he is really out of touch. I left my job with PWC to start my own accounting firm. I cashed out $50,000 from my 401k to fund my own business. If I fail, I have nothing left. I'm self funding my business all by myself. I think the weight of going to work for a well funded start up and acting like there is a new frontier a bravery is really in poor taste.

 

[Air Zombie Meat]

Originally Posted by Arthur Gies:

That's called your head. It's so heavy due to how thick it is.

Don't forget he's also carrying the weight of those sick new tattoos.

 

[Yes Boss!]

Just a reminder to those flipping out about me "retaliating" against Jeff on Twitter: Jeff and I are friends and used to be coworkers at 1UP. I was talking to him on Twitter. Obviously I disagree with him, but I was no more trying to fight him or tear him down than he was trying to do that toward me, I'm sure.

But naturally no one was as interested in posting the tweets where we made jokes back and forth.

One question: Why Arthur Gies? Who made that decision.

Obviously Joe Six-Pack does not care about names but this aquisition kills a tonne of credibility for the site amongst those who pay attention.

 

[pseudomyxoma]

I don't think most people think you guys were fighting. I think that the Polygon crew has no one to blame but themselves for this "backlash". An earlier post summed it up pretty well: you guys are getting paid to write book reviews about toys. That's an awesome job. You guys are working for a start up and I'm sure there is an equity arrangement for you guys.

To me, it seems like a lot of guys that I used to listen to on other podcast seemed really cool and relaxed are now coming across really smuggy about what they are doing. Why the change? Is it just the direction you're supposed to take for this silly documentary? Or is it all the stress from working for a well funded start up?

I take the condescending attitude (not from you Phil) from people like Arthur to show that he is really out of touch. I left my job with PWC to start my own accounting firm. I cashed out $50,000 from my 401k to fund my own business. If I fail, I have nothing left. I'm self funding my business all by myself. I think the weight of going to work for a well funded start up and acting like there is a new frontier a bravery is really in poor taste.

rock_clapping.gif

so fucking true, I went to work for someone because I don't have the balls to start my own company. However I know what it takes to start your own company from the ground up and sometimes this documentary seems to make light of how hard it is for a real personally funded startup.

I respect what you're saying, I just think you're exaggerating. Moving across the country from a "sure thing" job like I had at GI to something that could work and be awesome or could go under was scary for me. I've been open about that. I've never suggested for a second that it's the bravest thing ever or that I deserve praise for it or something. Some people are reading a lot into words that aren't there.

For the record, I absolutely don't think we should be free from critique or that any of the criticism being presented is unfounded. But I do think some people are taking it a bit far. But it's the internet, it happens.

There might be some exaggeration going on regarding the documentary but I don't think this many people would get douche chills unless the documentary was coming off douchey

 

[JeffGreen]

Just a reminder to those flipping out about me "retaliating" against Jeff on Twitter: Jeff and I are friends and used to be coworkers at 1UP. I was talking to him on Twitter. Obviously I disagree with him, but I was no more trying to fight him or tear him down than he was trying to do that toward me, I'm sure.

But naturally no one was as interested in posting the tweets where we made jokes back and forth.

Full disclosure: Phil just posted this while lying next to me in bed. In case this couldn't be made any clearer. Also: Stop hogging the covers Phil or I WILL get mad.

 

[KefkaTaran]

That's an awesome job.

Agreed. I said so in the documentary episode. Lots of people seem to be ignoring that.

I take the condescending attitude (not from you Phil) from people like Arthur to show that he is really out of touch. I left my job with PWC to start my own accounting firm. I cashed out $50,000 from my 401k to fund my own business. If I fail, I have nothing left. I'm self funding my business all by myself. I think the weight of going to work for a well funded start up and acting like there is a new frontier a bravery is really in poor taste.

I respect what you're saying, I just think you're exaggerating. Moving across the country from a "sure thing" job like I had at GI to something that could work and be awesome or could go under was scary for me. I've been open about that. I've never suggested for a second that it's the bravest thing ever or that I deserve praise for it or something. Some people are reading a lot into words that aren't there.

For the record, I absolutely don't think we should be free from critique or that any of the criticism being presented is unfounded. But I do think some people are taking it a bit far. But it's the internet, it happens.

One question: Why Arthur Gies? Who made that decision.

Arthur was hired before I was, but I'll defend his place on the team passionately. I can understand why some people disagree with him on some stuff, but Arthur is fucking incredible as an editor. Take a look at that crazy, marked-up word document in this week's episode of the podcast. That kind of thing is intimidating, but it also shows how much time and care he puts into editing a single review. Seriously, he's a great guy to work with.

Full disclosure: Phil just posted this while lying next to me in bed. In case this couldn't be made any clearer. Also: Stop hogging the covers Phil or I WILL get mad.

Sorry, dear.

 

[Jake Tower]

Full disclosure: Phil just posted this while lying next to me in bed. In case this couldn't be made any clearer. Also: Stop hogging the covers Phil or I WILL get mad.

wahjah

 

[AkuMifune]

To me, it seems like a lot of guys that I used to listen to on other podcast seemed really cool and relaxed are now coming across really smuggy about what they are doing. Why the change? Is it just the direction you're supposed to take for this silly documentary? Or is it all the stress from working for a well funded start up?

I used to like most of these guys individually, but yeah, collectively there is something douchey going on.

 

[Zomba13]

I AM BUILDING AN ARK TO SAVE GAMES JOURNALISM.

Wow, comparing himself to Noah? lol.

 

[mujun]

I'm still going to give the site a chance when it hits. There are some people there I've enjoyed listening to on podcasts in the past.

That being said the latest episode was exactly as Jeff Green said. Takes itself way too seriously and desperately needs some humor. I was cringing watching the scene where Arthur was telling the blonde girl how he doesn't care about how hard her life is.

 

[DangerStepp]

Full disclosure: Phil just posted this while lying next to me in bed. In case this couldn't be made any clearer. Also: Stop hogging the covers Phil or I WILL get mad.

This is why I love this man.

I'm not afraid to shout it to the world.

 

[Curufinwe]

Full disclosure: Phil just posted this while lying next to me in bed. In case this couldn't be made any clearer. Also: Stop hogging the covers Phil or I WILL get mad.

Are you guys listening to this album together while you're in bed?

 

[koryuken]

Coming into the thread late... this whole series of events seems like a big, self perpetuating ego circle jerk. Good luck on that website.

PS. Crecente has the entitlement attitude down to an artform.

 

[ThatObviousUser]

Have millions of dollars in venture capital to back them up, pay stupid amounts for their site and logo design, tablet friendly(?), gifs mixed in with their reviews, have Microsoft pay for a documentary about them, report on what random twitter feeds say without verifying facts...

That's about it.

I was gonna make a complete list, but that's everything I was gonna put on it. That's basically everything that sets them apart.

What happened to focusing on content, not gimmicks?

 

[outunderthestars]

How many of these pre-launch documentary shorts are they going to make?

Just launch the damn site already.

 

[JeffGreen]

To chime in seriously: I do stand by my original tweet (which, let's remember, called out no one by name. ) My general feeling, applicable to every single person, including myself, in the gaming industry or those who cover the gaming industry for the press is: We have it ridiculously easy. NOT that the work isn't stressful at times, or that we have long days, or that it can BE hard (I sweated over every review I ever wrote). But just that, compared to what MOST people have to do every day, getting to work in a field that you love, that also happens to be a field specifically about HAVING FUN, is a freaking blessing. So when I watch videos of people doing serious hand-wringing over that, it just kinda makes me want to, like, fart loudly to set some perspective.

On the other hand, it bums me out to see personal attacks, as a result, on guys like Phil, Arthur, and Justin in response to this. They're good people and real people, even if they rub you the wrong way.

Healthy debate and criticism is all good. Personal attacks are a bummer.

 

[gryz]

I hate Polygon and everything it stands for

 

[twobear]

Maybe instead of 'reviewing' videogames they should do like the LRB where they just sort of write essays tangentially related to them.

 

[ThatObviousUser]

Full disclosure: Phil just posted this while lying next to me in bed. In case this couldn't be made any clearer. Also: Stop hogging the covers Phil or I WILL get mad.

 

[Jhriad]

Worst thing is that all I can think of when I see his name is that stupid cut in the preview for the doc where he's strumming on a fucking guitar as his girlfriend zones out. I wonder if it's an analogy for how they have sex.

Come on, is this really necessary? It was cheesy as hell, I'll admit that, but lets not start with hurtful suppositions about something that really isn't related to their work.

Full disclosure: Phil just posted this while lying next to me in bed. In case this couldn't be made any clearer. Also: Stop hogging the covers Phil or I WILL get mad.

Jeff responding with class and humour, as is par for the course. Bravo!

 

[DangerStepp]

To chime in seriously: I do stand by my original tweet (which, let's remember, called out no one by name. ) My general feeling, applicable to every single person, including myself, in the gaming industry or those who cover the gaming industry for the press is: We have it ridiculously easy. NOT that the work isn't stressful at times, or that we have long days, or that it can BE hard (I sweated over every review I ever wrote). But just that, compared to what MOST people have to do every day, getting to work in a field that you love, that also happens to be a field specifically about HAVING FUN, is a freaking blessing. So when I watch videos of people doing serious hand-wringing over that, it just kinda makes me want to, like, fart loudly to set some perspective.

On the other hand, it bums me out to see personal attacks, as a result, on guys like Phil, Arthur, and Justin in response to this. They're good people and real people, even if they rub you the wrong way.

Healthy debate and criticism is all good. Personal attacks are a bummer.

I wish they could all be as good as you, Jeff.

 

[Rapstah]

I wish they could all be as good as you, Jeff.

 

[Jake Tower]

To chime in seriously: I do stand by my original tweet (which, let's remember, called out no one by name. ) My general feeling, applicable to every single person, including myself, in the gaming industry or those who cover the gaming industry for the press is: We have it ridiculously easy. NOT that the work isn't stressful at times, or that we have long days, or that it can BE hard (I sweated over every review I ever wrote). But just that, compared to what MOST people have to do every day, getting to work in a field that you love, that also happens to be a field specifically about HAVING FUN, is a freaking blessing. So when I watch videos of people doing serious hand-wringing over that, it just kinda makes me want to, like, fart loudly to set some perspective.

Bears repeating: Jeff Green is the games journalist we need right now.

On the other hand, it bums me out to see personal attacks, as a result, on guys like Phil, Arthur, and Justin in response to this. They're good people and real people, even if they rub you the wrong way.

Healthy debate and criticism is all good. Personal attacks are a bummer.

Think of the feedback along the lines of Heroes of the Web.

 

[Deleted member 47027]

Come on, is this really necessary? It was cheesy as hell, I'll admit that, but lets not start with hurtful suppositions about something that really isn't related to their work.

This is where I wonder - we obviously can't just go on their written content - this IS their work, what we see. Is it a personal attack if it's what we see of them AT their jobs? The lines, they blur.

 

[Interficium]

We have it ridiculously easy. NOT that the work isn't stressful at times, or that we have long days, or that it can BE hard (I sweated over every review I ever wrote). But just that, compared to what MOST people have to do every day, getting to work in a field that you love, that also happens to be a field specifically about HAVING FUN, is a freaking blessing.

 

[Jhriad]

This is where I wonder - we obviously can't just go on their written content - this IS their work, what we see. Is it a personal attack if it's what we see of them AT their jobs? The lines, they blur.

I'd say there's a pretty clear line when it comes to a spouse or significant other.

 

[Anton Sugar]

 

[Deleted member 47027]

I'd say there's a pretty clear line when it comes to the spouse or significant other.

Well yeah, of course - but at the same time, what are people considering a personal attack here? "Arthur looks like such a douche in this, what an unlikeable asshole" is that considered personal, or is it directly related to his content? I'd say it's related to the content - so Kollar stepping up and saying he's a great editor (though I find someone who makes that many notes about something not very good at getting it right initially...ahuehue) - is related as well?

Let me ask this, Phil, since you're here - what do you think of Arthur's portrayal in this latest episode? Do you think people are overreacting to his actions in the series?

 

[Syriel]

Well yeah, of course - but at the same time, what are people considering a personal attack here? "Arthur looks like such a douche in this, what an unlikeable asshole" is that considered personal, or is it directly related to his content? I'd say it's related to the content - so Kollar stepping up and saying he's a great editor (though I find someone who makes that many notes about something not very good at getting it right initially...ahuehue) - is related as well?

Let me ask this, Phil, since you're here - what do you think of Arthur's portrayal in this latest episode? Do you think people are overreacting to his actions in the series?

Was related to the comment about the guy's wife.

It's bad form to include their families in a work video, but it's equally bad form to make fund of the families/SOs who are likely only there in the video to support someone they love.

The Polygon editors have done plenty of things which deserve legit criticism. People can stick to those. Leave the SOs out of it.

 

[afternoon delight]

Guys. We're talking about fucking toy reviewers.

Lighten up/ what do you expect.

 

[Deleted member 47027]

Was related to the comment about the guy's wife.

It's bad form to include their families in a work video, but it's equally bad form to make fund of the families/SOs who are likely only there in the video to support someone they love.

The Polygon editors have done plenty of things which deserve legit criticism. People can stick to those. Leave the SOs out of it.

I agree completely, I was steering it towards what a "personal attack" really is now, due to personalities being the focal point of this series.

 

[Felix Lighter]

Just a reminder to those flipping out about me "retaliating" against Jeff on Twitter: Jeff and I are friends and used to be coworkers at 1UP. I was talking to him on Twitter. Obviously I disagree with him, but I was no more trying to fight him or tear him down than he was trying to do that toward me, I'm sure.

But naturally no one was as interested in posting the tweets where we made jokes back and forth.

Your tweets didn't come off as retaliation. A little defensive but at least you seemed to understand where he was coming from. It was your coworkers' responses that confirmed his "out of touch" claims that bothered me.

 

[mambadragon]

I think their jobs would be easier if they didn't spend the entire workday posting on Twitter.

 

[KefkaTaran]

I think their jobs would be easier if they didn't spend the entire workday posting on Twitter.

Shit's tough, but somebody has to do it. Working up a sweat over here.

 

[eznark]

Shit's tough, but somebody has to do it. Working up a sweat over here.

laugh it up but Arthur deals not just with twitter but serious problems...like editing your reviews.

Saving the world one typo at a time.

You call him your boss. I call him my hero.

 

[Gannd]

laugh it up but Arthur deals not just with twitter but serious problems...like editing your reviews.

Saving the world one typo at a time.

You call him your boss. I call him my hero.

 

[Doel]

I enjoy the work Polygon does, I really do. Love the layouts, the writing, etc. But the personas of a few of them on this web series and on Twitter I just get annoyed with (and subsequently unfollow/care less and less about what they have to say).

Phil, followed him on Twitter since the 1up days. Thought he was interesting on podcasts and enjoyed his opinions. But a couple months after he joined Polygon I took him off my twitter feed because of the incessant negativity. Maybe he was going through a rough patch in life but he was sounding like Arthur and I already had enough negative tweets in my feed from him - which is another guy I've followed and unfollowed multiple times. Enjoy Arthur's writing and even feel like he is probably a good guy in person, but the persona he puts out online is very off-putting and thus you get a thread full of hate (some warranted some not) like this.

Just my thoughts, I don't personally know any of these people and I'm sure they are all great or no one would work with them. But if they're going to choose to put themselves out there then they have to expect to be picked apart.

 

[Heavy's Sandvich]

I don't understand how Arthur sometimes has a beard in the episode to having a moustache then back again.

 

[Foffy]

I don't understand how Arthur sometimes has a beard in the episode to having a moustache then back again.

He keeps buying them.

 

[BlazinAm]

I don't understand how Arthur sometimes has a beard in the episode to having a moustache then back again.

I think you are confusing Russ and Arthur.

 

[JDSN]

My favorite part about this fiasco is that Justin Mcelroy is part of a documentary in which he talks about the difficulty of his job, the high stakes for this Microsof-published endeavour, the ever-consuming stress of not making a potential mistake that could wreck lives.... and his wife is a doctor.