Cinemablend calls out gaming press, accuses them of living in a Doritocracy

I don't think the journalists downplaying the Xbone's deficiencies are on the take. They're just hypocritical and dishonest or shockingly ignorant.
 
This is a decent article predicated upon an entirely correct premise.

If you disagree, you are essentially what is wrong with this industry.
 
I genuinely don't think any of the sane posters here think that you are wrong to prefer the Xbone, It's a choice. I don't want one, but I'm not you, and you aren't me. We each make our own choices for our own reasons.

My attitude is you buy what you want to buy, fuck everyone else. I've no doubt that anyone buying an Xbone is going to have a cracking time with it, will think it looks great, and will be very pleased with their purchase.

However, that doesn't detract from the fact that for months some parts of the press have been acting in ways which certainly appear to be favourable to MS at a time when we, the people who are going to be there buying this shit, are (almost) all slamming MS for the crazy they have tried to bring.

It's almost been like they still don't trust Sony after the PS3 launch and are sceptical of everything they say and do despite the huge turnaround from them since, while on the other hand, they give MS a really really wide berth on everything they say and do. DRM? Sony will do that too, and its the future, why are you complaining and ruining it all for us. Resolution? minimal differences. average joe will not be able to tell. etc etc.

I swear I've seen this exact same post earlier in the year. You have posted this before right? I am having crazy deja vu right now
 
Games journalists were willing to acknowledge the power gap between the PS2 and the Xbox in 2001 (and the PS2 and the Dreamcast in 2000), I don't know why they're so fucking afraid now.

Hell, games journalists were seemingly GIDDY to shit all over the PS2 for not having anti-aliasing, remember that?

Times have changed, man.
 
I'm a bit conflicted within this whole debate, because there's no middle ground. While one side is backed by technological fact to an extent, both side's viewpoints are to such an extremity that I can't help but roll my eyes.

The Playstation 4 is clearly the more technologically advanced piece of machinery in terms of pure horsepower, and the graphics are going to reflect that fact. There's no denying that, and those who do are quite honestly blind/misguided (ie. Much of the gaming press at the moment).

On the flip side, we have those that heavily value this technological rift between the Xbox One and Playstation 4; as well as the price point, culture of the system and platform holders between the two consoles. I can dig that. But where this side often loses me is the obsession by many to push their opinions, values and tastes onto others. I don't mind paying $100 more for the XB1. I don't hate the Kinect. I don't hate the fact that non-gaming features are a highlight of the console. I like what I see from a software standpoint. The system being graphically inferior isn't a deal breaker for me. It's kind of tiring to constantly see my decision to purchase an XB1 pushed as being inherently wrong, as if there's a correct decision to what console(s) one purchases.

Good post.
 
Just what the fuck do you want from a games console then? The PS4 is being sold at a loss, so I'd say the value to performance proposition is pretty damn good. Do you expect these companies to be a charity? Sure, I'd like my game console to make me breakfast and give me blowjobs, but unfortunately that technology is not yet available. Just what would you do different to innovate in the console space? What you have written here is nothing but empty bullshit. "It sucks, its not innovative, the games are shit." You have said absolutely nothing.

Why do the games suck? Have you even played any of them? What kind of games do you want them to make? I just don't understand how you can look at all of the games that have been announced for both systems, by indies and by the big studios and just go "Its all shit." Its fucking cynical and boring.

What the fuck I want from a console?

Well let me explain a few things. this is no longer 2001, nor 2006 nor even 2010. Games no longer exist in some walled off garden to only be enjoyed only by nerds and enthusiasts. Consoles no longer are the only major game in town anymore to enjoy gaming. As such to keep treating them like they are, as you seem to want to do, is stupid. Hell the biggest games in the world isn't even ON a console for crying out loud. The sooner you get that gaming is FAR bigger than Sony, Nintendo, and MS, the sooner you'll understand my next point.

With so much competition that is growing at an alarming rate, you need to bring something exciting, something new to the table. You can't just show up with a slower CPU and faster GPU and the next COD and hope all is well, that won't work anymore when I can get COD in a far superior form on a PC which, despite what you say or feel, is growing as a gaming platform faster than ever. So if you are bringing nothing new, nothing innovative, then you better damn sure be bringing the best of what you got, and PS4 and Xbox are not even doing that. So instead of praising the PS4 as the second coming of gaming, you need to be looking at why Sony decided to release a half assed console.

Now can I enjoy games on it? Of course! because graphics are not as important when I have a PC which will give me graphics the Ps4/xbone will only dream of. So i'm looking at all the others for games I want to play, new experiences I can't get. PS4 doesn't do that in ANY capacity. Now in two years, maybe it'll be different, but ATM no.

And I never said they all sucked, just that they were average at BEST, and if you HAD to choose by launch games, MS has the better ones. PS4 has cross gen ports, multiplats and a few indies. All their shit, like Wii U, and others was "delayed."

So lets not crown a "king" just yet.
 
This article is awful. If you're going to go into the price differences and stuff like resolution and attempting to compare their value proposition by dollar, include key features like the Kinect packed into it. That's pretty crucial. Otherwise you come across as a guy with an agenda.

Microsoft is not doing Kinect any favours as far as value proposition is concerned, right now they're trying to sell you it's potential rather than show you the receipts which is exacerbated by it being honed in as the reason why the console is more expensive than the competition in the first place.
 
Absolutely true, "journalists" like Arthur Gies might as well be getting paid for all the PR he does for Microsoft. They're a fucking joke, and ruin all credibility not only for themselves, but everyone theyre associated with. Just by association he makes Polygon a fucking joke site that WAS funded, in part, by Microsoft.
 
Its been concerning from some outlets, but outright damning for certain individuals who have been revealed to be huge FUD pushing shills.

I've been concerned for quite some time that a "buy american/western" sentiment has crept into the gaming press this entire past generation and seized hold without most of them even knowing why they pledge Xbox allegiance and give it such huge benefits of doubt they rarely offer the other two companies.

I don't think its anything as serious as genuine racism or xenophobia, but theres been a narrative to follow for so long on this topic that many seem at a total loss when reality has shirked the script they thought was laid out and ready to be enacted before us.
 
I've been concerned for quite some time that a "buy american/western" sentiment has crept into the gaming press this entire past generation and seized hold without most of them even knowing why they pledge Xbox allegiance and give it such huge benefits of doubt they rarely offer the other two companies.

Your post is the first time I have even considered this possibility.... and it seems entirely plausible.
 
Article nailed. All of these tech sites would be heaping praise (and have in the past) to video cards that are cheaper but more powerful than the competition but for some reason when it comes to the Xbone, 720p compared to 1080p doesn't make a difference even at $100 more.

Hypocrisy at its finest. Why is the question. Paid off? Fanboys? Ignorant?
 
Your post is the first time I have even considered this possibility.... and it seems entirely plausible.

Its the entire reason why there is a notable "blech" sound to Japanese games these days from most of the gaming press, and its only natural. You can try to be the most objective writer in the world, but when you are getting news tidbits from and connecting with people in your native language and often in the exact same city you'll then see around for the rest of the year, you're affording them more benefit of the doubt, more warmth, and just in general, more attention.

In this way, Microsoft and Xbox feel like the homegrown friendly console maker down the road. For all the PR and great work Sony and Nintendo reps do, there's always going to be a tiny gulf of uncertainty in between how people feel about them.

This is the year where it all started to get very unpalatable with just outright attacks on Japanese devs in multiple incidents. Its not been fun to watch, and I might have to actually start games writing myself and get an article up and out about it.
 
Well done Cinemablend, it's about time somebody shone a light on the bullshit emanating from the so called gaming press.


Past few weeks have been fucking shameful.
 
On the flip side, I'm baffled as to why journalists are giving Sony a pass for its poor internal planning on not being able to deliver a single piece of solid software at launch to showcase the PS4, from its own stable of worldwide studios. The launch lineup sucks and just about every decent 3rd party title can be had on last gen systems.

I think it speaks volumes how bad this launch lineup is when Killzone is your flagship title. KILLZONE...ya know...that franchise that equates to - throwing shit at a wall enough times thinking its eventually going to stick.

Instead they're too busy gushing about the hardware and 1080p on a dudebro game thats going to sell at least 6x-7x the amount on last generation systems. Why don't they call the PS4 launch exactly what it is...a $400 box of hope for the future.
 
On the flip side, I'm baffled as to why journalists are giving Sony a pass for its poor internal planning on not being able to deliver a single piece of solid software at launch to showcase the PS4, from its own stable of worldwide studios. The launch lineup sucks and just about every decent 3rd party title can be had on last gen systems.

You're ragging on Killzone, but the game that Microsoft has been putting at the forefront of their marketing isn't even coming out until March.
 
On the flip side, I'm baffled as to why journalists are giving Sony a pass for its poor internal planning on not being able to deliver a single piece of solid software at launch to showcase the PS4, from its own stable of worldwide studios. The launch lineup sucks and just about every decent 3rd party title can be had on last gen systems.

I think it speaks volumes how bad this launch lineup is when Killzone is your flagship title. KILLZONE...ya know...that franchise that equates to - throwing shit at a wall enough times thinking its eventually going to stick.

Instead they're too busy gushing about the hardware and 1080p on a dudebro game thats going to sell at least 6x-7x the amount on last generation systems. Why don't they call they PS4 launch exactly what is...a $400 box of hope for the future.


Because that's your take on it and that's all.

And it seems most people are going for the "future box" as you call it.
 
and if you HAD to choose by launch games, MS has the better ones. PS4 has cross gen ports, multiplats and a few indies. All their shit, like Wii U, and others was "delayed."

So lets not crown a "king" just yet.

But I think Killzone and Resogun are better than anything MS has to offer. Damnit, I must be broken.
 
On the flip side, I'm baffled as to why journalists are giving Sony a pass for its poor internal planning on not being able to deliver a single piece of solid software at launch to showcase the PS4, from its own stable of worldwide studios. The launch lineup sucks and just about every decent 3rd party title can be had on last gen systems.

I think it speaks volumes how bad this launch lineup is when Killzone is your flagship title. KILLZONE...ya know...that franchise that equates to - throwing shit at a wall enough times thinking its eventually going to stick.

Instead they're too busy gushing about the hardware and 1080p on a dudebro game thats going to sell at least 6x-7x the amount on last generation systems. Why don't they call they PS4 launch exactly what is...a $400 box of hope for the future.

Hard to tell if this is a serious post or not...
 
I think it speaks volumes how bad this launch lineup is when Killzone is your flagship title. KILLZONE...ya know...that franchise that equates to - throwing shit at a wall enough times thinking its eventually going to stick.
I think you may be over exaggerating on Killzone. Just a tad.
 
Article was 100% spot on. If you want to buy an XBONE, that's great. But this "there's not really a noticeable difference" that's cropped up in the press would be laughed at in any other industry.

There's a difference. 50% lower resolution at a worse frame rate. There it is plain and simple.

If you know this and want to buy the system, that's great. You are making an informed decision. The point is the press, REAL press, owes it to you to give you that information. Not this "not much of a difference" or "XBONE will eventually catch up in performance" or any of the other absolutely preposterous shit we've seen in the past week or two.
 
On the flip side, I'm baffled as to why journalists are giving Sony a pass for its poor internal planning on not being able to deliver a single piece of solid software at launch to showcase the PS4, from its own stable of worldwide studios. The launch lineup sucks and just about every decent 3rd party title can be had on last gen systems.

I think it speaks volumes how bad this launch lineup is when Killzone is your flagship title. KILLZONE...ya know...that franchise that equates to - throwing shit at a wall enough times thinking its eventually going to stick.

Instead they're too busy gushing about the hardware and 1080p on a dudebro game thats going to sell at least 6x-7x the amount on last generation systems. Why don't they call they PS4 launch exactly what is...a $400 box of hope for the future.

Because at the moment that's what people want to hear. Look at posts in this thread, there are some people losing their shit about others saying PS4 isn't all that and a bag of chips. Again as I said, both should be called out but Sony especially. People criticized Nintendo, but Sony's First party situation is hardly any better. It's all "dreams and lolipops."
 
I swear I've seen this exact same post earlier in the year. You have posted this before right? I am having crazy deja vu right now


Something similar no doubt.

Either that or they are changing something in the matrix. And I can't be in the matrix, my life would be better than it is right now lol.
 
Because at the moment that's what people want to hear. Look at posts in this thread, there are some people losing their shit about others saying PS4 isn't all that and a bag of chips. Again as I said, both should be called out but Sony especially. People criticized Nintendo, but Sony's First party situation is hardly any better. It's all "dreams and lolipops."

The launch title preference is purely subjective. For example, I don't consider Ryse, KI and Forza any more than "dreams and lolipops."

What's more, those who are sensible would realise that a console is most definitely not defined by its launch games, of all things.
 
The launch title preference is purely subjective. For example, I don't consider Ryse, KI and Forza any more than "dreams and lolipops."

Except that those are actually games you can try and see for yourself. At the moment, that's better than "potential".
 
Games journalists were willing to acknowledge the power gap between the PS2 and the Xbox in 2001 (and the PS2 and the Dreamcast in 2000), I don't know why they're so fucking afraid now.

Hell, games journalists were seemingly GIDDY to shit all over the PS2 for not having anti-aliasing, remember that?

Times have changed, man.

You act like there isn't a single article discussing this stuff when there are thousands spread all across the internet. Unless game journalists just mean one or two of the most popular sites. It seems like some people have cemented themselves really hard into their console of choice and are raging against the machine at journalists who have to remain a tad bit more removed from topics like this. You don't see Wii U hardware complaints in every news story about a Wii U game anymore. They talked about it and moved on, because they can't go around picking sides and framing every article through that bias.

Microsoft is not doing Kinect any favours as far as value proposition is concerned, right now they're trying to sell you it's potential rather than show you the receipts which is exacerbated by it being honed in as the reason why the console is more expensive than the competition in the first place.

Most people being sold on a new console in general are being sold on its potential. I really can't see why I would pick up a PS4 or XB1 if I didn't believe they had unmet potential.
 
Because at the moment that's what people want to hear. Look at posts in this thread, there are some people losing their shit about others saying PS4 isn't all that and a bag of chips. Again as I said, both should be called out but Sony especially. People criticized Nintendo, but Sony's First party situation is hardly any better. It's all "dreams and lolipops."

dreams and lollipops ? for sony first party WTF

just this year from first party had more output than MS combine last two years.

As for ps4:

drive club
KZ
knack
Infamous
the order

Now let's compare this to MS first party support of XB1

Forxa
fable legend


Unless I missed something . Ryse, quantum break , sunset , Titanfall all all 3rd paty studios
 
I thought the article was pretty bad TBH although I do actually agree with the core point. It was way too frothing at the mouth and seemed to be driven by an anti-XB1 slant to an extent.

But I firmly believe that US in particular and to a lesser extent UK based sites are reporting on the XB1 vs PS4 performance issues really, really badly.

I can't believe I've had EDGE basically tell me that there is little difference between a native 1080p output in 60fps vs a 720p then up-scaled just to be super accurate output in 60fps : my mind literally boggles at this fallacy.

Then Ars... I can't even...

It really feels like certain western sites cannot bring themselves to report on this sensibly: they seem to be flailing around in indecision as to how to behave on the matter. I have no idea if it's MS influence, XB1 being Western made and the follow up to the successful 360 which defined online/western centric gameplay for many this gen or what... but something is definitely not right and they need to sort it out. I accept opinions are opinions but 1080p vs 720p image of same game with same effects isn't an opinion - that's a fact and yet it's being treated as an opinion by sites that know better.
 
$100 shouldn't be the reason why you go with one console over another. It's a ridiculous reason.

Take the 360/ps3 for example. I've gotten 8 years out of my xbox 360. I enjoyed my time with it and Im glad I chose the 360 as my console of choice. $100 over the long run over 8 years shouldn't be a reason why you choose one console over another. I'm willing to spend an extra $12.5 a year for 8 years knowing that I made the right decision.
But Xbone isn't the right decision. It's less powerful and it's obvious this time.

Last gen the 360 had the multiplats advantage and the price advantage. PS4 has that now.
 
Most people won't spend an extra hundred dollars to buy a 720p TV when they could get a 1020p one cheaper.

Third party games will make up the majority of PS4 and XBox One game titles and sales figures. But, if you love kinect games and mainly just play MS first party games, by all means an XBox One should be your console of choice.
Okay, since we're taking this to EXTREME comparisons, the 1080p TV is only $399. The 720p TV is $499. The 720p is also a smart TV, so for the extra $100 (and loss of 1080p) you can have a TV that offers Netflix, Pandora, Internet, Youtube, Amazon, Internet, I Love Radio, etc. For $100 more.

I know which one I'd go for, the one that would be more interactive and more entertaining.

Like I said, extreme comparisons.
 
Should have been "Doritocratic Republic", it just rolls off the tongue.

The article is basically correct. Tough nuts to anyone who disagrees I guess.
 
On the flip side, I'm baffled as to why journalists are giving Sony a pass for its poor internal planning on not being able to deliver a single piece of solid software at launch to showcase the PS4, from its own stable of worldwide studios. The launch lineup sucks and just about every decent 3rd party title can be had on last gen systems.

I think it speaks volumes how bad this launch lineup is when Killzone is your flagship title. KILLZONE...ya know...that franchise that equates to - throwing shit at a wall enough times thinking its eventually going to stick.

Instead they're too busy gushing about the hardware and 1080p on a dudebro game thats going to sell at least 6x-7x the amount on last generation systems. Why don't they call they PS4 launch exactly what is...a $400 box of hope for the future.

Killzone, is a well regarded franchise. If you're passing off your opinion on it as being a poor choice, then I can throw the MetaCritic ratings back at you (KZ2 was 91% and KZ3 at 84%). It's a fine piece of software and may well be the best looking game at any launch this fall for any system.

This is a fine launch so I don't know what you are expecting? Are you familiar with the Vita launch? Sony had quite the selection of software at launch and the weeks that followed. And then what? Nothing? The Wii U was/is also guilty of having a dire software selection after it's launch. As do all systems.

I think Sony is understands that the launch is for those already committed. On top of that, Sony is leveraging independent developers to help buoy what is a common problem in this industry. Lack of software after the honeymoon launch period. It's clear that the PS4 is not the system for you, but do you think Microsoft is better prepared?
 
Microsoft is not doing Kinect any favours as far as value proposition is concerned, right now they're trying to sell you it's potential rather than show you the receipts which is exacerbated by it being honed in as the reason why the console is more expensive than the competition in the first place.

That's,,,,not exactly true.

Journalists and neogaf have consistently ignored Xbox fitness. We know it's launching with the xobox one (supposedly) yet has any journalist actually looked into it.

Neogaf and other "hardcore" gamers have written it off yet Wii U fit and Xumba Fitness are sales juggernauts that many hardcore games wish they could match.
 
Okay, since we're taking this to EXTREME comparisons, the 1080p TV is only $399. The 720p TV is $499. The 720p is also a smart TV, so for the extra $100 (and loss of 1080p) you can have a TV that offers Netflix, Pandora, Internet, Youtube, Amazon, Internet, I Love Radio, etc. For $100 more.

I know which one I'd go for, the one that would be more interactive and more entertaining.

Like I said, extreme comparisons.

Huh? When was it confirmed that PS4 wouldn't have any of those?
 
I can't believe everyone's getting so worked up over the tech specs. Surely it's about the games? Some of those Nokia's hose all over the iPhone, but are you really going to buy a Windows Phone 8 smartphone when the state of its app store is absolutely dire? There's a lot more that factors into my purchasing decisions than simply "Is it more powerful?"
 
Great article. The gaming press has been absolutely shameful this past year. From draconian DRM apologizing to the denial of strong technical differences between the XBO and PS4, the gaming press has utterly failed to properly inform their readership.

There is far, far too much editorializing in the press. You can't just get the facts in a story; you have to get the reporter's often misinformed opinion on the matter as well. Look, I don't care what YOU think about X. Just report the fact and let ME decide what I should think about X.
 
$100 shouldn't be the reason why you go with one console over another. It's a ridiculous reason.

Take the 360/ps3 for example. I've gotten 8 years out of my xbox 360. I enjoyed my time with it and Im glad I chose the 360 as my console of choice. $100 over the long run over 8 years shouldn't be a reason why you choose one console over another. I'm willing to spend an extra $12.5 a year for 8 years knowing that I made the right decision.

$100 may be an insignificant amount of money to you, but that doesn't mean it is to the rest of us. I only have so much disposable income. Saving $100, or using that $100 to buy a few more games than I could if I was going the Xbox One route... there isn't anything ridiculous about it.

only in the gaming word does 'unbiased coverage' mean, disregard all real difference between systems and recommend them both equally.

that isn't unbiased at all. that's stupid.
 
Okay, since we're taking this to EXTREME comparisons, the 1080p TV is only $399. The 720p TV is $499. The 720p is also a smart TV, so for the extra $100 (and loss of 1080p) you can have a TV that offers Netflix, Pandora, Internet, Youtube, Amazon, Internet, I Love Radio, etc. For $100 more.

I know which one I'd go for, the one that would be more interactive and more entertaining.

Like I said, extreme comparisons.



Those things are on PS4 as well.

Lol.
 
Okay, since we're taking this to EXTREME comparisons, the 1080p TV is only $399. The 720p TV is $499. The 720p is also a smart TV, so for the extra $100 (and loss of 1080p) you can have a TV that offers Netflix, Pandora, Internet, Youtube, Amazon, Internet, I Love Radio, etc. For $100 more.

I know which one I'd go for, the one that would be more interactive and more entertaining.

Like I said, extreme comparisons.

but I already have YouTube, Netflix, Internet via ps4. hence why I would take cheaper 1080p tv to fully experience best of all

;p
 
At this stage - I think any journalist/site who tries to downplay 720p/1080p as some sort of irrelevant, indistinguishable or otherwise non-difference and goes with the 'will the game be fun' type skew instead, has some serious fucking explaining to do.

More importantly, we've seen quite a bit of lying and misinformation from Microsoft in the leadup and a tiny, tiny amount of coverage of the issue in comparison. I'm not sure what perks Microsoft have setup. Or if it is just a general preference to play games on the XB1 - but it's a bit of a laugh at this point.
 
Except that those are actually games you can try and see for yourself. At the moment, that's better than "potential".

Except people have also seen and tried killzone, knack, driveclub and indeed inFamous. Let's not forget people have seen and tried the better version of Battlefield. I haven't even mentioned the F2P and indy titles.
 
Because at the moment that's what people want to hear. Look at posts in this thread, there are some people losing their shit about others saying PS4 isn't all that and a bag of chips. Again as I said, both should be called out but Sony especially. People criticized Nintendo, but Sony's First party situation is hardly any better. It's all "dreams and lolipops."

please tell me what is coming out of MS's first party studios for launch? all their games are third party buy offs. they have forza, KI and Lococycle. thats 3 games from first party studios. not a lot from first party either.
 
I can't believe everyone's getting so worked up over the tech specs. Surely it's about the games? Some of those Nokia's hose all over the iPhone, but are you really going to buy a Windows Phone 8 smartphone when the state of its app store is absolutely dire? There's a lot more that factors into my purchasing decisions than simply "Is it more powerful?"

Of course it's about the games but the whole issue resolves around comparison of the same games - and let's be honest 90% or more of titles will be on each console. I'm sure nobody would argue against someone getting an XB1 vs PS4 because they prefer the exclusives or the controller or whatever - but when reputable sites fail not properly cover a fairly substantial gap for the same game that means one console offers an objectively better version of that game there's an issue.

We're not talking preferring Forza and Halo to GT and Uncharted or whatever, we're talking 720p/60fps up-scaled CoD vs 1080p/60fps CoD native resolution which is a whole different story.
 
Okay, since we're taking this to EXTREME comparisons, the 1080p TV is only $399. The 720p TV is $499. The 720p is also a smart TV, so for the extra $100 (and loss of 1080p) you can have a TV that offers Netflix, Pandora, Internet, Youtube, Amazon, Internet, I Love Radio, etc. For $100 more.

I know which one I'd go for, the one that would be more interactive and more entertaining.

Like I said, extreme comparisons.

Man, the lengths some of you will go to justify your console purchase and to assure yourselves you are buying the right thing. Just fucking buy what you want to buy, or don't buy either of them.
 
At this stage - I think any journalist/site who tries to downplay 720p/1080p as some sort of irrelevant, indistinguishable or otherwise non-difference and goes with the 'will the game be fun' type skew instead, has some serious fucking explaining to do.

More importantly, we've seen quite a bit of lying and misinformation from Microsoft in the leadup and a tiny, tiny amount of coverage of the issue in comparison. I'm not sure what perks Microsoft have setup. Or if it is just a general preference to play games on the XB1 - but it's a bit of a laugh at this point.

No article from Patrick Klepek because he has a 720p and/or didn't have time to post one when the news first hit.
 
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