FallbackPants said:
I guess not right now but they should. If you look at why people don't like the games media at a place like GAF the main reason is a lack of trust. I think most people understand difference of opinions, but they've been burnt by stories of reviews and previews being sold.
If a media outlet got a reputation for giving frank and fearless reviews people would take them more seriously. What is big gaming (patent pending) going to do? Not give them a review copy? Oh well, just go and buy the damn thing. You might be a day late, but if it's good enough people will wait. Actually they probably wouldn't. Maybe try and line up a back room deal with a store. Man, I really want to do this now. If I had any business knowledge or time I would.
And that's not even getting me started on the fact games media don't actually report news beyond new games being announced.
I have to agree with all of this.
Games media, by and large, have dug their own hole long ago. Nepotism, incompetence, turning a blind eye to glaring flaws and reviewing according to expectations from PR/publisher pressure have all but completely invalidated the games media.
Hell, Rupert Murdoch would make most of them look like upstanding citizens.
There are exceptions. Ironically, many of them are fan sites and almost all of them are independent sites.
Incidentally, as far as kotaku goes: I trust serrels. I dont trust kotaku.
Although who do I trust? In order: Retro Gamer (no publisher pressure). Games TM. Edge. After that, its the odd fan site.