Giant Bomb & Bastion: I know, we normally don't traffic in exclusives, but...

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MattyGrovesOrMe

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bastion.jpg


I'm curious about what people think of the relationship between Giant Bomb and Bastion, and about whether or not such relationships should be fostered or discouraged. Is this nepotism? Or indie developer leverage? A neat idea or a negative step in an already contentious symbiotic relationship between games media and developers?

If you're unfamiliar with the relationship, here's a rundown:

August 29, 2010 Giant Bomb's Jeff Gerstmann tweets this:
Jeff Gerstmann's Twitter said:
I'm really interested in Bastion from @supergiantgames, and once you see more of it, I suspect you will be, too.
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This tweet sends readers to a Giant Bomb post letting them know Bastion is an action-RPG by new indie studio Supergiant Games in development for release in 2011. Jeff promises continued, exclusive coverage, including plans to feature Bastion's development team on Whiskey Media’s much hyped Big Live Live Show on Sept 9.

A few days later (Sept 2), after a couple more tweets & GB posts hyping Bastion, it is announced that Greg Kasavin has joined Supergiant Games as Creative Director. Since 2007, Kasavin has worked at EALA and 2K in various capacities, but is best known as former Editor-in-Chief of GameSpot.com, where he worked alongside Jeff Gerstmann, Ryan Davis and other current Whiskey Media/Giant Bomb employees. The announcement of Kasavin’s move to Supergiant Games was accompanied by a press release that detailed GB’s “ongoing coverage plans” of Bastion:

Supergiant Games PR said:
Bastion will also be featured in a new video series chronicling the making of the game, exclusively at GiantBomb.com, the world’s largest editable video game database. In the ongoing series titled “Building the Bastion“, viewers will receive unprecedented insight into the trials and tribulations of independent game development through the story of Supergiant Games. “People all over the world invest countless hours into playing video games, but so few of us ever get to truly find out how they’re made,” said Giant Bomb Editor-in-Chief Jeff Gerstmann. “With Building the Bastion, we’re going let our community ride shotgun with a mix of behind-the-scenes footage and regular live broadcasts that let you interact directly with the developers as they take Bastion from early prototypes to a full and final product.”
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In an effort to be “up front” (a few days after the fact) Giant Bomb had this to say about their plans for Bastion:

GiantBomb said:
...due to the way we've decided to create ongoing programming based on Bastion and its developers--one of whom was a close coworker of ours for a lot of years--we're opting to not review Bastion when it's released. I suspect that, by the time it's finished, we'll all be a little too close to it to render an untainted verdict, so it's best to just state that now, so everyone's clear.
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Good on them. But what makes this most awkward is an interview with Kasavin published by GameSpot’s Tom Magrino just a day after the above developments (but with no allusion to them). Magrino’s piece features the following passage regarding conflicts of interest within dynamic relationship between developers and the games media:

GameSpot said:
Kasavin said that he intentionally segmented himself off from the development community while at GameSpot, because it is much more difficult to give an honest assessment of a game when the writer is friends with the developer. He noted that the press' first responsibility is to their audience, not the development community. Ultimately, this is the best tack to pursue, he said, because the audience will appreciate the press' coverage more, while the development community will respect the principles behind it.
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Does this contradict what Supergiant and Giant Bomb are currently doing, even if GB has chosen not to review this game? Where do we fit this case in with the ongoing identity crisis of games media?
 
Well, there are several friends of the Giant Bomb staff who got their games trashed by them, if you ever listened to bombcasts where they had ex-Midway folks.

Also, the narrator feature in this game is simultaneously clever and god awful. I'm torn on whether I want it on or not.
 
GiantBomb is a pretty terrible website with terrible ideas that for some reason has a little following here, but I honestly don't think this is so bad.

I mean, ideally it's just Supergiant games leveraging a relationship to get better vision for their little indie game. And since the nature of their relationship is well and fully out there and everybody knows about it, I think that's all the context anyone needs to take their previews into the proper perspective. And there's not even going to be a review so, what's the problem?
 
How is this a big deal? Giant Bomb has the best coverage on the internet and they have a deal with one of their buddies to cover it, makes sense to me. Them not doing a review is admirable, but not necessary. I do not make my game purchases based on what someone on the internet says anyway.

I hope to see more deals like this in the future.

Kasivan worked on this game and they still gave it 2 stars.

http://www.giantbomb.com/command-conquer-4-tiberian-twilight/61-27130/
 
I asked this in the GB thread, but the GB guys tried this one before back at GameSpot... anyone know what happened to that studio?

The plans collapsed after Gallup left, since he was their main video guy.
 
Amir0x said:
GiantBomb is a pretty terrible website with terrible ideas that for some reason has a little following here
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So what game that you LOVE did they make fun of in a quicklook?
 
Not directly related to this topic.

Disappointed Greg Kasavin isn't reviewing games anymore. He was best game reviewer in the industry and has yet to be surpassed.
 
Amir0x said:
GiantBomb is a pretty terrible website with terrible ideas that for some reason has a little following here, but I honestly don't think this is so bad.
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Not a surprising response, but care to elaborate? Do you prefer 1up or IGN :lol
 
Amir0x said:
GiantBomb is a pretty terrible website with terrible ideas that for some reason has a little following here, but I honestly don't think this is so bad.

I mean, ideally it's just Supergiant games leveraging a relationship to get better vision for their little indie game. And since the nature of their relationship is well and fully out there and everybody knows about it, I think that's all the context anyone needs to take their previews into the proper perspective. And there's not even going to be a review so, what's the problem?
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Dude! :lol

Actually I don't visit the website much but their podcasts and videos rock and for me they provide far and away the most valuable games coverage that I consume religiously. Have really taken the throne from 1up since the Ziff Davis massacre.

and from what I read about their website, it sounds really cool and different, I dont need the services provided by IGN and 1up anymore. A community driven site built around the staff and the society is where its at.

and I like how they're approaching the Bastion stuff, for a second there I thought they were gonna let me down, but nope. I need me some giantbomb merchandise. major fanboy atm
 
Amir0x said:
GiantBomb is a pretty terrible website with terrible ideas that for some reason has a little following here
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You better be able to back up those lies with some text, buddy.
Justin said:
So what game that you LOVE did they make fun of in a quicklook?
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Bwahaha, perhaps you nailed it. :lol
 
I really like the GB guys but this whole deal seems a little. . . wrong. But I don't know if that is even the correct word.

It seems like they are setting themselves up to be this game's official PR source. And if they are getting all this playtime and info exclusively (though people will play it at PAX) it seems like the conversation about the game could be kind of one sided. And since it seems unlikely they will rip this game a new one since they are putting so much programming behind it, it feels fairly fishy.
 
If they're not going to review it, then that's fine by me. It'll be nice to see a close look at the game's development.
 
It isn't as if a website primarily run by Jeff Gerstmann had a ton of journalistic integrity to start with. And at least they are being upfront with it, the initial tweet aside.
 
V_Ben said:
If they're not going to review it, then that's fine by me. It'll be nice to see a close look at the game's development.
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The problem isn't the review of this game, it's the review of the next game that these guys put out when everyone has forgotten about this super exclusive hype generating deal.
 
Amir0x said:
GiantBomb is a pretty terrible website with terrible ideas that for some reason has a little following here, but I honestly don't think this is so bad.
Click to expand...
The Bastion coverage seems like an interesting enough idea.
 
Looks like this is now an Amir0x thread. :lol

As far as the OP, I don't see any huge issue. They obviously realize that any modicum of objective appraisal would be completely impossible with this game, and they admit this and say they won't review the game. This seems like a solid mindset.

If they want to give some publicity to an indie game that otherwise may not get it (or as much of it), I don't see the problem when they're up-front with the ramifications of this sort of thing.
 
With the gaming industry, including the media portion, being so fluid with studios closing, hiring, and moving why is it such a surprise that people from a review site know, are friends with or used to work with ANYONE from any given game studio??? And why should this even be anywhere remotely near a big deal?
 
Any other site and I'd be dubious about the motives behind it, but the Giant Bomb guys have ALWAYS been honest with their intentions, and because of that I don't question this one bit, really. They've stated their intent and have decided not to review it, that alone tells me they have a good grasp of how this could be interpreted if they didn't handle it correctly.

The great thing about GB is the audience always has insight in to the guys that goes way beyond their content on the site, and that's a very rare and special thing. There's nobody else I trust more to bring me honest opinions than those four guys, honestly.
 
Cat in the Hat said:
You're telling me Giantbomb likes this game? Sounds fishy
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Giantbomb likes the people making this game, so they're going to give it preferential treatment.

I don't care, as long as their being up front about it.
 
Lazy vs Crazy said:
The problem isn't the review of this game, it's the review of the next game that these guys put out when everyone has forgotten about this super exclusive hype generating deal.
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Ok, well i'm sure that they'll not be as closely involved in that game's development, and will take a stance like they have on other games that their colleagues have worked on.
 
Lazy vs Crazy said:
It isn't as if a website primarily run by Jeff Gerstmann had a ton of journalistic integrity to start with. And at least they are being upfront with it, the initial tweet aside.
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I've decided games writers are not journalists anyway. Journalists make people squirm, extract info skilfully and interview politicians and the like.

These guys are media and they're goddamn good at it. I watch and listen based on who they are and thats why I value the opinions and I have zero concerns about that. Its not like they make my choices for me anyway, I just find them entertaining and informative.

They're not supposed to be the BBC.
 
Amirox going against common opinion...shocker.

kaizoku said:
I've decided games writers are not journalists anyway. Journalists make people squirm, extract info skilfully and interview politicians and the like.

These guys are media and they're goddamn good at it. I watch and listen based on who they are and thats why I value the opinions and I have zero concerns about that. Its not like they make my choices for me anyway, I just find them entertaining and informative.

They're not supposed to be the BBC.
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Great point. In fact I often disagree with their opinion on games. I just dont give a damn because Im not looking for "journalism" or news. I listen/watch/read their site because they're entertaining and passionate and put out great content.

I haven't been on a game "news" site in over 4 or 5 months (unless I happen across a link from here, sparingly). To me, there is no need. Yet somehow I visit Giant Bomb every day for content.
 
Giant Bomb has an illegal amount of interest in this game....I'm outraged!
 
TheLegendary said:
Amirox going against common opinion...shocker.
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but what about all the extremely common opinions I totally agree with!?

Like this thread demonstrates, GiantBomb has some following here, but my actual opinion on the topic in question here seems to be pretty common indeed.
 
Something about this game's visuals makes my eyes hurt. It's like staring at one of those hidden picture paintings, or something.
 
Draft said:
Giantbomb likes the people making this game, so they're going to give it preferential treatment.

I don't care, as long as their being up front about it.
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Yeah I suppose, giving exposure is fine but they seem a little too excited about the game to seem genuine.
 
I think Jeff has shown that to him it does not matter about outside influence but that could be different because he is the main guy at GB and it all depends on him. I myself do not really view GB for reviews but more for the bombcast and videos and this is something that I actually look forward to looking at.
 
There's nothing wrong with this. In the past Giantbomb has had closer than normal coverage of capcom games that the guy from Beefymedia use to work on. There's one hilarious video of them getting obliteration while previewing one of their games.
 
I see no problem with this as long as Giant Bomb continues to stay transparent about it. Who know, maybe having Kasavin and these dudes together might mean that the GB guys may not feel as uncomfortable to give constructive criticism that could help make the game turn out better.
 
Zeliard said:
Looks like this is now an Amir0x thread. :lol

As far as the OP, I don't see any huge issue. They obviously realize that any modicum of objective appraisal would be completely impossible with this game, and they admit this and say they won't review the game. This seems like a solid mindset.

If they want to give some publicity to an indie game that otherwise may not get it (or as much of it), I don't see the problem when they're up-front with the ramifications of this sort of thing.
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I think this is their best case scenario. GB have done right imo by choosing to not review the game.
 
a Master Ninja said:
So Amir0x, why is Giant Bomb "a pretty terrible website with terrible ideas"?
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Yea I'd like to know this as well. I can understand not being a fan of the video content if you don't like the GB guys.

but come on you should know by now you can't just pop in a thread and say "this is terrible and has terrible ideas" about something that most of GAF loves without giving a reason why you feel that way. Bah who am I kidding people will freak out regardless.
 
We're not going to review the game out of concerns for objectivity so we're just going to promote the game in an irregular fashion!

I'll take one biased review over tons of biased previews, walkthroughs, etc. They're opting not to sell you the game based on a review recommendation, so they're going to sell you the game instead by displaying themselves enjoying it for 5hrs on camera.
 
This sounds a bit fishy to me. Just because they're being honest and forthright about their relationship, that doesn't make it ethical.

But I'm really not surprised. Giantbomb is more about personality than integrity.
 
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