Support NeoGAF

[Gowans]

Picked up in the Games Journalism! Wainwright/Florence/Tomb Raider/Eurogamer/Libel Threats/Doritos Thread.

Polygon changes the game by posting Advertorial (against it's ethics code) and deletes criticising comments.

http://www.polygon.com/2012/10/30/3575978/halo-4-avatar-costume-offered-free-from-u-k-pizza-huts

The first 'news' article on Polygon right now



Journalism

They are not alone

Oh fuck.

Reworded press release CONFIRMED.

Polygon:

Videogamer.com

EGMnow.com

Three unrelated sites.

GAMES JOURNALISM YOU GUYS

First comments

Glad to see other big site readers doing the BS calling.

Comments are back up now, along with the stance they took of why they deleted them.

http://www.polygon.com/2012/10/30/3575978/halo-4-avatar-costume-offered-free-from-u-k-pizza-huts

 

[Wario64]

Press Reset

 

[Auto_aim1]

Add the other two pics in the OP as well.

Press Reset

Perfect.

 

[alr1ght]

Press Reset

Press Release

 

[winstano]

The really bad thing about that article is the quality of the jpeg compression in the main image. Terrible.

 

[Deacan]

Follow the money...

Ahem.

 

[Zeliard]

Our policies entirely permit placement of advertorial on Polygon. We will endeavor to clearly mark an advertisement or "infomercial" (videos, Flash animations, etc.) shown on Polygon as news. We will also endeavor to censor reader comments criticizing ethical breaches.

 

[sazabirules]

One of their staff is trying to justify it. Ugh. I do not want to give them page views anymore.

Lol JABEE's comment is gone.

 

[newjeruse]

Sometimes these guys make it too easy.

 

[Carl]

NEW GAMES MEDIA.

 

[Zaph]

Looks like they changed the image from the one sent in the press release.

 

[Takao]

This has Polygon too far.

 

[kylej]

New Games Journalism(tm)

 

[Mister0079]

Another gaming website to add to my ignore list.

 

[dave is ok]

They closed the comments section on the story already

 

[Curufinwe]

Chris Grant says just don't read it if you don't like it.

Christopher Grant

Advertorial would mean we're being paid to put this here – instead, this was an article vetted by the team as something of interest to readers. Like Nipah says, it's a story. Don't like it, read another one.

 

[GatorFan]

Games "Journalism" makes no money...what do you expect lolz

 

[DaBuddaDa]

GREAT START GUYS, GOOD REPORTIN'

 

[Yami]

I wouldn't have minded the post so much if the author decided to inject some personality, flavour and even a teeeeeny little bit of flair into it. It's like they really could not be bothered. Instead, it just reads like a load of inane-PR-babble. Do this, do that.

As much as they get a lot of derision, the personality factor is why I love Gawker. Not Kotaku though.

 

[Mesoian]

Comments are back up now, along with the stance they took of why they deleted them.

http://www.polygon.com/2012/10/30/3575978/halo-4-avatar-costume-offered-free-from-u-k-pizza-huts

Honestly, if this is what you people are so angry over, you should stop going to gaming sites immediately. Cuz it's only gon' get worse from here.

 

[Forkball]

They also changed the picture for some reason.

 

[Dead Prince]

Microsoft Funded

 

[Corto]

Lazy and shameless.

 

[RedNumberFive]

This has Polygon too far.

Holy shit! I'm dying over here!

 

[SmokyDave]

Looks like they changed the image from the one sent in the press release.

Utterly, utterly shameless.

 

[BomberMouse]

Micrososft: "Money well spent"

 

[Sethos]

I laughed in the other thread over how bad the site is but what makes this site so special? It has received so much attention, look like shitty gaming site #3058

 

[Sephiroth503]

Is anyone surprised really?

Didn't last long all told. Though truth be told many could rightfully say they never started since the Microsoft money for the documentary.

 

[Tucah]

Polygon is so shameless.

 

[Derrick01]

Chris Grant says just don't read it if you don't like it.

I see he hasn't changed from his joystiq days.

 

[Interfectum]

I'm craving pizza now.

 

[Neuromancer]

Since February, we've been training our news team to be thorough, exhaustive, quick, and accurate.

 

[Margalis]

I hate defend Polygon in any way but this isn't really "advertorial." Advertorial is advertising meant to look like editorial - this is not meant to look like editorial.

Now...it is advertising meant to look like news. I think the right name for that is "games journalism."

 

[Carl]

Chris Grant says just don't read it if you don't like it.

Just read a different website.

 

[bigdaddygamebot]

Chris Grant says just don't read it if you don't like it.

That makes it easy.

I won't read their site at all.

 

[Corto]

I laughed in the other thread over how bad the site is but what makes this site so special? It has received so much attention, look like shitty gaming site #3058

Microsoft Kickstarted it.

 

[NewFresh]

Chris Grant says just don't read it if you don't like it.

Can do!

 

[ultron87]

This is shitty.

However, an advertorial means being paid to put something up that appears to be objective content. Since this is just reporting a fact it really isn't that. So technically their ethics code is intact.

 

[Branduil]

More deleted comments:

 

[MagicWithEarvin]

What a shameless site.

 

[Cerebral Assassin]

Chris Grant says just don't read it if you don't like it.

I guess that's how he handled the Polygon Ethics statement.

 

[Eighthours]

From the Wainwright thread:

LOL POLYGON:

Please read our Community Guidelines here – we reserve every right to delete comments that aren't helpful or on-topic. If you want to criticize us, you're welcome to send us an email to feedback@polygon.com. If you want to make a new account – which all the detractors here have done – and come here to rile up negativity, we're going to stop you.
We're closing this thread for now and will reconsider opening it later.

Ironically, I think they need to employ a PR firm...

 

[Trevelyon]

Pizza Hut is still a thing?

Edit; If you want to completely smash us, just do it nice and discretely and out of the way at feedback@whogivesafuck.com

 

[Sethos]

Microsoft Kickstarted it.

Oh, thought it was something special.

 

[chalkitdown1]

Fucking pathetic from Polygon.

How to destroy your new website's reputation in 3 easy steps.

 

[Gentleman Jack]

More deleted comments:

http://i.minus.com/ibo8YinR5jjviX.PNG

What Polygon can learn from Kotaku.

 

[JJD]

They're off to a great start.

But yeah, I'm hungry now....damn advertising!

 

[Dennis]

Press Release

fixed for great journalist justice

 

[Kajiba]

Lol

Michaeljacksonpopcorn.gif

 

[Delusibeta]

And now they've locked the thread. Classy.

It's a pretty damn blatant violation of the ethics statement, and makes aforementioned statement redundant.