Not that your question isn't fair, but we should probably wait until the website is actually launched before asking if it has changed games journalism in any way.
Press Reset: The Story of Polygon - financed by Microsoft for $750,000
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Osiris
I permanently banned my 6 year old daughter from using the PS4 for mistakenly sending grief reports as it's too hard to watch or talk to her
Not really, their content can already be judged by what they post at their temporary home: The Verge vs Polygon
A proper site design on a Polygon domain isn't really going to change that much.
And judging by the content there, there's nothing they are doing that is different to any other site out there, certainly nothing to warrant any hype or the grandiose statements they have made, statements they can't live up to and very much leave them open to the ridicule they are receiving.
CrunchyFrog
Member
Then they need to stop claiming that they have. As others have said, it's the unsubstantiated hubris ON TOP OF EVERYTHING ELSE that's making this "site" seem like such a joke.
Yeah. I get that the documentary wasn't exactly their idea and their choice, but they need to roll with the punches.
If I could give them any advice, I"d tell them to stop being so defensive on social media. I know it sucks to be attacked and all that, but if they would stop swinging at the bad pitches things would get better. All they should do is respond with something like this:
"We appreciate your interest in our project! Yeah, we want to try something new, but it's going to take some time before we're really firing on all cyclinders. We hope you can stick it out with us while we figure out what works and what doesn't, and maybe you'll see some cool things along the way."
Throwaway123456789
Member
I've just catched up with this thread and my mind is blown.
I also think a lot of people aren't truly grasping the MS money deal here. They didn't pay for advertising on the site - they paid Polygon money so that they could advertise themselves. It's.. it's... holy crap. I can't even start to comprehend how shady that is.
I also think a lot of people aren't truly grasping the MS money deal here. They didn't pay for advertising on the site - they paid Polygon money so that they could advertise themselves. It's.. it's... holy crap. I can't even start to comprehend how shady that is.
I liked that WiiU episode they did since it was like an old Joystiq Podcast. That was the first I listened to. Then I went back to listen to another one and I think Russ was doing some awful voice and that segment went on for several minutes. It was absolutely unbearable. Reading some iTunes reviews that happens a lot. No fucking thanks. Chris isn't even on it for eff sakes.
diffusionx
Gold Member
They are writing content, including reviews, news, videos, and features. Yea they launched.
Patryn said:
These guys basically live on the internet. Are they really that self unaware? Of course it is being attacked and laughed at on social media. Is there anything that "social media" loves to do more than laugh at a bunch of self-aggrandizing fools?
ack my avatar has been stolen!
thought i had posted in the wrong thread on accident and tried to edit furiously hahaHamPster PamPster
Member
Yeah the voices are terrible. Still the best thing Polygon does in a week though
You're right. But not in the way you think.
Which is exactly why it's a non-issue. This is a deal that exists solely on the sales and marketing side of the site. This is called "keeping a strict boundary between editorial and sales." I don't see the problem you're suggesting. Explain.
Yes. Thank you. Too many people are getting sidetracked by this MS thing. The real issue is that they're overselling the site based purely on style rather than substance. At this point, they can't possibly live up to the standard they're promising. Especially if we judge them based on their current work, which is no better or worse than any of a dozen other gaming sites.Patryn said:
CrunchyFrog
Member
ack my avatar has been stolen!
Err, I claimed this particular one in the AD S4 thread in OT about a week ago, though yours does seem independently made. How to settle this? Fisticuffs? A game of wits? Cornballing contest?
ack my avatar has been stolen!
I solved one of your problems
EternalGamer
Banned
Yeah. Ive listened to every episode mainly because I listen to a lot of podcasts while driving, jogging etc and I run out of good ones. I liked the McElroys on the Joystiq podcast, so I keep listening kind of hoping Then Besties will get better. It is pretty insanely bad most of the time, though. They never even make much of an attempt to have a real conversation. It is just an excuse to be ironically amused by their own bad jokes.
Really, this attitude is a trend that is spreading throughout Polygon. Try watching that "Co-op" series they started where two guys give their thoughts on one game. Only they barely talk about the game and mainly are just amused by themselves.
Their latest example, an impromptu Google Plus video: http://m.youtube.com/#/watch?featur...=/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=X-8iKTwoDvg
I made it through 25 minutes of this bullshit mainly because I was busy fixing dinner and it was on in the background. It is an hour long video literally about nothing. They apparently think people should just be amused that they exist. There is no sense of audience awareness except for an ironic one (haw haw we are so bad, nobody would want to watch this haw haw). I dont want to be mean but this crew largely comes off as smug and incredibly unlikable.
It is like they only know two polar extremes of existence: self important pretentious braggadocio and ironic slacker. Both are equally annoying.
I liked Fish more after watching it tbh
This. Microsoft is giving Polygon money to promote Polygon. What is Microsoft getting back in return for their $750,000 investment? Why does Vox Media need Microsoft to make that investment when their VC shield should be protecting them from this kind of exposure. Is this Microsoft picking on and building a relationship with a project that has been delayed and needs an extra cash injection that Vox is hesitant to make?
You do know that that Google Hangout has nothing to do with Polygon besides the McElroys being involved, right? That was part of a donor drive thing for the podcast network that their (extremely funny) comedy advice show is on.
At least I assume that this is the video you linked to, the mobile link was weird: http://www.youtube.com/watch?gl=US&...ture=player_embedded&v=X-8iKTwoDvg&nomobile=1
Does the future of games journalism involve getting an interviewee's name right?
That's basically rule number one in freshman journalism. If you interview someone you make sure you get their name.
Yes typos happen, edits need to be done, flow in stories sometimes gets broken, but you never, ever screw up the spelling of someone's name.
From:
http://www.theverge.com/gaming/2012...ions-love-letter-to-the-need-for-speed-series
I think that's really the thing that rubs people the wrong way about Polygon. They keep making the claim that they're "better" and "different" than everyone else, but so far there's nothing to show for it. Basic fact checking errors, such as naming the wrong production studio for the MGS movie or misspelling a producer's name keep cropping up.
If you talk a big game, you have to have the game to back it up.
EternalGamer
Banned
Yeah, I should have been more clear. I just think the style of that video is the same thing they do on the Besties week after week and indicative of a tone that pervades a lot of Polygon content.
CrunchyFrog
Member
many thanks
Hurray! Words of praise for fish food and fun for everyone!
thanks for being the better man woman analrapist
On the old Joystiq Podcast, Chris and Ludwig used to do a good job of reigning in Justin's antics. And he'd do a good job of counterbalancing Ludwig's puns and Chris "I Never Play Games" Grant's curmudgeon-ness. They were a great team and had real chemistry together.
But giving Justin free reign over the Besties podcast means a lot of meandering content and unfunny indulgence. He can be awesome in small doses, but his mark is all over this podcast. And if Polygon is trying to cultivate a sense of seriousness and polish, the podcast is not a good reflection on them. Like everything else about the site, this podcast is no better or different than any other game site's (though, admittedly, I stopped listening after the first few).
If they were truly serious about "reinventing" games journalism, they needed to start at the level of content, not at the surface level of UI and layout.
Foxtastical
Member
Christ. I knew kids who failed classes in college for misspelling a source's name.
Reputable news sources get names misspelled, titles wrong, etc., quite often. It goes with the territory. No, it's not a good thing. But it happens, especially in this day and age with a constant 24-hour news cycle.
When it gets caught, the site should correct it and note the correction. The level of embarrassment is commensurate to the level of importance of the person. If it's caught quickly, no one notices. It's only bad if it happens more often than it should, or when it happens in sensitive situations. Otherwise, an editor passes on a little slap on the wrist to the writer, and life goes on.
Exactly. And Polygon fails at this. So if they can't get the basics right why should I believe their grand plan can ever come to fruition?
Mixing up an "n" and an "m" is really not a big deal. Report the correction. They'll emend it and note the correction. Simple.
Hell, even big sites like the New York Times and Washington Post rely on their readers to spot anything that made it past the editorial staff. News moves too fast these days to be able to spot everything. It's a very minor error; easily made and easily fixed.
But if they start making these errors often and in touchy situations, then they might have a problem.
Hell, even big sites like the New York Times and Washington Post rely on their readers to spot anything that made it past the editorial staff. News moves too fast these days to be able to spot everything. It's a very minor error; easily made and easily fixed.
But if they start making these errors often and in touchy situations, then they might have a problem.
EternalGamer
Banned
Agreed on all accounts.
The Besties has actually gotten worse. They now rotate one person a week who doesn't even bring any games to talk about and whose role is as "commissioner' is apparently to interupt with bad jokes and randomly pick the winning game having not played any of them. They also have an official "halftime" where they just randomly talk about whatever (as if that wasn't already 80% of the rest of the podcast). The fact that they constantly joke about ow bad and meandering makes it worse because they are clearly aware of the problem but don't care.
Haunted
Member
It feels like they're trying to forcefully make it a personality-driven site and... it just falls flat.
The fact that you listen to all their episodes, watched their other videos, then found and watched 25 minutes of a video that has nothing to do with the subject of this thread tells me you're just actively looking for reasons to shit on these people, to a disturbing degree. At least for most others here it's coming naturally!
EternalGamer
Banned
No, it just means I consume a lot of videogame content while doing other things. I literally listen to about a dozen game podcasts a week. This is always the last. And I don't want their stuff to be bad. Like I said, I really liked the McElroys at Joystiq.
You have never watched a TV show or kept reading a book realizing it is bad but hoping it would get better? Same thng.
Everyone should listen to the first minute of this week's Comedy Button where they do Arthur Gies impressions. Pretty hilarious http://www.geekbox.net/archives/2012/10/12/the-comedy-button-episode-50/
Also this, several segments of the show are entirely dedicated to tearing Gies down.
I have a tattoo of an arm on my arm!
Keep in mind, these are Arthur's friends. Don't get too much schadenfreude from it...
ROFL. I completely forgot my CTRL+V. My post made no sense.
http://ec.libsyn.com/p/5/6/1/561a3a...1ce3dae902ea1d01cd8734d7cd5c3983&c_id=5039820
This is what I was talking about. And these people are no friends of Arthur Gies. I'm an oldschool 1UP, Rebel FM, Geekbox etc. fan, I know who Anthony Giagos and Ryan Scott are, they weren't who I was referencing.
chickdigger802
Banned
weren't all of them outside of Max Gies's coworkers? It's all fun.
btw: hard to read through the shit here... but is there a date of when the site is launching?
Double fail, I linked the wrong podcast.
Too stoned.Link is correct now. I didn't mean to link the Geekbox. The URLs got me confused.
http://ec.libsyn.com/p/5/6/1/561a3a...1ce3dae902ea1d01cd8734d7cd5c3983&c_id=5039820
"My biggest problem is that when people send who me things early for free, they don't send them early enough."
ROFL
Just amazing.
Double fail, I linked the wrong podcast.
Link is correct now. I didn't mean to link the Geekbox. The URLs got me confused.
http://ec.libsyn.com/p/5/6/1/561a3a...1ce3dae902ea1d01cd8734d7cd5c3983&c_id=5039820
What podcast is this?
I just watched all 6 episodes of Press Reset and I have to say it's not actually bad.
Although they do take making a website about video games way too seriously, or at least I feel like that may have been the wrong kind of image to portray with the documentary. Keep the serious stuff inside, there are no bleeding hearts here. We just play fucking video games.
Although they do take making a website about video games way too seriously, or at least I feel like that may have been the wrong kind of image to portray with the documentary. Keep the serious stuff inside, there are no bleeding hearts here. We just play fucking video games.
famousmortimer
Banned
I like the cut of those guys' jibs.
We actually got a rather lengthy complaint on PlatformNation.com about this episode by someone who disliked our hatred for Gies. It was a fair criticism, but I don't think James or I actually hate Gies, we just take great, great joy in disliking him and everything about him.
It's fun.
Which is hilarious.
Yup. Which is why they invite such ridiculous scrutiny. They're trying to sell us on GRAVITAS (all caps, of course), but they keep producing the same old "enthusiast" stuff that everybody else produces. If they just took it down a notch a two, I think more of us wouldn't be so critical.
Either that, or they need to actually practice what they preach. But that would take gutting a hefty chunk of the writing staff and starting from scratch. Too many of their writers are indelibly bound to old habits. They may eventually grow to fit their shoes, but that's usually not how these things work. Try setting some new standards in the form of the writing, don't just dress it up in new clothes.
DangerStepp
Member
I'm going to listen to that podcast.
While I agree with you, I do have to flag this up:
...and not terribly useful outside the US.
I'd hope that a website wanting to shake off the shackles of games journalism would do so with a worldwide outlook!
(I'm aware of the whole New Coke thing, but it's certainly not a well-known idea here in the UK... and I do have to admit, I do kinda want to try it)
...and not terribly useful outside the US.
I'd hope that a website wanting to shake off the shackles of games journalism would do so with a worldwide outlook!
(I'm aware of the whole New Coke thing, but it's certainly not a well-known idea here in the UK... and I do have to admit, I do kinda want to try it)
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