Why is Digital Foundry the only place that feels like it has a standard in the gaming journalism sphere
- Thread starter kpopSuperstar
- Start date
RickSanchez
Member
I disagree. I think there is value in the technical analysis that they do, especially when they suggest optimal settings for a game on PC, and inform you what kind of FPS you can expect at what resolution and what settings. That is valuable information for any PC gamer that does not have a 5090 or 4090 (so a vast majority of PC gamers).
I don't think they have ever claimed that their videos are supposed to be proper reviews. They are not meant to tell you how fun a game is, they are meant to tell you how good it looks and performs. If you went looking for something else in one of their videos, then that's your mistake.
Again, agree to disagree, friend.
Astray
Member
Thebonehead
Gold Member
RickSanchez
Member
I don't understand the hate either. Ok, Alex Baguette is supposed to be 'woke', but most people here on GAF can't even agree on a proper definition of 'woke'. And the technical analysis that DF provides for many AAA releases is genuinely useful information, atleast for PC gamers. If you don't like their other content, or their political leanings, that is something that can be ignored / not engaged with.
Last edited:
kiphalfton
Member
Low bar
Mr Reasonable
Completely Unreasonable
Agree with this very much. DF pitch themselves as enthusiasts interested in dissecting the minutiae of what goes into making the biggest games technical masterpieces, but unfortunately, their audience historically has been console warring fanboys who would be happy to skip the analysis and jump straight to "Playstation/Xbox better" with a couple of screenshots showing one platform at its lowest framerate and another at a locked 60 that they can then post accompanied with:
. I'm certain that some people have no idea when they're playing something that is technically good or bad, but DF tells them if they should praise it or condemn it when arguing online.
Mr Reasonable
Completely Unreasonable
On here it means "I don't like this." Someone here will probably describe mint choc chip ice-cream as too woke before the end of summer.
MacReady13
Member
They are awful reviewers. I don't really trust any of them (especially that fucking clown Alex) and they have ruined gaming by making sure console warriors fight over slight frame rate differences and slight resolution differences. I mean seriously, trees move in the new Doom on PS5 and they don't on the Series consoles! Who gives a FUCK?! I'm too busy blasting fucking demons to stop and watch a tree move. Fuck them.
ValiantInstance
Member
Didn't one of them refuse to review Hogwarts Legacy because 'it's a game for children', but he is obsessed with the Switch?
We all know why he didn't review it of course.
We all know why he didn't review it of course.
BlitzerRadic
Member
Because they are the equivalent of First Take on ESPN
"NOOOOOOOOOO HOW DARE THEY SAY A GAME RUNS POORLY NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO" basically sums up most of the whiners.
PlayStaytion
Member
Cause they locate at the old "Blue Box" continent" I mean it as a compliment, not an insult", it just feels right to listen to older people.
jufonuk
not tag worthy
For me it's because of Richard Leadbetter.
I used to read C&VG and mean machines back in the 90's they were great magazines.
So when I saw him pop up on digital foundry I automatically was a fan, Still am. I admit I only watch the switch videos so I've no idea what the issue people seem to have with them.
I do like that they aren't afraid to call out bullshit or to praise a port game etc for things.
Tbh I am well out of the video game technology look as I haven't played PC games in years. But I just like watching the videos especially when they do DF retro. It's the kind of information I wish I had back in the day.
It haven't followed what happened with John but I am a fan of his DF retro videos.
I used to read C&VG and mean machines back in the 90's they were great magazines.
So when I saw him pop up on digital foundry I automatically was a fan, Still am. I admit I only watch the switch videos so I've no idea what the issue people seem to have with them.
I do like that they aren't afraid to call out bullshit or to praise a port game etc for things.
Tbh I am well out of the video game technology look as I haven't played PC games in years. But I just like watching the videos especially when they do DF retro. It's the kind of information I wish I had back in the day.
It haven't followed what happened with John but I am a fan of his DF retro videos.
Last edited:
Shubh_C63
Member
Do TF claim the game is not fun because of pixel count ?
Biased/Un-biased, they only do technical tests, not fun to play tests. Its gamers that choose to listen to pixel counting as fun.
Mozza
Member
Because you have no actual grip on reality?
rofif
Can’t Git Gud
For Microsoft and for woke
In the latest DF Direct they agree that half of the GTA6 footage could have been gameplay taken from a cinematic angle. They just dispute that it can be called gameplay footage, since cinematic camera angles can be used to hide visual faults seen in regular gameplay.
Bojji
Member
Pretty much. Right now they are mostly hated by Nintendo and Sony fanboys.
My biggest complain is that Alex sometimes is so offended by state of some PC ports that he makes dogshit videos that lack a lot of important information - this was the case with Monster Hunter for example.
Zathalus
Member
I respect Alex for the attention he has brought to shader compilation stutter, as both Unreal and developers have placed more focus on it due to the attention brought by DF, but I agree that he can be a bit of a drama queen sometimes.
Black_Stride
do not tempt fate do not contrain Wonder Woman's thighs do not do not
Considering their bread and butter was Xbox 360 vs PS3 when the war was at full tilt.
I can agree.
Your username is Pure Platimum, im assuming thats a Bayonetta reference........the PS3 version of Bayonetta was not fun.
It took Sony themsevles to step in after launch to try and fix the game.
Digital Foundry was the largest voice pointing out just how off the PS3 version of the game was.
Face-Off: Bayonetta
Hold onto your potatoes, because there's no way to sugarcoat this one - Bayonetta is one of the most dramatic Face-Offs…
www.eurogamer.net
Define better?
CCuz arent graphics part of the puzzle when people say a game is good or bad.
Because if not, wouldnt it be fair to say most graphical techniques dont make a game better, yet people will hold a game with better graphics in higher regard than one without.
A good game is a good game even if it isnt textured at all......it would be better with textures.....it woould be better with good animations.......it would be even better with good lighting(Raytracing).
Wasnt Halo infinite clowned on prerelease because it didnt have "good graphics".
MMaRsu
Gold Member
Yeah their stupid, thanks for confirming it
Rdr2 and GTAV have cinematic camera curing gameplay if you press B or circle so..
Thats gameplay
Last edited:
There is surely value in their analysis, but Tom and Oliver have lowered a lot their standard with their inaccurancy.
Last edited:
Mokus
Member
The technical analysis on games they do is good but on the other areas they can be from bad to God awful. They are just too opinionated and often they lack the professional mindset to approach the subject from a neutral perspective (sometimes feels like they don't give a fuck). And the games they cover is oriented too often in just a few genres unless the game is very popular.
GudOlRub
Member
I like DF and I really never had a problem with their commentary on their official youtube channel, but I do think that if they want to step their standards up, they need to tighten up the way their cast use social media.
I actually enjoy Alex's and John's videos but then sometimes I come across some of their comments on twitter and things change a bit.
The fact that they actively promote said twitter profiles on DF's official videos only makes it worse.
I actually enjoy Alex's and John's videos but then sometimes I come across some of their comments on twitter and things change a bit.
The fact that they actively promote said twitter profiles on DF's official videos only makes it worse.
Some people maybe. Speaking for myself, I hate when they are shallow about their stuff but they are take always legitim when it's not true at all.
Last edited:
Hector Hall
Member
That bunch of amateurish fanboys is a standard for you?
Well, at least it's true they do have a standar: always wave the green flag.
PeteBull
Member
They already got bought by IGN like whole eurogamer
StueyDuck
Member
There is a fair amount of criticism to be levied at them.
But DF is the only popular outlet who just generally talk about the game itself.
Which shouldn't be this huge thing but yet here we are in journalism in 2025.
It's why magazines back in the day were much better than anything put out today, it was faceless personalities who had a passion for gaming and not washed-up social science graduates with little to no experience in what they are covering.
But DF is the only popular outlet who just generally talk about the game itself.
Which shouldn't be this huge thing but yet here we are in journalism in 2025.
It's why magazines back in the day were much better than anything put out today, it was faceless personalities who had a passion for gaming and not washed-up social science graduates with little to no experience in what they are covering.
Last edited:
BbMajor7th
Member
I think they're generally more solid than most outlets, but you can see that a lot of top-down pressure has been applied to the channel. It's tough for them, because they boomed massively off PS4/X1 comparisons, but the technical distinctions between games are becoming more and more neglible and console wars have now been replaced by a broader culture war that pixel counts have no part in. Still, as a channel they'll be expected to continue delivering YOY uplifts, despite the changing narrative landscape.
Given the circumstances, I think they've done well at holding their ground. John's passion for the medium still shines through and his DF Retro videos are genuinely excellent, but there's an unavoidable reality that with that passion bias can creep in and the atmosphere of intense media competition I think occasionally drives them to an overreach that pulls in views and drives conversation, but ultimately causes backlash.
What I will give them credit for is that they've largely avoided the trend towards punching down (taking critical swipes at the audience rather than the industry) that has characterized almost all other outlets. They've stayed focused on the games and hardware and put pressure on developers to deliver more polished products, rather than lambasting gamers for being too demanding and exhorting them to accept less.
Given the circumstances, I think they've done well at holding their ground. John's passion for the medium still shines through and his DF Retro videos are genuinely excellent, but there's an unavoidable reality that with that passion bias can creep in and the atmosphere of intense media competition I think occasionally drives them to an overreach that pulls in views and drives conversation, but ultimately causes backlash.
What I will give them credit for is that they've largely avoided the trend towards punching down (taking critical swipes at the audience rather than the industry) that has characterized almost all other outlets. They've stayed focused on the games and hardware and put pressure on developers to deliver more polished products, rather than lambasting gamers for being too demanding and exhorting them to accept less.
Last edited:
OmegaSupreme
advanced basic bitch
CloudShiner
Member
The rage and the hissy fit that John 'three-chins' Lineman threw over refusing to review Hogwarts should never be forgotten.
Dude would have been fired for his insubordination at any professional outfit.
Dude would have been fired for his insubordination at any professional outfit.
Poppinfresh
Member
EDIT: I was wrong about DF and Hogwarts Legacy. Still...
Like most journalists (not just game journalists) they seem like people who like to sit around huffing their own farts and then telling everyone how great they smell.
F*ck em'
Like most journalists (not just game journalists) they seem like people who like to sit around huffing their own farts and then telling everyone how great they smell.
F*ck em'
Last edited:
Black_Stride
do not tempt fate do not contrain Wonder Woman's thighs do not do not
Unknown Soldier
Member
If DF is the best gaming "journalism" has to offer then it's probably time to put gaming "journalism" out to pasture because it's dead