GameInformer defends GTA IV “exclusive”

Kevin Gifford’s column on GameSetWatch, Game Mag Weaseling, is a column wherein he discusses coverage done by game magazines. In a recent installment of his column, he called Game Informer’s “exclusive coverage” of Grand Theft Auto IV a piece full of “glorified feature lists enhanced with developer quotes and insulated by hundred of words of filler.”

Game Informer isn’t taking that lightly. In a letter to the site, Game Informer Editor in Chief Andy McNamara said:

I fail to see how getting world exclusive content that you can’t get anywhere else isn’t offering our readers something unique and worth the price of a magazine.

…Saying that the magazine isn’t completing its goal because the previews will be online months later seems an unfair judgment. By that same logic you would say those online sites shouldn’t do the previews because Game Informer did it months before.

Oh the drama.

Kevin Gifford’s response? Mr. Gifford had a little something to say about the nature of gaming news, especially ones that show up on print,  and how the internet affects it: “World exclusive content is great to work with, but if all the forum folks know about it already, then what purpose is that article on the world-exclusive game serving?”

Mr. Gifford also goes on to note that the main difference between Internet gaming news and Print gaming news these days is this: people go to gaming sites to research on a game or to get the latest rumors on the grapevine, people read print because they like the writing and are entertained by it. He does temper that, however, by noting that that’s just his personal opinion.

Gifford notes that he singled out GameInformer’s recent issue because it was the highest profile release. He commends GameInformer for trying to create a more interesting game magazine for the internet generation. They still hold their ground though on their stance that the GameInformer coverage felt a bit too “managed” by Rockstar.

In related news, rumor has it that the main protagonist you saw on the trailer, Nikko Bellic, actually dies early in the game, and the main character is actually his cousin Roman… Yes, free exclusive rumor stuffs for you folks. God bless the intertubes.

Via GameSetWatch

Kevin Gifford’s column on GameSetWatch, Game Mag Weaseling, is a column wherein he discusses coverage done by game magazines. In a recent installment of his column, he called Game Informer’s “exclusive coverage” of Grand Theft Auto IV a piece full of “glorified feature lists enhanced with developer quotes and insulated by hundred of words of filler.”

Game Informer isn’t taking that lightly. In a letter to the site, Game Informer Editor in Chief Andy McNamara said:

I fail to see how getting world exclusive content that you can’t get anywhere else isn’t offering our readers something unique and worth the price of a magazine.

…Saying that the magazine isn’t completing its goal because the previews will be online months later seems an unfair judgment. By that same logic you would say those online sites shouldn’t do the previews because Game Informer did it months before.

Oh the drama.

Kevin Gifford’s response? Mr. Gifford had a little something to say about the nature of gaming news, especially ones that show up on print,  and how the internet affects it: “World exclusive content is great to work with, but if all the forum folks know about it already, then what purpose is that article on the world-exclusive game serving?”

Mr. Gifford also goes on to note that the main difference between Internet gaming news and Print gaming news these days is this: people go to gaming sites to research on a game or to get the latest rumors on the grapevine, people read print because they like the writing and are entertained by it. He does temper that, however, by noting that that’s just his personal opinion.

Gifford notes that he singled out GameInformer’s recent issue because it was the highest profile release. He commends GameInformer for trying to create a more interesting game magazine for the internet generation. They still hold their ground though on their stance that the GameInformer coverage felt a bit too “managed” by Rockstar.

In related news, rumor has it that the main protagonist you saw on the trailer, Nikko Bellic, actually dies early in the game, and the main character is actually his cousin Roman… Yes, free exclusive rumor stuffs for you folks. God bless the intertubes.

Via GameSetWatch