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Junkets and the game writers who love them
The Washington Post has published an interesting report on game reviewers and their experiences with junkets. A junket is typically an all expenses paid trip covered by the publishers in the gaming industry. The junket the Washington Post specifically covers is the Fallout 3 junket where "airfare, hotel, food, drinks and shuttle bus were provided, courtesy of Bethesda Softworks." Now, just to be clear, it's the job of publishers to do these junkets and sway opinion by whatever means necessary (and in some cases, whatever is the keyword) -- that's marketing. It's the job of the "journalist" not to be swayed by it -- that's tough and really means standing by ethics (which if the writer actually went to journalism school is the first class you take). Most newspapers have a strict policy of not letting companies pay for their writers to attend and the Washington Post points out a few attendees paid their own way, but most did not.One writer for PC Jeux, Ghislain Masson, has been to Russia twice, India, "a five-day extravaganza in Las Vegas funded by Midway" and Paris. Of course, we stumble across moments of ethical irony often in this business and there's even moments of too close for comfort. Some would make the argument that there is a world of difference between being invited to an event and having everything paid for to attend. The question is, "Do these junkets influence the outcome of reviews?" The writers in the Washington Post piece don't believe so, but we'll leave it up to the readers to decide.[Via GamePolitics]*Note: Joystiq does not and has never accepted paid junkets.
Michigan Dems deny iPod initiative, pledge to repay Apple junket
In the only politically responsible move when your party is the focus of national media attention because of a ridiculous budget proposal, Michigan state Democrats have denied that they ever planned to suggest funding an iPod for every student, and also pledged to repay Apple for that controversial "fact-finding trip" where lawmakers are suspected of hatching the supposed initiative. Representative Tim Melton spoke for the three jet setters when he claimed that this whole ordeal has been blown out of proportion, arguing that Dems were actually considering a wide-ranging $38 million technology package, and not just a DAP giveaway. So in the end -- other than bemused readers -- no one seems to have come out a winner here: Melton and his cronies will have to shell out $1,702 each for the Cupertino junket, Michigan kids statewide will have to return all of the iPod accessories they've been buying to prep for their freebies, and worst of all, Apple won't be able to realize its ultimate dream of locking an entire state's children into the iTunes ecosystem for life.[Via The Raw Feed, photo courtesy of Anti iPod]
Pack your bags! Australian game reviewers offered hookers
When hookers are offered to game reviewers for better scores ... well, the game industry just got a whole lot more interesting! Official Australian PlayStation 2 Magazine's former editor Richie Young says he was offered sex, money, gifts, overseas trips and advertising support to influence game review scores. Well, let's see, the advertising support is a common practice. So are the trips and gifts (those are just called junkets). The money is interesting -- but hookers? In Australia? Imagine what the American game reviewers get offered. EGM Editor Dan Hsu's now classic editorial spoke to this issue, but to this day he hasn't stepped up to the plate with a follow-through.A lot of issues dredged up in Young's post are just the truth of what happens. It's dirty and it's sad. None of it is anything the magazines and review sites don't have to deal with every single day ... it's just the hookers that make this story over the top.[via ScreenPlay, thanks Flyingdoormat]
