Kieron Gillen is the new Michael Palin
As you know, I'm a big fan of Gillen. For the most part, I really have no interest in the content of his articles. I'm more enamoured with the way he writes, and entertains me. It’s the same with Tim Rogers. For the most part, I couldn’t care less what he's banging on about, but nearly always, he entertains me in one way or another.
So when Russ Pitts (editor for the Escapist) e-mailed me with a link to a nice round table article featuring Gillen (along with N'Gai of Newsweek, Julian Dibbell of The New York Times and Evan Van Zeldfen) I had to have a peek.
What a fantastic little article.
The boys liken games journalism to that of travel writing - which is a very apt comparison. Instead of concentrating on how many levels a game has or which weapons a specific character can wield (ala - Travel guides) the writer is able to focus on telling the reader his own impressions, stories and opinions of a specific title.
"I partially think travel is a lot easier now anyway. ... Now there's a degree of travel that people can do even on not particularly incredibly economically advantaged backgrounds. Travel journalism has changed in that way. But games ... I've never played EVE, I'll never play EVE, but I like reading what Jim has to say about it. I'm more likely to go to
Check it out - www.escapistmagazine.com
6 comments:
No, he's not the new fucking Michael Palin. I can't believe you have just discovered the absolute bullshit that is New Games Journalism.
What great writers do, is write great pieces. If one wants to expand the influence of the games press, then one writes great pieces which appeal across boundaries. What you don't fucking do is write incestuous backpatting pieces describing your own fucking attempts at writing.
How familiar are you really with Tim Rogers work? Are you just name dropping because he's the only other "controversial" journalist you can think of? Have you read his Action Button stuff? Or his freelance pieces in the press? Unless he's under tight editorial control, it always turns out shit.
For every whimsical flight of fancy Izzard takes you on, you get a hundred of failing Rogers. No one gives a shit about Kojima's glasses, or how from which stops you rode the fucking subway whilst playing the DS. It's tired, contrived and is just too fucking distracting from the point you're getting across.
But then again, you claim not to care about content which is fucking mindless. Why not just read Calvin and Hobbes? It's funnier, wittier and more to the point than anything Rogers could even hope to conjure up.
he is and always will be a cunt
Im very familiar with Rogers, Hahnchen. In fact, I've wanked off to his MGS2 review more than a few times. The fact that he entertains me is a damn sight more important than his feelings on a particular videogame.
Do you guys really read videogame reviews anymore to get an impression of a videogame? I certainly dont.
However, I like to read videogame reviews that make me smile - much in the same way I like to read Newspaper articles that make me think.
Simply because a person writes about videogames, does it mean he must stick to a specific format? Why is he not able to do whatever the fuck he likes? Why must he conform to a specific template, that you deem appropriate?
FYI: Tim's Zelda review at AB is a perfect reason as to why I like his stuff. I couldnt give a fuck about the game, I made my mind up about it months ago...but having him explain why HE likes it, makes it all the more interesting!
"read videogame reviews anymore to get an impression of a videogame"
is that not exactly the fucking point of reading a videogame review?
Only a masochist or an idiot would Roger's work for "enjoyment".
I'm not too familiar with Roger's recent Action Button stuff, I mostly ignore it after the retard's fanfare at the start. Getting through one of his pieces is an unbelievable chore, you carry on in a vain attempt to get to the punchline, for him to get to the point, but it never fucking happens.
But just reading the Phantom Hourglass review is a horrible experience. What the fuck was the point in paragraph 3? Do people actually find these anecdotes funny? Or even vaguely insightful? Why the fuck is it there? This is a pattern which repeats throughout his work.
I'm familiar with his freelance stuff for Games TM, and it's just as bad. I've just spent a good few minutes flicking through old copies of the magazine to find an interview he did with Kojima. I didn't know for sure that he was the author behind it, but I remember the style being so enragingly stupid that it had to be him. I was right.
It was a memorable interview, I'll give him that. It's memorable, because it's so obvious he's in fucking awe of Kojima that it bleeds onto the page. Not a critical or challenging eye is ever to be had, it's disgusting fan-gush, and because of this, it rings about as sincere as Stalin's autobiography. It's also memorable, because he's also peppered the narrative with an attempt to wear Kojima's glasses.
What a cunt.
It's a pathetic attempt at humour, forced to the point of constipation. Whereas other writers prose can flow into humour, Rogers can't. His attempt is so obviously signposted, not only does it fall flat on its face, but actually distracts you from the piece to begin with. It's why it's such a fucking chore.
----
I really can't police taste, but take a step back from Rogers, look at his work for what it really is, and stop being such an apologist.
Guys,
See, you're missing the big picture.
I really fucking enjoy his stuff. Yeah, he's overly verbose at times, and yeah, he could cut a thousand words now and then, but fuck guys, its his blog/site.
This is what he wants to to do, and he writes for himself.
I don’t really follow the, "WRITE PROPELY YOU FUCKING CUNT!!!" issues I see all over the place. It makes no sense to me...If you don’t like it, steer clear. Why are you spending your time concocting wonderful little forum posts about a 28 year old American who happens to have differing opinions on videogames?
Also, boys, we did a few podcasts with Rogers. Check iTunes for the Play.d Podcast, and have a listen to #5 and #6 (I think).
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