Hopefully you may have noticed this, but we've been going through a huge period of change here at GameSpot of late. We have evolved so much over the past six months or so, but we are still on our journey to bigger, better things. Last month I was interviewed by Stever Peterson at Industry Gamers, and the resulting conversation seemed to resonate with a lot of people. You can read that chat here and part two here. Given that people seemed to like what we talked about, I thought I'd share with you what we're striving for in 2012, and what I hope you will judge us by. This is by no means a full expression of editorial policy, but more a mini-manifesto for the year ahead.
You are a vocal, passionate, and articulate bunch, and we want to give you the coverage you crave. We will bring you into the creative process wherever we can, and let your input, and feedback shape our content. The bottom line? You love games, we love games - let's make some awesome stuff.
For quite a while GS was falling behind when it came to producing original content, something other gaming websites had done and gained a lot of gamer's mindshares because of this. As it is expressed in this manifesto, screenshots and standard coverage just doesn't cut it anymore. I like the changes that have occurred as of late and want to see more of this stuff in the future. Keep up the good work.
For quite a while GS was falling behind when it came to producing original content, something other gaming websites had done and gained a lot of gamer's mindshares because of this. As it is expressed in this manifesto, screenshots and standard coverage just doesn't cut it anymore. I like the changes that have occurred as of late and want to see more of this stuff in the future. Keep up the good work.
Wow, I remember back when you were on EGM and OPM. It really is interesting the shift in the past 6 months or so. I'm really glad the pun filled headlines are gone. lol My only concern is if the discussion becomes too much about the video game market and not video games themselves. Personally, I think a discussion of the market and demographics and things like that is really interesting. For instance, I thought there was too much discussion from Gamespot about "is portable gaming dead" with the Vita. It became like beating a dead horse to me. I didn't get the impression from user comments that it was really persuading anyone. And while it was mostly Brendan and Magrino writing it, I think users were thinking, "just review the games!!!". Seems you're trying to bring out the editors more in the open with video reviews, video podcasts, and editorial blog-like posts. It starts to blur content and blog post/tweet but maybe do a once a week written or video feature where a few editors say what games they're playing, what music they're listening to, movies they're watching. I know editors have their own userpages where they can blog about some things, but I really have to remind myself to check out their posts. But I think it's an easy way to continue to make it about video games while personalizing the editors a bit more. Thank you for posting this and for reading our comments! I know mine ended up being a bit of a lengthy comment. (new addition: Your Vita video was perfect!)
Wow, I remember back when you were on EGM and OPM. It really is interesting the shift in the past 6 months or so. I'm really glad the pun filled headlines are gone. lol My only concern is if the discussion becomes too much about the video game market and not video games themselves. Personally, I think a discussion of the market and demographics and things like that is really interesting. For instance, I thought there was too much discussion from Gamespot about "is portable gaming dead" with the Vita. It became like beating a dead horse to me. I didn't get the impression from user comments that it was really persuading anyone. And while it was mostly Brendan and Magrino writing it, I think users were thinking, "just review the games!!!". Seems you're trying to bring out the editors more in the open with video reviews, video podcasts, and editorial blog-like posts. It starts to blur content and blog post/tweet but maybe do a once a week written or video feature where a few editors say what games they're playing, what music they're listening to, movies they're watching. I know editors have their own userpages where they can blog about some things, but I really have to remind myself to check out their posts. But I think it's an easy way to continue to make it about video games while personalizing the editors a bit more. Thank you for posting this and for reading our comments! I know mine ended up being a bit of a lengthy comment. (new addition: Your Vita video was perfect!)
@auron11022 we need to hear/read/see this stuff - it's the only way we can change things for the better. We're NOTHING without audience. I appreciate you guys caring so much.
@auron11022 we need to hear/read/see this stuff - it's the only way we can change things for the better. We're NOTHING without audience. I appreciate you guys caring so much.
I know I sounded pretty negative in my comment, but the fact of the matter is that I believe you guys should do whatever gives you the most traffic/money. Just because I want more community tools doesn't mean that you should do it unless it is worth it overall. As @pokecharm can probably attest to, whenever there are these "rebellious" blogs, I'm usually the one coming by and saying that GS is doing a pretty decent job. I guess what I'm getting at is that I appreciate what you guys produce (even if I don't consume it), and it is a simple fact that you are running a successful website. If it was bad, I wouldn't be here. I'm just stating that there is a segment of users here that generate a modest bit of traffic that use this site solely for the purpose of keeping in touch with other users, and tools that highlight some user contributions would enhance this site for users like me.
I know I sounded pretty negative in my comment, but the fact of the matter is that I believe you guys should do whatever gives you the most traffic/money. Just because I want more community tools doesn't mean that you should do it unless it is worth it overall. As @pokecharm can probably attest to, whenever there are these "rebellious" blogs, I'm usually the one coming by and saying that GS is doing a pretty decent job. I guess what I'm getting at is that I appreciate what you guys produce (even if I don't consume it), and it is a simple fact that you are running a successful website. If it was bad, I wouldn't be here. I'm just stating that there is a segment of users here that generate a modest bit of traffic that use this site solely for the purpose of keeping in touch with other users, and tools that highlight some user contributions would enhance this site for users like me.
The truth though is that we have over a million users a day come to GameSpot and a big chunk of that is for the content that our editors and producers create. That's not to diminish the importance of community content in any way - I'm simply saying that to explain my role. My job is to steer the full-time, contract and freelance teams to generate the content that will satisfy that level of demand. Hence this blog post explaining how I intend to do that. Now, what I'd REALLY like is to have tools that both the edit team AND the community use to generate content on the same level. I've only been at GameSpot a year - but it's been painfully apparent since I got here that we don't have the pieces in place to give you the tools you need. Writing a blog post is much more of a pain in the ass than it should be. Six or seven years ago, when I was one of the "suits" (eh, @pokecharm?) at Ziff Davis that launched 1UP, GameVideos and MyCheats we built the whole thing around user tools (and even then we fell behind because they need updating so frequently) so we could have community content sit alongside editorial. We are currently in the process of looking at how we can do that at GameSpot. It's a big, big, big frickin' job though. I work closely with @boubou who is the product manager in charge of this stuff, and there are a lot of interwoven things that need to be fixed to enable us to do that. It's all in progress - it's just one of those things that takes a while to pull together.
The truth though is that we have over a million users a day come to GameSpot and a big chunk of that is for the content that our editors and producers create. That's not to diminish the importance of community content in any way - I'm simply saying that to explain my role. My job is to steer the full-time, contract and freelance teams to generate the content that will satisfy that level of demand. Hence this blog post explaining how I intend to do that. Now, what I'd REALLY like is to have tools that both the edit team AND the community use to generate content on the same level. I've only been at GameSpot a year - but it's been painfully apparent since I got here that we don't have the pieces in place to give you the tools you need. Writing a blog post is much more of a pain in the ass than it should be. Six or seven years ago, when I was one of the "suits" (eh, @pokecharm?) at Ziff Davis that launched 1UP, GameVideos and MyCheats we built the whole thing around user tools (and even then we fell behind because they need updating so frequently) so we could have community content sit alongside editorial. We are currently in the process of looking at how we can do that at GameSpot. It's a big, big, big frickin' job though. I work closely with @boubou who is the product manager in charge of this stuff, and there are a lot of interwoven things that need to be fixed to enable us to do that. It's all in progress - it's just one of those things that takes a while to pull together.
I give gs hundreds of views a week from my phone and another dozen or two from my pc. I'll breakdown the time I spend here. 95% user blogs, 1% staff blogs (like this), 1% community stuff by Jody and Synthia, the rest is spent on everything else. It seems to me that while I spend 95% of my time here on stuff that gets far less than 5% of staff attention. Your content isn't what you should focus on because it will never be so much better than the 100 other sites producing the same thing that it will cause the user base to either expand or come more often. The one thing gs has that blows everybody else away is an affluent community that is interested in games, but talks about just about everything. People like jbul, pokecharm, mprezzy, foolz3h, -saigo- and many others are far more integral to your success than any of your staff. I know there are a ton of other users deserving of my attention, but gs makes no effort to provide me with tools to find them. Sure, fuse let's me see my friends musings, but outside of stumbling on a good user, I have no chance at finding the best content this site can offer.
I give gs hundreds of views a week from my phone and another dozen or two from my pc. I'll breakdown the time I spend here. 95% user blogs, 1% staff blogs (like this), 1% community stuff by Jody and Synthia, the rest is spent on everything else. It seems to me that while I spend 95% of my time here on stuff that gets far less than 5% of staff attention. Your content isn't what you should focus on because it will never be so much better than the 100 other sites producing the same thing that it will cause the user base to either expand or come more often. The one thing gs has that blows everybody else away is an affluent community that is interested in games, but talks about just about everything. People like jbul, pokecharm, mprezzy, foolz3h, -saigo- and many others are far more integral to your success than any of your staff. I know there are a ton of other users deserving of my attention, but gs makes no effort to provide me with tools to find them. Sure, fuse let's me see my friends musings, but outside of stumbling on a good user, I have no chance at finding the best content this site can offer.
I thank you for you hard work, but (just because i love my Gamespot ) that's not enough!, i know you guys are working hard to bring us some new exciting stuff but how about fixing the site problems first then move on to the next step? we are tired of working our away around GS's bugs. we need to continue with our activities blogging, uploading images/video and
I thank you for you hard work, but (just because i love my Gamespot ) that's not enough!, i know you guys are working hard to bring us some new exciting stuff but how about fixing the site problems first then move on to the next step? we are tired of working our away around GS's bugs. we need to continue with our activities blogging, uploading images/video and
@pokecharm our community tools are old and very much in need of overhauling - and I know that's something that has been said numerous times without much apparent change. Believe me, change IS coming - it just takes a long time. My intent with this was to explain what the editorial team (specifically) at GameSpot would be doing and how we are changing what we do.
@pokecharm our community tools are old and very much in need of overhauling - and I know that's something that has been said numerous times without much apparent change. Believe me, change IS coming - it just takes a long time. My intent with this was to explain what the editorial team (specifically) at GameSpot would be doing and how we are changing what we do.
you talk a lot about what Gamespot is going to do to make the site better, but I don't think I saw anything in this about how you're going to incorporate some good content from users. There is no talk about bringing any of our contributions to the forefront (like the Soapbox or top reviewers), or even considered, just what we want you to provide. Shouldn't this be more of a two-way street? You have some talented writers in this community and, quite frankly, you're all but telling us you could care less about what we write, as long as we watch your videos and comment on your reviews. Where is the community's voice other than affecting content?
you talk a lot about what Gamespot is going to do to make the site better, but I don't think I saw anything in this about how you're going to incorporate some good content from users. There is no talk about bringing any of our contributions to the forefront (like the Soapbox or top reviewers), or even considered, just what we want you to provide. Shouldn't this be more of a two-way street? You have some talented writers in this community and, quite frankly, you're all but telling us you could care less about what we write, as long as we watch your videos and comment on your reviews. Where is the community's voice other than affecting content?
If there's stuff the people want to see; more of a kind of content, less of a kind of content... focus on other areas of gaming; let me know
If there's stuff the people want to see; more of a kind of content, less of a kind of content... focus on other areas of gaming; let me know
I have been with gamespot 10 years now and if your manifesto reflects anything as to how GS is evolving I definately see many many many more years as being a member. Game on!
I have been with gamespot 10 years now and if your manifesto reflects anything as to how GS is evolving I definately see many many many more years as being a member. Game on!
It's always interesting to see how people respond to something as large and established as GameSpot changing and adapting. People have particular feelings and expectations about established media brands, and when they start to shift it can take a while before people notice. Over the course of my career I've had the privilege of being a part of a number of big shifts like this. Back in 1998 I moved to the US to reboot Electronic Gaming Monthly, a few years later I was thrilled to explore the possibilities of the Official PlayStation Magazine. A couple of years ago I was able exert a similar influence over the sadly now-departed Gamepro. In every case, it took a while for the big changes in voice to become apparent to the audience at large. Often, an editorial shift alone isn't enough - it needs to be accompanied by a noticeable shift in the product itself; the way it looks, the way it works. That stuff is coming too.
It's always interesting to see how people respond to something as large and established as GameSpot changing and adapting. People have particular feelings and expectations about established media brands, and when they start to shift it can take a while before people notice. Over the course of my career I've had the privilege of being a part of a number of big shifts like this. Back in 1998 I moved to the US to reboot Electronic Gaming Monthly, a few years later I was thrilled to explore the possibilities of the Official PlayStation Magazine. A couple of years ago I was able exert a similar influence over the sadly now-departed Gamepro. In every case, it took a while for the big changes in voice to become apparent to the audience at large. Often, an editorial shift alone isn't enough - it needs to be accompanied by a noticeable shift in the product itself; the way it looks, the way it works. That stuff is coming too.
It's a pleasure to listen to a smart man in charge speaking, who 'gets' the ever changing media landscape. (that's also why I gave GS a 2nd shot after Gerstmanngate :)
It's a pleasure to listen to a smart man in charge speaking, who 'gets' the ever changing media landscape. (that's also why I gave GS a 2nd shot after Gerstmanngate :)
