Unprofessional Language in Reviews/Articles

Hi,

This has bothered me for a bit now, but it hasn't been extremely noticable until recently. GameSpot is first and foremost a professional news outlet for video games and should therefore have articles written in appropriate language.

I've noticed lately that more and more reviews feature words like "stupid" or "crap" or "junk." While I understand how these words could be seen as accurate descriptions, they're not professional language for a website that provides a worldwide outlet for news. There are plenty of other words to use in place to describe something.

Just a thought. :)

Personally, I haven't noticed this so much on the GS Staff reviews, but definitely in the Player Reviews. in fact, I'd say about 70% of player reviews are appalling. I don't know if any filters or restrictions can be placed when someone tries to submit one without getting in the way of "free speech" and all that, but I always thought player reviews should be written decently with well-formed opinions and clear, if not fantastic, prose.

Anyway, hope I'm not hijacking your topic, but in any case, I agree with you. Any review posted on this site, staff or otherwise, should imho at least be written in decent language that's not grasping for dull adverbs and adjectives like a drowning man grasps for air.

I think using old man standards for things like thinking "crap" isn't professional, is stupid. Fact is, this isn't a website for big business junkies that are trying to make it big in the stock market. This is an entertainment website dedicated to reviewing entertainment.

Being professional in every situation of your life is dull.

Please back up your statement with some anecdotal evidence. Gamespot, imo, is becoming more professional, abandoning fun features like Rory Round Up, Burning Questions and Freeplay for others such as Behind The Games and Soapbox.

As for their word usage, I don't think much, if anything has changed. You're certainly the first I've heard speak out about it - and again, I'm in the opposite.

Just recently JeffG used a word "jejung" that I had to use a dictionary to define!

Remember though, this is an entertainment portal, and the demographics for this site and it's links are for young males primarily. It's a little expected to see the staff act a little unadult on ocassion - and I welcome comic relief.

Rich Gallup is always good for a laugh - I love On The Spot. He will surely be missed.

Hi,

This has bothered me for a bit now, but it hasn't been extremely noticable until recently. GameSpot is first and foremost a professional news outlet for video games and should therefore have articles written in appropriate language.

I've noticed lately that more and more reviews feature words like "stupid" or "crap" or "junk." While I understand how these words could be seen as accurate descriptions, they're not professional language for a website that provides a worldwide outlet for news. There are plenty of other words to use in place to describe something.

Just a thought. :)

indigoAK200

Examples please.

Personally, I haven't noticed this so much on the GS Staff reviews, but definitely in the Player Reviews. in fact, I'd say about 70% of player reviews are appalling.

yevinorion

One, we're not getting paid to do it. Professionalism requires a profession first. If reviewing is not one's profession, I don't see a reason why one would need to be professional.

Two, most gamers are casual. They don't know what's good or bad, and they just want to put something down, no matter how craptastic it is.

Don't be elitist, there's those who try and those who do, but do not demean those that try; they're at least putting in the effort.Oh, and it's no secret; Gamespot's been quite unprofessional for quite awhile, and i will leave it at that.

Staff asked for examples...

Mario Strikers Review:

The one area where Mario Strikers Charged still lacks is presentation. The in-game graphics are certainly a step up from the original, with better-looking character models, far more crazy crap happening onscreen, and a frame rate that stays steady throughout.

Gods: Lands of Infinity:

You've got to run a lot of escort missions (which regenerate every few days) and flog a lot of crap to afford much of anything. This even includes a paltry piece of mail to replace the leather halter and miniskirt you wear at the start of the game.

I'll be honest and say that I don't go writing down a list of every word I see that's unprofessional - these are the only two recent usages I can recall off the top of my head. There were others that I've read in the last month or so I think, but I don't remember the game names or who wrote them. Granted, it's only once in each of the respective articles - the usage in the first article is more forgiving - but the usage in the second article sounds off-tone and edgy, which I don't feel belongs in an article of ths type.

for my reference:

http://www.gamespot.com/wii/sports/mariostrikerscharged/review.html

http://www.gamespot.com/pc/rpg/godslandofinfinity/review.html