Game journalists aren’t like Hollywood writers. For the most part we are writing news, reviews and editorials which aren’t comedy or stories for films. I make little or almost nothing. So please buy my new book! And the shirt!
A while back a few articles were out there that were postulating that there might be pressure or money involved in some websites and the way that they score game reviews. A game would come out, and there would be all these glowing previews. Then everyone would play it and there could be major flaws or even be broken, and the biggest game review sites were giving it the hypothetical game a high 9 score. I noticed it, and gamers noticed it.

Like any internet rumor you only give it 50% credibility. But when this thing about the guy at gamespot and what must have been conceived during mercury retrograde Kane and Lynch game from the topless ad scandal. It really makes you wonder more about just what kind of ethics some of the publishers have. And some of the reviewers editors. Are some corporate game websites really influencing their writers because the publishers buy ads on their website? It seems more likely to be true these days.

The independent game websites get popular and frequently get bought up by big corporate interests, with or with out future creative control and a job after the merger. Although creative control doesn’t cover privacy, and mergers, and jobs. Sometimes even the originators of formerly cool websites, and other media could be disappointed with what happens to their ideas once they sell them.

But for those of us that are indie owned and operated there is still freedom of speech. The people I deal with in the industry have all been very nice. When I criticize a game they take it constructively and want to hear my honest opinion as much as my readers do. They have always been honest as far as I knew.

Anytime I have had a problem with a website that I worked for I never mentioned it publically in any way or mentioned it in blogs public or private. Business is business. For now because video games and the causes of women in technology is a passion of mine, I write for the sake of writing.  It certainly isn’t for financial gain.