Below you'll find my post and Aaron's reply, it was a part of a conversation about what NZG could do to improve itself. I had some thoughts to say the least.
Dannyboy - 14 March 2009, 11:36 AM
It is perfectly reasonable that a news writer gets paid over reviewers. It is significantly more difficult to gather news than to write a review. A kid can write a review. We know this because this website was founded by kids who were writing reviews.
We were also kids who couldn't write news to save ourselves (with the rare exception of Ellin who actually did call Monaco once to find out how many GameCubes had been sold). News gathering is a completely different beast than reviewing, and its a skill you can't just pick up by copying the format of IGN and GameSpot. It requires reading a lot of papers, being on the constant look out for a scoop, interviewing, fact checking, and clean, clear writing.
In addition to this, I can't stress how important that a news writer gets paid rather than receive free games. Most press outlets have codes of ethics that explicitly state that to avoid conflicts of interests they can't receive gifts from companies - an alarming concept to NZG I'm sure.
I am pleased NZG is venturing into news but don't take it lightly. I'll be eagerly awaiting the developments.
We were also kids who couldn't write news to save ourselves (with the rare exception of Ellin who actually did call Monaco once to find out how many GameCubes had been sold). News gathering is a completely different beast than reviewing, and its a skill you can't just pick up by copying the format of IGN and GameSpot. It requires reading a lot of papers, being on the constant look out for a scoop, interviewing, fact checking, and clean, clear writing.
In addition to this, I can't stress how important that a news writer gets paid rather than receive free games. Most press outlets have codes of ethics that explicitly state that to avoid conflicts of interests they can't receive gifts from companies - an alarming concept to NZG I'm sure.
I am pleased NZG is venturing into news but don't take it lightly. I'll be eagerly awaiting the developments.
Ron - 14 March 2009, 3:58 AM
Sorry to call you out here Dan.
You have huge a ego, with nothing to back it up.
I really don't know what motivates something to write these diatribes aka rants.
The dribble that comes out of your mouth, come back to us and tell us something when you're qualified to do so.
The majority of the people that work for this site are intelligent and qualified in their respective background AND/OR have a great knowledge of videogames.
Your comments have been noted and we're working on a solution (and basically have been trying to sort out the news for the last 4 years). (But you knew this from Shaun telling you a few days, ok?).
We'll be looking at rolling out something in the next month with the news.
Go and have a Tui (or 12) and get ya self laid.
And another tip keep away from Marion St, they're not real ladies ya know.
Sorry mate after working 54 hrs this week in a real job, busting my balls, my patience has been broken.
You have huge a ego, with nothing to back it up.
I really don't know what motivates something to write these diatribes aka rants.
The dribble that comes out of your mouth, come back to us and tell us something when you're qualified to do so.
The majority of the people that work for this site are intelligent and qualified in their respective background AND/OR have a great knowledge of videogames.
Your comments have been noted and we're working on a solution (and basically have been trying to sort out the news for the last 4 years). (But you knew this from Shaun telling you a few days, ok?).
We'll be looking at rolling out something in the next month with the news.
Go and have a Tui (or 12) and get ya self laid.
And another tip keep away from Marion St, they're not real ladies ya know.
Sorry mate after working 54 hrs this week in a real job, busting my balls, my patience has been broken.
___________
Highlights:
-Aaron accuses my diatribes of being rants (whoa?)
-Aaron thinks I should get a box of Tui (like I'd ever buy beer that isn't Flame?)
-Aaron thinks I should get laid (if you're having sex you probably don't have any time to criticise a video game website which is probably true).
-Aaron tells me I can't back up what I'm saying but has noted my comments (paradox much?)
-Aaron believes I have a taste for the transexuals on Wellington's Marion street.
-Aaron points out he works damn hard on his website.
This last point is especially true and is worth noting. The boys who run this website put in far many more hours than they get pay out of it. Lets just hope they start focusing on content rather than flashy new myNZGamer features and personal attacks.
P.S. I'm sorry, Aaron, but when you give me material like this what else am I supposed to do?
[UPDATE: I've been removed from NZG's testing group under the rule that when I am attacked by NZG admins I'm not allowed to publish it on my blog - whoops. Assumedly my follow up reply to Aaron has also been deleted, which is a pity].
The irony of you posting the blog, and ongoing developments here, "to get the truth" out, is that you're fabricating reasons for being removed from the NZGamer Testers group.
ReplyDeleteThe reason you were removed is that any discussion made in the forum for new ideas/testing/features is confidential - something we made clear when everyone came on board.
That's not fabrication, it's the gist of what happened. There was nothing in those posts that had anything to do with NZG testing, and the discussions about NEWS are ones I've generated here so it's not exactly like I'm releasing secret material. The only revelation is that NZG is going to fix the news which is probably something you actually want people to know.
ReplyDeleteYou used a loophole to throw me out of the board. The gist was this: don't publicise Aaron's tirade against you, we'd prefer if it was kept hidden.
I don't think it matters however, it's just a pity we couldn't discuss this more constructively.
Dear god, he replied to you like that? When you only gave suggestions? Your absolutely correct. That's not journalism. It's hardly professional either.
ReplyDeleteOh my gosh, what an embarrassing-true-to-himself reply from Aaron. What happens now, was this just a one night stand?
ReplyDeletewhat douche bags, pretty much.
ReplyDeleteyou do probably need a qualification in internet videogame shit talkin' . . . maybe you can get one at AUT?