News & Not News Megathread

Griffith said:
We still had inexplicable advertising like this though...

playitloudad_060210.jpg


90's Gamers. :ganishka:

Man, those were the days. I wanted that black Game Boy so badly. :ganishka:
 

Vampire_Hunter_Bob

Cats are great
Walter said:
The biggest impact felt by me over this whole fiasco is that one of my longtime favorite writers quit the industry after being harassed for speaking her mind.

And she is still being harassed.

I'm still not sure what Gamergate is about and I've read two articles "explaining" it, but from what I've seen the "gamer" argument has been petty. With that said, the most laughable thing about this is Adam Baldwin inserting himself into gamergate, which doesn't make any sense and reeks of attention seeking.
 

Rhombaad

Video Game Time Traveler
Delta Phi said:
I don't know whether I should be happy or upset that I'm been completely oblivious to whatever the hell all this GamerGate shit is.

Same here. I think I'll remain blissfully ignorant.
 

Griffith

With the streak of a tear, Like morning dew
Well, here's a good and scorching summary for #GamerGate (stick around for the comments =).

http://gawker.com/what-is-gamergate-and-why-an-explainer-for-non-geeks-1642909080

From personal experience, like when I recently downloaded Mortal Kombat (2011) and couldn't believe some of the character/wardrobe designs, I can attest to the fact that compared to other popular media video games are repugnant as hell when it comes to portrayals of women. That's saying a lot.
 
Articles/interviews on GamerGate:

http://www.forbes.com/sites/erikkain/2014/10/09/gamergate-is-not-a-hate-group-its-a-consumer-movement/

http://www.forbes.com/sites/erikkain/2014/09/20/the-escapist-forums-brought-down-in-ddos-attack/

http://www.forbes.com/sites/erikkain/2014/10/06/its-time-for-video-game-journalists-to-engage-with-gamergate/

http://www.forbes.com/sites/erikkain/2014/09/04/gamergate-a-closer-look-at-the-controversy-sweeping-video-games/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rmosgPNXmNc

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2014/10/09/the_gender_games_sex_lies_and_videogames_124244.html

https://soundcloud.com/radio_nero/series-1-episode-3-gamers-vs-gamr

http://techraptor.net/content/indie-devs-opinion-gamergate-women-gaming

http://techraptor.net/content/might-no-9-lesson-manage-community

http://techraptor.net/content/fire-away-interview-captain-brad-wardell-ceo-founder-stardock-corporation

http://apgnation.com/archives/2014/09/09/6977/truth-gaming-interview-fine-young-capitalists

http://www.cinemablend.com/games/EA-Admits-40-000-Users-Were-Hacked-Whistleblower-Steps-Forward-67256.html

I’m all for game developers wanting to feel open to create games with female, black, or LGBT characters. I also don’t mind if a game developer chooses to make a game with straight, white, or male protagonists. Honestly, this whole “but players won’t be able to self-identify” is ridiculous. Is gender/race/sexuality the biggest divider between you and your character or the fact that they can shoot fireballs and come back from the dead?

I also don’t look for stories with strong x or y protagonists. Sometimes stories are interesting specifically because the main character is physically or psychologically weak. I just care how interesting the overall game was.
 

Aazealh

Administrator
Staff member
Griffith said:
Well, here's a good and scorching summary for #GamerGate (stick around for the comments =).

I find the "recommended by this author" list on the left more funny when put in parallel with the guy's stance on ethics in journalism and all that. Honestly, I think this whole thing isn't helped by the people who report on it. They're essentially acting like a clique, defending each other and pretending to tackle big issues while applying their usual lack of rigor to the information they provide. In this case, the takeaway for me is that Gawker wants to put pressure on Intel (who has "taken sides") to show them and any other advertiser that pulling ads from a site has consequences (ads being the lifeblood of all those news blogs).

In that regard, I feel the Forbes article Groovy Metal Fist posted last month was more effective because it was more measured. Furthermore, I still think there's a huge hypocrisy here from websites like Kotaku who won't admit they've catered to an adolescent-minded public for years and have contributed in no small part to establish the current climate of the videogame community at large. Brian Ashcraft's posts about Japanese porn games didn't seem too concerned with mysoginy back then.

To me a good part of the blame for this sorry state of affairs can be laid at the feet of those publications, and the fact they aren't coming forward more is telling of their lack of perspective/honesty. Nowadays the trend in news seems to be gender equality and the like, and they've latched on it, but only as superficially as they had latched on to the previous trend. And somehow they don't get the backlash? Well, those are the monsters you fostered, guys. Beyond that, it's pretty clear to me that continuously giving attention to the people harassing Sarkeesian and Quinn (who I don't think can be said to represent the entirety of the "gamergate" movement) is not the way to go about it. Whether they're being condemned or not doesn't matter, it just doesn't work and if anything, it motivates the harassers to go on. But do the publications even care? Probably not. It generates clicks, and that makes money.

The way I see, any serious discussion about the place of women in the games industry and their representation in the media itself has been poisoned for a while by this whole affair. And obviously the lack of quality commentary didn't help (pretty much the only people whose opinion on this I care about are actual female game developers and artists). It's a shame.

Groovy Metal Fist said:

Nice job, I think this is a good selection of level-headed articles that broaden the discussion.
 

Griffith

With the streak of a tear, Like morning dew
Aazealh said:
I find the "recommended by this author" list on the left more funny when put in parallel with the guy's stance on ethics in journalism and all that.

:ganishka:

Yeah, I'm incredulous about the whole thing though, and more than ready to believe the worst about all involved. Gaming journalism is a joke, but that this of all things is the issue these guys can rally around doesn't move me.
 

Aazealh

Administrator
Staff member
Griffith said:
Yeah, I'm incredulous about the whole thing though, and more than ready to believe the worst about all involved. Gaming journalism is a joke, but that this of all things is the issue these guys can rally around doesn't move me.

Yep, that's the key to the whole issue: pretty much every party involved is terrible.
 

Griffith

With the streak of a tear, Like morning dew
Aazealh said:
Yep, that's the key to the whole issue: pretty much every party involved is terrible.

Case in point, this measured article:

http://jezebel.com/gamergate-trolls-arent-ethics-crusaders-theyre-a-hate-1644984010/+laceydonohue

Basically, shitheads counter-productively taint her research for no good reason, and she immediately dials 911 and starts screaming, "BLOODY MURDER!" into the phone. These are two groups whose sensibilities could not be more incompatible. My favorite part though:

I do not say this to make the people of #Gamergate seem any more important, or effective, or powerful, or to give any sort of new credence to their ideas.

Oh good, for a second I thought you were elevating them to the level of Klu Klux Klan. :ganishka:
 
Why do these sites ignore anything regarding Wolf Wozniak, The Fine Young Capitalists, Brad Wardell, Jennifer Dawe, or MundaneMatt?

Why are Kotaku journalists’ history of personal and financial ties with game devs (outside of Nathan Grayson) unimportant? Why was it okay for Patricia Hernandez to call herself a journalist and then publicize a video game made by someone who she has dated without any disclosure?

Why are the 40k hacked EA accounts unimportant that weren’t reported on due to journalists having too close a relationship with their subject matter unimportant?

Why is it that they make harassment, doxxing, and threats the central focus yet ignore the harassment, doxxing, and death threats being hurled at to people in favor of GG? Hell, ‘tolerant and inclusive’ people like Bob Chipman are not interested in the harassment being hurled at the other side.

https://twitter.com/the_moviebob/status/521504287915270144

Trying to reduce this all to racism, misogyny and sock puppets isn't serving anybody. DDOS attacks against the Escapist or TFYC’s indiegogo campaign being hacked and shut down are no better than DDOS attacks against Damien Schubert’s Zen of Design website or the researcher’s survey being spammed.

If you want to talk about bile or propaganda, why not Moviebob calling GG supporters subhuman vermin that need to be purged, or kthorjensen saying that ‘gamers should and will be executed’, or Devin Faraci saying that gamers are ‘worse than ISIS’, or Sean Mulvihill comparing gamers to pedophiles?
 

Walter

Administrator
Staff member
You're right. Both sides have been engaging in trench warfare to the point that I don't think anyone is truly rallying for the original campaign that GG started on anymore. It's being driven daily by retaliatory skirmishes at this point. And it's ugly as hell for everyone involved.

You can't disregard the toxic things that have been done, and so it further distances anyone from healthy discourse on the subject, since everyone has become polarized.
 

Griffith

With the streak of a tear, Like morning dew
Groovy Metal Fist said:
If you want to talk about bile or propaganda, why not Moviebob calling GG supporters subhuman vermin that need to be purged, or kthorjensen saying that ‘gamers should and will be executed’, or Devin Faraci saying that gamers are ‘worse than ISIS’, or Sean Mulvihill comparing gamers to pedophiles?

I get what you mean about the the hypocrisy there, and the legitimate complaints about conflict of interest (though legitimate doesn't necessarily equate to importance or legitimacy for the overall cause). Though, unlike being a member of a certain race or gender, being a "gamer" isn't a protected characteristic or some disenfranchised minority group. That false equivalency and mentality is part of the problem here. On the other hand, I do understand why women and minorities are concerned about their representation in games and gamers' perception of them (either not giving a shit about or hating them in extreme cases) and recognize that it's greater importance. What I don't really get is why some gamers care so much about those groups caring, and why legitimate concerns about the industry manifest into attacks on those groups, other than the aforementioned hegemony, ignorance, and prejudice. Or, to see it slightly more kindly, it's like there's a defensive "DON'T TAKE MA GUNS!" mentality going back to zero tolerance battles over censorship. #Don'tTakeMyGames or #GamersRights were probably too self-evidently ridiculous as hashtags for a movement, though not by much. Granted, it's not fair to boil everything down to that, but those violations are far more serious and significant than the legitimate gripes of this cause, unfortunately.

Walter said:
You're right. Both sides have been engaging in trench warfare to the point that I don't think anyone is truly rallying for the original campaign that GG started on anymore. It's being driven daily by retaliatory skirmishes at this point. And it's ugly as hell for everyone involved.

You can't disregard the toxic things that have been done, and so it further distances anyone from healthy discourse on the subject, since everyone has become polarized.

Yeah, the extremists on each side have more in common with each other than they do the intellectual leadership of both groups, and vice versa. Some people care and want to talk about it intelligently and probably agree with each other, or at least acknowledge each other's points, but unfortunately most are just looking for an excuse to start fires.
 
Griffith said:
I get what you mean about the the hypocrisy there, and the legitimate complaints about conflict of interest (though legitimate doesn't necessarily equate to importance or legitimacy for the overall cause). Though, unlike being a member of a certain race or gender, being a "gamer" isn't a protected characteristic or some disenfranchised minority group. That false equivalency and mentality is part of the problem here. On the other hand, I do understand why women and minorities are concerned about their representation in games and gamers' perception of them (either not giving a shit about or hating them in extreme cases) and recognize that it's greater importance. What I don't really get is why some gamers care so much about those groups caring, and why legitimate concerns about the industry manifest into attacks on those groups, other than the aforementioned hegemony, ignorance, and prejudice. Or, to see it slightly more kindly, it's like there's a defensive "DON'T TAKE MA GUNS!" mentality going back to zero tolerance battles over censorship. #Don'tTakeMyGames or #GamersRights were probably too self-evidently ridiculous as hashtags for a movement, though not by much. Granted, it's not fair to boil everything down to that, but those violations are far more serious and significant than the legitimate gripes of this cause, unfortunately.

The main reason why I picked those examples was because these weren’t random anonymous trolls. They were professionals with a reasonably sized audience. But there has absolutely been harassment and bile thrown at women and minorities in support of GG. Some from journalists, some from trolls.

Women and minorities have definitely been harassed, doxxed, and sent extremely graphic death threats. Some of the sources I linked earlier go into detail. Hell, Devin Faraci, a professional columnist, doxxed a woman on his twitter feed. GamerGate supporters have also received racist and sexist comments, not the least of which was comparing women who support #NotYourShield to ‘house niggers’.

https://twitter.com/b0ltwolf/status/506172311817711616

I have no reason to believe that the worst trolls who insult, harass, or threaten opponents of GG are in any way shape or form more virtuous than the trolls who do the same to supporters of GG. I don’t support the most toxic elements of either side. Both have shown that they are willing to harm women or minorities in their path.

Personally, I don’t care for click-bait brand ‘socially conscious’ journalism condemning various games. Some in GamerGate talk about it, some don’t. Headlines like ‘Straight White male is the lowest difficulty’, ‘Are video games like rape’, or OMG XBONE’S PRESENTATION HAD WOMEN, or refusal to buy GTAV for not including a female protagonist are not really improving anything in my opinion.

It's sad when videos produced by John McIntosh seem to be the most focused on voice about diversity, as I don't think he has anything valuable to add. This is genuine Poe's law territory:

https://twitter.com/radicalbytes/status/521625425332543490

"The core value of patriarchal masculinity is control. It’s not a coincidence that control is central to many video game mechanics & stories."

:schierke:

If the Gaming Press did more to reach out to emerging video games industries in other countries, I would be far more interested. That would be a way to increase racial diversity, and possibly gender diversity.
 

Griffith

With the streak of a tear, Like morning dew
Groovy Metal Fist said:
The main reason why I picked those examples was because these weren’t random anonymous trolls. They were professionals with a reasonably sized audience.

Alright, but I think we can agree saying those things about gamers, even idly threatening them, isn't the same as doing it to actual disenfranchised groups with histories of violent oppression. There's also the question of whether these were unsolicited stances or a retaliation. I don't know the answer to that, but I can guess that some of the attacks people received, particularly women, in the name of GG caused people to lash out at gamers in ways they normally wouldn't think to. That's where I can't help but see the whole thing as detrimental to all involved.

Groovy Metal Fist said:
GamerGate supporters have also received racist and sexist comments, not the least of which was comparing women who support #NotYourShield to ‘house niggers’.

Well, that's certainly counter-intuitive to their own purported cause, and otherwise offensive, just as the GG trolls undermine their cause's legitimate arguments. More on this below...

Groovy Metal Fist said:
I have no reason to believe that the worst trolls who insult, harass, or threaten opponents of GG are in any way shape or form more virtuous than the trolls who do the same to supporters of GG. I don’t support the most toxic elements of either side. Both have shown that they are willing to harm women or minorities in their path.

Yes, but even if their means are the same, one's purported cause could be more virtuous, their end more justified. Not saying it is, just that two sides engaging in the same uncivil behavior aren't necessarily equally wrong or unjustified in that behavior. Insulting and threatening someone in the name of something as lofty as equal representation, if that's their true motive, is certainly more worthy than doing in the name of video games. Of course, if that is their true aim I imagine they wouldn't be so counterproductive, but I'd be more understanding of somebody getting carried away or taking extreme measures with that passion, even if they're looking for a fight. Unfortunately, it's also basically an unassailable pretense for bad behavior, "I'm a liberal-minded progressive fighting for civil equality, you racist/misogynist piece of shit stereotype I believe in and hate, but it's okay because I've dehumanized you and you deserve it!" It's mostly disappointing because it's so counterproductive to such causes overall, which I'm sure is a frustration the legitimate wing GamerGate is feeling.

Groovy Metal Fist said:
Personally, I don’t care for click-bait brand ‘socially conscious’ journalism condemning various games Some in GamerGate talk about it, some don’t. Headlines like ‘Straight White male is the lowest difficulty’, ‘Are video games like rape’, or OMG XBONE’S PRESENTATION HAD WOMEN, or refusal to buy GTAV for not including a female protagonist are not really improving anything in my opinion.

Obnoxious activist journalism isn't so harmful to anyone though (and I can't say how valid or necessary it is because it simply doesn't speak to my experience; other than I'm enjoying that lowest difficulty =). It's certainly not as bad as the dismissive, vehemently negative, or even violent sentiments it sometimes elicits or exposes. In that way they're sort of self-justifying troll bait, but the trolls and their feelings are already there, and as you've said some of them are more than just anonymous Internet bad guys. I do think representation is undoubtedly a systemic issue in both the gaming establishment, publishers, developers, journalists, and as a result the fanbase they've cultivated (like you and Aaz have said, some of the guys fighting "gamers" now helped create them). Anyway, I don't know what any of this is purportedly improving. I guess when all is said and done we're going to get more lip-service to representation, more lip-service to journalistic ethics, and more bitching from all sides (that'll be the only thing that isn't a token).

Groovy Metal Fist said:
"The core value of patriarchal masculinity is control. It’s not a coincidence that control is central to many video game mechanics & stories."

:schierke:

Maybe that's why I like it so much? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Groovy Metal Fist said:
If the Gaming Press did more to reach out to emerging video games industries in other countries, I would be far more interested. That would be a way to increase racial diversity, and possibly gender diversity.

By accident seems to already be the plan for increasing gender diversity, and even if it works someday, as long as they continue to provide plenty of options for white male protagonists, I won't complain. =)
 
A little good news for all us space lovers, Philae landed on the comet's surface and you can see fascinating pictures on ESA's site - http://blogs.esa.int/rosetta/2014/11/13/philaes-landing-through-rosettas-eye/

xkcd animation of the landing sequence is damn cool

rr81uionhynju4pcckgd.gif
 

Kompozinaut

Sylph Sword
IncantatioN said:
A little good news for all us space lovers, Philae landed on the comet's surface and you can see fascinating pictures on ESA's site - http://blogs.esa.int/rosetta/2014/11/13/philaes-landing-through-rosettas-eye/

Some what tangential: I remember being in 6th grade and my science teacher was discussing Deep Impact vs. Armageddon and how Deep Impact was less probable (She might have used the term "impossible") because landing on a comet was more difficult than landing on a asteroid, like in Armageddon. Something about comets spinning too fast.

Anyway, it's really exciting to see this happen for the first time ever.

Also, as it turns out, apparently Deep Impact is considered more scientifically realistic by astronomers than Armageddon. So thanks, public education.
 

Rhombaad

Video Game Time Traveler
Very exciting news. I was distressed this morning to read that it landed in such a way that it won't be getting the required solar power it needs to recharge its batteries. As a last resort, they may deploy the harpoon or landing gear in order to "hop" the probe to a better location. Right now, it appears to be sitting at an odd angle, about 1 km from the original landing site. Apparently, when it first landed, it hopped 1 km out into space, before taking another small bounce and finally settling.

Even if Philae's batteries don't last long enough for it to complete all of its tasks, it's still a monumental achievement, and the data and images they've collected so far (and will collect) sound very cool.
 

Aazealh

Administrator
Staff member
IncantatioN said:
A little good news for all us space lovers, Philae landed on the comet's surface and you can see fascinating pictures on ESA's site - http://blogs.esa.int/rosetta/2014/11/13/philaes-landing-through-rosettas-eye/

Yeah, it's a great accomplishment for ESA. I was at one of their events all day yesterday and there was a lot of emotion in the air. Here is the first panoramic shot (taken by CIVA) of where Philae currently is: http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Space_Science/Rosetta/Highlights/Panoramic_postcard

Delta Phi said:
Some what tangential: I remember being in 6th grade and my science teacher was discussing Deep Impact vs. Armageddon and how Deep Impact was less probable (She might have used the term "impossible") because landing on a comet was more difficult than landing on a asteroid, like in Armageddon. Something about comets spinning too fast.

Beyond the spinning factor, landing a manned craft on a comet is reaaaally quite infeasible by any standard. They're pretty small, have extremely low gravity, extremely low density (they're made of ice and not rock), and are about as hostile to human life and as it gets. Plus they continuously expulse gas, and that could easily throw a guy off the surface.

Rhombaad said:
I was distressed this morning to read that it landed in such a way that it won't be getting the required solar power it needs to recharge its batteries. As a last resort, they may deploy the harpoon or landing gear in order to "hop" the probe to a better location. Right now, it appears to be sitting at an odd angle, about 1 km from the original landing site. Apparently, when it first landed, it hopped 1 km out into space, before taking another small bounce and finally settling.

Yeah, the propulsion system meant to keep it on the floor when it harpooned wasn't pressurized correctly so it didn't function. It's possible that the harpoons (that were first reported as having fired) then caused it to hop like it did about a kilometer away from Agilkia (its planned landing site).

Rhombaad said:
Even if Philae's batteries don't last long enough for it to complete all of its tasks, it's still a monumental achievement, and the data and images they've collected so far (and will collect) sound very cool.

From what the scientists are saying it's already gathered "extraordinary" data. They're not releasing any of it because it's both too early and they're tied by publication deals with big peer-review journals. They'll keep running all the experiments they can by segments of 12 hours, adjusting each time depending on the results of previous experiments, until they run out of battery. The second, long duration phase is jeopardized, but even then not all is lost. Depending on where Philae is, it's possible that the comet's rotation will eventually bring more sunlight to its solar panels (none of which is broken), not to mention that it's getting closer to the sun, so it could hibernate for a while and then resume operations at a later date. And by skipping some measurements until the very end (specifically the drill-based ones), they could conserve energy to run other experiments for longer. Either way the orbiter will carry on its own precious measurements.
 
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