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[Lunatic_Gamer]

Japanese media has criticized the gameplay skills of Western game journalists, specifically highlighting a recent IGN preview video for the upcoming cooperative shooter, “Redfall.” The video showcases what users describe as “poor gameplay,” prompting the Japanese website Automaton to question the quality of the content produced by Western game journalists.

IGN’s exclusive gameplay video, released on April 8, features three-player cooperative gameplay as they battle Rook, a powerful enemy in the game. However, the video has been widely criticized for its poor gameplay, with users pointing out the lack of cooperation between players and the apparent unfamiliarity with the game mechanics.

Automaton’s article also notes that the video doesn’t adequately showcase the game’s features, with the character’s abilities being poorly utilized. Examples include Devinder’s teleportation device, the Translocator, being thrown but not used to teleport, and the Arc Javelin electric attack not being effectively employed.

The criticism extends beyond the gameplay itself, with users questioning the professionalism of game journalists who release exclusive preview content without a proper understanding of the game mechanics. This has led to broader concerns about the role of game media, especially as more primary information becomes available directly from game manufacturers.

While being skilled at a game is not a prerequisite for covering game content, a certain level of understanding and gameplay proficiency is essential to effectively showcase a game’s features, particularly in exclusive preview videos. As Redfall’s release date approaches, it remains to be seen if the criticism will prompt Western game journalists to improve their gameplay skills and content quality.

Japanese Media Criticizes Western Game Journalists' Poor Gameplay Skills In Redfall

Japanese media calls out Western game journalists for their poor gameplay skills in a preview video for the highly anticipated game, Redfall.

gameinfinitus.com

 

[mansoor1980]

any news related to this game is for comedy

 

[Pejo]

Games """Journalist""" bad at playing games? Well I never.

Surprised this is the one that Japanese people had an issue with though, we have countless examples of Journalists being inept at playing games and instead seem more interested in talking about the social and political ramifications of games.

Like this ol' classic:

 

[Killer8]

While being skilled at a game is not a prerequisite for covering game content

Hot take: it absolutely should be.

 

[Dr. Claus]

I mean, they are absolutely right. Japanese media can be biased trash, like Famitsu - but its still far more professional than the trash we have in the west.

 

[Gaiff]

Games """Journalist""" bad at playing games? Well I never.

Surprised this is the one that Japanese people had an issue with though, we have countless examples of Journalists being inept at playing games and instead seem more interested in talking about the social and political ramifications of games.

Like this ol' classic:

Exactly where my mind went. Japan will declare war on the west if they ever see this.

Hot take: it absolutely should be.

I don't think you should be skilled but you should at least grasp the basics and be decent so as not to make the game look like shit when we watch you play.

 

[SmokedMeat]

You know you suck when Japan’s making fun of your FPS skills.

 

[Fuz]

Good. Shame those scrubs.

 

[Valt7786]

Man, just wait til they see Polygon's epic Doom skills.

 

[Fuz]

Hot take: it absolutely should be.

Agree. How can you properly test and review something if you're not good at it?

 

[Spyxos]

Games """Journalist""" bad at playing games? Well I never.

Surprised this is the one that Japanese people had an issue with though, we have countless examples of Journalists being inept at playing games and instead seem more interested in talking about the social and political ramifications of games.

Like this ol' classic:

Why are you showing my gameplay footage?

 

[Dynasty8]

Games """Journalist""" bad at playing games? Well I never.

Surprised this is the one that Japanese people had an issue with though, we have countless examples of Journalists being inept at playing games and instead seem more interested in talking about the social and political ramifications of games.

Like this ol' classic:

This isn't real...there's no way this is real.

How the fuck can someone even get a job in this industry if it takes them almost 2 minutes to figure that shit out!?

 

[SlimySnake]

This is on the publisher. Learning GaaS games is a long process that takes dozens of hours. Can’t expect anyone to pick it up and master it in a couple of hours

 

[feynoob]

Why are you showing my gameplay footage?

You must be my lost brother. I had the same issues for a long time.

 

[SteelCurtain 59]

Was IGN the one that had the famous Cuphead journalist that couldn't beat the tutorial or was that another place? Either way it's absurd how somebody can play as many games as a video game journalist and be so terrible, logically you'd think they would improve after enough time. Like there are some genres I'm not at all good at, but outside of aging hand-eye/reflexes it's generally pretty easy to become competent enough to not look like complete garbage

 

[Hypereides]

(...)

Japanese media has criticized the gameplay skills of Western game journalists, specifically highlighting a recent IGN preview video for the upcoming cooperative shooter, “Redfall.” The video showcases what users describe as “poor gameplay,” prompting the Japanese website Automaton to question the quality of the content produced by Western game journalists.

(...)

The criticism extends beyond the gameplay itself, with users questioning the professionalism of game journalists who release exclusive preview content without a proper understanding of the game mechanics. This has led to broader concerns about the role of game media, especially as more primary information becomes available directly from game manufacturers.

While being skilled at a game is not a prerequisite for covering game content, a certain level of understanding and gameplay proficiency is essential to effectively showcase a game’s features, particularly in exclusive preview videos. As Redfall’s release date approaches, it remains to be seen if the criticism will prompt Western game journalists to improve their gameplay skills and content quality.

(...)

Good on the Japanese to call out their western counterpart.

 

[SantaC]

The Japanese has the track record to back up their talk.

 

[Robb]

I don’t think you should be required to be super skilled at all games to be a games journalist, but it’d make sense if it’d at least look like you’re trying to enjoy yourself while playing.

And maybe someone else should at least take a look at the footage that goes out the door before publishing it.

 

[Pejo]

This isn't real...there's no way this is real.

How the fuck can someone even get a job in this industry if it takes them almost 2 minutes to figure that shit out!?

Same Journo has a lesser but still frustrating playthrough of Doom Eternal.

There's no end to ineptitude in that sphere. That's my main problem with games journalists. They hate their audience, and a large percentage of them don't even like games.

Here's another fun excerpt:

 

[mopspear]

Man, just wait til they see Polygon's epic Doom skills.

The Japanese article mentions this and Cuphead. They know.

 

[ChorizoPicozo]

'member?...you cannot spell ignorant without IGN.

 

[Puscifer]

Hot take: it absolutely should be.

To me it's like taking criticism of a book from someone who can't read.

 

[adamsapple]

As Redfall’s release date approaches, it remains to be seen if the criticism will prompt Western game journalists to improve their gameplay skills and content quality.

Spoiler alert: It won't.

 

[kuncol02]

This isn't real...there's no way this is real.

How the fuck can someone even get a job in this industry if it takes them almost 2 minutes to figure that shit out!?

Bethesda is especially "lucky" with journalists like that:

 

[Rentahamster]

This is why I pay attention to streamers and youtubers who have proven their skills, rather than most journalists.

 

[Camreezie]

Based Japan

 

[feynoob]

Camreezie care to explain?
That profile is sus.

 

[Daneel Elijah]

To me it's like taking criticism of a book from someone who can't read.

Someone can be blind or have another infirmity that make reading as we do it impossible and still make do with audio, braille... but yeah I agree. This is even worse. We have games made with ultra easy modes and to see someone fail at even that and be paid to do so...

Camreezie care to explain?
That profile is sus.

This should have been one of the bet options for Starfield date!

 

[Reizo Ryuu]

 

[Gobjuduck]

don’t think game journalists need to be great at playing games, just don’t be horrible. In the case of IGN’s redfall exclusive preview, that was horrible.

 

[Danjin44]

They are too busy criticizing female designs in video games.

 

[yet_another_alt]

Games """Journalist""" bad at playing games? Well I never.

Surprised this is the one that Japanese people had an issue with though, we have countless examples of Journalists being inept at playing games and instead seem more interested in talking about the social and political ramifications of games.

Like this ol' classic:

 

[HoodWinked]

the funny thing is that guy is ethnically Japanese. Dean Takahashi, shameful.

 

[MrA]

Hot take: it absolutely should be.

It is kind of like testing a musical instrument , if you can't play the piano and can't evaluate one

 

[LordCBH]

Good. I don’t think the game looks all that good, but there’s zero excuse for IGN’s employees being that fucking bad at it.

 

[Oh The Travesty]

They should be criticizing western game developers for having poor taste and design skills.

 

[Camreezie]

Camreezie care to explain?
That profile is sus.

Lost the starfield delay avatar bet

 

[ByWatterson]

Hot take: it absolutely should be.

Room temperature take, really.

 

[Punished Miku]

Should've gone with gyro control.

 

[balls of snow]

Then you have inane non-sensical criticism like the infamous 'too much water' review. They dont even like games and are just hype machines.

 

[Mr.Phoenix]

Hot take: it absolutely should be.

Not even a hot take. This is just a fact.

 

[The Tourmaline Gorilla]

It's not the first time.

I've seen so many "game journalists" who absolutely SUCK at video games. So many of them seem to lack the basic fundamentals, and understanding of universal game mechanics, and it really, really, really makes you wonder about these reviews and the scores that go along with them...

 

[drotahorror]

Tbf I would probably look like an idiot trying to play a 30fps, FPS with likely shit controls and deadzone issues.

Yo capcom why you put out RE4 with 25% deadzone? Japanese much? Amazing game but that was really fucked up for Xbox peoples. Maybe it was a sneak attack on the westerners.

 

[Power Pro]

Games """Journalist""" bad at playing games? Well I never.

Surprised this is the one that Japanese people had an issue with though, we have countless examples of Journalists being inept at playing games and instead seem more interested in talking about the social and political ramifications of games.

Like this ol' classic:

I've seen this plenty of times, but it still gets me. I'm usually not the kind of person who likes to laugh at the misfortunate of others, but this is kinda aggravating when these people are paid to do what I do for fun. This video is like parody of being bad at video games, I just can't believe it.

 

[mhirano]

Western jornalist sucks?
The japanese have a word for that, but i can’t really remember…

 

[darth.shrimp]

Bethesda is especially "lucky" with journalists like that:

To be honest, I beat the game in the second hardest difficulty... but I wouldn't do much better than this video if you made me play with a controller.

 

[Teslerum]

I don’t think you should be required to be super skilled at all games to be a games journalist, but it’d make sense if it’d at least look like you’re trying to enjoy yourself while playing.

And maybe someone else should at least take a look at the footage that goes out the door before publishing it.

You should be skilled in some way. Even if it means that you specialize in certain types of games. That way you can judge the game more accurately including having more thought of opinions on a game's systems and how they're utilized.

Additional research and possibly getting in a or multiple second opinions add to it.

That's the necessary effort for quality content.

 

[GymWolf]

This is why you should never fully believe what media says about gameplay, combat systems and level of challenge.

 

[fermcr]

Since most gamers are bad at playing games, I don't see the problem here...
Most gamers will play Redfall the same way, or worse, then those gaming journalists.

Should only great players review ou showcase games?... Short answer is NO.

 

[Robb]

You should be skilled in some way. Even if it means that you specialize in certain types of games. That way you can judge the game more accurately including having more thought of opinions on a game's systems and how they're utilized.

Additional research and possibly getting in a or multiple second opinions add to it.

That's the necessary effort for quality content.

That’s definitely an advantage. Although I think it’s more important to have knowledge about genres and be able to convey what makes the game unique relative to other games in the same genre on a fairly deep level, what works and what doesn’t etc. so that new players as well as those who enjoy those types of games know if it’s for them or not.

I guess what it boils down to is a deep/genuine interest in the game and genre you’re reviewing. Sometimes I feel these outlets just hire someone who has good journalist credentials on paper but don’t care much for games or the industry.