Visual or Performing Arts Project

Name: Ryan M.
Topic: Video Game Journalism
EQ: What is most important for a games journalist to know?

Idea(s):

• Print out every article that I've written for Hardtoast.com along with some of the other articles and game reviews on that website and create a magazine called the "Toaster Oven."
• I can draw or recreate a video game character but instead of using colors and lines, I will use words that describe the game the character is from. So in other words, it's practically a review but in the shape of the video game character.
• I can also do a live commentary on a game that I play and upload it on youtube to play for the class.

How they relate to my EQ:

• The first one, which is the magazine, relates to my EQ because that is the ultimate end-goal for me, which is to possibly get published in a magazine. I will apply what I learned from service learning to the magazine by formatting and spacing and all that.
• The second one will express my creativity visually by not only writing a review, but having the review in the shape of a video game character.
• The live commentary will express how I have to link my thoughts together quickly and effectively to get my point across. It will help me become a better speaker when it comes to video games, which is a fundamental point in becoming a games journalist.

Interview 4 Questions

1)     What is most important for a games journalist to know?

2)     From my research, I’ve learned that writing towards an audience is a key factor for games journalism. Do you agree that audience is that big a factor? Why or why not?

3)     If yes to #2: When you write, who do you envision as your audience? / If no to #2: When you write, how do you determine what slang terms and vocabulary to use without an audience?

4)     I did a project for science fair relating how an article is rated depending on the length of the article. When you write a review, do you aim towards a long, a short, or an article of in-between length? Why?

5)     From research, many of the sources I used for class state that videogame journalism really isn’t journalism. Do you agree? Why or why not?

6)     If one is serious about game journalism as a career, how would one actually break into it?

7)     When writing a game review, what information do you include in the review? (Like graphics, sound, etc.)

8)     Usually, how many hours go into playing a game before actually writing a review on it (if it depends, an average)? Please elaborate as to why you think that many hours are needed in order to write.

9)     From what I’ve read, most beginning journalists usually just play the game until they beat the main story then write a review. Is it necessary to go any further than that for a review?

10)  How close does a game journalist have to follow the game industry to get the information they need to write about?

11)  How exactly does one follow the game industry?

12)  Are there any writing techniques a game journalist should have at disposal?

13)  If someone wanted to be a game journalist, do they even need to be “good” at writing?

14)  I’ve read that game journalism has really lost its essence because it’s just regurgitation of information from press releases and game developers. Do you agree? Why or why not?

15)  With that being said, is game journalism really unique if every person in game journalism uses the same information?

16)  Who are some of the “big players” currently in games journalism?

17)  What determines the information online as “true” or “credible” so one can use that in an article or post?

18)  What form of games journalism is most successful: TV, internet, or magazines? Why?

19)  Is it true that game journalists have to be flexible (as in writing anything from news, to reviews, to even walkthroughs)? Why or why not?

20)  If you feel that some things were left out, what are some key factors or points that game journalists should have in mind?