Reply To: Is it time for some more critical analysis of rule sets

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I don’t like rules that need to be house rules to work.  No two groups of people are playing the same game so if you attend an event you never know what you are actually going to be playing.  When you’re just playing with your family, house rules are fine enough, but any game intended to have a meta should never be dependent on house rules.

One of the Youtube channels I used to follow was the Game Theorist.  He occasionally got paid to do sponsored videos on rare occasions and knew that meant his content might be seen as biased.  As such he would always tell you up front when one of his videos was sponsored.  Maybe there is some way OTT could do something like that and use it as leverage to get their content funded, but unsponsored and therefore unbiased?  Maybe a sticker “This video content was not influenced by money” or some such, so when they give a big thumbs up everyone knows its genuine and not because Steve from Games Inc is off camera with his cheque book.  I don’t really know what it’s like to be in your position on this one.  I like to think you’re big enough in this niche medium that you can throw your weight around and afford to give negative opinions on a product and the company still has to deal with you, as there’s not really anyone else in your position.  That’s probably not as true as we would like though, and even if it is, big in a small niche, is still probably far too close to the breadline.

I like to think you say positive things about games because you want them to be good and you want us to like them, and not because you’re being paid to.  I believe you try for journalistic integrity.  I also suspect that you don’t have the time to play through everything 50 times before saying if it was good or not, and so give a game the benefit of the doubt and go along with the company rep sometimes.  Perfectly understandable, and realistic, but maybe not the dictionary definition of journalistic integrity.  If you keep us informed as to the context of any opinions or reviews then surely we can make informed decisions?  It would be good to hear your opinions on some of the games further down the line though.  That game you were all pimping last year, have you bothered to play it since?  Did you try it in your down time and form your own opinion?

Here’s a thought.  How about an XLBS weekender every few months (Or a separate special show?  The Quarterly Review?) where you get the whole team together and discuss all the games you’ve had on for the past year and see what your current non-cash-influenced opinions actually are now some time has passed.  Could be an interesting chat.