When the review was first published in 2007, it was reported that Electronic Arts were not happy with the review and complained to the magazine’s publishers and editors, resulting in the reviewer no longer being asked or allowed to write reviews for any more The Sims titles.
And the world became a worse place for it.
I enjoy dark satire as much as the next person, but it’s pretty easy to explain why a magazine would not want him to write again after that. They got a fictional tale about a man beating his wife than killing himself when they asked for a review of sims DLC lol
There are two conversations to be had, really. Should EA have had any say over who writes their reviews in unaffiliated magazines? No. Absolutely and unquestionably not. (They definitely do today) Was the article a good review? It was certainly a provocative display of seething hatred for a dlc and the one who delivered it. In that respect, it was good. You certainly know where they stand.
Now the bonus third conversation, is encouraging self harm acceptable when it’s aimed at indescribably wealthy people ruining an industry for their own personal enrichment? I’d say no, personally. Executives drive the cocaine trade and its collapse would mean the end of executives, and they drive the cocaine trade.
I really do get all of this (with one caveat), but if I was running that magazine, EA pressuring or not, I would have to have a talk with that writer. I also imagine this is not the first time they had done something like this. I feel like we are missing a lot of context.
I do not agree we should encourage self harm because of somebody’s social/class status or wealth.
Depends on the magazine and time period whether this would be considered particularly crass. In 07, it was far more acceptable to suggest someone faceless kill themselves. Online etiquette hadn’t become mainstream yet and game magazines were rife with extreme toxicity. Coupled with the fact that the editor let it through, I’m pretty sure EA had a lot to do with the reviewer’s removal. The writer, who continued in the industry elsewhere, has vocally asserted exactly that. Their reviews for sims content packs are scathing but others are reasonable, for perspective. Look up steve hogarty pczone articles if you care to confirm.
And I agree, anyone who isn’t actively ruining society should feel safe within it. Video games aren’t worth any level of moral outrage.
Jesus that got dark.
LOL they hanged that motherfucker for making some crappy DLC. How the mighty have fallen, in the world of game journalism. Where’s their review of Horse Armour?
The sad thing is that 60 digital outfits for $10 would seem like a good deal these days.
I’ll give you one digital outfit for $30. Final offer.
It has particle effects though !
Best I can offer is $90 for a single jock strap.
You’d never be allowed to publish that today.
Technically they weren’t even allowed to publish it back then, there were consequences from EA.
I mean the part about suicide.
Christ
I went sailing today.
How was your punch bowl filled with diamonds 1%er
Bittersweet. It was a shakedown sail with a surveyor. I’m selling my yacht because those microtransactions aren’t working out.
Back when games journalism was good. People today seem to think that journalism is just regurgitating facts.
If you like this can I please suggest you subscribe to the podcast Regular Features immediately.
https://m.soundcloud.com/regularfeatures/tracks
It is a usually 30 minute comedy podcast that’s basically all like this article, and Steve Hogarty is on almost every episode.
I read this in his voice which makes it funnier tbh
Is it just me or does it look like it’s still rated a 5? I hope that’s out of 100.
