I haven’t mentioned much about the whole Kane & Lynch/Gamspot/Jeff Gerstmann thing, as there are better sources for that sort of information from people with more time than me to cover it.
Nevertheless, I’ve been thinking a lot about it, especially from the perspective of blogs. The idea (whether it’s true or not) that video game publishers can strong-arm “enthusiast” publications into providing favorable coverage (previews, media, reviews) has been around for a long time and has always been troubling. Something can and should be done. I have been mulling around with some ideas for buttonmashing.com that may or may not come to fruition, but it’s still something I feel strongly about. Maybe something we can remedy collectively.
However you feel about the whole situation should not stop you from reading N’Gai Croals piece today at his Level Up blog. It’s a must-read.
Kane and Lynch
A review of a game I have never played.
Kane and Lynch is fantastic. Never have I seen such graphics and life like physics. The entire time it was not loaded in my 360 I was like “wow! This rocks!”
Who is Kane? I don’t know. Who is Lynch? Does it matter? All I know is that this game is the best game ever. Sure, the makers of the game pay me plenty to say such things. Sure, I’ll be fired if I am foolishly truthful about the game. None the less. I love this game that I have never played.
@Bosbter – I just got an email from Eidos, the publishers of Kane and Lynch and they said they read your review of their game and they’re sending a check next week for your “great work”.
They said it was low six-figures. Thanks, man!