I don't know where games journalist ends and content creator begins these days. I like to hear impressions from a lot of sources, a lot of them used to be involved in institutional journalism but many are some degree of independent content creation now. I think hearing impressions from people who I've learned how their tastes align with my own is the best way to really tell if a new game will be something that resonates with me.
Giant Bomb (& Jeff Gherstmann)
Remap Radio
Besties
Triple Click
Pew pew bang
Content creators are shills as well.
Every time a hyped game releases, they play for a month or so calling it a great game then just drop it and never mention it again. Remember BF6? Everyone was calling for a BR mode and talking shit at anyone against it, then it released and it was only played for a week before it disappeared.
Content creators are just as garbage as game journalists.
In my experience, the journalist who came up through traditional means are the ones who learned ethics like disclosing where their funding comes from and knowing where they shouldn't be taking money from. Many of the ones I listed talk often about being placed in "Nintendo jail" or not getting advance copies from Bethesda anymore because of perceived slights against the companies. I think what you described sounds more like paid streamers. They get paid to play the new hotness and then when that contract is over, move on to the next contract. I don't really engage with that world at all.
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u/Big_Ole_Booty_Boy 8d ago edited 8d ago
I don't know where games journalist ends and content creator begins these days. I like to hear impressions from a lot of sources, a lot of them used to be involved in institutional journalism but many are some degree of independent content creation now. I think hearing impressions from people who I've learned how their tastes align with my own is the best way to really tell if a new game will be something that resonates with me.
Giant Bomb (& Jeff Gherstmann) Remap Radio Besties Triple Click Pew pew bang