Nintendo Refuses to do Controversial Interview with EGM

[FriskyTanuki]

http://www.1up.com/do/blogEntry?bId=8020638&publicUserId=5379799
Any day now, some of you will start getting the May issue in the mail. In that one, I explain that our interview with Nintendo prez Reggie Fils-Aime got canceled. :( It took me five months of multiple phone calls and emails to land that interview finally, but then Nintendo pulled it from us because they're not happy with our group right now. I can't get into any details about why (because it's sensitive stuff we're working out with Nintendo at the moment), but I just wanted to let you all know that the Reggie interview isn't happening like we promised, not through lack of trying on our part!
They've been doing these same type of interviews for the past two issues with Sony and Microsoft, but apparently Nintendo refused to take their turn because of some beef they have with EGM. The previous idea for these interviews was to have all three being interviewed at once, but Nintendo screwed up those plans, as well. This just seems to be another example of Nintendo being a hassle for the media to work with. I have to wonder what the problem is and why it's keeping this interview from happening.

[PawnTakesKing]

I love Nintendo, but they sure can be pricks sometimes. EGM probably jokingly used the Wii as a phallic reference, and thus...EMBARGO'D!

[gunm]

But do any of these interviews ultimately mean anything? Honestly, sometimes it's like doing the post game interview with an athlete--completely generic and unecessary.

Unless Dan Hsu is just trying to grab quotables a la the Jack Tretton/Sony interview. "Reggie will pay $1200 to anyone who can find a Wii sitting on the shelf for more than 24 hours"...etc etc...

[Blitz]

I don't really know why they pulled out but good for them. EGM sucks. The interviews are pointless anyway.

Sony should learn to say no like Nintendo so they don't say stupid shit like they always do.

[Scrubking]

Not news. Especially when you consider the massive amount of interviews that pop up every freaking week.

EGM is probably making up all this controversy crap just to get attention, sales, etc.

[drfunk85]

It seems like they are just out to make Nintendo look bad. If the interview isn't happening, just say it. Don't push all the blame onto Nintendo by saying "I can't tell you what happened but Nintendo is doing it out of spite". Yet he goes on to say it is sensitive and they're working on it with Nintendo. If it's really so sensitive then you shouldn't have put all the blame on them and just not said anything. Or maybe there is probably a reason for them to be pissed at you in the first place.

[RelentlessRolento]

amen to nintendo, fuck EGM the press isn't God.

[Reality's Fringe]

I think it's because Shane Battenhausen disclosed info on Super Paper Mario after Nintendo repeatedly asked them to wait a little longer. Additionally, there's the issue of this guy named Luke who did 1UP podcasts and accussed Perrin Kaplan of sleeping ith Matt Cass. from IGN.

As for that comment, Hsu really rubs me the wrong way. He either needs to specify, or just not mention it. He did the EXACT same thing with his editorial on how gaming journalism is losing its integrity. I'm wondering if EGM is starting to realize its insignificance in the new "gaming community?" At anyrate, Reggie already did a pretty rough interview with some other website. Ngai? N-something. I'll try to find it.

[zewone]

Wack. Reggie isn't kicking ass or taking names. Dude is scared of an interview.

[RelentlessRolento]

Wack. Reggie isn't kicking ass or taking names. Dude is scared of an interview.


sounds more like taking control. EGM is their bitch. If nintendo dosn't like something, they'll shut their bitch out. ;)

[porieux]

Given the abysmally poor 'journalism' in EGM I wouldn't blame them for not giving an interview. If they want to be taken seriously, they have a lot of work to do.

[62t]

Remember that Wii/PS3 comparison last year where EGM said PS3 was better in head to head? Or even the gamecube/xbox/PS2 compassion? Read the interview with Sony and Nintendo did the right thing to turn it down.

[zewone]

Given the abysmally poor 'journalism' in EGM I wouldn't blame them for not giving an interview. If they want to be taken seriously, they have a lot of work to do.
Who do you take seriously in videogame journalism?

[gunm]

I think it's because Shane Battenhausen disclosed info on Super Paper Mario after Nintendo repeatedly asked them to wait a little longer. Additionally, there's the issue of this guy named Luke who did 1UP podcasts and accussed Perrin Kaplan of sleeping ith Matt Cass. from IGN.

As for that comment, Hsu really rubs me the wrong way. He either needs to specify, or just not mention it. He did the EXACT same thing with his editorial on how gaming journalism is losing its integrity. I'm wondering if EGM is starting to realize its insignificance in the new "gaming community?" At anyrate, Reggie already did a pretty rough interview with some other website. Ngai? N-something. I'll try to find it.

N'gai Croal? You mean this one?

http://ncroal.talk.newsweek.com/default.asp?item=552102

[rodeojones903]

I think it's because Shane Battenhausen disclosed info on Super Paper Mario after Nintendo repeatedly asked them to wait a little longer.




You mean the same thing that Kotaku did to Sony, but then everyone bashed Sony when they canceled some stuff with Kotaku? But its a good thing for Nintendo to do it? Thats a double standard if I have ever seen one.

I am not a fan of EGM, but these last few interviews EGM did really ask some good questions about the downsides and problems the consoles were having. It really looks like Nintendo didnt want to answer the hard questions that they knew were coming their way.

[Corvin]

I don't think so, N-Gai didn't go soft on Reggie. EGM didn't follow the rules.

I think it's because Shane Battenhausen disclosed info on Super Paper Mario after Nintendo repeatedly asked them to wait a little longer. Additionally, there's the issue of this guy named Luke who did 1UP podcasts and accussed Perrin Kaplan of sleeping ith Matt Cass. from IGN.

As for that comment, Hsu really rubs me the wrong way. He either needs to specify, or just not mention it. He did the EXACT same thing with his editorial on how gaming journalism is losing its integrity. I'm wondering if EGM is starting to realize its insignificance in the new "gaming community?" At anyrate, Reggie already did a pretty rough interview with some other website. Ngai? N-something. I'll try to find it.

Yep on both accounts. The N-gai interview was great. Could have been longer though.

As for EGM, I enjoyed the previous interviews with Sony and MS and was looking forward to this one. But if they want to play hardball they need to reign in their talent whom all think they are gaming gods all of a sudden from the popularity of their podcasts. Nintendo has an embargo on a review, play by the rules. Claiming a top Nintendo exec is sleeping with the competition? Mudslinging at its best. Shue needs to get a grip on his employees and stop blaming Nintendo for their own employee's idiocy.

Shane is just a fratboy dick totally blinded by Sony bias, almost to the point of making you wonder how big a check Sony sends him weekly for the only positive press they get these days.

Luke started out entertaining but now just says shit just to rile things up, but at least he can still have some good days unlike Shane. John and Garnett are the only level headed people on the show these days.

Take the last podcast where they were ripping on a game they haven't even seen, Mario & Sonic at the Olympics. Not a single shot has been shown, details about which sports are in it, how the Wiimote will work, nada. Yet they rip into it like crazy. It was very forced and sounded ridiculous not to mention unprofessional for a "journalist."

The podcast is still one of my favorites, but it is sinking due to the ginormous egos of the personalities.

[Reality's Fringe]

You mean the same thing that Kotaku did to Sony, but then everyone bashed Sony when they canceled some stuff with Kotaku. But its a good thing for Nintendo to do it?

I am not a fan of EGM, but these last few interviews EGM did really did ask some good questions about the downsides and problems the consoles were having. It really looks like Nintendo didnt want to answer the hard questions that they knew were coming their way.


I didn't say I agreed with it, I was making a statement. And those problems are addressed in pretty much every interview given to internet gaming sites. How many times do we have to hear the same responses about Red Rings, the high price of the Ps3, or the future of the Wii 3rd party support before people realize that corporate mouthpieces WON'T give any real insight? Obfuscation is their job.

[FriskyTanuki]

I think it's because Shane Battenhausen disclosed info on Super Paper Mario after Nintendo repeatedly asked them to wait a little longer. Additionally, there's the issue of this guy named Luke who did 1UP podcasts and accussed Perrin Kaplan of sleeping ith Matt Cass. from IGN.

As for that comment, Hsu really rubs me the wrong way. He either needs to specify, or just not mention it. He did the EXACT same thing with his editorial on how gaming journalism is losing its integrity. I'm wondering if EGM is starting to realize its insignificance in the new "gaming community?" At anyrate, Reggie already did a pretty rough interview with some other website. Ngai? N-something. I'll try to find it.
Repeatedly? He asked people what they wanted to know about the game in his blog when he thought it was allowable under the NDA. God forbid he wanted to let people know about a game that they might want to play. He removed it as soon as he found out about the problem. How's that enough to pull interviews? As for the Perrin Kaplan thing, they don't like each other as she called him an asshole when he suggested that the Wii could've been done as a peripheral for the GameCube at E3. Luke has nothing to do with EGM, so I doubt that that's the cause for it.

I don't get why explaining to the readers why the feature they were expecting isn't in the issue is a bad thing. If they just wrote "There will be no interview with Reggie." in place of the interview, what are people supposed to think? What does N'Gai Croal's interview with Reggie have to do with Nintendo cancelling this one? Five months spent to get the interview scheduled and it's cancelled for some beef, which they're working to resolve. Why ruin that by spilling the exact reason for Nintendo cancelling on them?

[rodeojones903]

I didn't say I agreed with it,

I realize that and I worded my statement wrong a little bit so it seemed like it was towards you. It was referring more toward the other people that are praising Nintendo for doing this in the thread so far.

[rabbitt]

You mean the same thing that Kotaku did to Sony, but then everyone bashed Sony when they canceled some stuff with Kotaku? But its a good thing for Nintendo to do it? Thats a double standard if I have ever seen one.

I am not a fan of EGM, but these last few interviews EGM did really did ask some good questions about the downsides and problems the consoles were having. It really looks like Nintendo didnt want to answer the hard questions that they knew were coming their way.

I agree with both comments here.

[Reality's Fringe]

Repeatedly? He asked people what they wanted to know about the game in his blog when he thought it was allowable under the NDA. God forbid he wanted to let people know about a game that they might want to play. He removed it as soon as he found out about the problem. How's that enough to pull interviews? As for the Perrin Kaplan thing, they don't like each other as she called him an asshole when he suggested that the Wii could've been done as a peripheral for the GameCube at E3. Luke has nothing to do with EGM, so I doubt that that's the cause for it.

I don't get why explaining to the readers why the feature they were expecting isn't in the issue is a bad thing. If they just wrote "There will be no interview with Reggie." in place of the interview, what are people supposed to think? What does N'Gai Croal's interview with Reggie have to do with Nintendo cancelling this one? Five months spent to get the interview scheduled and it's cancelled for some beef, which they're working to resolve. Why ruin that by spilling the exact reason for Nintendo cancelling on them?

It's enough to pull an interview if the company who made the game wants to. Luke has a connection with EGM through 1up as EGM is an extension of 1up(or vice versa). Guilt by association I guess.

The Ngai review isn't related to this specific incident, but it should be known that Dan Hsu isn't the only person on this planet to ask these "hard-hitting questions".

Additionally, if Hsu wasn't ready to spill the reason, he should have just said that Nintendo had to temporarily decline the interview and leave it at that; not put out some nebulous insinuation that it's all because of Nintendo, and there's no fault of EGM. They're both involved in this little high-school dispute.

[hiccupleftovers]

http://www.1up.com/do/blogEntry?bId=8020638&publicUserId=5379799

They've been doing these same type of interviews for the past two issues with Sony and Microsoft, but apparently Nintendo refused to take their turn because of some beef they have with EGM. The previous idea for these interviews was to have all three being interviewed at once, but Nintendo screwed up those plans, as well. This just seems to be another example of Nintendo being a hassle for the media to work with. I have to wonder what the problem is and why it's keeping this interview from happening.

Who gives a shit. One less interview to read and EGM has already shown in the past that they're a pain in the ass to deal with. There are plenty of interviews from the gaming community and industry out there and that continue to be published every week, so no loss.

[hiccupleftovers]

It's enough to pull an interview if the company who made the game wants to. Luke has a connection with EGM through 1up as EGM is an extension of 1up. Guilt by association I guess.

The Ngai review isn't related to this specific incident, but it should be known that Dan Hsu isn't the only person on this planet to ask these "hard-hitting questions".

And if Hsu isn't ready to spill the reason, he should have just said that Nintendo had to temporarily decline the interview and leave it at that. Not put out some nebulous insinuation that it's all because of Nintendo, and no fault of EGM. They're both involved in this little high-school dispute.

Agreed fully. I hope that Nintendo doesn't give any interview to EGM just to spite them.

[rodeojones903]

Agreed fully. I hope that Nintendo doesn't give any interview to EGM just to spite them.


So you agree that Sony was 100% correct in the way they handled the Kotaku fiasco before they "unblackballed" them?

[Reality's Fringe]

So you agree that Sony was 100% correct in the way they handled the Kotaku fiasco before they "unblackballed" them?

Sony was well within their right to do whatever, regardless of whether or not it was a dick-maneuver. Nintendo has this same right, regardless of whether we think it's right or wrong.

Personally, it's asinine for the interview to be pulled simply because someone spilled some info on SPM, but without knowing if there's more to it, who knows?
Maybe EGM offended Reggie somehow? All I know is that I get EGM for free, and that's just because it takes me a few minutes to defecate.

[FriskyTanuki]

It's enough to pull an interview if the company who made the game wants to. Luke has a connection with EGM through 1up as EGM is an extension of 1up. Guilt by association I guess.

The Ngai review isn't related to this specific incident, but it should be known that Dan Hsu isn't the only person on this planet to ask these "hard-hitting questions".

And if Hsu isn't ready to spill the reason, he should have just said that Nintendo had to temporarily decline the interview and leave it at that. Not put out some nebulous insinuation that it's all because of Nintendo, and no fault of EGM. They're both involved in this little high-school dispute.
Pulling an interview because of a temporary mistake would be one of the stupidest things I've ever heard of if that's somehow true. That would incredibly childish of Nintendo to do that because it's not like Shane refused to pull it when corrected. Which episode of 1up Yours did Luke make the claim that Kaplan slept with the IGN dude because I don't believe that it was a serious claim in any regard.

It just sounds like your point is that Nintendo is incredibly thin-skinned and looks at every single word said about them to find any reason at all to not work with anybody. That's not a good reason.

The N'Gai interview wasn't as "hard-hitting" as you're claiming it to be. He picked out some issues that Nintendo was having and let them respond to it and then moved on without a second thought. It mostly seemed like the interview was rushed compared to his interview with Phil Harrison.

The readers have a right to know why promised features aren't hitting, especially when they've been talking about it for four months now. They did the same thing with the huge world-exclusive Spider-Man 3 cover was supposed to hit last fall, but Sam Raimi didn't want to show off anything about the movie that early and pulled the plug on the cover, so they went to Red Octane and got the GHII cover.

Who gives a shit. One less interview to read and EGM has already shown in the past that they're a pain in the ass to deal with. There are plenty of interviews from the gaming community and industry out there and that continue to be published every week, so no loss.
:lol: "There are other interviews out there. No loss." The point is that people want to hear more than just the company line on what's been happening with Nintendo lately and this cancellation seems like they wussed out while Sony and Microsoft were happy to do these interviews.

[yukine]

Nintendo has no reason to shy away from "hard hitting questions" from EGM. The interview had to of been pulled for a more sinister reason on EGM/1UP's part.

Or Reggie just doesn't like them...

[schuerm26]

who the hell cares

[TimPV3]

No offense to this thread, but who gives a shit? I'm willing to wager 80% of Wii owners have never read an EGM anyway.

[Reality's Fringe]

Pulling an interview because of a temporary mistake would be one of the stupidest things I've ever heard of if that's somehow true. That would incredibly childish of Nintendo to do that because it's not like Shane refused to pull it when corrected. Which episode of 1up Yours did Luke make the claim that Kaplan slept with the IGN dude because I don't believe that it was a serious claim in any regard.

Yeah, it would be lame. As for the episode, I don't know. It's been a while, and joke or not, he still said it. People take jokes the wrong way all the time.



It just sounds like your point is that Nintendo is incredibly thin-skinned and looks at every single word said about them to find any reason at all to not work with anybody. That's not a good reason.

No, my point is that they're within their rights to pull the interview if they don't like something(and pretty much every comapny is "thin-skinned" in relation to its PR). I never said it was a good reason.


The N'Gai interview wasn't as "hard-hitting" as you're claiming it to be. He picked out some issues that Nintendo was having and let them respond to it and then moved on without a second thought. It mostly seemed like the interview was rushed compared to his interview with Phil Harrison.

Same can be said for all of Dan Hsu's interviews. His interviews always end up with some variation of issues tossed around on message boards which never get any real responses outside of marketing and doublespeak. The Ngai interview asked general questions about the Wii's potential 3rd party issues, which is what I'm assuming Hsu would ask, in addition to something about the power of the hardware to which Reggie would reply that power isn't in their strategy ,, then he'd ask about some people claiming the motion control doesn't work that well to which Reggie would cite user-end problems or dev issues, and so on and so forth until the interview ends, nothing new comes out, and Hsu can pat himself on the back.


The readers have a right to know why promised features aren't hitting, especially when they've been talking about it for four months now. They did the same thing with the huge world-exclusive Spider-Man 3 cover was supposed to hit last fall, but Sam Raimi didn't want to show off anything about the movie that early and pulled the plug on the cover, so they went to Red Octane and got the GHII cover.

Yeah, they should know why they're not hitting, which is why I don't like it when Hsu makes those thinly veiled statements. My original solution was more in line with what he could have said to avoid the appearance of finger-pointing, but if he's going to mention something specific and then quickly dismiss it; what's the fucking point?

If Reggie got all offended about something, he should grab his balls and just get over it, but it's his perogative.

[rodeojones903]

No offense to this thread, but who gives a shit? I'm willing to wager 80% of Wii owners have never read an EGM anyway.

Nintendo Power 4 life!


It's because there are questions that people want to know about the wii that might have been asked in the interview, and because gaming sites blew up with the anti Sony rhetoric when Sony did the same thing.

[RollingSkull]

I thought it was perfectly within both Sony's and Nintendo's rights to blackball. Journalists aren't the boss of you.

[Roufuss]

I thought it was perfectly within both Sony's and Nintendo's rights to blackball. Journalists aren't the boss of you.

One can argue it's those same journalists that can influence game sales, however.

Look at all the people out there who say "Oh, such and such game scored a 5, I think I'm going to pass now"... those people are definitely in the majority. It's a fine line they both walk. It'll hurt a magazine when they are denied an exclusive, but it'll hurt sales if EGM decided to just blast the next Nintendo game with 4's.

Sure, the educated people will see through it, but 90% of people will go "Mario Party 8 got a 3? This game must blow".

[Dr Mario Kart]

It was my understanding that there is no significant correlation between review scores and sales

[FriskyTanuki]

Yeah, it would be lame. As for the episode, I don't know. It's been a while, and joke or not, he still said it. People take jokes the wrong way all the time.
Then why talk about it like it's a serious claim if you don't know the context that it was said in.

No, my point is that they're within their rights to pull the interview if they don't like something(and pretty much every comapny is "thin-skinned" in relation to its PR). I never said it was a good reason.
Not really. Sony and Jack Tretton were definitely willing to do these interviews and not take much offense to what EGM's said about them in the past. If you click the link, they've put the Sony interview on 1up now with some new stuff in it. Even Peter Moore came back to go at it with Shoe after the big deal that was made of his first interview about the 360 launch. Peter Moore even supposedly hates Shane because of the Kameo review, but that didn't stop him from doing the review.

Same can be said for all of Dan Hsu's interviews. His interviews always end up with some variation of issues tossed around on message boards which never get any real responses outside of marketing and doublespeak. The Ngai interview asked general questions about the Wii's potential 3rd party issues, which is what I'm assuming Hsu would ask, in addition to something about the power of the hardware to which Reggie would reply that power isn't in their strategy ,, then he'd ask about some people claiming the motion control doesn't work that well to which Reggie would cite user-end problems or dev issues, and so on and so forth until the interview ends, nothing new comes out, and Hsu can pat himself on the back.
Shoe pursues avenues when they make their appearance in an interview. Remember the whole deal about paying $1200 per PS3 on store shelves and if you check out the director's cut edition of the interview, he and Jack get into an argument over the whole issue about not including component or HDMI cables with the PS3. The whole feeling I get from the N'Gai interview is that he seems to butter up the interviewee when he asks the questions so that they'll give him a good response.


Yeah, they should know why they're not hitting, which is why I don't like it when Hsu makes those thinly veiled statements. My original solution was more in line with what he could have said to avoid the appearance of finger-pointing, but if he's going to mention something specific and then quickly dismiss it; what's the fucking point?

If Reggie got all offended about something, he should grab his balls and just get over it, but it's his perogative.
He let the readers in on what's up with the interview not being done instead of either being really vague or calling Nintendo a bunch of bitches that can't handle being interviewed like Jack or Peter had gotten months before. Why should he spill the beans on the reason, potentially causing backlash on Nintendo or shooting themselves in the foot and leading to the interview not happening at all?

[elprincipe]

gaming journalism is losing its integrity.

BWAhahaha! Thanks for the big laugh! Since when did gaming "journalism" (in the loosest possible sense of the word) have any integrity? EGM totally blows, especially compared to their semi-decent days of the early '90s...not that their competition isn't just as bad or even worse, mind you.

[Puffa469]

It was my understanding that there is no significant correlation between review scores and sales

Millions of copies of 50 Cent: Bulletproof agree with you.

[FriskyTanuki]

I thought it was perfectly within both Sony's and Nintendo's rights to blackball. Journalists aren't the boss of you.
Of course they aren't, but the big three need to work with them for the long run. They can't expect the press to just roll over and let them dictate everything, like they don't want to talk about Nintendo's games and let the fans know more about the games they're interested in. There's a symbiotic relationship between the two and neither one can afford to pull any stunts on the other one. It only hurts the readers/fans in the long run.

[Scrubking]

Sure, the educated people will see through it, but 90% of people will go "Mario Party 8 got a 3? This game must blow".

So you believe that 90% of all gamers take the word of game mags as gospel and only make purchases based on their opinion?

I know a lot of gamers are young and impressionable (like all you guys who happen to know all the names of the writers for some mag. WTF?), but the truth is that mags hardly influence anybody anymore. And even if they do most gamers are smart enough to go on the web and get another opinion in your typical "should I get X game" thread, etc. Mags are dying and will soon be extinct. Their influence diminishes every day.

And speaking of EGM, I don't believe anything that mag says after an episode of a videogame show on Spike where the editor in chief admitted to giving good scores in exchange for all the swag they get. This pretty much applies to all "major" videogame media, but his admission was so blatant and who cares that I couldn't believe it.

For those of you who don't know almost all of the "major" game media is biased and in the pocket of some game company at some point in time. Who do you think pays the advertisements that makes these mags and websites possible? How do you think these idiots who dress up in torn up jeans and nasty ass T-shirts get awesome exclusives and interviews? It certainly isn't their journalistic integrity.

[Vinny]

I was looking forward to this... while I don't have much respect for EGm anymore, I did enjoy these new interviews in which the interviewer actually asks some questions that people don't like to answer.

Of course, somehow, I knew Nintendo would bitch out.

[jer7583]

First of all, Nintendo of America is a figurehead. Nintendo of Japan runs the show, and this is completely unsurprising of them to deny an interview, especially after how harsh the results of the Sony interview were. Japanese magazines don't ask these kinds of questions, and japanese companies don't expect to have to answer them. Nobody should be surprised here, it's not up to Reggie or anyone at NoA what NoA does 90% of the time.

The Sony/Kotaku issue was completely different. Kotaku published a rumor from a 3rd party, and Sony attempted to control the flow of information from an outside source.

Bettenhausen published information disclosed under NDA from Nintendo, and they attempted to control the spread of that information. Would have been no different from Microsoft had EGM started blabbing about the shadowrun beta before the NDA was over.

[Rig]

Lots of EGM hate in here.

I read the magazine when I get it. (From 6669's free thread.) Most of the stuff is dated, since I see everything on the Internet before the issue can get out.

But, I really enjoyed the Microsoft and Sony interviews. That kind of stuff isn't seen everyday online, so I felt they were a good read. And being a huge fan of Nintendo's, I really wanted to see their interview. (I was looking forward to it more than the other two.)

Disappointing to hear it got cancelled. I hope they settle the matter and get the interview in the near future.

[David85]

My thoughts...

1. What the fuck Nintendo?
2. Who cares?
3. What's up Nintendo's ass?
4. Who really cares about these pointless things.
5. Way to make yourself more like an ass Nintendo.

[schuerm26]

My thoughts...

1. What the fuck Nintendo?
2. Who cares?
3. What's up Nintendo's ass?
4. Who really cares about these pointless things.
5. Way to make yourself more like an ass Nintendo.

You guys do realize that you are attempting to make a big deal out of something that probably 99% of people who play video games won't even have any clue about? (refering to #1 and #5 mainly)

[crazytalkx]

EGM sucks now. As it has for the last 5 or so years. Gone are the days of 200+ page issues, replaced with 100 pagers (which half are ads anyways) and a trendy look/attitude.

[Kapwanil]

EGM sucks now. As it has for the last 5 or so years. Gone are the days of 200+ page issues, replaced with 100 pagers (which half are ads anyways) and a trendy look/attitude.

Could be worse. It could have ended up akin to PSM's somewhat gradual incorporation of a sizable portion of Ultra Game Player's (or whatever that magazine was called years ago) staff and, thus, their sense of humor and whatnot. Granted, it wasn't too bad if you enjoyed that sort of thing, but all of the pre-teen "humor" and whatnot was pretty dated back in '94 so touching upon all of that again in around '98 and '99 was a bit silly.

But I do miss those huge issues, though. Same reason I miss GMR, strangely enough. GMR didn't necessarily have a lot of content page-wise but they made up for it in exclusives and unique articles. I'm sorry but a 6+ page spread on SHMUP history and which titles everyone should give a shot? Same with other game genres and worthwhile titles to either import or pray make it to the US? That was always good.

[yukine]

EGM is alright for being free, you'd have to be an idiot to pay for a magazine subscription nowadays though.

[shaunLEGEND]

Guys, Dan Hsu responded on GAF...he doesn't go into details but at least you know a little more:

Hey guys... (I'm probably gonna regret coming on here http://www.neogaf.com/forum/images/smilies/smile.gif )

I tweaked the wording in my blog to be a little more clear.

It's not the line of questioning that turned Nintendo off. We never even got to the interview, so they didn't know what we were going to ask (but they could probably figure out the interview style if they read our previous ones with Sony and Microsoft).

When I said it was "no fault of our own" I meant EGM specifically didn't do anything to get that interview pulled. There was a Paper Mario embargo incident, yes, but that wasn't why the interview was pulled. Sorry I didn't make that clear.

It wasn't just one phone call or email over five months. It was many, many calls and emails. And I'm not whining about that. http://www.neogaf.com/forum/images/smilies/smile.gif But why I had to mention this all... it started with a blog about the old Peter Moore interview (the one the "glowing balls" Penny Arcade is based on). On it, people accused me of being anti-Xbox with that interview, and I had to tell them that we would interview Sony and Nintendo as well (in the same way), after their respective consoles had launched. I didn't know at the time that I wouldn't end up doing the Nintendo interview a year later.... Also, in our last issue of EGM, we promised readers the Nintendo interview was happening next month, because at the time of print, Nintendo had finally said yes. But then after that issue shipped, things hit the fan and the interview was no longer granted, so I had to say something to our readers to explain why it's missing (before people started accusing us of being soft on Nintendo and anti-360 and anti-PS3).

But I absolutely agree that the first way that I wrote this on my blog, it sounded chicken-shittish. So I added a part about why I couldn't explain the details (because we're currently in sensitive talks with Nintendo). But I hope you understand *why* I had to announce this no-interview in the first place. I don't know if I needed to bring it up if so many people weren't expecting it.

I think that covers most of it...except the part about being a talentless hack. I'm working on that!

-shoe

[Technique]

Who knows what made Nintendo cancel their interview with EGM? We can all speculate why they did, but does anyone really no the true reason(s)? Let's hear the whole story before we start flipping shit over either of these companies.

[RollingSkull]

Of course they aren't, but the big three need to work with them for the long run. They can't expect the press to just roll over and let them dictate everything, like they don't want to talk about Nintendo's games and let the fans know more about the games they're interested in. There's a symbiotic relationship between the two and neither one can afford to pull any stunts on the other one. It only hurts the readers/fans in the long run.

No they don't NEED to. They can just not. They can put out their own publications, or we can switch to a different model. There's ALWAYS a choice.

[Corvin]

So you agree that Sony was 100% correct in the way they handled the Kotaku fiasco before they "unblackballed" them?

Apples to oranges. Kotaku spilled the beans on a top-secret new project that will end up being a big step in the PS3s life. A project Sony wasn't ready to announce.

Shane spilled the beans on a Gamecube game that was supposed to be out a year prior that everyone already knew about. All he was doing was giving an impression on an already announced game a few weeks prior to launch. A game that had screenshots and videos available already.

[Mr. Anderson]

Apples to oranges. Kotaku spilled the beans on a top-secret new project that will end up being a big step in the PS3s life. A project Sony wasn't ready to announce.

Shane spilled the beans on a Gamecube game that was supposed to be out a year prior that everyone already knew about. All he was doing was giving an impression on an already announced game a few weeks prior to launch. A game that had screenshots and videos available already.

SPM was supposed to come out last April? That's news to me! :roll:

[RedvsBlue]

Nintendo probably needs to remember that it was only through media hype that their console has sold as well as it has...

[-Never4ever-]

So you believe that 90% of all gamers take the word of game mags as gospel and only make purchases based on their opinion?

I know a lot of gamers are young and impressionable (like all you guys who happen to know all the names of the writers for some mag. WTF?), but the truth is that mags hardly influence anybody anymore. And even if they do most gamers are smart enough to go on the web and get another opinion in your typical "should I get X game" thread, etc. Mags are dying and will soon be extinct. Their influence diminishes every day.

And speaking of EGM, I don't believe anything that mag says after an episode of a videogame show on Spike where the editor in chief admitted to giving good scores in exchange for all the swag they get. This pretty much applies to all "major" videogame media, but his admission was so blatant and who cares that I couldn't believe it.

For those of you who don't know almost all of the "major" game media is biased and in the pocket of some game company at some point in time. Who do you think pays the advertisements that makes these mags and websites possible? How do you think these idiots who dress up in torn up jeans and nasty ass T-shirts get awesome exclusives and interviews? It certainly isn't their journalistic integrity.

Game Head on Spike right? I saw that show, and that was more of a joke than anything. One of those "of course we do, nudge nudge, wink wink". I doubt he really meant it.

Regardless, of course every media outlet takes bribes, this isn't limited to print mags, but every side of the business, even gaming blogs are guilty.

[UncleBob]

I must be one of the few that has been completely unimpressed with these "hard core" interviews that EGM has done with Sony and Microsoft. The answers were nothing more than company-speak and EGM did a piss-poor job of following up on these answers and calling them out when they stated obvious BS.

I wouldn't have expected anything more out of a Nintendo interview.

Now, everyone keeps assuming this is because of the SPM thing... what about the entire bit claiming that Kaplin was sleeping with IGN's Matt?

[LunaticPuma]

The reason this annoys me has nothing to do with EGM. I just want Nintendo to talk about what they're doing/working for this year and later on in the Wii lifecycle. I feel like they keep saying all of this cool stuff is coming without giving us any idea what is coming. Obviously some stuff they probably don't know when/where/how, but I feel like we're getting blue balls over this awesome new console without much to look forward too.

This is pretty much the same as the DS launch which is to be expected I guess. At least with the 360 we had Gears of War to look forward to. We knew it was coming and we had tasty tidbits fed to us here and there. Sony has FFXIII and MGS4. Nintendo has SSBB, SMG, and MP3, but there is very very little talked about the titles. I'm very curious why MP3 isn't out yet and how Nintendo is going to manage all of their big titles coming out around Christmas.

I wish the industry was better at giving a steady stream of information than random information orgasms at festivals and conferences. It's good to have some secrets/surprises, but keeping everything underwraps is frustrating.

[Strell]

Curious - does this have anything to do with the fact that Nintendo has to embargo information until that stock thing clears up?

[The Crotch]

Curious - does this have anything to do with the fact that Nintendo has to embargo information until that stock thing clears up?
Yeah, but...

You see, the thing about Nintendo...

You'll understand whe...


Okay, folks. Go home. Nothin' to see here. Just Strell making more sense in one post than the last three pages of posts combined.

[Snake2715]

Curious - does this have anything to do with the fact that Nintendo has to embargo information until that stock thing clears up?

NO way!! Cant be that obvious must be some hidden meaning... Maybe the letters D and S are hidden in the article or his follow up post... maybe some GPS coordinates to a pay phone?

There must be more to it.

[rlse9]

If I were Nintendo I wouldn't want to do an interview with EGM either. I had a free subscription and spent maybe 10 minutes on each issue because it wasn't worth the time to read it most of the time. And half of the time the magazine would show up late or I'd all of a sudden get 2 issues within 3 days. I moved a few months ago and tried updating my address and haven't seen an issue since then. So, EGM pretty much sucks in my opinion and even if they did I wouldn't care, they'd get nothing more than generic answers to all of their "tough" questions anyway.

[Corvin]

SPM was supposed to come out last April? That's news to me! :roll:

Not April but last summer at some point.

[rohlfinator]

Curious - does this have anything to do with the fact that Nintendo has to embargo information until that stock thing clears up?
Maybe, but in that case, why has NoA (and Reggie himself) done several other interviews since GDC?

I think the stock situation just keeps them from making new announcements. They're still free to hold interviews and make press releases for already-announced games.

[Mr. Anderson]

Not April but last summer at some point.

Wrong. It was originally scheduled to come out in October.

[Zen Davis]

The fact is that EGM has been asking harder questions out of all the companies and Nintendo pussied out.

[dothog]

I don't understand these situations. Why shouldn't Nintendo do things on their own terms? The kind of people who subscribe to EGM already know all they need to know about the Wii, and there are publications with a much higher and more diverse readership than EGM openly praising the Wii. What's to be gained from an interview that seems more designed for out-of-context sound bites than information?

Making a big deal out of this only makes EGM appear petty and amateurish. Which they most likely are.

Sony should have followed Nintendo's lead over the course of the PS3 release. Instead of making all those ridiculous statements in response to perceived criticism, Sony should have just shut their freakin' pie holes and conducted things on their own terms. Granted, people would write nasty stuff despite Sony's unwillingness to walk into an ambush, but at least Sony wouldn't have to deny or interpret damaging statements from their own people.

PR isn't fucking brain surgery. Nintendo, in spite of that flake Perrin Kaplan, gets it.

[javeryh]

I don't understand the hate for EGM - is there a better gaming magazine out there? I've also enjoyed the interviews the past few months - I think they have finally realized that previews and screenshots aren't going to cut it because that stuff is on the net weeks in advance. I still looks forward to it every month though...

[botticus]

I don't understand the hate for EGM - is there a better gaming magazine out there? I've also enjoyed the interviews the past few months - I think they have finally realized that previews and screenshots aren't going to cut it because that stuff is on the net weeks in advance. I still looks forward to it every month though...I don't think there are many, if any, better gaming mags than EGM, but these days that doesn't mean much. I get Nintendo Power because they occasionally get exclusive stuff and I can get a free strategy guide (and until the Wii came out, they were about the only magazine that had anything Nintendo-related), I get GI because I have an Edge card, and I used to get EGM because it was free (I think my sub just expired last month). Nothing really makes me want to pay for any of them.

[dothog]

I don't understand the hate for EGM - is there a better gaming magazine out there? I've also enjoyed the interviews the past few months - I think they have finally realized that previews and screenshots aren't going to cut it because that stuff is on the net weeks in advance. I still looks forward to it every month though...
I don't hate or love EGM. Maybe some of the hate in this thread has come about from EGM's little statement re: Nintendo turning down an interview. It's not the big deal EGM is making it out to be. They're kind of being pussy about it when instead they should just STFU and realize that, despite their journalistic notions, they are in a position to request interviews and not demand them.

[trq]

Who knows what made Nintendo cancel their interview with EGM? We can all speculate why they did, but does anyone really no the true reason(s)? Let's hear the whole story before we start flipping shit over either of these companies.

Quoted for not being more reactionary, stupid shit. Though I'm sure it will be to no end.

[jer7583]

I think EGM is the best game magazine out there right now. I don't understand the problem that these elitist assholes have with the magazine. Where are you getting better features and information from that's so high and mighty. You know we'd all take their jobs in a second if we could.

I really do like their interview style with the PR heads (even if it doesn't produce anything but the typical PR bullshit lines) but it's completely fair that Nintendo is allowed to say no. God knows they're not exactly targeting the EGM readership type demographic as much as Sony/MS anymore.

What's the big deal here?

[ArthurDigbySellers]

I'm pretty sure the sensitive relationship that EGM/1Up has with Nintendo is because they dog the shit out of the Wii on almost every single podcast that they put out.

Not to mention the fact that Luke Smith inferred that Matt C. from IGN was dating Perrin Kaplan and that was why EGM got hit with the embargo stick over the SPM story.

I actually noticed that the last 1Up Yours podcast was a little lighter on the Wii bashing - I wonder if that is because of the talks they are having with Nintendo now.

[Scrubking]

Quoted for not being more reactionary, stupid shit. Though I'm sure it will be to no end.

Quoted for not realizing that EGM is trying to make something out of nothing because Nintendo doesn't need a reason to deny an interview. Though it will be to no end.

[getmyrunon]

I think GI > EGM.

[-Never4ever-]

I don't understand the hate for EGM - is there a better gaming magazine out there? I've also enjoyed the interviews the past few months - I think they have finally realized that previews and screenshots aren't going to cut it because that stuff is on the net weeks in advance. I still looks forward to it every month though...

They're well known for their very, very biased reviews. Outside of that, they're pretty good.

[whoknows]

They're well known for their very, very biased reviews. Outside of that, they're pretty good.
They're reviews suck anyways so who cares? How often in a review do they actually say what the game is about/how it plays? Most of the time they use metaphors like "this game is like a brand new car" or some shit like that. Or the say "this game was good and I liked it". They never explain enough on HOW it was good or bad or WHY they liked it.

[Scobie]

This is absolutely zero loss for us as an audience. It's not like Reggie would've given any new info. All he would've done is dodged probing questions and spun things back around to his usual talking points. He does it in every freakin' interview.

Interesting "news" is almost always reserved for press statements and special media events. Random interviews are worthless. Anybody remember IGN's Nintendo Minute with the routine "can't discuss that right now"/"that'll be revealed at a later date"/"future's gonna be vaguely awesome" shtick?

[BGPu]

Nintendo seems to love to talk to MTV first these days about all their upcoming games & the Wii in general.

If MTV isn't the bastion of great journalism, then what is?

[RollingSkull]

I support the Crotch's sig.

[elprincipe]

I think EGM is the best game magazine out there right now. I don't understand the problem that these elitist assholes have with the magazine.

So if we don't like the magazine we're "elitist assholes"? Yeah that is a reasonable point of view. :roll:

Where are you getting better features and information from that's so high and mighty.

There's this thing called the "Internet" that you're using when you typed that message.

You know we'd all take their jobs in a second if we could.

Speak for yourself.

[jer7583]

Biased reviews? way to make an accusation without backing it up.

[jollydwarf]

Probably mentioned earlier in this white-hot thread, but...

...hasn't Nintendo always been 'difficult' with the gaming media, particularly EGM? They don't supply screenshots, they have reps sit in the background while critics play (p)review copies, etc.

EDIT: I don't understand the hate for EGM - is there a better gaming magazine out there?

No. Unequivocally, no.

EGM pre-2004 > EGM 2004-Present > Every other gaming rag out there. It all shows just how far gaming journalism has to go, and how it repeatedly undercuts its own ultimate goal to be 'taken seriously'. The problem is that a gaming publication that doesn't cater to the kiddies isn't financially viable, and in this day and age, those that do barely still are.

[hohez]

Did anyone even read the most recent interview with microsoft? It wasn't a "tougher interview" like EGM would lead you to believe. The whole thing consists of jesting and light hearted fun with a lot of positive promote yourself type questions. Sure it was longer than usual, but no tougher than anyone elses interviews.

Then at the end EGM does their usual, "Hey guys you see how hardcore and badass we are? oh yeah readers, we're so badass we're going to do it again, next month. Did i mention hardcore and cool? oh yeah, that's us!"

This is all just EGM trying to stir up controversy to sell issues. It isn't long before gaming journalists start resorting to shock and fear stories.

"Next Issue: It's a secret for now, but if you don't read our next issue, your children could already be infected with AIDS!"

[Strell]

"Next Issue: It's a secret for now, but if you don't read our next issue, your children could already be infected with AIDS!"

I CAN'T WAIT THAT LONG TO FIND OUT

I'll just go give them aids now.

[Serpentor]

But do any of these interviews ultimately mean anything? Honestly, sometimes it's like doing the post game interview with an athlete--completely generic and unecessary.

Unless Dan Hsu is just trying to grab quotables a la the Jack Tretton/Sony interview. "Reggie will pay $1200 to anyone who can find a Wii sitting on the shelf for more than 24 hours"...etc etc...

No, it doesn't mean much, but nontheless, peopel are attracted by those exclusive interviews. I for one would like to read the interviews, especially if there are beefs between EGM and Nintendo, but i guess there's no need to look forward to now...

I can't help to mention this, maybe Nintendo refused b/c they don't want to make Sony's "bad comments" mistakes? In the media interviews, most of the times the words are taken out of the true intension and if you slip, well, you made a boo boo and be prepared to be made fun of...