If you’re like me, you grew up reading Diehard GameFan. The magazine was as close as we had to a Destructoid back in the 1990’s; independent, opinionated, and more focused on the love of games than getting rich. What a lot of people don’t know is that Gamefan is actually still in print, though finding an issue in the wild requires more luck and perseverance than acquiring a Shiny Ponyta.
GameFan’s Editor in Chief Dave Halverson is rightfully disillusioned over that situation, and he lays the blame partially on the priorities of today’s publishers; particularly their marketing departments. Among other things, he says- “Never has so much money been spent with so little regard. Knowing what it takes to make a great game it kills me to see how they’re treated once they leave the studio. Like these so called “events” that have taken the place of proper objective coverage. Massive parties pilfering 10s of 1000s of dollars from a game’s budget to basically liquor up individuals who, for the most part, could give a rats ass about whatever game happens to be on display–unless it’s one they’re supposed to like.“
As someone who’s been to his fair share of press events, I know what he’s talking about. The amount of money that publishers waste on providing the gaming press with swag, expensive cheeses, and gigantic parties is just ridiculous. Knowing that all that money could have been spent on actually making better videogames is painful indeed (but not so painful that I’m going to let that cheese go to waste).
For more from Dave and the rest of the GameFan staff, check out their Facebook page, and don’t forget to scour every inch of tall grass for the new GameFan on shelves soon (featuring Dtoid’s own SBC Slam. You go girl!)
