I don't say that lightly -- Dan "Shoe" Hsu is the reason I started seriously examining a career in videogame journalism (which some claim is a neolism that has no real value). His interview with Peter Moore (which is currently unavailabe on 1UP's website -- however, the follow-up is available) was a leap in the right direction for games journalism (it also made me warm up to Peter Moore). Previously, I had thought that games journalism was all overly enthusiastic previews and polite reviews by people who where not far removed from PR. Shoe proved me wrong -- he proved that games journalists could be critical and genuine with game coverage and in interviews. So, my love for 1UP and EGM was born. (The E3 2006 poolcast of 1UP Yours was also a turning point.)
Recently, Shoe has been publishing a series of articles (part 1, part 2, part 3, part 4) on his blog that detail some of the shadier things that go on in the industry (for instance: the illegitimacy of exclusive reviews). This "transparency" (as he and John Davison call it) is both interesting and informative. It also makes me respect the man even more. This is the kind of direction that I'm glad 1UP and EGM have taken (as evidence in Shoe's editorials in his last issues of EGM).
Even if you have no desire to embark in a career in game journalism, I highly suggest that you read his articles since they can be applied to any other medium. Be skeptical. Be informed. Know that people can be bought and sold. Know that some people won't stand for that.
Edit: Here are some of Shoe's editorials that he re-posted in his 1UP blog as well as a Penny Arcade comic strip about his interview with Peter Moore:
- Concerning Ubisoft's bullshit move of banning Ziff Davis coverage
- Concerning game censorship (Manhunt 2 and the ESRB)
- Penny Arcade's strip on "Moore's Law"
Recently, Shoe has been publishing a series of articles (part 1, part 2, part 3, part 4) on his blog that detail some of the shadier things that go on in the industry (for instance: the illegitimacy of exclusive reviews). This "transparency" (as he and John Davison call it) is both interesting and informative. It also makes me respect the man even more. This is the kind of direction that I'm glad 1UP and EGM have taken (as evidence in Shoe's editorials in his last issues of EGM).
Even if you have no desire to embark in a career in game journalism, I highly suggest that you read his articles since they can be applied to any other medium. Be skeptical. Be informed. Know that people can be bought and sold. Know that some people won't stand for that.
Edit: Here are some of Shoe's editorials that he re-posted in his 1UP blog as well as a Penny Arcade comic strip about his interview with Peter Moore:
- Concerning Ubisoft's bullshit move of banning Ziff Davis coverage
- Concerning game censorship (Manhunt 2 and the ESRB)
- Penny Arcade's strip on "Moore's Law"
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