Media news sites have been full of it for weeks – GamerGate, the almost scandal that pitches video gamers against those who write games reviews.
What is GamerGate?
The term was coined by actor Adam Baldwin – as a hashtag, no less – in response to the supposed collusion between the manufacturers of video games and those people writing reviews. Adam, who doesn’t consider himself a ‘hardcore’ gamer, explains:
It was really the catalyst for the rest of what was interesting to me, which is journalistic ethics.
Aren’t the waters muddied?
Yes. Sadly, those concerns about journalistic integrity have led some gamers to question the valid agendas of other games critics. Digiday explains:
The movement is also concerned by the influence of social-agenda-driven journalists, whom they say are using video games to push their own feminist and racial agendas.
And:
On the other side of the GamerGate movement are harassment, some blatant misogyny and some increasingly wild conspiracy theories — all of which have dominated GamerGate coverage, for better or for worse.
The bottom line is that GamerGate is closer to an uncoordinated mob than a true movement, which is why it has been so hard to pin down what its members actually want.
What does GamerGate teach us about content?
GamerGate teaches us one important lesson that the content marketing industry would do well to heed.
Authenticity counts. You might be tempted to employ a writer to create a favourable review of your product, but that cosy relationship is risky. Most likely your audience won’t know if have paid for editorial, but if they do then the impact can be fairly grave – for both company and the writer.
I think it’s important just to stand tall and know your argument. It seems that the #GamerGate supporters are, in my opinion, winning the argument or have already won the argument… The companies that are dealing with this will see, or won’t see, in their bottom lines and will have to deal with it accordingly.
