Eurogamer Contributor Forced to Step Down After Threat of Lawsuit

http://www.gatheryourparty.com/articles/2012/10/25/eurogamer-contributor-robert-florence-steps-down/

Robert Florence, frequent contributor to Eurogamer and creator of the video series Consolevania, was forced to step down from Eurogamer after he wrote an article expressing disappointment in the state of the gaming journalist scene, inspired by a recent picture of Geoff Keighley, a prominent gaming journalist, surrounded by Halo-branded drinks and chips. In his article, he quoted one Lauren Wainwright, a contributor to IGN UK, The Sun, and Square Enix, and speculated if she was shilling the latest Tomb Raider due to her connection with Square Enix. Lauren, being upset by this action, threatened legal action under the UK's libel laws, which heavily favor the accuser over the accused (see the "Mc Libel" case for proof of this). Eurogamer responded by encouraging Robert to step down and edit his account.

I'm just really disappointed by this. I find it silly that this women, instead of responding to this article with a calm and well thought out reply, chose to sue this guy over what was a sentence or two of basically neutral speculation. It also saddens me that Eurogamer buckled to pressure rather than sticking to their guns; it shows a lack of basic integrity. I'm glad, however, that many people have chosen to back Robert after this incident, such as Erik Kain, RPS, and others.

I suppose it really is no secret that journalists are bought off, but it's sad to see this happen after he calls someone out on it.

...what is neutral speculation?

something seems...off with that phrasing...

but anyway yeah, pretty stupid overreaction from the uk jounalist, but i can understand why eurogamer would buckle under pressure if the uk libel laws are as one-sided as you say, considering they'd be losing out on probably quite a bit of money, and intentionally losing money when it isnt necessary just to prove a point seems a bit counter intuitive for a...company? trying to make money.

Actually, I dunno what the fuck neutral speculation is either, and I wrote the damn thing. I wrote this in a rush before I had to go to an Economics lecture while still trying to sound semi-professional, so excuse it as a retarded statement made in haste. What I meant is that he didn't intend to damage the lady with his statements, so it can hardly be called libel.

I think I'm gonna make Geoff Keighley's face in that pic into a new avatar, by the way. It looks so hilariously sad that I can't help but laugh.

edited 25th Oct '12 11:51:00 AM by Kev-O

ok!

Erik Kain, that fantastic man from Forbes, writes a better summary than I ever will.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/erikkain/2012/10/25/video-game-journalist-robert-florence-leaves-eurogamer-after-libel-complaints/

That's a pretty neat article.

This makes me wonder what other hobby publications do. What does the leading fishing magazine do to make sure their reporters are not in the pocket of Big Rod.

Seems to me that that Wainwright woman, apart from being suborned by the gaming industry, is also a thin skinned fool incapable of taking criticism.

So the phenomenon is more or less unique to UK? Man, that sucks...

Also...I dunno, but this seems to fit more in the OTC section than here, even though it's news of game reviewer...just saying...

If the news of that libel threat spreads, she's probably gonna look just as bad.

More on this farrago.

http://botherer.org/2012/10/25/a-bit-of-perspective/#more-3111

Calling the woman out using misogynistic names is bad. Calling her out as a complete idiot that got another journalist sacked for doing his fucking job is fair comment. Calling her a liar and a serial deleter of stuff that makes her look bad is also fair comment.

Gaming journalism is a joke.

Why include the "gaming" qualifier, if journalism, on the whole, is a joke?...

edited 26th Oct '12 9:19:26 AM by Swish

I do have to wonder about the cognitive ability of a person who thinks the appropriate response to being criticised by someone is to attempt to silence and extract money from them.

edited 26th Oct '12 9:57:48 AM by Talby

Because Gaming Journalism doesn't even attempt to hide that its just a marketing tool now?

If they weren't making an attempt, this thread wouldn't exist.

Still, I see nothing different between that and standard journalism nowadays...

I find it amusing that even 4chan doesn't support the people calling her misogynistic names. They learned from Anita Sarkeesian, Felicia Day, and other incidents that if they get labeled as misogynists, than all their valid arguments go down the drain due to Guilt By Association. I think I remember seeing a screencap of a thread in which basically the whole thread just collectively groaned in stupidity over how some asshat started calling her a cunt on her Steam profile and thus gave her and her defenders more credibility.

Erik Kain, who wrote that great Forbes article and other great gaming articles in general, has now written another great article about games journalism in general.

He's since been lynched by Jessica Chobot on twitter because he called her a writer in said article but she says she's an 'entertainer'. Therefore the standards are COMPLETELY DIFFERENT!

Are there White Knights now attacking him?

edited 27th Oct '12 12:46:15 AM by Thorn14

Interesting article. I need to put that guy on my faves list.

^ Yeah, he's been writing a lot of good stuff...most notable is since the Mass Effect 3 debacle...

A while ago I read a similar article from some former video games journalist, though in that article he also pointed the finger at the readers for only wanting to see their existing opinions confirmed. Apparently, you get death threats when you write sincerely critical reviews of people's favorite games.

Really, it's also fault of all sides...

Why is it partly our fault? They like game you don't, they've been bribed!...they don't like game you do...DIE!

Damned If You Do Damned If You Dont...

edited 27th Oct '12 6:11:02 AM by onyhow

x3 What was the Mass Effect 3 debacle?