The Dark Void Of Video Game Newswriting

After about three to four years of dabbling in video game news writing, MMA blogging and local news writing it is time to share my experiences. As those who read my blog may know video game I am not always on top of things when it comes to my blog in fact I took nearly a full year hiatus from video game news writing to try my luck at MMA blogging and writing for my local student newspaper.
I have learned many things and here are some of them:

1. Video game news writing is something every gamer wants to do, as a result there are a loads of shitty websites looking for writers. These sites often advertise “paid positions in the future” or “a great way to improve your writing skills”. Both of those comments are often untrue, the site usually goes under and you can no longer reference it as writing experience and the connection with other writers is usually pretty stagnant.

2. “Video game news writers get free games,” this is part of the allure of the job and in my experience there is some truth behind it. I got my first free game writing for a site which specialized in reviewing independent video games and I was making about $7-$20 an article which was pretty good. But I soon learned those free games come at a cost. Upon receiving my fifth free game gave it a pretty harsh review, my editor told me I had to score it higher as the site had a deal with the developers. When I was told this I resigned from the site and started my hiatus from the industry.

3. A lot of video game news is the same.

4. Paid blogging sites are no fun when you are writing five articles a day.

5. MMA writing often pays better.

6. Student papers often pay better.

7. Local newspapers often pay better.

8. Some video game news sites I have worked for have claimed to have hired me but have had complex site structures and I never actually was able to post anything as a result.

9. Once you make it big your competition skyrockets so remember do cross your Q’s and dot your i’s.

10. It is a long hard road to travel to become a video game news writer and I am be no means an expert yet but I will keep plugging away because that is the only way to fix the injustice of the industry.

New Blog Different Content!

So all my readers may be wondering where I have been the past year, well the answer is I have been dabbling in MMA news writing. Martial arts is a passion of mine which hasn’t got as much time in the limelight as my love for video games so today I am starting up an MMA fan/MA lifestyle blog and I am hoping to share some links to some of my newer articles in the future.

Also this site will be updated in the future.

E3 Watchin

Watchin coverage of E3, ubi press con. Guy playin video game with his hands.

Pac-Google

Today is Pac-Mans 30th Birthday and google has helped celebrate by putting up a new google image. Also this google image is fully playable with kill-screen and all. I know I'll be playing until I hit the kill-screen or google shuts it down.

Cymbalta Commercial And Halo Music

I just seen a crazy anti-depressant drug commercial. The drug is called cymbalta. Anyways what I found odd was the music in the commercial was very similar to that of the Halo theme song. More specifically, from the Halo 3 title menu. Anyways I just thought this was odd and Bungie should defanitly look into this for legal purposes.

TV Character That Probably Play Video Games: Bart Simpson

Well I think Bart Simpson, iconic cartoon character playes video games. In fact in the series he does play video games but he is probably more of a gamer then they let the viewers believe. For Example in season 7, the episode called "Marge Be Not Proud" is all about Bart Simpson wanting to buy a violent video game called Bonestorm. Also in some episods Bart is seen playing a Punch out like game. He also visits the Noiseland Arcade often.

Hence, Bart Simpson is a gamer.

Will Fallout New Vegas be any good?

I do not think it will be bad but it has a lot of hype to live up to after the success of Fallout 3.

Honestly I think Fallout New Vegas will be sort of like COD: World at War; it was a good game but you couldn't help but feel guilty due to the fact that Treyarch just reworked COD 4 which was made by a different company known as Infinity Ward. Anyways Fallout 3 was made by Bethesda while Fallout New Vegas is being developed by Obsidian Entertainment and from what we know the gameplay of New Vegas is just slightly modified the tiniest bit from Fallout 3.

However Obsidian has a good track record as far as video game development goes. Some of their games include KOTOR II and Neverwinter Nights 2 which are both good games. But they are both sequels and they both where a little bit buggy. Overall I think they can make a good Fallout game but I do not think it will get the same positive press as Fallout 3.

Now there is the new features to deal with. If Obsidian can make them work the game will be great. These features include new weapons, a new companion wheel feature, special attacks and a Hardcore Mode which increases difficulty along with the need to drink water in order to survive.

I think there is plenty of opportunity for Obsidian to mess up on the Hardcore Mode but if they can get it right I may have a post titled Fallout New Vegas is The Shit.

Lastly I must comment on the trailer. It looks very similar to Fallout 3's debut trailer and although it looks cool one can not critically take it apart and sum up their thoughts on the game.

Anyways check out the trailer. Will Fallout New Vegas be Good or Bad?