• 27Aug 08

  Back To School

  I haven't updated the blog in a while because I have been very busy and I have not had a lot of time to game. Frankly, I haven't really wanted to play any game terribly.

  If you have read my last couple of blogs you know that I am going to be cutting way back on the number of games that I purchase because of some heavy expenses I have undergone. Nevertheless, there are a couple of games that I am saving up to buy and I can't wait to get my hands on again.

  For the time being, I have moved into my very small double dorm room on campus and have began to set up a lot of my things. Fortunately I have enough space to have all three systems with me (not hooked up at the same time) and I have brought a lot of older games that I have wanted to play or replay.

  However, more than anything, I will be trying to work harder at school than last year. It was a pretty rough year by my standards and I am determined to reverse the small trend.

  The first game I think I will attempt to beat will be Jade Empire--a game I played all of an hour the first time I played it. I have became a huge fan of Bioware and I am going to give all their games a shot.

  Once school gets up and running I will have more to say about the games industry, so don't think I am fading away from this place.

  -Doug

  • Posted Aug 27, 2008 9:05 am PT
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• 8Aug 08

  The Gamespot Advantage

  One of the big challenges facing a company that expands rapidly and one which enjoys great financial success is keeping in touch with their supporters. Gamespot has been around for 12 years and has undergone change and enormous popularity and acclaim. On the eve of the launch of the redesigned site, I cannot help but appreciate what has Gamespot has done for me.

  Yesterday, I had the previlege of going to the Gamespot offices and seeing how the site operates on a day-to-day basis. One of the big problems with the video game industry is that most people do not realize how large the video game industry is and how many people work to make "children's toys" (which, if you haven't already discovered or accepted, is a completely false stereotype). I came to the realization a few years ago that video games were never, and have never been, only for children--and more importantly, that it is a viable form of art and expression.

  When browsing Gamespot, we only see a couple of faces. The hosts of the live shows, the editorial team, and the community managers are usually perceived as being the only people working for the site. In reality, Gamespot is a very lucrative company that has been built by hundreds of people whether a part of the marketing, accounting, public relations, editing, or editorial teams.

  Tallking with Ryan MacDonald about the site's beginnings, it is hard to believe that Gamespot has become so successful after such humble beginnings. Back in 1996, the site was made up a handful of individuals, many of who were not sure where Gamespot was going. The internet had not taken off yet while magazines continued to be major source of information for gamers.

  Obviously this changed with the proliferation of broadband internet connections. As faster internet spread, Gamespot centered around video content. I will personally never forget when Mr. Broady announced via video that all of the video content would be available to all users--something absolutely unheard of at the time. It was this revolutionary thinking that allowed Gamespot to become successful and to expand.

  However, with this expansion, one would expect that the company's environment would become more stock price oriented. This means that when Gamespot became a part of CNET (which was a publicly traded company), the management had a greater responsibility to make money. There were some definite changes over the last couple of years that made Gamespot into a "company", yet I find that they are still more inclined to make the individual's experience the best possible.

  Why is this? A large part of the reason is that the people who are actually working for Gamespot, appreciate us. They recognize, unlike so many others with different companies and in different industries, that they are in a service industry. They cannot afford, and do not want to alienate the users--rather they want to make our experience the best.

  Another huge component about Gamespot's success is the unique user-staff relationship which is unparalled among the competition. The fact that they allowed someone like me to come to their offices, and then to treat me with respect and kindness, should persuade you that they are all fans at heart.
  

  In fact, most of the staff are longtime workers or former users. More than anyone else, these people sustain and improve the original doctrine of Gamespot--creating a site that is always improving, and with the user's best wishes primary.

  Gamespot has turned a new page in their history. With their new parent company (CBS) at the helm, Gamespot is poised to create a more interactive, informative, and fun experience while improving the cornerstones of what has made this place great. However, I believe wholeheartedly that the site's success will never make the staff arrogant or out of touch. The fact that a regular user like me can now consider many members of the staff as friends can attest to that claim.

  When I first visited Gamespot over ten years ago, it looked very different. Of course there are many people who are no longer with the site who deserve a lot of credit for the success, but after meeting virtually every staff member, I have even more confidence in their abilities to produce even better content. There are new faces who are more than capable of doing a great job and bringing Gamespot into a new "golden era", but even more importantly, their passion for games is apparent, something that will surely bring the site further success.

  No one asked me to write this--I wanted to. Frankly, I cannot think of an appropriate way to thank all the people at Gamespot, but hopefully this serve as an adequate start.

  -Doug

  • Posted Aug 8, 2008 10:20 pm PT
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• 7Aug 08

  Gamespot HQ

  Because Gamespot spoil's me, I am here at Gamespot Headquarters in San Francisco.

  It is pretty amazing to see how many people are working here and how the office runs. Just got a quick tour from Ryan MacDonald and am currently waiting in a cubicle, but no matter, the rest of the day is going to be amazing.

  I am going to be watching them do On the Spot later today which will certainly be a thrill, but being here is more than sufficient until it goes on the air. It is weird to see how many people are working for Gamespot and how big the studio is.

  I can't really type anything coherent, so I will stop now.

  More detailed account later

  -Doug

  • Posted Aug 7, 2008 11:58 am PT
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