What Would Matt Do

Really, how could there be a conflict of interest if you accept Sony’s offer to pay you money to review their games, just for them. I’m sure that won’t lead to any future problems at all.

HOW: It’s simple. In traditional Vegas fashion, leave your conscience at the door (in this case, your journalistic one). In essence, you and five other lucky journalists will discuss current and future SOE titles with Sony producers. It will be NDA’ed, so unwind and relax. Your honest opinion is highly valued so you’ll be comfortably rewarded for your time. The publisher will be providing hotel, airfare, and, of course, $1,000 for your take on its titles. Worried the event won’t be worth your time? Don’t be. Several other journalists test drove a similar SOE event in late 2005. Needless to say, it went well.

Ok, I don’t want to get off on a rant here (I love stealing Mr. Miller’s stuff), but damn me if this isn’t wrong. Aren’t game journalists already having to deal with talk of their not being objective because they accept gifts, free games, free hotel stays, etc from game companies? Not only is their journalistic integrity called into question on a regular basis but so is their status as actual writers. And while I don’t agree with the idea that they aren’t actual writers, I do agree that their integrity as a whole is sometimes questionable. Not all by any means, but some websites, some mags, etc.

So if for that reason alone, no game journalist should be taking Sony up on that offer. You’re not just damaging your reputation, you’re damaging the reputation of game journalists in general. Why? Because after you’ve been paid by Sony to work directly for them, freelance or not, you’re future reviews of their products (and the competitors) is suspect. Even if you don’t mean to, you’re opinion can still be swayed by having a better opinion of Sony in general when reviewing their future games. And the perception it gives to us, the gamers, is that you’re opinion is up for sale by the very companies you’re supposed to take to task when they released shite.

But wait, you say, I’m a honest man/woman and Sony paying me to get my opinion on their games isn’t going to affect my ability to objectively review their games in the future. Ok, fine. I believe you. But it isn’t about what you say you can do, it’s about your actions. It’s about the perception you have in the industry and it’s about the perception game journalists in general have in the industry. Yes, it should be that you can say, I’m as good as my word and that should be it. But that’s not how it works these days. Others in your industry have been shown to not be objective, to not be professional and because of that, you need to hold yourself and others to a higher standard.

At least, that’s how I see it.

What Would Matt Do: If I were a journalist, I wouldn’t take Sony up on that offer.