Fun question! What, for you, has been the most depressing result of Gamergate?
The fact I don't trust strangers anymore.
Ask @BenKuchera
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How do you stay focused when working on your writing? I constantly find myself being distracted by things like surfing the web while I'm working away on something and I was just wondering how you deal with these sorts of distractions/temptations?
I mean, that's the job, right? If you can't focus and produce work you won't get far. People are paying you to do a job, and you have to do it. It's like being a dentist; they don't wonder how other dentists drill teeth instead of playing on their phones. You have to think of it like any other job, with a time to clock in and a time to leave. Anything else is a pathway to madness.
If you made fries at a fast food place you wouldn't be surprised at being fired for being late, but you'd be shocked at how many writers think they should be able to take a day off because they don't feel like writing, or that their muse isn't there. It doesn't work like that, you have to produce every day, no matter what. That's how you make a name for yourself.
If you made fries at a fast food place you wouldn't be surprised at being fired for being late, but you'd be shocked at how many writers think they should be able to take a day off because they don't feel like writing, or that their muse isn't there. It doesn't work like that, you have to produce every day, no matter what. That's how you make a name for yourself.
Any advice on getting kids to branch out more in their gaming? Mine either play Minecraft or Portal, but they have a huge library of Steam games at their disposal..
Try to pick a game and play it with them. Better yet? Tell 'em it's a good thing they don't play "GAME X," since it's probably too advanced for 'em. Wait until they rise to the challenge. :-)
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Xander C
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No question this time, but I still have my 1996 KMFDM Beat by Beat tour shirt somewhere. My list is pretty close to yours. Been following you since Ars, hope have a good holiday! :)
I still wear my "Destroy 2000 Years of Culture" Atari Teenage Riot shirt when I'm bumming around the house. You have a good holiday too!
Do you mean the more leading and connected gaming journalism sites are a tiny business? The amount of sites and money involved in every aspect of the industry speaks volumes against your claim.
No, I mean the number of people in the business is small. Everyone knows everyone. I've worked for three major outlets, who have employed a ton of writers, and some of them have gone onto other jobs in the industry. You can draw lines between everyone. This is why people think those weird red-lined images Gamergate passes around are so funny.
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Xander C
Hey Ben, no question yet, I just wanted to say I've been a fan since Ars Technica, I enjoyed your work on PAR, and I like to see you on Polygon, which has been my personal replacement for games journalism since PAR closed down. Keep up the good work and don't let the haters get you down!
I never do! Thanks for being so supportive!
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Xander C
You mentioned your son is speaking some German. I am a fellow Cincinnati person and past German major and now have a 6month old who I want to understand the language. Any tips on introducing that to him?
Talk to him in German! My kids go to a German language school, and that's a big help. My oldest son is also going to Germany in a bit with school, and he's excited about that. Just try to introduce him to the language as much as you can. Hope he's interested, and go from there. Kids are sponges, they love learning as long as it's presented as something fun.
Do you think it's practical - or even possible - to be a games journalist/critic/whatever term you prefer, and not also a journalist/critic/other term of broader pop culture? There seems to be such significant overlap that I feel like there's an indelible connection.
I think following pop culture is a great way to bring greater context and understanding to games, sure. The more you read, the more you learn about art in general, and that's a big help in talking about games. The broader your influences the more interesting your writing tends to be. I always like to say that Blues mixed with Rock gave us Elvis. Gospel mixed with Country and Rock gave us Johnny Cash. Rock mixed with Rock gave us Nickelback.
I saw you mention 90s industrial in an article and it made me grin and had me curious. What industrial were you into?
Oh jeez, My Life With the Thrill Kill Kult, KMFDM, Nitzer Ebb, Ministry, Nine Inch Nails, and I was a big fan of Stabbing Westward back in the day. You can quibble with genres and stuff, but that's what I dug.
What do you feel is a good rule of thumb for the level of connection needed so that the connection should be disclosed by the reporter? Should it be differed eat for opinion pieces versus "hard" reporting?
This is a tiny business, everyone knows everyone. I think that answer is going to be different for every writer and every outlet. This weird idea that knowing someone outside of their work is the worst thing imaginable is insane. Your connections and relationships within the industry is what keeps your work from being just a repetition of PR talking points, but it seems like that's what most critics of modern gaming journalism want.
I think this is why Polygon is growing so rapidly; our audience trusts us, and I appreciate that trust. It's something I never want to take for granted, because without it my career is over. I've been doing this for over a decade, and it feels good to have my audience continue to grow, evolve and appreciate what I do.
I think this is why Polygon is growing so rapidly; our audience trusts us, and I appreciate that trust. It's something I never want to take for granted, because without it my career is over. I've been doing this for over a decade, and it feels good to have my audience continue to grow, evolve and appreciate what I do.
Just got an Xbox1. Love RPGs and thief, turn based strategy. Tactics too. What should I get?
This is really obvious, but have you picked up the latest Dragon Age?
Why do you use the GG Autoblocker? Don't you know that most people on there aren't what the list makes them out to be?
I don't particularly care, and I also don't really believe that there are a ton of people caught in the crossfire here. But even if there were, people are entitled to anyone else's time or attention on Twitter.
My Twitter feed is for me, not anyone else. I understand how the block list works, and I think it's an imperfect solution to a real problem. It's made my feed usable again, and while I'm sorry if people were caught in the crossfire it doesn't change how necessary the block list was or useful it has been in allowing people to continue their lives. I'm glad it exists.
My Twitter feed is for me, not anyone else. I understand how the block list works, and I think it's an imperfect solution to a real problem. It's made my feed usable again, and while I'm sorry if people were caught in the crossfire it doesn't change how necessary the block list was or useful it has been in allowing people to continue their lives. I'm glad it exists.
How do you see GamerGate ending? Will the participants get their just deserts, or will the industry move forward and just absorb the cultural damage? Do you feel like this has irreparably damaged the transparent and honest communication between independent developers and their audience?
I think everyone in gaming is going to be more guarded around people in general. The innocence has kind of been lost, which is a shame. Once you've been targeted by this sort of group it changes how you think about everything, and security and personal protection is always in the front of your brain. The industry will move forward, but hopefully the conversation about how real and how crappy the fringe of gaming can be continues in a way that matters.
How many game news sites, to your knowledge, have vetoed coverage of Gamergate in the same way that The Escapist reportedly has?
None, that I'm aware of, but it's nothing I really ask about or care about. There's very little "story" there from a news perspective, especially now that it's descended into silliness with the FTC and the like.
How important is information you get from sound (including musical cues, if applicable) in VR gaming? More/less/same?
MORE. It has to feel like you're there, and sound is a big part of that. Positional audio can be a huge help in making you feel like you're actually inside the world, and the latest Techolust content does a great job of showing this off. Sound is a huge deal in VR, and I can't wait until we see how it's going to work in the retail version of the Rift.
Which ending did you pick in the original Deus Ex?
I feel terrible, but I don't remember. Gosh I loved that game, though. I'm just glad the latest one was so good, I can't wait for a sequel.
Can you get me into the Heroes of the Storm beta? ;)
My friend, I can't even get my friends in the Heroes of the Storm beta. Two of us were lucky enough to get invites and when we all play together we take turns on each other's computer. I feel your pain.
How did you get your job at Polygon?
After PAR shut down I was actually lucky enough to have a bunch of people to talk to in terms of jobs and potential careers. I spent some serious time thinking about things and I've always admired Polygon and the work done on the site. Plus I've never been part of a big team like that, and I wanted to see what it's like. I've learned so much in my first year with the site, it's crazy. I really feel like it's a great fit, and I hope they feel the same.
Why do you think higher frame rates work well for video games, but loot awful on film?
I'm not sure, actually. But your eye perceives movement differently on a computer monitor or television vs. a projector, right? I'd love to know the answer. High framerate looks great in games, it looks like video when you're in the theater.
[on GameJournoPros, from your very recent tweet missing it] Many professions have such an e-mail list. Mine (in musicology) is here: http://www.ams-net.org/ams-l/ I've never understood this how this could be bad. People need to talk for info/improvement. What's the big deal?
No clue. I agree.
How can I, as a writer on the internet with far less clout than most professionals, best contribute to a positive discourse in regards to GG? I want to feel like I'm helping to create a positive industry environment, but it obviously feels like shouting into a canyon on occasion.
Don't worry about it. They're going to fade away and the people who were assholes before the hashtag will continue to be assholes. The best way to fight back is to be decent person. be nice online, spread positivity, and listen to women when they talk about how bad it can be in gaming for them. Try to improve the situation. Signal boost when you can. Teach your kids to do the same, and don't put up with bullshit when you see it.
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Xander C
What does future VR world look when more developers start to collaborate on an open source alternative like the Open Gear project? http://open-gear.com/
Open source is cool, but the market always rewards a closed system. Look at game sales on iOS versus Android, or the dominance of Steam in the PC space. There is a lot about open source that's important and worth preserving, but when it comes to actually selling a product most consumers move towards closed systems.
How do I resist the urge to buy a oculus DK2 and hold out for the CV?
I have no clue, I have the DK1, the DK2, and a Gear VR. If it wasn't for work I probably would have bought them for myself. VR is cool.
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Jacob Ace
I'm sure you must get this a lot, but what advice - if any - would you give someone who has very little confidence in themselves/their writing? (Aside from "seek a therapist", please.)
The big secret is that there are very few writers with any confidence in their writing. We're mostly all afraid we're going to be found out, and people will realize that we don't know what we're doing. Some of this is good: it keeps you sharp and wanting to improve. But mostly it's bad, because you can feel like shit all the time while being intimidated by what other writers, who you think are more talented, are doing.
So the best thing I can say is that it's natural, it will likely never go away, and you simply have to deal with it, just like everyone else. You're on the same ground as your favorite writers with this one, and there's a sort of power to that. We're all fighting the same fight.
So the best thing I can say is that it's natural, it will likely never go away, and you simply have to deal with it, just like everyone else. You're on the same ground as your favorite writers with this one, and there's a sort of power to that. We're all fighting the same fight.
What's your favorite game that you've played in VR so far?
Darknet. It's a full game, a ton of fun, and perfectly suited for the medium. It's on Gear VR right now, and is free, and it's just a blast. It's the most fully realized game I've played in VR so far.
Second would probably be Radial-G, which is a great racing game that feels like a cross between Extreme-G and F-Zero. Elite: Dangerous is also amazing in VR, especially if you have a flight stick. There's a TON of good VR content right now.
Second would probably be Radial-G, which is a great racing game that feels like a cross between Extreme-G and F-Zero. Elite: Dangerous is also amazing in VR, especially if you have a flight stick. There's a TON of good VR content right now.
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