This might shock people.
Every now and then MMO Fallout publishes an article that people actually read. I know, it’s a shock to me too. The latest example of this of course is my article about Catty Corner in Fortnite. I’m joking. Well no, actually that piece has been #2 in my most viewed list for the past week. I’m talking about our coverage of Dreamworld and how the whole project is one big vial of snake oil.
First off I want to apologize to the folks at some other MMO websites who have had to deal with the “why can’t you be more like Connor” comments that have popped up around their coverage of Dreamworld. It was certainly not my intention to spark a conversation about lazy standards or lack of integrity in the MMO news space. Trust me when I say that I have a whole column called Bad Press. If I wanted to cast light on my fellow writers, there’s no precedent that should suggest I’d shy away from it.
As some figured out very quickly from the title, my coverage of Dreamworld was an opinion piece. The headline including “rant” and my quip about the subject giving me an aneurism would make that obvious. I didn’t write a standard objective news article simply because I don’t write that kind of material for crowdfunding campaigns. MMO Fallout has not reported on active crowdfunding campaigns in years as an ethical policy, simply because of the authenticity that coverage here and on other websites gives those projects.
Even if the author isn’t actively suggesting people back the project, the fact that it is being showcased neutrally gives a legitimacy that the author does not and could not verify. It can drive people who shouldn’t be backing crowdfunding campaigns into wasting money believing it to be a safe bet.
Other websites might disagree with that vision or simply not care because those articles get clicks. My public opinion on the matter is that it creates distrust between the reader and the website, and seeing the kinds of comments on those other articles questioning the staff’s integrity and capability, I once again believe my hunch was correct. As someone who doesn’t run off ad revenue, literally the only thing this website has going for it is the trust of my readers that I’d never intentionally or negligently steer them wrong. Without that I’d probably shut this place down and review Subway sandwiches on YouTube or something.
I suppose I should get back to the point in the headline; that I don’t write articles to try and ruin indie devs. The Kickstarter campaign was long since funded by the time my article went up, and the goal was never to sabotage it in any way. I would never presume to have the kind of influence to make or break even an indie developer. Even if a Realtime Worlds top executive thought I ruined a multi-million dollar sale because I said All Points Bulletin wasn’t very good.
But what do I know.
MMO Fallout 