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Video Game Journalism 101: Previews
🕑 Added 2025-08-04 07:30:29 +0000 UTC
In this episode, we will analyze the cornerstone of early games journalism: the game preview. The game preview has no exact analogue in other forms of media journalism, and yet it’s remained a staple of the games industry. We will look at how previews have evolved from trade magazines to streamers.
Is the preview a nefarious act of marketing?
A valuable tool for the press?
Both?
Will the preview's relevance fade as fewer video game media outlets participate in its activities?
How did "direct" streams become ubiquitous?
What the hell is a "post-view"?
We'll answer all of those questions and more in Video Games Journalism 101's third session: Previews.
Comments:
Please feel free to respond to the video's questions and conversation prompts in the comments. I'll regularly check this post to reply and to nurture conversations.
Previous episodes:
Readings for this video:
Preview '89. (May 1989). Electronic Gaming Monthly, Issue 1.
IGN Staff. (2000, Aug. 30). Smuggler’s Run. IGN. (http://www.ign.com/articles/2000/08/31/smugglers-run-2)
Green, J. (May 2007). Crudgel of Xanthor. Games for Windows (https://docs.google.com/document/d/1OcacAndlY9L0Txbe3WIPI8bowhn0jJ9MvhiakPy--58/edit?usp=sharing)
Gallegos, A. (2011, June 8). E3 2011: Frogger 3DS. IGN.com. (http://www.ign.com/articles/2011/06/09/e3-2011-frogger-3ds-you-cross-the-road)
Mastrapa, G. (2008, Oct. 1). I Survived Four Hours of Fallout 3, Part 1. CrispyGamer.com. (http://www.crispygamer.com/features/2008-10-01/i-survived-four-hours-of-fallout-3-part-1.aspx)
Jackson, G. (2017, June 6). At E3 2017, Black Characters' Hair Looks Better Than Ever. Kotaku. (https://kotaku.com/at-e3-2017-black-characters-hair-looks-better-than-eve-1796139786)
Panebianco, R. Skill Up. (2024, Jan. 15). I played the Suicide Squad game (and I didn't hate it). SkillUp. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iBo3Fq0JQQk)
Readings for the next video:
Jay, H. (2020, May 7). Games Criticism Is A Kindness. Kotaku. (https://kotaku.com/games-criticism-is-a-kindness-1843320046)
Jay, H. (2019, Nov. 1). Death Stranding: The Kotaku Review. Kotaku. (https://kotaku.com/death-stranding-the-kotaku-review-1839474313)
Finch, C. (2025, April 8). The Critic Who Turned the Hate Read Into High Art. The New York Times. (https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/08/books/review/authority-andrea-long-chu.html)
Kochai, J. (2019, Dec. 30). Playing Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain. The New Yorker. (https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2020/01/06/playing-metal-gear-solid-v-the-phantom-pain)
Navarro, A. (2004, Jan. 14). Big Rigs: Over the Road Racing Review. Gamespot.com. (http://www.gamespot.com/big-rigs-over-the-road-racing/)
Schiesel, S. (2009, Sept. 1). All Together Now: Play the Game, Mom. NYTimes. (http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/06/arts/television/06schi.html)
Bissell, T. (2012, July 12). Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Shooter. Grantland.com. (http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/8157257/line-explores-reasons-why-play-shooter-games)
Suellentrop, C. (2013, June 14). In the Same Boat, but Not Equal. NYTimes. (http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/14/arts/video-games/in-the-video-game-the-last-of-us-survival-favors-the-man.html?_r=0)
Scheurle, J. (2020, Aug. 20). The silly, chaotic, random design behind Fall Guys’ success. Polygon.com. (https://www.polygon.com/2020/8/20/21375212/fall-guys-game-design-randomness-esports-success-sales)
Comments
Chris Plante
Ohhhh how is Convenience Store by the Sea? I've been meaning to check it out!
Chris Plante
That is such a great game to have be your one big preview. So glad it wasn't something like Carnival Games Collection for the Wii!!
Elyse
Really loving this series, Chris! I am a journalism school dropout, so I love seeing what “could have been.” That being said, I have been to ONE preview (Dishonored 2) and it definitely fell into the category of “decadent* event.” I was absolutely NOT supposed to be there— but I happened to be staying at the same hotel as the event while attending NYCC and the doorman liked the cut of my jib, I suppose! *ETA: Not fly-a-plane decadent, however 😂
The Last Raneff
Been reading a bunch of Japanese cozy fiction lately. I just finished Before the Coffee Gets Cold and The Convenience Store by the Sea. Also finished Dunce, a compilation of poetry by Mary Rueffle.
Nick
I've really enjoyed this series. I was a journalism minor in the late 90's and this is legit on par with college classes.
Col
I wanted to give a shout out to Skybox Critics as my new favorite source for games essays and criticism. They're new and not full of content yet, but what is there is thoughtful and insightful. While my reading of games criticism and journalism has always been sharp and well rounded (brag), this series is honing it into the sharpest edge it's ever been. Thanks, professor!
