Buzzwords in Game Journalism - June 2015 Edition

So it's that time, fellow kids. Time to talk about issues of game journalism beyond simply reviewing their articles and doing a "State of Game Journalism" at the first of the month. Let's talk about over-used buzzwords.

These are words that need to stop being over-used. Try to use a thesaurus and find a different word, or fully explain yourself without relying on these words.

Toxic - this is one creeping up more and more recently from the social sciences and gender studies classes. This word has basically lost all meaning, but originally meant "something that taints or is tainted". It's over-used in certain political circles, and I think that's part of the reason it's being used so much in game journalism now.

Example: "The toxic violence in Call of Duty is training our children to be killers."

Problematic - Another word over-used in certain circles. It's supposed to mean something like, "this thing causes people problems." Unfortunately, the reason why the thing is problematic, and the reason why it is actually an issue are never explored. This word needs to stop being used. It's problematic.

Example: "The avatars for female characters, in particular, are problematic."

Entitled - This is often used for gamers themselves, and said by the journalists to say that the gamers think they deserve something from the industry. Well, yeah. Of course they do. They're the ones paying for everything in the industry. It makes perfect sense that they'd want to get a good quality product, or get something they like. To complain about entitlement is to basically project your own self-worth issues onto your audience.

Example: "Gamers are entitled, they want BioWare to change the ending of their game."

Open World - This game type is no longer what we think it is. Sometimes it refers to exploration-type games, immersive experiences, or sandbox environments. It needs some explaining, especially in what players can expect. Think about it: if every other game that comes out uses the words "open world", players won't understand what that means anymore, or have a faulty understanding. Is this Grand Theft Auto, Skyrim, or Minecraft?

Example: "The entry in The Witcher series is an open world environment with a vast map stretching to twice the size of Skyrim's."

Cinematic - I'm guilty of this one on my YouTube channel. Basically, it means the game feels like a movie. Often this is used ni action movie experiences, but can be used for more dramatic flair. The game Life is Strange is an example to the contrary. It's well-written, has interesting characters, and a great concept. But I don't think it's exactly what people mean when they say "cinematic". I'd say cinematic experiences in games are those that are linear, where a story unfolds the same way every playthrough.

Example: "Uncharted 3 was a wonderful cinematic experience that placed the players in Drake's shoes."


Well those are this month's buzz words. I will join you again soon to discuss the same old article reviews, but I hope to have something on my YouTube channel soon. Thanks for reading you entitled, toxic gamers!