Is this an advert?

[redox]

http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2011/09/12/roll-with-it-rock-of-ages-is-out-now/

Looks like it to me.

[ntw]

Looks more like an endorsement to me.

[Jams O'Donnell]

No, it's a short piece by someone who is enthusiastic about the game.

[redox]

Looks more like an endorsement to me.

Sponsored?

[golden_worm]

I can see it now. The bigwigs of ACE Team, fat from the profits of mega hit Zeno Clash meeting up with the famously unscrupulous John Walker in some back room of a gentleman's club. Brandy is drunk and loud guffaws are heard as they discuss the simplistic nature of the RPS readership. Presently a large wad of cash is left conspicuously on the table while Ace Team turn away to polish their monocles. A careless tap from John Walker's greasy mitt knocks the it into his open pocket and hours later, by complete coincidence the advert appears on the front page.

Or maybe they just enjoy the consistently original output of this small indie dev, and will, as is their want, support that kind of thing on principle without any untoward influence. Yes it's an advert, a free advert donated to a good pc gaming cause. It also includes a link to another good pc gaming cause, an article on RPS. The bounders!

[Rii]

I don't think RPS has ever pretended to offer even-handed coverage to everything that crosses their desk. Some stuffs they like and desire to promote above others. Over on the Introversion boards you'll see there's a thread in which the devs acknowledge how much their early success owes to the efforts of one Kieron Gillen...

[thegooseking]

Reading the words is helpful. The <s>subtext</s> actual statement is "you may or may not want to play it: here's how to find out". Hardly marketing speak.

[Bonzrat]

No it's not a bloody ad, you loony.

[John Walker]

A press release went out in error today, announcing its arrival on Steam. I mistakenly thought it was released today, based on that press release, so alerted readers to the "news".

We frequently post saying that games we're keen on have arrived on Steam. It was no different than that. Do calm yourself down.

[imirk]

I do believe that the bigwigs at ACE Team have consorted with extraterrestrials and exchange 6,000 virgins for the Alien Mind Control technology. They've then used that to subvert one John Walker of the popular PC Gaming Blog "RPS" to post un-paid for Adverts under the pretext of being "News".

Don't worry John, it is not your fault, you had to take the tinfoil hat off to take a shower, to prevent such occurances I've had mine fused to my skull so I wash it rather than the hair which used to reside there.

[redox]

A press release went out in error today, announcing its arrival on Steam. I mistakenly thought it was released today, based on that press release, so alerted readers to the "news".

We frequently post saying that games we're keen on have arrived on Steam. It was no different than that. Do calm yourself down.

Jim, John hasn't read your verdict!

It does read like an ad though...

[Rii]

We all know the ongoing coverage of SW:TOR is a combination of hit-trolling and sheer bloody-mindedness on the parts of the hivemind convinced that the game is going to be awesome. Your protestations of innocence are futile!

[Jorum]

Hey I used to buy PC Gamer and every issue they'd say what new games were released and if they liked them or not. Despicable.
That was from a magazine I payed good cash for, let alone a free website!

[Alex Bakke]

Jim, John hasn't read your verdict!

It does read like an ad though...

Anything can read like an ad if you look at it closely enough.

"I liked game XXXX so I'd advise you to get it, not that expensive on steam either!"

If that were a simple forum post, you could easily say 'Oh my, that must be a paid forum spambot!'

[Grizzly]

This too can read like an advert. (http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/forums/showthread.php?1384-A-Voyage-in-PC-Retail&p=35863&viewfull=1#post35863)

[redox]

This too can read like an advert. (http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/forums/showthread.php?1384-A-Voyage-in-PC-Retail&p=35863&viewfull=1#post35863)

Agreed. In that comment I was advertising Amazon, the Internet, Cardiff, That's Entertainment, XIII, COD, Prey and Steam.
Bollocks! I've done it again.

I honestly thought (and I still do) that that Rock of Ages ad/article was sponsored. It reads like it is. John even links to Jim's verdict that was posted 3 days before and clearly states in the opening paragraph "It's out now" which links to the store page on Steam?

[Jorum]

This is a gaming "magazine" blog - it's kind of one of their jobs to mention when games are out (especially when they are of as much popular interest and anticipation as this was).
And if linking to steam page and largely luke-warm review is supposed to be an advert, it would be a pretty piss-poor one.

[The JG Man]

Eh? I can't remember the last time they said "X is out!" without going "Here is what *RPS* said about it" if they had a chance to before it came out. And even if they don't, saying it usually means "We're interested in this" and I take from that, reading between the lines, as to say "Except a judgement from us soon." Which then usually happens. In RO2's case, I don't think they'll be dismissive of it, especially because they've given it so much attention prior. Multiplayer games tend to take a little bit longer to review too, requiring so many different scenarios to begin establishing what you're reviewing exactly.

[redox]

This is a gaming "magazine" blog - it's kind of one of their jobs to mention when games are out (especially when they are of as much popular interest and anticipation as this was).
And if linking to steam page and largely luke-warm review is supposed to be an advert, it would be a pretty piss-poor one.

Yes it is, and Jim had already done that 3 days before this http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2011/09/12/roll-with-it-rock-of-ages-is-out-now/

[Estel]

Yes it is, and Jim had already done that 3 days before this http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2011/09/12/roll-with-it-rock-of-ages-is-out-now/

A far more likely explanation is that John doesn't read RPS.

[Man Raised By Puffins]

Hey look, I've found just the site for redox: http://johnwalkersucks.tumblr.com/

[Nalano]

Hey look, I've found just the site for redox: http://johnwalkersucks.tumblr.com/

Okay. I lol'd.

[ColOfNature]

Finally, someone not afraid to do proper games-journalism journalism.

[Man Raised By Puffins]

(although I can't claim credit for it, John made it himself (http://twitter.com/#!/botherer/status/113765275438030848) because no-one else could be bothered (http://twitter.com/#!/botherer/status/113761603928866816), it just struck me as somewhat apropos)

[redox]

Hey look, I've found just the site for redox: http://johnwalkersucks.tumblr.com/

Shouldn't that be http://johnwalkeradagencyandthegotoguyfordrmcomplaints.tu mblr.com/ ?

Or http://johnwalkerdon'tcriticizemeorrps.tumblr.com

Or http://johnwalkerdoesn'treadjimsimpressions.tumblr.com

Do not take this post seereeouslee please!

[Daiv]

John Fluffbag is an incompetent Walker!