Hyrule Chozo

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Mathew Kumar on the sad state of the videogame enthusiast press. “We Are All Trapped In The Belly Of This Horrible Machine And The Machine Is Bleeding To Death.”

Why had I not heard about this already? This is worth a listen even if you care very little about videogames - as it deals indirectly with the problems associated with journalism as a whole. What Kumar teases out is that it is the momentum of 24 hour news that has wrought so much terror for journalists - as it encourages less thought, quick money grabs from advertisers and a lowering of standards that devalues labour and thoughtful critique. While the games press sure does look like a shitshow right now, (as Kumar’s metaphore will make plain), this is endemic everywhere - I know I miss the old days of glossy magazines and well paid journalists (as somebody who seriously considered the profession myself), but things dun changed, and I’m not sure if we should strive to “save it”. That old industry is dead, along with a large middle class, the welfare state and stable employment.