Why can't Videogame Sites be biased?

Lets have a real discussion here. I'm not going to name games or sites or put any blame on anyone. But why do people act like it is impossible? Considering that video game journalism isn't as prestigious or regulated there are very few standards that have to be met.

And if prominent newspapers like the New York times can be liberally biased and news channels like fox news have a bit of a conservative bias...how can you not expect there to be bias and allegiances in video game journalism?

I'm not going to go and point out examples as i'll let you guys do that...but if a certain company is giving 800 dollar swag bags to every reviewer how can those reviews be viewed as fair and balanced?

Have an open mind and dont live and die by one source in reviews

Lets have a real discussion here. I'm not going to name games or sites or put any blame on anyone. But why do people act like it is impossible? Considering that video game journalism isn't as prestigious or regulated there are very few standards that have to be met.

And if prominent newspapers like the New York times can be liberally biased and news channels like fox news have a bit of a conservative bias...how can you not expect there to be bias and allegiances in video game journalism?

slystallion26

Reviewers are definitely biased and that is fine as long as they are clear about what those biases are and they are game based not system based. Some people prefer certain types of games, are baised towards futuristic settings, are biased to games with a rapid pace etc etc. Gamespot has a definite bias towards epic movie-like games, which is fine. Just as long as there isn't any inherent bias against or for a game based on what system it is for then I am happy. In general this holds true at gamespot, but not always.

every review has bias in it

not just GS reveiws

but IGN and GT 1UP

every revew has bias

nobody is raelly un-bias

as much as they try

they have bias one way or another

Because they are supposed to be.

Its not the same as Fox news or NY Times being politically biased in their articles. For one, those sources are fairly consistant in their bias and political viewpoints are something they are personally affected by depending on the government members elected and is entirely different than reviewing a product.

Its actually perfectly OK for a video game site to be biased if the bias is stated and declared. For example, theres a website called gamerdads or MMOdads.com - something along those line. Games in that site are reviewed from the perspective of a middle-aged parent. Is this game fun to play in short spans of time? Is it too time consuming? can i involve my children? Is is completely inappropriate to play around the house? Can my spouse join in? A FF might be revered in most typical gaming sites from the perspective of a non-biased gamer, but probably not from that site giving the amoutn of time it takes to complete the game. And thats ok. The site has a clear definition of how they review games based on their viewpoints.

But a site that claims to be and is supposed to be purely objective is blatantly showing signs of influence sponsors? Yeah.... not good. Its the same reason Consumer Reports magazine has absolutely no advertisements - because they genuinely mean to be objective in everything they review.