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Go west... and play games

  • Darren Waters
  • 1 Mar 07, 02:27 PM

Does the 大象传媒 "get" video gaming? I ask because I'm heading out to the next week - an event we have never staffed before.

I ask also because I'm a passionate gamer and I know there is no dedicated gaming portal on bbc.co.uk - although you will find one for arts, film, movies and books.

Nor is there a TV programme or radio show devoted to games.

So, the 大象传媒 doesn't care about gaming? Well, I don't think that's strictly true.

Collective, the 大象传媒's interactive culture magazine, has a regular section set aside for gaming and also reviews titles.

And like any large organisation, the 大象传媒 is full of gamers - although some are more nervous than others when it comes to revealing their pastime.

Within the technology team of the news website conversation often turns to recent gaming exploits - I was recently delighted to have broken 1,000 gamer score points on Xbox Live. (And yes, I know how pitiful a score that is to some people).

My colleague Mark creeps away to Azeroth, and the World of Warcraft, whenever he can elude family matters.

On the Technology section we used to do a weekly games review but recently decided to drop it.

More proof of a gaming apathy? The truth is we didn't have the resources to do games reviews often enough or well enough. There are so many other great websites doing reviews - my own favourites being Eurogamer and Gamespot - that we didn't want to offer something half-baked.

I asked myself if the best use of resources we have was to do the occasional review? And the answer was a simple "no".

But we haven't abandoned games coverage; in fact, the reverse is true. I'm determined we do MORE games coverage than ever, using the access that the 大象传媒 has to do better features, in more depth.

One of the team is on a dedicated games feature assignment - although that's only lasting a month to get the ball rolling. From that point on we'll be ensuring games journalism is as important as any other part of technology news.

And this is what takes me west - to the Game Developers' Conference in San Francisco. It's a massive event that signals the way ahead for an enormously important industry.

I'll be reporting on all the key sessions, establishing contacts and hopefully producing some quality material.

If there are any sessions you have seen that you feel we should attend, let me know.

And also feel free to comment on how you think the 大象传媒 as a whole should be covering video games.

I doubt we are going to see a prime-time gaming slot on 大象传媒 One any time soon. So how can we reflect this dynamic industry?

I'm sure you've got some strong opinions...

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