PR = Evil?

[Golgo13]

http://fatbabies.com/fatmusings.html

First story on top.


I'm pretty sure stuff like this happens more than often.

[Andy787]

Fatbabies sucks. Anyway, that happens ALL the time dude, PR guys are TRAINED to handle things like that.

[Reno]

"I would like to arrange for some good review coverage on Barbarian as soon as possible."

Just about every PR person I talk to says something along the lines of this. "Write a great article on...", "Do a good write-up...". It's natural for them to ask for the best possible work you can provide.

"I want the review to emphasize a few things..."

Worded a little oddly, but this has happened to me as well. Most wouldn't flat out say it, but they will provide you with the features of the game in their e-mails/phone conversations with you just so it's in your head whenever you write about it.

"Also, if you can forward me a copy of the review text before it runs, I would really appreciate it. "

Standard practice. I don't know anyone who doesn't contact a PR person before their article goes live.

[bahn]

Originally posted by Reno
"I would like to arrange for some good review coverage on Barbarian as soon as possible."

Just about every PR person I talk to says something along the lines of this. "Write a great article on...", "Do a good write-up...". It's natural for them to ask for the best possible work you can provide.

"I want the review to emphasize a few things..."

Worded a little oddly, but this has happened to me as well. Most wouldn't flat out say it, but they will provide you with the features of the game in their e-mails/phone conversations with you just so it's in your head whenever you write about it.

"Also, if you can forward me a copy of the review text before it runs, I would really appreciate it. "

Standard practice. I don't know anyone who doesn't contact a PR person before their article goes live.

I haven't read it yet, but just wanted to add to what Reno's stated. PR reps are expecting that you'll deliver a solid article - it doesn't matter of you like the game or not. I just recently read a discussion related to this in regards to fansites getting "free stuff". The notion was by some that fansites are obligated to praise a game, regardless if it qualified as a warranted purchase. Simply put, this would be selling out - something which many print magazines especially were accused of in the past.

Generally, whether it's a review or preview, the whole idea behind the fact sheets is so that key features are highlighted in the review. In fact, I recall an instance with Titus wanting me to stress the visuals in Barbarian; followed by a little nudge about getting a review up as soon as possible. This is very common with a lot of companies eager to get as much exposure on any given product as possible. The situation with Titus was one of the first experience in a long time where a company expected me to rave more about a game that I had limited knowledge of.

I will say this though, many PR reps know especially for games that are well...shit, are just that. They've simply got a job to do and in the end, many of them really will respect your coverage more for telling it like it is (in a informative/civil manner of course). It's not as if they're treating media types as industry puppets. When we first started out, there were a few reps here and there that were naturally skeptical of us. "How soon will you have something up?" "Please email me when the article goes up"...things like that. That's simply how operations go..


For the record though, companies do not request to see a draft of our articles before our content goes live; quite pleased about that since I don't have to feel like we're walking on eggshells.

Hm, I guess I am in the minority here...(guess they don't trust you Reno if they want to see your stuff prematurely)