The USS Quad Damage

Incase you haven’t heard game review sites have lost their ability to pass themselves off as impartial reviewers of games. Thanks to Gamespots recent firing of Jeff Gerstmann which has been depicted here at Penny Arcade.

I’m not sure why Gamespot was so upset if EA only decided to cancel their Kane & Lynch advertising campaign. I mean if they’d looked at the game and realised it was a steaming pile of shit, wouldn’t they have then realised that the EA marketing department had been living in a negative feedback loop. Thus it was only a matter of time before it popped when exposed to the real world and they canned the whole advertising campaign without limiting themselves to Gamespot anyway?

Sadly I doubt thats the world we live in. EA probably knew their game was a steaming pile of shit. They launched their massive hype campaign in the hope they’d be able to see a massive number of title sold before the general public woke up and realised that it was a horrible game, didn’t even come close to the hype and should have been fished out of the bargain bin in a few months time if at all.

Anyway all this means is that if game review sites are bought and paid for then it adds further legitimacy to copyright infringement being consumer insurance against poor quality products. Or perhaps the need for a 30 day money back guarantee. Or I suppose a look at how advertising works with journalism because right now all I’m seeing is propaganda in it’s place. Thats not limited to game review sites either.

<a href=“http://www.wral.com/news/state/story/2112083/>More Than 40 New Laws Now in Effect. I was originally attracted to the article by a link on ”www.fark.com">Fark.com with the description of “You can now lose your driver’s license in the state of NC for an offense totally unrelated to driving if you provide alcohol to anyone under 21 thanks to MADD’s ridiculous fascist grip on the nuts of the political machine”.

Sure enough thats in the article and probably worthy of a blog entry by someone somewhere. However it isn’t what bothered me about the article. That is saved for this.

Several new laws affect animals. Penalties have increased for anyone who kills an animal through intentional starvation, or anyone who kills a police animal or an assistance animal such as a seeing-eye dog.

Ok not so shocking in itself I admit. However look at the next few paragraphs ending with this little gem.

[Stephanie] Bell [of the PETA] said that anyone who willfully kills an animal – which is defined by state statute as mammals, reptiles, amphibians and birds – should go to prison.

Ok on the surface it sounds reasonable. However when you look at it a little closer and realise it’s from someone at PETA. It’s only then that you realise exactly what this person has asked for. They want to make it a felony offense to kill any animal.

Still don’t get it? S’ok here’s how PETA would want it to go down.

See that steak in your fridge your saving for steak night? With PETAs proposal no one will be able to kill cows to make your steaks.

Rat or mouse problem in your house? Sorry but there’s no such thing as exterminators anymore because they’d all be out of a job or in gaol. Do it yourself and you’ve bought yourself some PITA prison lovin’

Stepped on a lizard in your backyard? You guessed it. Prison time.

Your cat catches a bird and you don’t shell out hundreds if not thousands so your local vet can try and save it’s life? Welcome to accessory to animal murder charges. Your cat meanwhile has full immunity without even testifying against you.

Welcome to the wonderful make believe world of your local PETA nut job whom would very much like to make it a living nightmare for the rest of us.