“Video games can receive a harsh dressing down from most mainstream publications,” said Daily Mail Games writer Talal Musa. “We aim to show another side of them and what better way to reach out to people than the world’s largest website.”
That will be the same Daily Mail who linked Modern Warfare 3’s train crash scene to the London Underground bombings, a website who as of right now shove video games under the general banner of “Science” rather than “Entertainment”.
A search on the website for “Video game” reveals such horrific literary gems including “Babysitters kill girl, 7, with Mortal Kombat video game moves” and “French terrorist played violent video game Call of Duty before embarking on brutal killing spree of seven, says wife”.
One of their most recent articles, “Hiking, camping and… Call of Duty? Boy Scouts of America introduces new video game merit badge” begins with horrifically negative sentence “Forget the hiking and the camping – now Boy Scouts can earn a badge just by sitting around and playing video games.”
Just by sitting around and playing video games, their exact derisory words. Even the headline is misjudged, Call Of Duty is an 18 rated games, American Boy Scouts are aged 10 to 18 so only the very eldest could play the game.
Two paragraphs later they explain how the badge will be achieved:
“To earn the award, the scout must analyze different types of games; describe the play value, content, and theme. Finally, he must understand the significance of intellectual property as it relates to the game industry.”
Does any of that sound like just sitting around and playing video games? Not at all, Scouts are going to have to work hard to get the badge.
Just for good measure they decide to add in “The badge comes after a tumultuous few months for the Boy Scouts, who have been debating over whether to allow gay members.” They are not finished yet though, oh no. “In October, thousands of pages of secret documents known as the ‘perversion files’ reveal how sexual abuse of boys was covered up for decades.”
The Daily Mail have taken what should have been a positive story about gaming, a pastime they clearly still view as sitting about doing f*ck all, and dropped in mentions of gays and perverts in the next two sentences, subtly – but not explicitly – linking the three stories.
Update: Having been directed to this post via Twitter (and TSA community member, Adam Guest) The Daily Mail Games twitter account has responded saying that they understand this reaction and endeavour to deliver more regular and positive coverage.
It’s a very sensible, calm response from someone who seems to understand the situation and want to work to make things better and that’s an attitude that, despite any misgivings we have about the rest of the publication, we wholeheartedly support.
kjkg
Tenner bet Tuffcub never wrote that update ;)
TSBonyman
Nah, i prefer to buy decent bog roll.
rht992
I wonder what their review of flower would be like. Although they have made mistakes in the past I’m glad they seem to be making a move towards a more level headed approach.
SpikeyMikey23
The only reason I look at the daily mail is the showbiz sections. There’s usually a fair amount of safe for work boobies on display!
The Lone Steven
Just get the sun as they have page 3. Tis porn you can get away with at work. :D Not that i’ve ever bought the sun and looked at the porn whilst working.
Zephyre
Worlds largest website? Take it Facebook/Google/Youtube/Wikipedia/Amazon (all seem to be mentioned as the largest by some measurement) or any other website you could name weren’t included in whatever way the Mail chose to measure this?
indigo19
The day I read anything published in the Daily Mail is the day I will happily be dragged in to a side street and shot in the face.
CR8ZYH0RSE
When they start to publish positive and correct stories in the actual tabloid itself then maybe i’ll pay it some attention the online side is aimed at a different demograph altogether,so i wouldn’t bother.
a inferior race
Give them a chance guys and gals.
hazelam
yes, i think i will be getting my games news from the daily mail in future.
incidentally, and this is in no way connected, anybody seen some anti psychotic pills lying around?
i seem to have lost mine.
^_^
The Lone Steven
I already knew about their games coverage but simply didn’t give a damn. It does mean that they are hypocrites as they both despise and love gaming. Suspect their readers will faint when they discover that their beloved rag also covers games.
But i wonder if they will stomp out any anti-gaming articles that they plan to publish if their games coverage increases? Doubt it though as gaming causes everything according to them. Also, their reviews are not trustworthy as they did give ACM a high score, well high enough for it to be used on the tv ad.
The Lone Steven
Just saw the gay perv remark that they tried to subtly get away with. Feck you too Daily Mail! Although, they are right about Tuffcub. :p