Magazine Editor Claims Rockstar Got Him Fired

Andy Chalk

One Flag, One Fleet, One Cat
Nov 12, 2002
45,698
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Magazine Editor Claims Rockstar Got Him Fired


A deputy editor at an Australian magazine claims he was fired after he blew the whistle on pressure from Rockstar to write a positive review for the upcoming Red Dead Redemption [http://www.amazon.com/Red-Dead-Redemption-Xbox-360/dp/B001SH7YMG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=videogames&qid=1278691786&sr=1-1].

Toby McCasker was a deputy editor at Australian magazine GTA IV [http://www.zooweekly.com.au/], and is already receiving Game of the Year 2010 nominations from specialists all around the world," the email said. "Can you please ensure Toby's article reflects this - he needs to respect the huge achievement he's writing about here."

Shortly thereafter, McCasker was fired, because, he claimed, he refused to play along with Rockstar's demands. "I did not sign up to become a journalist to write advertorials masquerading as editorial," he told News.com.au [http://www.news.com.au/technology/lads-mag-editor-blows-whistle-on-video-games/story-e6frfro0-1225850507467]. "This 'cash for comment' culture that is fast becoming the status quo within print media bothers me a lot."

The email he posted has since been removed and Rockstar seems to be positioning itself somewhere between ignorance and denial that it did anything wrong in the first place. "We are not clear on what the story is here," the company said. "We always try to present our games in the most compelling way to media and fans alike and of course we, like every other video game publisher in Australia or anywhere else for that matter, want to have our games seen in a positive light."

As for the magazine's itself, Zoo editor Paul Merrill dropped a line to Kotaku [http://kotaku.com/5511199/rumor-grand-theft-auto-developers-pressure-magazine-writer-sacked] denying that Rockstar has ever pushed for preferential treatment and he had a few harsh words for McCasker as well. "I would like to make it clear that at no time has Rockstar EVER sought a preferential review in return for advertising. In fact no games company has ever suggested this. And Zoo would never give a positive review to a game we didn't rate in return for ad dollars," Merrill said.

"Toby McCasker was sacked for a number of reasons, one of which was his decision to post a private email on his Facebook page," he continued. "This email was not referring to a game review. He should not be considered a credible source of information on this matter."

This wouldn't be the first time a game publisher looking for a new job [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/87606-GamesRadar-Becomes-TombRadar-Review-Controversy-Brewing-UPDATED] for refusing to go along with it. On the other hand, posting a private, business-related email on Facebook, regardless of the content, isn't exactly a smart career move; furthermore, according to the report, "McCasker had earlier received two official warnings about his behaviour." It sounds like it may be awhile before this one gets straightened out.


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Generic_Dave

Prelate Invigilator
Jul 15, 2009
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While the issue itself, paying for good reviews is worrying, anyone who buys a game (or anything) based on a Zoo review deserves to get shit on a stick.

Maybe now he'll be able to get a job at a real magazine. Lesson is, don't trust reviews in porn / soft-porn magazines.
 

Baby Tea

Just Ask Frankie
Sep 18, 2008
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This is the biggest game we've done since GTA IV, and is already receiving Game of the Year 2010 nominations from specialists all around the world. Can you please ensure Toby's article reflects this - he needs to respect the huge achievement he's writing about here.
Is it just me, or does that not sound like a forced positive review request?
I obviously haven't read the whole email, but this little snippet seems less like a 'make sure this is reviewed positively' and more like a 'make sure this guy knows that this game is a big deal'. That doesn't seem shady to me, that seems like they want the guy to know that this game is a big up-and-comer in the market that a lot of people (Myself included) are looking forward to, and they he should really give this game it's due when reviewing it (By going into detail and not skimping out).

With the information given, I really don't have much sympathy for the guy.
 

TheDoctor455

Friendly Neighborhood Time Lord
Apr 1, 2009
12,257
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Umm...
Rockstar, if you are so insecure about your game, then maybe it really isn't as good as you think it is.
 

Delusibeta

Reachin' out...
Mar 7, 2010
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While this isn't the first time that such claims have been made, I do have to concur with Baby Tea that the e-mail he came up with is less "Give us a good review!" and more "We worked our socks off for this, don't give us a 5-word review".
 

Tele-screen

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Nov 23, 2009
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I find that I actually believe the people who fired him that it wasn't 100% to do with the the e-mail. Besides, your private facebook account is not exactly the most mature place to do any whistle-blowing from.

However, I think the Rockstar e-mail was inappropriate and I hope there are more honest journalists out there who will resist caving to pressure from studios. I imagine it must be intense, given that these studios are shelling out a shit-ton nowadays for every game. Offering games with deficiencies up to the wolves is like asking for your stock to drop. Who can afford to buy a poorly reviewed game lately?
 

Jared

The British Paladin
Jul 14, 2009
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Gotta love the joys of dismissals with catches.

It's likely we will never know exactly what happened here...buy, if they did try to force a possirive review that speaks for how scared they are it won't succeed. And GotY status? Who they trying to fool, talk about rose glasses.

It looks good, but not 'that' good!
 

Dexiro

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Dec 23, 2009
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Baby Tea said:
This is the biggest game we've done since GTA IV, and is already receiving Game of the Year 2010 nominations from specialists all around the world. Can you please ensure Toby's article reflects this - he needs to respect the huge achievement he's writing about here.
Is it just me, or does that not sound like a forced positive review request?
I obviously haven't read the whole email, but this little snippet seems less like a 'make sure this is reviewed positively' and more like a 'make sure this guy knows that this game is a big deal'.
I would have said the same but they make it clear that they want him to make their game sound good. If they just wanted him to know it was a big deal they would have said so, but they mentioned that it was getting nominations and was a "huge achievement".
 

dmase

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Mar 12, 2009
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If its that good of a game to be on track for a game of the year award then why worry what some magazine is gonna say.

Who knows maybe he had a beef with Rockstar in general and they figured he might try to give them a bad review to get even.
 

SomeBritishDude

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Nov 1, 2007
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I wouldn't be surprised if there's a very, very large number of "encouraging" emails from games developers and publishers we never see. It's a sad fact of game industry. Games reviewers are under the control of developers rather than the other way around like the vast majority of movie reviewers.
 

scnj

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Nov 10, 2008
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Baby Tea said:
This is the biggest game we've done since GTA IV, and is already receiving Game of the Year 2010 nominations from specialists all around the world. Can you please ensure Toby's article reflects this - he needs to respect the huge achievement he's writing about here.
Is it just me, or does that not sound like a forced positive review request?
I obviously haven't read the whole email, but this little snippet seems less like a 'make sure this is reviewed positively' and more like a 'make sure this guy knows that this game is a big deal'. That doesn't seem shady to me, that seems like they want the guy to know that this game is a big up-and-comer in the market that a lot of people (Myself included) are looking forward to, and they he should really give this game it's due when reviewing it (By going into detail and not skimping out).

With the information given, I really don't have much sympathy for the guy.
That, coupled with the fact that the email wasn't regarding a review, just suggests to me that they want the preview article to mention the fact it's getting GOTY nods.
 

Baby Tea

Just Ask Frankie
Sep 18, 2008
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Dexiro said:
Baby Tea said:
Is it just me, or does that not sound like a forced positive review request?
I obviously haven't read the whole email, but this little snippet seems less like a 'make sure this is reviewed positively' and more like a 'make sure this guy knows that this game is a big deal'.
I would have said the same but they make it clear that they want him to make their game sound good. If they just wanted him to know it was a big deal they would have said so, but they mentioned that it was getting nominations and was a "huge achievement".
Right.
It's getting nominations because it's on everyone's radar.
It's a 'huge achievement' because the Rockstar team has been working very hard on getting this game out.

Nope, I'm not convinced it was a 'make sure you give it a good review' email.
At least until more of the email is shown. That little snippet doesn't do a thing to help that guy's case.
Not for me, at least.
 

Kiithid

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Aug 12, 2009
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I find it funny if they think of GotY so early in the year.
It could be seen both ways "Hey you better give us a good review or else you'll look like a fool and..." or "We gave our best shot here, keep that in mind when you review this game please."
The except gives me the former impression though.
 

GonzoGamer

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Apr 9, 2008
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Well, R* certainly couldn't send a more explicit email, that would've definitely led to backlash. Frankly, I think the memo they did send reeked of desperation when you consider how tactful they need to be.

Between this, the delay, and the R* employee backlash, this game is starting to look like it's going to be a big mess.

I'm sure it's not unusual for any reviewed media to have various kickbacks sent out for favoritism. It's all marketing hen it comes down to it. Even the Better Business Bureau allows subscribing businesses more control over their results than non-subscribers and that's supposed to be the organization that protects us from practices like that.
 

Kollega

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Jun 5, 2009
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Andy Chalk said:
"We always try to present our games in the most compelling way to media and fans alike..." the company said.
And also in a way that's balanced. And immersive. And cinematic.

But in seriousness... both sides' acts are "remarkable". Rockstar could certainly be a bit more modest, but the guy in question is certainly not a goodie-two-shoes either. I think we should just blame both sides and move on ;-)
 

Jamash

Top Todger
Jun 25, 2008
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Baby Tea said:
This is the biggest game we've done since GTA IV, and is already receiving Game of the Year 2010 nominations from specialists all around the world. Can you please ensure Toby's article reflects this - he needs to respect the huge achievement he's writing about here.
Is it just me, or does that not sound like a forced positive review request?
I obviously haven't read the whole email, but this little snippet seems less like a 'make sure this is reviewed positively' and more like a 'make sure this guy knows that this game is a big deal'. That doesn't seem shady to me, that seems like they want the guy to know that this game is a big up-and-comer in the market that a lot of people (Myself included) are looking forward to, and they he should really give this game it's due when reviewing it (By going into detail and not skimping out).

With the information given, I really don't have much sympathy for the guy.
It's not just you, I agree that it doesn't sound like a forced positive review.

Given the context [http://www.zooweekly.com.au/home.htm] of the magazine he used to write reviews for, it sounds more like Rockstar are saying: "Make sure he knows this game has had a lot of hard work put into it and is already being recognised in the industry, and for God's sake don't complain about a lack of tits, bikinis, fast cars and lads stuff in our long awaited Cowboy Western sequel".

Really, when that magazine describes the gameplay in their preview [http://www.zooweekly.com.au/bloke-news/games/red-dead-redemption.htm] as
"You can shoot birds as they fly by, grab some booze and gamble or chat up some Mexican mammacitas"."
is it any wonder why Rockstar would want to make sure that the reviewer treats the game a little bit more professionally when it comes to the actual review, despite it being a "western (yawn)" game?
 

The DSM

New member
Apr 18, 2009
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Its Kane & Lynch all over again...

I dont even want Red Dead, looks like GTA 4; just meh
 

Spinozaad

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Jun 16, 2008
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The e-mail, if it's legit, is questionable. I hardly doubt that the people reading a tit magazine are part of Rockstar's core demographic. Also, any game reviewer (wether working for a tit magazine or not) knows Rockstar's name and fame, which is usually enough for a big review.

So this does stink of 'GIVE US GOOD RATINGZ PLZ' to my nostrils.