Video Game Journalism 101: Previews (Patreon)

The long, messy, and often comically decadent history of video game previews.

In this episode, we will analyze the cornerstone of early games journalism: the game preview. The game preview has no exact analogue in other forms of media journalism, and yet it’s remained a staple of the games industry. We will look at how previews have evolved from trade magazines to streamers.

Is the preview a nefarious act of marketing?

A valuable tool for the press?

Both?

Will the preview's relevance fade as fewer video game media outlets participate in its activities?

How did "direct" streams become ubiquitous?

What the hell is a "post-view"?

We'll answer all of those questions and more in Video Games Journalism 101's third session: Previews.

Comments:

Please feel free to respond to the video's questions and conversation prompts in the comments. I'll regularly check this post to reply and to nurture conversations.

Previous episodes:

The Basics

Ethics

Readings for this video:

Preview '89. (May 1989). Electronic Gaming Monthly, Issue 1.

IGN Staff. (2000, Aug. 30). Smuggler’s Run. IGN. (http://www.ign.com/articles/2000/08/31/smugglers-run-2)

Green, J. (May 2007). Crudgel of Xanthor. Games for  Windows (https://docs.google.com/document/d/1OcacAndlY9L0Txbe3WIPI8bowhn0jJ9MvhiakPy--58/edit?usp=sharing)

Gallegos, A. (2011, June 8). E3 2011: Frogger 3DS. IGN.com. (http://www.ign.com/articles/2011/06/09/e3-2011-frogger-3ds-you-cross-the-road)

Mastrapa, G. (2008, Oct. 1). I Survived Four Hours of Fallout 3, Part 1. CrispyGamer.com. (http://www.crispygamer.com/features/2008-10-01/i-survived-four-hours-of-fallout-3-part-1.aspx)

Jackson, G. (2017, June 6). At E3 2017, Black Characters' Hair Looks Better Than Ever. Kotaku. (https://kotaku.com/at-e3-2017-black-characters-hair-looks-better-than-eve-1796139786)

Panebianco, R. Skill Up. (2024, Jan. 15). I played the Suicide Squad game (and I didn't hate it). SkillUp. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iBo3Fq0JQQk)

Readings for the next video:

Jay, H. (2020, May 7). Games Criticism Is A Kindness. Kotaku. (https://kotaku.com/games-criticism-is-a-kindness-1843320046)

Jay, H. (2019, Nov. 1). Death Stranding: The Kotaku Review. Kotaku. (https://kotaku.com/death-stranding-the-kotaku-review-1839474313) 

Finch, C. (2025, April 8). The Critic Who Turned the Hate Read Into High Art. The New York Times. (https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/08/books/review/authority-andrea-long-chu.html) 

Kochai, J. (2019, Dec. 30). Playing Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain. The New Yorker. (https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2020/01/06/playing-metal-gear-solid-v-the-phantom-pain)

Navarro, A. (2004, Jan. 14). Big Rigs: Over the Road Racing Review. Gamespot.com. (http://www.gamespot.com/big-rigs-over-the-road-racing/)

Schiesel, S. (2009, Sept. 1). All Together Now: Play the Game, Mom. NYTimes. (http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/06/arts/television/06schi.html) 

Bissell, T. (2012, July 12). Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Shooter. Grantland.com. (http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/8157257/line-explores-reasons-why-play-shooter-games)

Suellentrop, C. (2013, June 14). In the Same Boat, but Not Equal. NYTimes. (http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/14/arts/video-games/in-the-video-game-the-last-of-us-survival-favors-the-man.html?_r=0) 

Scheurle, J. (2020, Aug. 20). The silly, chaotic, random design behind Fall Guys’ success. Polygon.com. (https://www.polygon.com/2020/8/20/21375212/fall-guys-game-design-randomness-esports-success-sales)