Proof that EGM is trash

[Michael Bluth]

In one of the more bizarre and tasteless uses of a photo in many years by a gaming magazine, Electronic Gaming Monthly, which is published by Ziff-Davis Media, hits a new low. For their coverage of Sony's SOCOM II for the PlayStation 2. EGM used the photograph shown in this thread at a forum site called "The Guns Network" to show a soldier holding a box for the game. The original photograph as described by members of "The Guns Network" forum was actually Russian soldiers holding pictures of their comrades who have died in the Russian-Chechen conflict to honor them in a memorial service. To make matters worse for Ziff-Davis Media, they sent the owners of "The Guns Network" forums a letter informing of them essentially of their intent to sue for defamation if the offending link is not removed.


http://www.evilavatar.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=2545


And the pictures:


From EGM:
http://www.gunsnet.net/album/uploads//6673/f.jpg


The Real Thing:
http://www.gunsnet.net/album/data//500/6673f2.jpg


What a bunch of cocks.

[smellslikenintendospirit]

Damn. Stupid editors. Well now we know why they work for a lowly videogame magazine.

[Notedog]

Shit, I thought these guys were cool.

[Gunpei]

Yeah i was pissed when i saw this. They better have a full fucking page of apoligizing in the next issue.

[goku2057]

^ Yes, and I think that they will. They are usually very heads up about this sort of thing, and will not hesitate to apologize.

Anywho, this in no way changes my outlook on the magazine. I still love it.

[r33hash]

You know what...I saw this picture in their magazine and was wondering why the hell a bunch of russian soldiers were holding pictures of SOCOM II. Now I know....that is some messed up shit indeed. Someone (I might even do it) should write them and express their thoughts on this.....

[Kliq]

I still like the magazine, but this is definitely a huge low.

[matrix7]

Man that sucks...I was still sore about the faking the Dead Or Alive Beach volleyball "Show Jubblies" code as an April Fools joke, but this is LOW. Did they make that pic or was it advertised space? They still should screen it but *playing EGM's advocate here* they may not have known it was pics of their dead brothers. If anything the person who did the design should get the heat and if the editors knew as well they should be held accountable.

I still like the mag for it's content but I have to admit it kind of makes you step back and go "wow"...What people will do for a buck anymore...

[dncardman]

Woah that seriously is wrong....just no.

[Prince]

No, they knew exactly what the picture was. The place they bought it from has the description loud and clear.

http://simondog.com/FSB/Original.jpg

That is very low of EGM. I'm surprised they did that.

[JackieChanIsGOD]

That's fucking disgusting.

[Notedog]

I'm writing a letter.

[Kliq]

I'm writing a letter.

I'd like to second that.

[jonapete2001]

I dont think it is a big deal at all.

[Sendok]

How would you like a memorial for the fallen U.S. troops turned into a tasteless plug for a game?
-And there was no way this was tactfull.

[goku2057]

As I said before. They will have an apology in the next few issues. They always do.

[Blaksmoke]

The mag isn't trash, but whoever thought up and allowed that idea is an asshole.

[Batmanuel]

That's fucked up on so many levels.

[Notedog]

Any idea when their next issue is released?

[Sendok]

i always get mine on the last tuesday of every month.

[goku2057]

I get mine around the 20th. Since I have a subsciption. If you don't, stores will get it around the 1st of each month!

[MCKingKongMushi]

Some dude told me about it at work today. He was fucking pissed. He's calling them up, cancelling his subscription, and attempting to get his money back.

I told my boss and he let me walk to the newstand and buy it...I looked at it and I was disgusted. How the fuck can they do something like that? It's ridiculous.

[The Dude]

EGM is my favorite gaming magazine. True, it is tastless, but so is south park and I bet everyone here watches it.

Big Deal they fugged, up worse things have happend

[Michael Bluth]

EGM is my favorite gaming magazine. True, it is tastless, but so is south park and I bet everyone here watches it.

Big Deal they fugged, up worse things have happend

This is lower than anything South Park has done.....

[Jushiko]

This is lower than anything South Park has done.....

"AIDS IS OFFICIALLY FUNNY!"

"OH MY GOD, CHRISTOPHER REEVES EATS BABIES!"

"OH MY GOD, THEY KILLED JESUS!"

Debatable.

This wasn't even all that funny though, if they made it a little better maybe it woulnd't be so bad.

[Mach]

man it just shows you what these biased mainstreamers will do to shamefully promote a PS2 game.
WOW....sick...just sick

[JackieChanIsGOD]

"AIDS IS OFFICIALLY FUNNY!"

"OH MY GOD, CHRISTOPHER REEVES EATS BABIES!"

"OH MY GOD, THEY KILLED JESUS!"

Debatable.

This wasn't even all that funny though, if they made it a little better maybe it woulnd't be so bad.


See ya, but like... South Park is comedy...
This is Advertising...




using a memorial service...
It's like that Acclaim thing when they put an ad on a tombstone... who the fuck is gonna get the urge to wanna buy a video game while they're at a viewing or burial?

[Jushiko]

That's how I decided to buy Soul Reaver 2.

[JackieChanIsGOD]

heh, and Dead to Rights, i'm assuming?

[Jushiko]

heh, and Dead to Rights, i'm assuming?

That's the game I should have gone with! I'm tired, cut me some slack.

Oh oh! or that Mummy game...ah fuck it.

[JackieChanIsGOD]

Haha!

I lub you dude <3

[HylianKWG]

Why don't you all quit bitching about it? Who fucking cares!? I sure as hell don't, doesn't affect me one bit, say what you want I don't care.

[JackieChanIsGOD]

Why don't you all quit bitching about it? Who fucking cares!? I sure as hell don't, doesn't affect me one bit, say what you want I don't care.

Calm down.

[OnBake Platinum]

Oh jeeze....

[Kliq]

Why don't you all quit bitching about it? Who fucking cares!? I sure as hell don't, doesn't affect me one bit, say what you want I don't care.

You don't care? :nono:

[MCKingKongMushi]

Why don't you all quit bitching about it? Who fucking cares!? I sure as hell don't, doesn't affect me one bit, say what you want I don't care.

You don't care that the lives of honorable men who died in battle are being DISGRACED by some stupid ass video-game magazine?

[Michael Bluth]

You don't care that the lives of honorable men who died in battle are being DISGRACED by some stupid ass video-game magazine?

Of course not, who would want to do something like that?

[goku2057]

Very true. EGM would have to do tons better to pass South Park.

[r33hash]

He might care, but just to cause a bit of disturbance, he is disagreeing.....or maybe he doesnt care. I know this bothers me a ton.....Southpark is vulger and distasteful, but people know its that way. The ones that like that kind of stuff watch it and the ones that think its stupid dont watch it. This is different. This is a magazine bought by children....read in families. Maybe EGM didnt think that anybody would figure out that they did this, but someone did. And now, they owe a serious apology to their readers. This is going to cost them some readers for sure. Hopefully they wont continue making a mockery of this, like they do with some things.

[MCKingKongMushi]

I've already talked to lots of people who are cancelling their subscriptions.

I would too, if I was a subscriber.

[goku2057]

He might care, but just to cause a bit of disturbance, he is disagreeing.....or maybe he doesnt care. I know this bothers me a ton.....Southpark is vulger and distasteful, but people know its that way. The ones that like that kind of stuff watch it and the ones that think its stupid dont watch it. This is different. This is a magazine bought by children....read in families. Maybe EGM didnt think that anybody would figure out that they did this, but someone did. And now, they owe a serious apology to their readers. This is going to cost them some readers for sure. Hopefully they wont continue making a mockery of this, like they do with some things.


Well, apparently you don't read EGM. The tell people, that their mag isn't for children. It is meant for the 16-24 yr. old range. The reason it will cost them so many readers is because they have an outlook like yours. I read it, and this isn't going to stop me from reding it. The always have questionable things in their mags, and always apologoze for them when appropriate.

[r33hash]

Thanks for tryin to make a point, but I do read it, and have for the past two years. I never said a damn thing about me wanting to stop buying their mag. Im just sayin that this was a tasteless picture for that story and wrong of them to do. They could have used another means of making a picture for the article. The fact is, it wasnt even an ad. It was JUST a picture for an article. There was nothing necessary about this. And whether their statistics say that their reader basis is 16-24 or not, still doesnt mean that this doesnt offend people straight to their heart. What if someone related to a person in one of those memorial pics sees this. How would you feel?

[Blaksmoke]

On a similar topic, Nintendo Power desperatley needs to re-work and re-think their entire magazine before Nintnedo's next console is released.

[DLX]

The mag isn't trash, but whoever thought up and allowed that idea is an asshole.

I agree with that statement. Its a fair appraisal of the situation, obviously not everyone involved with the magazine is at fault for this, so my feeling is that EGM is still a solid magazine, but the person who thought of this is a fucking **** sucker.

[goku2057]

I would be hurt, but if they mde a direct apology, I would forgive and forget.

[DLX]

On a similar topic, Nintendo Power desperatley needs to re-work and re-think their entire magazine before Nintnedo's next console is released.

Nintendo Power is just a craptacular magazine. The nintendo fans definately deserve a more respectable monthly magazine then that P.O.S.

[r33hash]

True, as I said they should do. So long as the apology is sincere. I say that because I can recall some instances where letters have been sent in, and all EGM does is make a complete mockery of the situation. They dont seem to take much seriously. And the apology should be more than just a little blog in the corner of a page, like they usually do with typos and whatnot. They should post the original picture and apologize sincerely.

Edit.....sorry I dont use quotes like I should. This is in response to Gokus previous post.

[DLX]

True, as I said they should do. So long as the apology is sincere. I say that because I can recall some instances where letters have been sent in, and all EGM does is make a complete mockery of the situation. They dont seem to take much seriously. And the apology should be more than just a little blog in the corner of a page, like they usually do with typos and whatnot. They should post the original picture and apologize sincerely.

Im glad you brought that point up, because I do feel the EGM editors sometimes like to make a mockery of there fans complaints. Almost every issue I have features a letter by a reader who despite having brought up a complaint maturely, ends up being made a fool of by one of the editors who some how thinks hes real smart and saavy.

[r33hash]

Exactly what I was talking about. Thanks for helping me with my point. They dont seem to take much seriously, even when it should be taken more serious.

[MCKingKongMushi]

EGM's reviews have gone to shit anyways. They aren't even a solid magazine anymore, especially after this bullshit.

[goku2057]

While that might be true Shy, they have made several apologies for things of this nature. Wait and hold your decision untill the apology comes out.

[goku2057]

Like I said. An apology would be released sooner or later, and look what was on their site!



An Apology From EGM
1/12/2004

Dear readers,
In the February 2004 issue of Electronic Gaming Monthly, we printed a picture of soldiers holding what appear to be SOCOM II boxes. We altered this image to fit a story theme (soldiers preparing for online war), not realizing what the original context was (soldiers mourning their fallen comrades). We truly regret this and take full responsibility for our lack of better judgment. No excuses, we screwed up. It was completely unintentional, and we absolutely didn't mean to offend anybody. And then our company compounded the problem by sending a copyright infringement notice when the picture was scanned and posted without commentary on a third party's website, without understanding that the picture apparently was being displayed for critical purpose. We've addressed this issue head-on and are issuing apologies everywhere we can, and will also be doing so in our April 2004 issue. And, to further our apology, we're also making a contribution to The Veterans of Foreign Wars.

Please also note that this image was not used in an advertisement for SOCOM II, and was used without SOCOM II publisher Sony Computer Entertainment America or developer Zipper Interactive's knowledge or approval. We used it in our own editorial section, on our own efforts.

We'll try to be sure not to repeat this type of error again.

Sincerely,

Dan "Shoe" Hsu
Editor-in-chief, Electronic Gaming Monthly

[DLX]

While that might be true Shy, they have made several apologies for things of this nature. Wait and hold your decision untill the apology comes out.


Ill second that thought, despite being unhappy with some of there tactics, I still consider them to be a respectable source for gaming information. I will wait till an apology is issued(or not) until I make my decision.

[DLX]

Like I said. An apology would be released sooner or later, and look what was on their site!



An Apology From EGM
1/12/2004

Dear readers,
In the February 2004 issue of Electronic Gaming Monthly, we printed a picture of soldiers holding what appear to be SOCOM II boxes. We altered this image to fit a story theme (soldiers preparing for online war), not realizing what the original context was (soldiers mourning their fallen comrades). We truly regret this and take full responsibility for our lack of better judgment. No excuses, we screwed up. It was completely unintentional, and we absolutely didn't mean to offend anybody. And then our company compounded the problem by sending a copyright infringement notice when the picture was scanned and posted without commentary on a third party's website, without understanding that the picture apparently was being displayed for critical purpose. We've addressed this issue head-on and are issuing apologies everywhere we can, and will also be doing so in our April 2004 issue. And, to further our apology, we're also making a contribution to The Veterans of Foreign Wars.

Please also note that this image was not used in an advertisement for SOCOM II, and was used without SOCOM II publisher Sony Computer Entertainment America or developer Zipper Interactive's knowledge or approval. We used it in our own editorial section, on our own efforts.

We'll try to be sure not to repeat this type of error again.

Sincerely,

Dan "Shoe" Hsu
Editor-in-chief, Electronic Gaming Monthly

Fair enough, Ive always respected Dan Hsu's Integrity. Hopefully that will bring silent closure to this matter.

[r33hash]

Nice. Very nice indeed. I have not lost any respect for the magazine, or the editors. Maybe they didnt know the originality of the picture, or maybe they did. Either way, they are doing all they can to undo this. I applaud them for that. You were right Goku, and I applaud you as well. Im just glad that they approached this as best they could.

[HylianKWG]

No I don't care I think it is stupid to get so upset over something from a video game magazine.

[DLX]

No I don't care I think it is stupid to get so upset over something from a video game magazine.


That may be true, but then again your not the one who has lost friends and family in a war halfway across the world in some cold corner of this earth.

[dave]

i think this is in poor taste.

[KamiKaZe]

thats horrible, but i'm glad they apologized. i still love their mag

[r33hash]

Yeah, I got a response from Shoe at the EGM boards. All should be well pretty soon with this. Im glad they settled everything as professionals of their stature should.