Konami Shuns Blog Over Metal Gear Review Controversy
The publisher has revoked Kotaku Japan's invitation to the Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker launch event.
There's been a fair bit of controversy surrounding Japanese gaming mag Famitsu and its glowing review of Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker. The game received a perfect, 40 out of 40 score from the magazine last week -- a fact that many were quick to chalk up to corruption in Japan's gaming press.
Much of the suspicion stems from Famitsu publisher Enterbrain's president Hirokazu Hamamura appearing prominently in advertisements for Peace Walker. Copies of Famitsu also show up as items in the game.
Now it seems Famitsu and Konami are retaliating against these accusations. Brian Ashcraft of Kotaku recently called the magazine out for what he perceived as a conflict of interest, and Kotaku Japan posted a translated version of that story on their site. Both Konami and Famitsu contacted Kotaku Japan this morning, and the game's publisher has revoked the site's invitation to the launch event for Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker.
Blacklisting a magazine or website for unfavorable coverage isn't anything new. But the articles Kotaku posted don't actually say anything negative about Peace Walker itself; they merely call into question the integrity of another outlet. If the guys at Kotaku are indeed being punished for -- let's be honest -- saying what a lot of people are already thinking, then it doesn't sound like Konami's doing much to help themselves or Famitsu. If anything, this could actually reinforce the concerns about underhanded behavior between Konami and the press.
See Also
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E3 2010: Metal Gear Solid: Rising Gameplay Debuts at Microsoft Press Event |
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Can controversy taint this game?
Posted: userComment.createdDate by� jonnytwodelta
I say doubtful.
Really, if tomorrow it becomes apparent that Kojima had sacrificed children to make this game, I would still not cancel my preorder. Having exhausted every conceivable option for entertaining myself with only the demo, I have decided that I need the full game.
Please don't misunderstand, my heart would go out to the families of the murdered children, as it does to the poor kotaku employees who will miss out on the launch party. Well, okay, I don't really feel that sorry for them. They miss out on one of many vip gaming events this year? Boo hoo for them.
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Konami: Makin' it worse since 1969.
Posted: userComment.createdDate by� SniperZombie
All this time, we thought FAMITSU was guilty, but nobody really blamed Konami as much. Now Konami's made a decision so stupid, we can all clearly see that they're clearly mired in just as much guilt if not more.
Yeah, this makes Konami look BAAAAAAD.
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Abriael
Posted: userComment.createdDate by� LobsterMobster
You make a good case that Kotaku is acting hypocritical.�
What does that have to do with their article on Famitsu?� Just because they're hypocrites doesn't mean they're wrong.
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Hey, KennyRNNG
Posted: userComment.createdDate by� LobsterMobster
Journalism is a neutral recounting of the facts.� Analysis is the facts, plus interpretation.� Editorial is just opinion.
Not that I blame you for making the mistake.� Most major "news" outlets pass off editorial as journalism these days.�
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Hello pot, meet kettle.
Posted: userComment.createdDate by� kennyRNNG
So 1up....HOW DO YOU REALLY FEEL? Quit being a bunch of pussies and just say how you feel on the subject,fuck this neutral stuff. I'm sick and tired of game journalists lashing outward and not being able to show it's audience their own�flaws they themselves try so hard to conceal.
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That's why I don't get
Posted: userComment.createdDate by� bambamthepyro
�why people pay attention to Famitsu. I've been saying the corruption thing for years...
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Famitsu Scores Have Been High
Posted: userComment.createdDate by� kscripter
Famitsu�scores have been out of whack for several months now.
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It's very,
Posted: userComment.createdDate by� Horney-Perv
"I scratch your back you scratch mine" sounding.
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Kotaku's hipocrisy part 2
Posted: userComment.createdDate by� Abriael
I actually have another nail for the coffin :D
There's absolutely no full disclosure about any tie-in on Kotaku's very positive review of WarioWare: D.I.Y. None that would even slightly hint to any promotional deal between the site and Nintendo.
But surprise, surprise! A few days later Kotaku announced the fabulous contest Master WarioWare: D.I.Y., Make Us a Game, Win a HUGE Prize, prompting readers to create a Kotaku-themed minigame using the Nintendo's little platform, and offering "HUGE prizes" sponsorized by... Nintendo.
I rest my case :D
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Kotaku's hipocrisy
Posted: userComment.createdDate by� Abriael
Oh and by the way, I was almost forgetting. Just to slam the last nail in the coffin of Kotaku's hipocrisy:
I don't see Kotaku putting a full disclosure on their (extremely positive) review or on the several articles they wrote about Forza Motorsport 3. Guess what?
Their sister blog Jalopnik, part of the Gawker network has a tie-in with Forza 3. They helped chose the cars in one of the forza DLC package with an event called "Forzalopnik", and VIP players of Forza Motorsport 3 got a Jalopnik themed car delivered in game by Turn 10.Yet there's no full disclosure anywhere in the Forza themed articles on Kotaku.
Hypocrites much?
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My fave Konami conspiracy theory...
Posted: userComment.createdDate by� Uminobankai
Is that they own all the PS1 copies of Suikoden II in the world and are slowly selling them on eBay for $200 a pop. That is the ONLY possible reason why that game isn't on PSN.
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[Legal disclaimer: I do not literally mean this or accuse anyone of anything ever.]
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I dont know
Posted: userComment.createdDate by� Ssnake
maybe they did and maybe they didnt, is it really that hard to believe that it got a perfect score? Look at the main MGS franchise, its gotten great scores all around, not to mention MGS4 got perfect scores in many places. Is it because this is a psp game? Its been proven that the psp can deliver a great gaming experience, just look at GOW chains of olympus or FF7 crisis core, both great games on the psp, portable ops wasnt bad either, just the controls were a bit off, but I was able to get used to them. I think we will find out the truth when other places start reviewing, if we see perfect scores, or near perfect, then we know it was an honest review.
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@fortysix2 and defteats
Posted: userComment.createdDate by� osebass
i agree with both of you and thanks for stating all of that.�
i say just play the game or rent it, and speak for yourself.� MGS4 GotP got a 10/10 in a lot of mags, so why can't what "kojima himself stated as the next MGS" also get an outstanding review.� sounds like if its not a perfect game, its at least a great (good) one.
and besides, who likes kotaku anyways.� i just visit their site from time to time, but i honestly get a "i'm too good for you" feeling when they talk about anything, as if they are elitest or something.
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You are free to do what we tell you
Posted: userComment.createdDate by� JimmyTheSaint
THE HIVE MIND DOES NOT APPROVE OF YOUR DISSENT.
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Soooooooo
Posted: userComment.createdDate by� couchcommando
So how is Famitsu being put into the game any different when like everything metal gear solid game before that had other game publications in the game like Gamepro.� Was EGM in them as well?
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what a surprise.
Posted: userComment.createdDate by� emulator-slave
Kojima is an over-rated POS anyway.Non-issue.
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Kotaku should really look in their own camp.
Posted: userComment.createdDate by� Abriael
This is getting hilarious. Ashcraft writes an hot headed (and hypocritical) ranting post against a competing publication, a post that really borders libel and might easily have legal implications and he gets bent out of shape when he gets called on it?
I have to reiterate my opinion about the matter: http://classygamer.blogspot.com/2010/04/famitsu-controversy.html
This is the point where a professional journalist should swallow his pride, understand that he thrown accusations without a shred of proof, admit he was wrong and move on.
But no, he grasps at straws so desperately that it isn't even funny anymore: "waaaaah they responded on the same day! They must have decided together to bully Kotaku! Waaaaah!"
Good morning, Mr Bashcraft, publishers and journalists TALK to each other. You probably talk to publishers daily. When one of the two parties saw that libel article, it's pretty obvious that they called the other to let them know that some site was slandering them. There's really nothing weird or conspirationalist in that. So it's pretty obvious that a response was issued on the same day and, surprise surprise, arrived on the same day.
Maybe it's really time that you swallow your pride, admit that you did something stupid, bow down and step back, instead of trying (and failing) to beef your accusations with more smoky conspiracy theories.
As for "shooting the messenger", Kotaku Japan isn't a "messenger". Kotaku Japan willingly published a libelous article, no matter where it was originally written. They did so under their responsibility. If you publish a libelous article, you're just as liable as if you write it. It's probable that they didn't even notice that the article was just a translation of what it appeared on Kotaku. The two sites being owned by different companies is no matter. They have the same name, and Kotaku Japan lives mostly on articles translated from Kotaku. To an external observer they are the same entity, so it's natural that they just wrote to them.
Seriously, Bashcraft, you did something hypocritical, morally and professionally wrong, and probably even bordering on the legally wrong, you've been called on it. Give it up.
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Okay
Posted: userComment.createdDate by� defteats
If this is true, then maybe we should take into consideration the positive review given to Retro Game Challenge on this site, when it featured obvious references EGM, John Davison, and James Mielke.
I just think this is a non-fucking-issue.� Isn't it possible that this is a good game?� If this game showed up on the PS3 and recieved these scores would it even be an issue?� The Metal Gear Solid series has had tie-ins throughout its history.� Yes, Famitsu has been handing out more 40's in the last 5 years than before that, but one of those titles was Nintendogs.� Did Nintendo pay them off for such a high score, and that's how all this corruption began?� No, it's all bullshit.� It's all subjective.� Nintendo has more 40's than any other company in Famitsu history.� Is that because they have been paying for them, or, perhaps, because they have made better games?� I'm gonna go with the better games theory.
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Whatevver
Posted: userComment.createdDate by� forestdonkey
ok, kotaku's points are valid, but does anyone really take famitsu's reviews seriously? not since nintendogs=perfect score! theyve given more perfect scores in the last couple of years than in the entire rest of their history combined. plus kotaku's jerks - if it was 1up i'd be worried!
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I have to double dip to respond to some of the commenters on here....
Posted: userComment.createdDate by� fortysix2
I'm just curious to all you commenters here�under this article,� are you telling me that video game websites and magazines shouldn't advertise VIDEO GAMES?� How will they survive and bring you your coveted video game news, videos, and insider coverage?�� Or are you telling me they should just not review the games they have ads for?� So, if Konami calls and wants to advertise on 1up.com, the editors have to decide whether or not to accept that ad, just because they want to review it?� Or, should they only post negative reviews about the games that have ads on their site?� If you think it through, there is no solution to this problem, and so you may as well get used to it.� You can't have the sites and mags without the ads guys.� So, you can't have your reviews without ads either.� Not unless it's some nameless Joe sitting in his basement typing reviews for you on his anonymous blog.� I want to hear everyones proposed solution to this problem if you really think this whole Famitsu/Metal Gear thing is a big deal that should be delt with.� My solution?� Read more than one review.� That's what Metacritic is for.� As for the rest?� Get over it.� If they wanna pay each other off, so be it.� They can't pay every reviewer on the internet off, and it will show if there is a huge problem when their Metacritc reviews are split heavily.
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Boycott Peace Walker? Because of this? Are you kidding me??!!??!!
Posted: userComment.createdDate by� fortysix2
I have been looking forward to this game ever since it was announced.� And really, I've been looking forward to a good sequel to Snake Eater since I beat that game, because it was my favorite game in the series.� I don't care how Konami advertises this game, and I don't care if it pays for reviews (which I doubt they even did; they don't have to), I�WILL buy this game.� My guess is that since every single Metal Gear Solid game other than Portable Ops has a 90 or higher metacritic rating, that this Famitsu score isn't even that far off anyways.� So, maybe it should of got a 9 out of 10 instead of a 10 out of 10. �WHO cares?� You people want to make a big stink over that?� I thought the Kotaku article was crap, and a rush to judgement, when they haven't even played the game yet.� I have put 7 or 8 hours just into the 3 versions of the demo for Peace Walker (1 Japanese TGS demo, 1 Japanese PSN version and the U.S. PSN version).� I know that I will love this game, and I won't be surprised if it gets 20 or 30 more 10 out of 10 reviews.� So, why is this even making the news around the 'net?� Every review outlet on the 'net and in print will probably advertise this game.� If not this one, then they are gonna advertise some game eventually and then review it.� Does that mean they are not allowed to issue 10 out of 10's???� I hope not.� What if the game REALLY is that good?��Are you telling me that they can't tell you that now, just because they have an ad up on the site?� I'm sure there is some bias created sometimes because of paid ads, but is it really gonna affect my enjoyment of the next Metal Gear Solid (or any other good game, for that matter)?� NOPE.� �
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At the end of the day...
Posted: userComment.createdDate by� spaceworm
...Kotaku's oringinal point is right.� The magazine that is featured in the game is also the magazine that gave the game a perfect score. It just taints it. There will always be some gamers out there left suspicious.
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Isn't it possible that the game is actually good enough to get a 40?
Posted: userComment.createdDate by� MooseyMcMan
Why can't a PSP game be that good? HM??!?!?!?!?!/1!?!?!?!?
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a matter of taste....
Posted: userComment.createdDate by� The_Nintendo_Us
a matter of�taste... this is a bs arguement... im not against subjectivity in reviews and news but saying that because of your taste something is better is far too subjective, making taste or opinion the center peice of the discussin really disavows any sort of arguement about the quality of games, this makes famitue's opinion just as valid, or anyone elses for that matter. so it debunks any arguements about games being bad because they are japanize and therefour behind the times, this has always been a flaw of the arguements against japanize games, western ideas are better or more modern then japananize ideas...
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Coarse_Limely
Posted: userComment.createdDate by� GomezGomita
Yes, that�s exactly what I�m saying. For me, FPS are boring and repetitive, again, It�s just me, on MGS you got a richer gameplay, you got a solid story, you got over the edge mech and gear designs, I mean, you gotta look at the whole package here...
I love MGS but after portable ops I do not have high hopes on P.W, you are totally right when you say that in america are a lot of fanboy reviewers, in fact there are a lot of mediocre japanese games that get high scores, but I think that is just the way It is, I think it must be very hard �to review a game without being, at least a little bit, of a fanboy...
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About time!
Posted: userComment.createdDate by� Robotron2000
Why not ban Kotakrap? They are one of the worst sites on the Internet. They are neither professional or reliable. Besides doesn't Kotakrap ban their users leaving only the ones that agree with their opinion?
About time someone banned them back. How's that for a ban hammer?!
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@TenAkuma
Posted: userComment.createdDate by� GomezGomita
yes, mostly FPSs. God of war is not a bad game at all, but I never saw a real EVOLUTION on the series, or at least some slight changes on the gameplay to really create a �true identity� , the only true identity I see on god of war are the blood, the gore and new and funny ways to kill enemies, of course some may say that ninja gaiden was another DMC rip off, but ninja gaiden had a true identity, It was faster,It was defensive and offensive, It was harder and overall It was a deeper action game than D.M.C.
Personally I never liked God of war, because of it�s cheap blood and gore feature, the character design is horrendous, the animation, mocap, whatever, isn�t really good, and the whole concept is just too cheesy and lack style... again is just how you percieve each elements of a game...
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@GomezGomita
Posted: userComment.createdDate by� Coarse_Limely
So Americans like shooting things, and the Japanese only like shooting things when it's Metal Gear Solid? It's not like Peace Walker's not going to get glowing reviews over here, too. It's a popular franchise and there's a lot of fanboys for it in the reviewing business.
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aaah, guys...
Posted: userComment.createdDate by� GomezGomita
And why the hell It�s so strange!?, I�m a south-american gamer (I know that you probably don�t give a shit) but you guys suffer from the same affliction that I do when I read american reviews, It�s unbelievable the amount of crap that american reviewers throw at some japanese games and It�s unbelievable the favoritism reviewers have for mediocre western games (God.O.W) for example, I think that is very curious that no one �seems to realize� that G.O.W has always been a cheap D.M.C rip off, of course that everybody know this, but nobody say anything ... I do read and watch americans reviews, but at the end of the day I see that some of you people enjoy and perceive gaming on a totally different way, It�s just that, you guys like shooting things, and japanese like emo characters, elves, katanas, cute looking creatures and MGS, I don�t see any of those �conspiracy� theories you guys love so much...
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It's not unprecedented
Posted: userComment.createdDate by� nanstey
The Meatal Gear franchise has been having tie-ins for years now - Ipod, assassin's creed, various food products, the now defunct FHM, along with having the covers of various MGS cover stories laying around in games.� This does however take it to a new level.� And while there does seem to be a big conflict of interest here, I think the way to best respond to it is not an outright boycott, but a call to reviewers to be brutally honest about the title.� No glossing over, no nothing - the cold hard facts.� That, I think, would send a powerful mesage to them for this kind of behavior.
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Well now,
Posted: userComment.createdDate by� GenesisDoes
This is quite an interesting story. I do remember some companies fooling around and putting Review critics and their corresponding mags in review copies of certain games for kicks, but they were always taken out from the final copy. I don't recall Any reviewers themselves specifically appearing in an advertisement for said game though.
This isn't something as silly as West vs. East, it's simply accusation being stated, then completely ignored and having the one who stated it punished for it. And if the evidence is accurate, I think it's a valid concern.
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Honestly
Posted: userComment.createdDate by� EKGTrooper
This is why no one I know takes Famitsu seriously anymore. We used to love that magazine and take what it said as ironclad truth. It was supposed to be the best. Now, it is a joke.
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Really
Posted: userComment.createdDate by� Kishiin
underhanded. By blacklisting someone for speaking out and calling attention to such a huge conflict of interest it only serves to make everyone think that Kotaku was onto something. Simply ignoring it or just not responding to the accusation would have been the better move, because any aggressive retaliation proves there was some truth to what was said.
Lets let the game speak for itself, whether it got a 40, a 39 or something else.
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Anybody...
Posted: userComment.createdDate by� Coarse_Limely
...cancelling their pre-orders for this game because Konami's an evil corporation with only its own interests at heart...like every other corporation on the entire friggin' planet? No? Didn't think so.
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@Pombar
Posted: userComment.createdDate by� The_Nintendo_Us
if this actually was the controversy, not mentioning the conflict of intrest, there are alot bigger issues within games media then famitsue, this own ad supported site does not frequently mention the ads it has in the review text�just like�ign, gamespot, many western gaming sites. this calls into question the painting of this problem as entirly japanise.
if what your saying is true, its simple an article in a long line of articles that says western is better then japanise, they have problems and we dont, and it kind of makes it even worse...
also, its a matter of getting the cart before the horse, what your suggesting is that if any game advertises big, that game score is in question, the controversy would actualy stand if peace walker was sh*t and it got a ten because of the ads. peace walker could be a ten game, thats the issue i have, because its japanise and has a flavor unlike western games, people are assuming its not a ten game before they have played it and thus seeing corruption.�
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Boycott
Posted: userComment.createdDate by� AnimeOnslaught
i am a huge MGS fan, in fact I think Metal Gear solid is the greatest gaming franchise to date, but Im no friend to corruption. We need to boycott this game until Konami gets their stuff straight! Everyone here should stick together and refuse to purchase the game, its just another way for advertisers to get their foot in the door and gain more consumers for their products that have nothing to do with MGS in the first place!� If we dont boycott this game, and it sells well, well be making a statement, that ITS OK if you pollute our video games in advertisements, ITS OK to give video games the same treatment as with tv shows and movies. This game is supposed to target the younger audience, but at the same time, it has more shamless ads than any other game to date, they are trying to get to us at a young age!!
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Resist buying this game
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If you want to know how bad Famitsu really is...
Posted: userComment.createdDate by� Argo
Read this article by Wired.� Saw it posted on Kotaku and wow.
http://www.wired.com/gamelife/2009/08/famitsu-monster-hunter/
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I don't understand the controversy
Posted: userComment.createdDate by� xyno512
I can see the conflict of interest here, but I don't see how it is that big of an issue. Famitsu has great approach to reviewing games, and I can't see all four reviews tainting thier reviews just for the sake of over-hyping Kojima's new title.
Honestly I would believe thier review over most others because it is a collective review from four reviewers, instead of just one person. Their reviews, because of this (imo), tend to be a bit more balanced and complete.
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@The_Nintendo_Us
Posted: userComment.createdDate by� Pombar
Actually, the whole controversy is not based on whether it deserves a 10 or not - this was continually highlighted in the original article and the follow-up. It is that the magazine had a conflict of interest in reviewing the game at all, and, when they didn't even bring up said conflict of interest in their review text, it becomes a compromised review. It's a lack of integrity on behalf of the magazine, when they should be distancing themselves from such conflicts of interest.
Taking a bribe because you were going to give the game a ten anyway is not a free pass.
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how dare you vs. cover up
Posted: userComment.createdDate by� The_Nintendo_Us
to be fair to konami, if someone accused me of bribes i would be pissed off to, i dont think its fair for the news story nor the upcoming comments to assume this means guilt,� i wouldnt give access to a news media site if they were accusing me of dishonestly, its not the sites right to have access, its a privilige. they arn't big or important enough to make it a right...
also, the focus of the attack should be famitsue, not konami, thats this issue, they seem to have begun an open door policy(in terms of bribery)�which reflects negitivly back upon publishers who feature in there mag
also, the story and whole controversy is based on the premise that peice walker could not deserve a ten, that it couldnt be that good, this seems to me to be a falsehood, do i accuse ign/egm/1up of misgivings because of high marks givin to western games over japanise? before any of this happened people should have played peace walker and seen if the quality was there...
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Interesting
Posted: userComment.createdDate by� sparks24
They seem so guilty already...this is my first time hearing this btw, but Konami's actions speak louder than words. Banning kotaku can mean (A) they are guilty or (B) they're tired of being accused and want no other company stirring something up at the event or (C) both.
