Game People
Encyclopedia
Game People is a UK based video game review website whose style, which could be categorised as New Games Journalism, is centered on video game coverage that focuses as much on the people playing the games as the games themselves. Each writer has his or her own niche perspective, and Game People states its aim to be "social, mini, and friendly" rather than Mass Media
.
The site was largely unreferenced for the first few years of its existence. Paul Govan's family gaming coverage was then picked up by Wired's GeekDad
blog in 2008, and later for Game Pro's Family blog in 2009. But it wasn't until "Game People" launched Rebecca Mayes' video game review songs - a departure from the traditional review structure obviously inspired by Ben Croshaw's Zero Punctuation
- that the site truly began to garner broader attention.
The popularity of Mayes' musically-slanted reviews led to them being featured in online magazine the Escapist and more notably on Charlie Brooker's BBC TV Gameswipe show.
This attention enabled the site to broaden its reach and range of coverage. Game People's reviewers (artisan
as they call them) have since written close to 1000 articles covering a range of perspectives: Considered, Domestic, Dressup, Eclectic, Family, Fitness, Frugal, Intimate, Multiplayer, Perpetual, Race, Returning, Scared, Soulful, Sports, Story, Soundtrack, Teaching Teen, Touch, and Tech. This is most clearly observed in coverage of bigger games such as Fable II, where the site offered some 9 different reviews.
During 2010 the site was referenced more regularly by the mainstream media. Early coverage of left-field games like Deadly Premonition were picked up by The Independent. The more wide ranging opinions on gaming have also features on BBC Radio 4.
As well as writing, the reviewers also use more unusual media. This has involved from the simple use of Rebecca Mayes' songs to origami, photography, animation and even teletext to communicate contributor's impressions concerning games and gaming.
Game People writers have been featured on BBC TV, The Times
, Greenbelt Cheltenham Arts Festivals and mainstream print like Official Playstation Magazine
. Some writers also contribute to Wired
, IGN
and Game Pro
. They also provide a weekly Game People Calling column for The Escapist
.
Mass media
Mass media refers collectively to all media technologies which are intended to reach a large audience via mass communication. Broadcast media transmit their information electronically and comprise of television, film and radio, movies, CDs, DVDs and some other gadgets like cameras or video consoles...
.
The site was largely unreferenced for the first few years of its existence. Paul Govan's family gaming coverage was then picked up by Wired's GeekDad
GeekDad
GeekDad is a website covering multiple topics targeting fathers who categorize themselves as a "geek." Popular post categories include Lego, Star Wars & Star Trek, video games, books, and field trips. GeekDad also publishes a regular podcast covering items of interest to the website's readers...
blog in 2008, and later for Game Pro's Family blog in 2009. But it wasn't until "Game People" launched Rebecca Mayes' video game review songs - a departure from the traditional review structure obviously inspired by Ben Croshaw's Zero Punctuation
Zero Punctuation
Zero Punctuation is an ongoing video game review series created by comedy writer and video game journalist Ben "Yahtzee" Croshaw and published by the online magazine The Escapist.-Background:...
- that the site truly began to garner broader attention.
The popularity of Mayes' musically-slanted reviews led to them being featured in online magazine the Escapist and more notably on Charlie Brooker's BBC TV Gameswipe show.
This attention enabled the site to broaden its reach and range of coverage. Game People's reviewers (artisan
Artisan
An artisan is a skilled manual worker who makes items that may be functional or strictly decorative, including furniture, clothing, jewellery, household items, and tools...
as they call them) have since written close to 1000 articles covering a range of perspectives: Considered, Domestic, Dressup, Eclectic, Family, Fitness, Frugal, Intimate, Multiplayer, Perpetual, Race, Returning, Scared, Soulful, Sports, Story, Soundtrack, Teaching Teen, Touch, and Tech. This is most clearly observed in coverage of bigger games such as Fable II, where the site offered some 9 different reviews.
During 2010 the site was referenced more regularly by the mainstream media. Early coverage of left-field games like Deadly Premonition were picked up by The Independent. The more wide ranging opinions on gaming have also features on BBC Radio 4.
As well as writing, the reviewers also use more unusual media. This has involved from the simple use of Rebecca Mayes' songs to origami, photography, animation and even teletext to communicate contributor's impressions concerning games and gaming.
Game People writers have been featured on BBC TV, The Times
The Times
The Times is a British daily national newspaper, first published in London in 1785 under the title The Daily Universal Register . The Times and its sister paper The Sunday Times are published by Times Newspapers Limited, a subsidiary since 1981 of News International...
, Greenbelt Cheltenham Arts Festivals and mainstream print like Official Playstation Magazine
PlayStation Official Magazine (UK)
The Official UK PlayStation Magazine is a now-defunct magazine, launched in November 1995 to coincide with the launch of the PlayStation console. It ran for 108 issues, with the last hitting news stands in March 2004. The first issue sold 37,000 copies...
. Some writers also contribute to Wired
Wired UK
Wired UK is a full-colour monthly magazine that reports primarily on the effects of science and technology. It covers a broad range of topics including design, architecture, culture, the economy, politics and philosophy...
, IGN
IGN
IGN is an entertainment website that focuses on video games, films, music and other media. IGN's main website comprises several specialty sites or "channels", each occupying a subdomain and covering a specific area of entertainment...
and Game Pro
Game Pro
This is the page related to the Italian video game magazine. For the unrelated American video game magazine see GamePro.Game Pro is the Italian edition of Edge video game magazine, specializing in multi-format video games.- History :...
. They also provide a weekly Game People Calling column for The Escapist
The Escapist (magazine)
The Escapist is an online magazine covering video games, gamers, the gaming industry, and gaming culture. Published by the Themis Group, it was edited by Julianne Greer up to June 30, 2009, then by Russ Pitts through September 2011, and is currently edited by Steve Butts. The Escapist was first...
.