Don’t worry about people like Adam – his reply (above) says more about his own shortcomings than it does about your site.

From your recent television appearances and latest podcast, I get the impression that Giant Bomb will be more opinion-driven than the previous site you wrote for.

That’s fine for columns and reviews–as long as you back up your opinions and (for reviews) also go over who will like the game, who won’t and why–but it is rarely appropriate for almost anything else, especially news.

Opinions, along with speculation, are NEVER appropriate in news stories. It is the job of a news writer to report, fact check and, when necessary, investigate. Opinions in news stories are annoying. I do not want someone effectively telling me how I am supposed to think about one issue or another. I can come up with my own opinions on them.

As for speculation, I do not want to see it in news articles either. When you speculate, you are assuming. Assumptions can be wrong, and when they are wrong they hurt your credibility.

Your recent praise of the major video game blogs for getting the news up before the full-fledged video game Web sites also worries me. The blogs regularly get the news up before the full-fledged video game Web sites because the blogs often don’t fact check, which leads to a lot of partially or completely incorrect reporting, which damages credibility.

And if you continue posting short, blog-like opinion pieces when Giant Bomb becomes a “real” video game Web site, please do not have them appear on the home page. If you continue with them, I suggest setting up a “Giant Bomb Blog” section, because blog entries on a home page make a Web site look unprofessional.

Also, I find it worrying that two of the three reviews on Giant Bomb are rated five out of five stars. You can argue that the highest score means “prime,” not “perfect,” but regularly awarding games the highest possible score still devalues the rating system.

Additionally, the promotional video at the end of your Poker Smash review needs to be removed. It’s amusing, but having it there could lead some to believe that your review is an advertorial, and that you were paid by the publisher to give it a high score. With the perception of a too-close relationship between editorial and marketing at your previous employer, this is the last thing you need.

Finally, if you haven’t already, hire a proofreader or copy editor. No matter how good a writer you are, you will miss some of your spelling and grammatical errors. I have spotted two grammatical errors on Giant Bomb. “Today was the first day in the office for Ryan and I,” should be, “Today was the first day in the office for Ryan and me,” and, “We’re opening up this blog, where myself and others will be writing about games,” should be “We’re opening up this blog, where I and others will be writing about games.” Even minor, common mistakes like these can make you look unprofessional.

I want to like Giant Bomb. You and Ryan Davis are talented writers and I respect your opinions. But if the site becomes filled with unprofessional, blog-like writings and has opinions and speculation in inappropriate places, I will go elsewhere for my video game coverage.

Cant wait to see how the Giant Bomb developes, matures and ‘lays the smack down’…

Im looking forward to the Giant Bomb podcast – Keep doing a Questions and Answers section.

A big bunch of flowers to all involved in Giant Bomb,
Ian of the United Kingdom

P.S. Its a great idea to show the process behind “Building a Bomb”.

Best of whishes in the future with the Projekt, I will be keeping a sharp Eye on this.

Great to hear you’re back in business