New Gaming Journalism

Jeffries, L.B. "The New Games Journalism." PopMatters 18 June 2009. 18 June 2009 <http://www.popmatters.com/pm/feature/73112-the-new-game-journalism/>.

Taken from the concept created by Tom Wolfe, New Games Journalism is a technique of writing incorporating the writer within the description of the gaming experience. The article written by Jeffries elaborates on what NGJ is, separating the concept from common misconceptions from the public. He emphasizes, with the support of Kieron Gillen, the author of the original article that NGJ was born from, that NGJ is another form to analyze or critique a game’s experience. To analyze or to critique a game cannot be limited to the facts about graphics and sometimes storyline. It is about the level of submersion and the experience the game creates for the player.

To emphasize his point, Jeffries draws on several examples of NGJ, such as an article written about the experience of one player in Jedi Knight II: Outcast. The player encountered a racist player and a duel ensued. The dynamics of the duel created an interesting insight into the layers of the game and the complexity of the issue. NGJ allows readers to understand the dynamics of games, in particular a multi-player game or games that offer a lot of choice so as to create a unique experience.

Jeffries insists that the point of NJG is to offer a new form to write about video games while emphasizing the experience the game creates for the individual.