Why is gaming so secretive? What is the industry hiding?

[ameratsu]

@OP:

I agree that information is lacking for video games. 

Just to add to your point about the industry being secrative, look at video game journalism and game reviewing. Part of the reason it can be so secretive is that those tasked with being journalists are actually gaming enthusiasts who are okay with the status quo. 

Interviews with industry folk are often just shameless advertising. Questions are topical and unobtrusive and only rarely investigative in nature. Those responsible for providing information about gaming (gaming press) are pretty much in bed with publishers. Any game 'journalist' who would dare to ask hard questions or dig up and publish incriminating information would find their organization black balled by publishers, or out of a job.

There is evidence that publishers influence review scores and content. While this certainly isn't true for every game nor every reviewer, publishers are able to influence outlets through bribery or withholding lucrative advertising deals. 

Why be secretive? Control the flow of information. Without reliable regular hardware and software data, or investigative journalism, companies with a vested interest in the gaming industry can construct their own reality.