I'm not really that interested in it, to be honest.
Is it good that the people running these publications are trying to cover up and influence what readers think? No, of course not, but I've never expected anything different. I'm not that naive. These are for-profit media groups. Legitimate news organizations that are supposed to practice journalistic integrity are as corrupt as a room full of politicians, why would I think a bunch of glorified bloggers would act differently?
It just proves what I've always assumed.
Not that I'm saying that every individual writer or editor is without ethics, but the system as a whole, I don't see any reason for blind trust. That's why I'm not exactly upset or outraged. This really changes nothing for me.
Obviously it should be talked about, however. It should be communicated that trust can be broken with the audience when someone who writes about games has a secret relationship with someone who makes games. No publication should turn a blind eye to that.
