Posted by We’re back with our “thinking about thinking” series! If you’re interested in our previous deep thoughts, check out the Metacognition series. Join us for some deep thoughts (and maybe the occasional not-so-deep thought) about gaming. If you find one you’d like to answer, you can either comment below or write a post and share the link so we can all read your fantastic thoughts.
How do you keep up with gaming news?
The short answer is “I don’t.”
But, since I’m not trying to write the shortest post in the history of posts, there are a few ways I try to keep the proverbial thumb on the pulse of gaming. Some of them happened sort of naturally, and one I legitimately went out searching for a way to at least have a passing knowledge of game news. This information was helpful to me, so if another blogger finds this information and also finds it’s helpful, then I’d be very glad!
One way I stay abreast of gaming news is by staying active on social media: if there is some outcry about something, eventually I’ll hear about it.
Another way is also through social media: I follow gaming companies and so if they make an announcement I will definitely hear it. It’s not flashy, but it works.
Probably the most reliable way I get my gaming news, however, is through Google Alerts, which is a little more curated, but takes a little more effort. You can tailor the alerts to be for any topic(s) you wish by choosing specific keywords to follow. I have a few key words, both vague like “video games” and specific like “Anthem,” and I also make sure things like “Nintendo,” “indie,” and other terms are highlighted.
Now, every morning, like receiving the newspaper, I receive a highlight reel of links and articles that mention on of the keywords I’ve set up. It’s incredibly convenient and, while maybe not the most through, keeps me current enough to not look foolish during conversations.
What about you? How do you keep up with your gaming news? Let me know in the comments!
Thanks for stopping by, and I’ll see you soon!
~Athena
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I don’t “keep up” as much as see things on Twitter. Anything major that comes along will crop up there sooner or later!
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Yes that’s generally my way of finding out about news, and usually the quickest way it gets to me, too! haha
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The only gaming site I read on a regular basis is Rock Paper Shotgun, mostly because they focus on PC and indie gaming. In most cases, I rely on opinions of wordpress blogs I follow and my friends because I trust in their judgement and taste more than in video game journalists.
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That’s a good site, for sure! I don’t follow it that much, but I’ve read a few of their article. I agree that I rely on the WordPress community/friends for opinions, and social media for any outstanding “breaking” news!
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I don’t is mostly my answer too, haha. I like reading posts in this cool blogging community, so that’s how I get most of my gaming news. Ian over at Adventure Rules is great for Nintendo Direct conferences and such, for example.
I like your Google Alerts strategy! I’ll have to look into that. Although with a backlog as big as mine, I really don’t want to learn about new gaming things 😁
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Yep! And Ian is absolutely good for Nintendo Direct coverage! And thanks 🙂 I haven’t been following game releases too much, and I haven’t found that Google Alerts alerts me to any big games that I haven’t at least heard of in passing, so no worries there 🙂
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I used to read a few gaming websites regularly, but at some point keeping up with news became too much of a chore. Now I rely on twitter and Google Feed, and I think I am happier for it. 😀
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I think keeping up with news in general can be a chore haha. But yeah I can’t say I’m unhappy with having a more stream-lined process!
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I try really really hard but it doesn’t always work. Usually, when something big is happening like a Nintendo Direct, for example, something comes up right at that time so I can’t watch it live. Like today, for instance. My friend doesn’t have a car right now and asked me to drive her because her daughter has a dentist appointment. It turns out I actually can watch it today, but that’s not usually the case, lol.
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It’s nice when things like that work out! I’m like that with E3; if I’m available when it’s on, I’ll watch, but otherwise I’ll just catch snippets here and there and hope I’m getting the main points haha
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When it comes to news within the gaming industry, I personally try to keep up with as much as possible which is why I read on multiple websites, look on websites of game companies I follow, check up on twitter and read the newsletter. As well as reading what I can on blogs, though I haven’t been able to follow as much the past couple of weeks, I still keep up with what is most talked about on social media.
Never tried with Google Alert but could be interesting to try out. Other than that if there’s something (and this is important to myself) interesting happening in the industry, I do want talk about it myself on the website to show one’s own perspective on what is going on and why I believe it either is good or bad (mostly just good things will be shown though)…always try to look at both sides of the coin.
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That’s probably the best way to do it. I don’t often cover news here, so I guess for me it’s more about being an informed consumer and just looking for interesting tidbits to muse over, but yes I think for the serious news-follower having multiple sources is always a good thing!
I mean, that’s the best part about blogging isn’t it? 😉
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WordPress lol. Honestly. I depend on my blogger buddies to get me informed about what’s hot in the world of gaming. I also use Twitter because I follow gamers on there, too. I don’t really keep abreast of what IGN et al are talking about. I do pay attention to E3 or rather the coverage of E3, but I mostly hear about it second hand.
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Yeah, I get a lot of news from fellow bloggers, as well, to be honest! haha Hooray for the great people at WordPress! 😉
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