Destructoid

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Destructoid
Destructoid-logo.png
URL http://www.destructoid.com/
Type of site Video game blog
Registration Optional (free)
Owner independent
Created by Yanier Gonzalez
Launched March 16, 2006
Current status Active

Destructoid is an independent video game-focused blog based in San Francisco, California that was founded in March 2006.[1][2] It has since grown into one of the most widely read video game sites on the Internet, reaching more than 3 million unique visitors per month.[3] It is part of the Modern Method network,[4] which also features the film-oriented site Flixist, anime-oriented Japanator, and collectible toy-focused Tomopop.[5]

Contents

[edit] History

Destructoid began as a Wordpress blog as a means to secure the founder press credentials for the press-only E3 Expo.[6] After being rejected, Yanier began writing original editorials and drawing cartoons which were picked up by established gaming blogs like Joystiq [7] and Kotaku,.[8] In 2007 the site relaunched with user blogs, forums, and a team of contributors.

[edit] Notoriety

The site quickly gained mixed notoriety on NeoGAF and GamePolitics[9] after E3 when Yanier appeared at the press conference dressed as Mr. Destructoid (Destructoid's robot mascot, shown on logos and promotional material) to hand out promotional flyers, calling to question whether games journalism was taking itself too seriously or not seriously enough.

The stunt helped Destructoid become recognized as a top player in the emerging "enthusiast gaming press" movement of the early 2000s. Despite criticisms, the site continued to gain popularity by posting next-gen console rumors and leaks following E3. Some months later, Yanier was the first to break the news of Jack Thompson's disbarment,[10] a lawyer who had notoriously fought the gaming industry for years. This story, which was widely syndicated, cemented Destructoid as a serious news source.

Destructoid competes with mainstream gaming news outlets, posting an average of 50 stories a day. It was among the first to break stories like the Wii controller's final design,[11] the PlayStation 3's launch pricepoint,[12] Halo 3's release date, and others. Its original editorial work gained mainstream syndication including the popular web show "Hey Ash Whatcha Playin'?", now syndicated on GameTrailers. Other popular works can be found on social bookmarking sites like the satirical Ten Golden Rules of Online Gaming,[13] its Guides on Recognizing Gamers,[14] and its ironic praise for the critically shunned Super Mario Brothers film.[15]

The Mr. Destructoid costume was redesigned in 2012 by Volpin Props, featuring animated LED circuitry, and is still active as their notorious mascot at press events. Company employees and members of the community dress in formal wear and take turns wearing it at the Penny Arcade Expo annually.

[edit] Features

Destructoid is split up into six main sections: the Homepage where editors post daily news and reviews, the Community Blogs where users can post virtually anything they feel is of importance to the community and those with similar interests, the Videos section which consist of original skits and trailers, the Forums where people can go to chat regularly, the Buy/Sell area where community members trade games, and the Fight area where members can play games against each other.

[edit] Charitable work

In 2008, Jim Sterling, a Destructoid editor, took part in a sponsored gaming marathon raising money for young cancer patients. Raising $3,000 for the charity, Sterling and friend John Kershaw played a selection of games from the SingStar franchise, effectively singing almost non-stop for twelve hours. The event was broadcast live online for the duration of the event.[16]

In 2009, Niero, and well-known Destructoid editors, continued the gaming marathon tradition on October 17–18 for cancer awareness. They managed to raise more than their last marathon with a grand total of $4,835.60 for Extra Life children's hospital in Texas.[17]

In 2010, Destructoid HQ hosted a 24-hour gaming marathon for the charity Extra Life. Community members raised over $6,000 for Children's Miracle hospitals in Texas. Destructoid has also partnered with Revision 3 to build a clean water well in Africa through the Charity Water organization.

In 2011, Destructoid hosted another marathon for Extra Life, raising $6909.16 for Children's Miracle hospitals.[18]

In 2012, Destructoid hosted a 56-hour livestream on its Dtoid.tv channel, which raised over $7,000 for Habitat for Humanity. The company's founder flew to Costa Rica and assisted the build of a 32-house government project for families living in extreme poverty in Liberia.[19]

[edit] Awards

Destructoid has been nominated for several awards in video game coverage. The site was nominated for the inaugural Games Media Awards in 2007 under the “Non-Commercial Website or Blog” category.[20] Destructoid was also selected as an Official Webby Honoree in the Games-Related category of the 11th Annual Webby Awards in 2007.[21] They were again nominated in 2009 in the same category.[22][23]

[edit] Videos

Destructoid produces the twice-weekly, in-studio video game news show, the Destructoid Show on Revision 3,[24] daily live video streams like Kingdom of Foom and MASH TacticS [25] on Twitch.tv, and semi-regular video skits like Hey Ash Whatcha Playin, The Jimquisition, Storm's Adventures, and others on YouTube.[26]

[edit] Podtoid

Destructoid reviews editor and Head of Marketing and PR for Konami Jim Sterling (who sometimes operates under the alias Jim Silver) runs a weekly podcast with Destructoid associate editor Jonathan Holmes. They are now joined by Conrad Zimmerman, Destructoid news editor, and Hamza "CTZ" Aziz, Destructoid director of communications.[27]

[edit] Presence in video games

The site's mascot, Mr. Destructoid, has appeared in various console, mobile, and PC video games.

In 2007, it was announced that Hudson Entertainment, the American branch of Hudson Soft had teamed up with Destructoid to develop and introduce a playable character based on Destructoid's mascot, Mr. Destructoid, into its successful Xbox Live Arcade game Bomberman Live.[28][29][30][31] Mr. Destructoid later appeared in Bomberman Ultra, the PlayStation 3 port of Bomberman Live. Mr. Destructoid's head is available as an unlockable helmet in PixelJAM's game Dino Run, by entering the password "totinos" in the cheats menu. This was included as an in-joke, because that particular brand of pizza was a favorite of one of the editors, and he in turn was a friend of the game's developers. The code was revealed in one chapter of the Podtoid podcast.

In 2008, Destructoid's mascot was also included in the platform game Eternity's Child, but was later removed after a scathing review of the game on the web site.[32][33][34] Mr. Destructoid also appeared in Agent MOO: Maximum Overdeath on XBOX Live Indie Games along with Ron Workman, Destructoid's former community manager.

In 2010, it was announced that Mr. Destructoid would be appearing in the upcoming XBLA release of Raskulls.[35] Later that year it was discovered that Chapter 2-18 in Super Meat Boy is called Destructoid. The game was acclaimed by many of the editors, taking Destructoid's Game Of The Show at the Penny Arcade Expo earlier in July. Mr. Destructoid also appears in the flash game Pirates vs. Ninjas,[36] by Bardo Entertainment.

In 2011, Mr. Destructoid appeared as a non-playable character in BiteJacker, a game created by the Bytejacker show on the iPhone as a VIP Character. Your score increases the longer that he remains on screen. In July Destructoid's reviews editor, Jim Sterling, became a playable character in The Blocks Cometh.[37] Later that month Mr. Destructoid would appear in Twisted Pixel's Ms. Splosion Man[38] as a destroyable villain during challenge mode, and again as a ball-swallowing fixture in Zen Studio's Pinball FX as part of the Ms. Splosion Man pinball table.[39] On August 1 Mr. Destructoid became a playable character in Arcade Jumper on iOS.[40] The remake of the classic arcade game Burgertime also features Mr. Destructoid as a playable character.[41]

In 2012, Mr. Destructoid was revealed as a playable character in SpicyHorse's Big Head Bash, where his rooster gun shoots similar but smaller "cocks".[42] He is also a non-playable monster enemy in MonsterMind (Facebook Game) and a machinegun accessory in PerfectWorld's Blacklight Retribution.

[edit] External links

[edit] References

  1. ^ Gonzalez, Yanier "Niero" (2007-03-15). "Destructoid turns one". Destructoid. http://www.destructoid.com/destructoid-turns-one-30430.phtml. Retrieved 2009-08-11.
  2. ^ "Waiting for Wii: And I'll form the head!". Joystiq. 2007-05-12. http://www.joystiq.com/2006/05/12/waiting-for-wii-and-ill-form-the-head/. Retrieved 2009-08-11.
  3. ^ "Destructoid". Site Meter. 2007. http://www.sitemeter.com/?a=stats&s=s23destructoid&r=36. Retrieved 2009-08-11.
  4. ^ "MODERNMETHOD / DESTRUCTOID LLC - A swell company of fine hypertext products". Modernmethod.com. 2009-12-07. http://www.modernmethod.com/destructoid-press.htm. Retrieved 2012-11-03.
  5. ^ "Who Is Modernmethod?". Modernmethod.com. http://www.modernmethod.com/. Retrieved 2012-11-03.
  6. ^ "The Destructoid Story". http://www.modernmethod.com/destructoid-press.htm. Retrieved 2011-06-30.
  7. ^ "Quad SLI gaming for Cheapskates". http://www.joystiq.com/2006/04/04/quad-sli-gaming-for-cheapskates/. Retrieved 2011-06-30.
  8. ^ "Destructoid's First Comic". http://kotaku.com/164054/destructoid-annihilates-360-stock-with-humor?tag=destructoid. Retrieved 2011-06-30.
  9. ^ "E3's Media Booby Prize Goes to Destructoid". http://gamepolitics.livejournal.com/284818.html. Retrieved 2011-06-30.
  10. ^ "Destructoid Scores Big with Bully Courtroom Coverage". http://www.gamepolitics.com/2006/10/12/destructroid-scores-big-with-bully-courtroom-coverage. Retrieved 2011-06-30.
  11. ^ "Nintendo Wii Remote Prototype Evolution". http://digg.com/news/story/The_evolution_of_the_Nintendo_Wii_remote:_Before_After_prototype_photos. Retrieved 2011-06-30.
  12. ^ "Xbox 360 199 US, PS3 599 US". http://digg.com/news/story/August_1st_Xbox_360_199US_PS3_599US_Console_Warz_is_OVER. Retrieved 2011-06-30.
  13. ^ "Ten Golden Rules of Online Gaming". http://digg.com/news/story/Ten_golden_rules_of_online_gaming. Retrieved 2011-06-30.
  14. ^ "Guides on recognizing gamers". http://digg.com/news/story/A_Guide_To_Recognizing_Your_Gamers_Chapter_3. Retrieved 2011-06-30.
  15. ^ "Why The Super Mario Brothers Movie is a Masterpiece". http://www.destructoid.com/why-the-super-mario-movie-is-an-underappreciated-masterpiece-29694.phtml. Retrieved 2011-06-30.
  16. ^ "Destructoid editor to sing for charity". Ars Technica. 2008-10-03. http://arstechnica.com/gaming/news/2008/10/destructoid-editor-to-sing-for-charity.ars. Retrieved 2009-08-11.
  17. ^ "Texas Children's Hospital - Ways to Give". Waystogive.texaschildrens.org. http://waystogive.texaschildrens.org/netcommunity/destructoid. Retrieved 2012-11-03.
  18. ^ "Destructoid's Extra Life 2011 round-up". Destructoid. 2011-10-26. http://www.destructoid.com/destructoid-s-extra-life-2011-round-up-214016.phtml. Retrieved 2011-10-26.
  19. ^ "Destructoid's Habitat for Humanity Charity Event". Destructoid. 2012-06-21. http://www.destructoid.com/this-weekend-on-dtoid-tv-56-non-stop-hours-for-charity--226929.phtml. Retrieved 2012-06-21.
  20. ^ "Games Media Awards finalists revealed". MCV. 2007-08-31. http://www.mcvuk.com/news/28177/Games-Media-Awards-finalists-revealed. Retrieved 2009-08-11.
  21. ^ "11th Annual Webby Awards Official Honoree Selections". Webby Awards. http://www.webbyawards.com/webbys/current_honorees.php?media_id=96&category_id=29&season=11. Retrieved 2009-08-11.
  22. ^ "13th Annual Webby Awards Nominees & Winners". Webby Awards. http://www.webbyawards.com/webbys/current.php?season=13#webby_entry_games_related. Retrieved 2009-08-11.
  23. ^ "Giant Bomb Officially Endorses Destructoid For Webby Award". Giant Bomb. http://www.giantbomb.com/news/giant-bomb-officially-endorses-destructoid-for-webby-award/1167/. Retrieved 2009-08-11.
  24. ^ "The Destructoid Show". http://www.revision3.com/destructoid.
  25. ^ "The Destructoid Show". http://www.twitch.tv/destructoid.
  26. ^ "Destructoid YouTube". http://www.youtube.com/dtoid.
  27. ^ "Destructoid's Video Game Podcast". Destructoid.libsyn.com. http://destructoid.libsyn.com/. Retrieved 2012-11-03.
  28. ^ "Hudson Partners With Destructoid In Bomb-Up pack 2 For Bomberman Live" (Press release). Hudson Soft. 2007-09-19. http://www.hudsonentertainment.com/newsdetail.php?news_id=108. Retrieved 2009-08-11.
  29. ^ Arendt, Susan (2007-09-19). "Destructoid Mascot Added to Bomberman Live". Wired News. http://blog.wired.com/games/2007/09/destructoid-mas.html. Retrieved 2009-08-11.
  30. ^ Fahey, Mike (2007-09-19). "Destructoid Makes Bomberman Live Appearance". Kotaku. http://kotaku.com/301353/destructoid-makes-bomberman-live-appearance. Retrieved 2009-08-11.
  31. ^ "Hudson Partners With Destructoid In Bomb-Up Pack 2 For Bomberman Live". Eurogamer. 2007-09-19. http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/hudson-partners-with-destructoid-in-bomb-up-pack-2-for-bomberman-live. Retrieved 2009-08-11.
  32. ^ Burch, Anthony (2008-01-08). "Destructoid review: Eternity's Child". Destructoid. http://www.destructoid.com/destructoid-review-eternity-s-child-97583.phtml. Retrieved 2009-08-11.
  33. ^ Gillen, Kieron (2008-08-04). "Eternity’s Child Versus Destructoid". Rock, Paper, Shotgun. http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2008/08/04/eternitys-child-versus-destructoid/. Retrieved 2009-08-11.
  34. ^ Nunneley, Stephanie (2008-07-08). "Luc Bernard Steamed Over Destructoid's Review of Eternity's Child". 1UP.com. http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3169220. Retrieved 2009-08-11.
  35. ^ Sterling, Jim (2010-02-02). "Mr.-Destructoid-Returns-to-Videogames-in-Raskulls!". Destructoid. http://www.destructoid.com/mr-destructoid-returns-to-videogames-in-raskulls--162325.phtml. Retrieved 2010-02-02.
  36. ^ "Play as Mr. Destructoid in Pirates vs Ninjas". Destructoid. Bardo Entertainment. http://www.destructoid.com/play-this-flash-game-with-mr-destructoid-win-a-gift-card-186545.phtml. Retrieved 19 August 2011.
  37. ^ Sterling, Jim. "Jim Sterling is a playable character in The Blocks Cometh". http://www.destructoid.com/jim-sterling-a-playable-character-in-the-blocks-cometh-205909.phtml.
  38. ^ Aziz, Hamza. "Fight Mr. Destructoid in Ms Splosion Man". http://www.destructoid.com/explode-fight-mr-destructoid-in-ms-splosion-man--206680.phtml.
  39. ^ Gonzalez, Niero. "Destructoid wants your balls in Ms. Splosion Man pinball". http://www.destructoid.com/destructoid-wants-your-balls-in-ms-splosion-man-pinball-207088.phtml.
  40. ^ "Mr. Destructoid stars in Arcade Jumper". Black Hive Media. http://www.blackhivemedia.com/arcadejumper.html. Retrieved 2 August 2011.
  41. ^ "Mr. Destructoid joins the cast of Burgertime World tour". MonkeyPaw. http://www.destructoid.com/mr-destructoid-comes-to-burgertime-world-tour-210258.phtml. Retrieved 3 September 2011.
  42. ^ "New Big Head Bash details revealed". SpicyHorse. http://www.destructoid.com/new-details-of-spicy-horse-s-big-head-bash-revealed--224737.phtml. Retrieved 3 March 2012.
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