"Maniac Invades Videogame Store" [DP Store]

[digitalpress]

That should have been the headline of this little article in the Herald News yesterday.

LINK (http://northjersey.com/page.php?qstr=eXJpcnk3ZjczN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXk3ODImZmdi ZWw3Zjd2cWVlRUV5eTcxNzEzMjcmeXJpcnk3ZjcxN2Y3dnFlZU VFeXk3)

A reporter and a photographer from the NJ Herald News came to the store early Friday to talk about Classic Ga...

More... (http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=16146264&blogID=290536348)

[smokehouse]

I hate how the media will put its $.02 tucked in their articles. This author obviously does not take what we do/love seriously thus a few pokes placed here and there in the article. They also chose a picture that makes you look like a fool. Had you been someone they considered “serious” like a local bike “customizer”, a local artist or something more “credible”, you would have had a different picture published.

[Moo Cow]

They pretty much put the most ridiculous photo of you possible.

[kaedesdisciple]

Am I the only one who found the following paragraph extremely condescending?

"Next weekend, more than a thousand "classic gaming" fans will meet in Las Vegas to buy and sell their treasure troves of games like Nintendo's Super Mario Brothers, listen to speakers including Atari's first employee, and gawk at a "museum" exhibiting old-school video game memorabilia. Santulli is one of the convention's three organizers."

[Moo Cow]

Am I the only one who found the following paragraph extremely condescending?

"Next weekend, more than a thousand "classic gaming" fans will meet in Las Vegas to buy and sell their treasure troves of games like Nintendo's Super Mario Brothers, listen to speakers including Atari's first employee, and gawk at a "museum" exhibiting old-school video game memorabilia. Santulli is one of the convention's three organizers."

I did wonder if them putting "gawk" was to mildly poke fun at us, but I could've just been reading too much into it.

[Gapporin]

I smell a new MySpace user photo.

[ryborg]

It is great that they decided to do an article on you and your store, but articles like this are exactly why I stopped persuing a job in the field of journalism (where I hold my degree in).

It's basically a terribly written article with severe layout/presentation issues in an awful local newspaper trying to pander to 80-year-old women (because that's who complains the most about articles) while ignoring all of the interesting facts. It's as cookie-cutter as it gets.

[CartCollector]

Could they "use" any more "quotes" around "normal" "words?"

[Apollo]

Could they "use" any more "quotes" around "normal" "words?"

Quoted for truth.

[Kid Ice]

Has anyone else noticed that almost all newspaper articles now start with a paragraph consisting of a single sentence? Do they teach that in journalism school or something?

BTW Joe has $100000 worth of videogames in his garage. And he's leaving for Las Vegas on Sunday.

[Apollo]

Has anyone else noticed that almost all newspaper articles now start with a paragraph consisting of a single sentence? Do they teach that in journalism school or something?

BTW Joe has $100000 worth of videogames in his garage. And he's leaving for Las Vegas on Sunday.

I don't like where this is going, but some nut might see that and think easy cash. Might want to put a few padlocks on that garage of yours, Joe.

[ubersaurus]

Has anyone else noticed that almost all newspaper articles now start with a paragraph consisting of a single sentence? Do they teach that in journalism school or something?



Actually, yes. The lead paragraph is supposed to only be one or two sentences. Hell, most paragraphs in articles are supposed to be much shorter than other forms of writing, for the sake of getting the information out without being wordy.

[carlcarlson]

BTW Joe has $100000 worth of videogames in his garage. And he's leaving for Las Vegas on Sunday.

ha, yeah, that's the first thing I noticed as well (aside from the horrible picture). why put that in the article? sure it would take some work to figure out where he lives, but still, that's practically inviting theives to give it a shot.

[Push Upstairs]

Don't feel bad Joe, if my picture is ever put in the paper I'm pretty sure it would be worse than yours. It would also be the only one they take.

You should have a good sense of humor about it....make it your new avatar. :-D

[kainemaxwell]

Good article. Photo of you is screaming for a "Caption This!" contest. ^^

[Vectorman0]

BTW Joe has $100000 worth of videogames in his garage. And he's leaving for Las Vegas on Sunday.

Even is some idiot did do it, there is no way in hell they would be able to get away with anything more than keeping everything (which is no reason to take it). We would all know in a heartbeat once the stuff started to be sold off.

[exit]

Have these Maniacs once owned a Mansion?

[Garry Silljo]

Has anyone else noticed that almost all newspaper articles now start with a paragraph consisting of a single sentence? Do they teach that in journalism school or something?

Actually yes they do. When at all possible the first paragraph of a news story should be short summary of the facts that will be presented in more detail through out the article, and be done as short and to the point as possible. Very often, in a singal sentence.

Whats worse is that more than half of news paper readers only read said paragraph of most to all the articles in the paper.

Edit: Oops, someone already posted this... sorry.

[Kid Ice]

Actually yes they do. When at all possible the first paragraph of a news story should be short summary of the facts that will be presented in more detail through out the article, and be done as short and to the point as possible. Very often, in a singal sentence.

That's not exactly what I mean. What I've noticed is a single sentence meant to be dramatic and mysterious.

Example:

"John Smith thought it was going to be a normal evening.

Smith was relaxing at home with family at approximately 7:00 PM when a tour bus filled with senior citizens crashed into his living room. The driver, 51 year-old Ralph Kramden, lost control of the vehicle when he swerved to avoid a dog in the road. The bus skid thiry feet etc etc etc"

[Push Upstairs]

Kid Ice left out the detail about how John Smith was reading an article about some crazy drunk guy who owns a video game store in NJ.

Ralph Kramden was later detained for yelling "One of these days...bang, zoom!" to the officer on duty.

[Raedon]

http://static.flickr.com/30/53698521_3686571a64.jpg

Whaat??!

[Push Upstairs]

Wes Craven: The Market research says that people love monkeys.
Jay: WE LOVE THIS MONKEY! Do Something!
Wes: See?

[Flack]

It is great that they decided to do an article on you and your store, but articles like this are exactly why I stopped persuing a job in the field of journalism (where I hold my degree in).

Really? I gave it up because it seemed like I was going to have to write for five years to work my way up to minimum wage! Actually that's not entirely true. I gave up newspaper writing when I realized that newspaper articles were simply the fluff used to fill in the space between ads.

[Jimmy Yakapucci]

It is great that they decided to do an article on you and your store, but articles like this are exactly why I stopped persuing a job in the field of journalism (where I hold my degree in).

Not to nit-pick, but hey, it's Monday morning. I hope that when you earned your degree, you used better grammar than in the above sentence. :-D Then again, judging by what I see in today's newspapers, it would fit right in.

JY

[MachineGex]

Congrats on the free plug. Any free advertising is good advertising. I didn't read into the article as much as most people. I hope you see a big jump in business at the store.

I have met several reporters, what a lazy group of people. Most of them seem like they are bored of their job, they are sleeping as they do their work. One TV reporter got all her ideas from reading the local paper and then ripping off the article. Every piece she did was 3-4 days behind the newspaper news. Maybe a camera crew is on their way to your store now?

[Gabriel]

Could they "use" any more "quotes" around "normal" "words?"

It could have been worse. I could have written the "article."

I typically use quotes like that when I am signifying disagreement with the term or contempt for it. Either way, it's notable the author puts quotes around classic games.

And add me to the growing list who say the pic is really bad.

[GameDeals.ca]

I can't agree more with the "any press is good press" sentiment. News journalists often get their facts wrong, write sensationalist headlines, and generally don't care about accuracy. Agreed that the photo is bad... and I second the notion that you might want to secure your game collection a bit better now that everyone knows where it is and when you will be away.

[Buyatari]

Ahh sure the pic is bad but its not that bad an article. Any press on the store is good press.... unless its in the police blotters section...

[zektor]

Hey man, I think it's all good. Free advertising, AND you can frame that funky picture of yourself!

[Push Upstairs]

It could have been worse. I could have written the "article."

The ultimate in suck would have been if *I* wrote the article.

Although...the heavy use of "quotes" made me think of that Chris Farley SNL sketch where he uses "quotes" too much. LOL

[SeverThe7th]

Awesonme to see you and thus the site and store getting exposure. The photos not that bad once you think about it. It looks like your having the time of your life right there, which should make some impressions.

MooCow i too thought 'gawk' was to midly poke fun, i doubt theyd write gawk if it was an art exhibition or something.

ot:
btw ryborg or flack is their any places i can learn basics about journalism, mainly for personal interest and to enhance my writing skills.

[ubersaurus]

Awesonme to see you and thus the site and store getting exposure. The photos not that bad once you think about it. It looks like your having the time of your life right there, which should make some impressions.

MooCow i too thought 'gawk' was to midly poke fun, i doubt theyd write gawk if it was an art exhibition or something.

ot:
btw ryborg or flack is their any places i can learn basics about journalism, mainly for personal interest and to enhance my writing skills.

Check out the Associated Press stylebook, it'll give you all the info you'd really want to know on how to write in that style.

[Slate]

The article could have been better. They could have taken a better pic, Too. But hey, It's free advertising.



http://static.flickr.com/30/53698521_3686571a64.jpg

Whaat??!


Who took that picture? It reminds me of Jay and ice from the movie "Hocus pocus"

[Push Upstairs]

That is from "Clerks 2" with Jay & Silent Bob standing outside of the Mooby's restaurant.

[rbudrick]

Nice Stephen Hawking impression, Joe, shit.

ROFLROFL

That is some funny shit. Bastards totally did that on purpose, lol.

But yes, glad to see you getting more exposure. I can't wait until you franchise. ;)


Really? I gave it up because it seemed like I was going to have to write for five years to work my way up to minimum wage! Actually that's not entirely true. I gave up newspaper writing when I realized that newspaper articles were simply the fluff used to fill in the space between ads.

Damn, I love Flack quotes! HAH!
-Rob

[Slate]

That is from "Clerks 2" with Jay & Silent Bob standing outside of the Mooby's restaurant.

The guy with the long hair even has the same name. I wonder if he is the same actor, too?

[Porksta]

I liked the article. Just wish I could visit the store...

[Push Upstairs]

The guy with the long hair even has the same name. I wonder if he is the same actor, too?

Jay (Jason Mewes) didn't get into acting until "Clerks" in 1994.

"Hocus Pocus" was released in 1993....that and IMDB lists someone else as that "Jay".