So, with my recent drama involving Kotakue and some supportive comments from Digg, I have started to think about starting my own gaming news site. For my own memory and to put things down in a coherent manner I've decided to post the concept and initial design ideas here.

Concept:

The site would be a combination of the typical game blog format used by Kotaku, Destructoid, Joystiq, etc. A handful of contributors would post entries including opinions and discussion on gaming related news articles. However, there would also be a user created sections. Here, users could post their own articles and opinions. This section would use the Digg API. Users could use Digg to vote for the article. If an article receives enough votes it would be sent to the editors. The editors would make sure that the article is not a duplicate and is not abusive. If it meets these constraints it would be "promoted." Once "promoted" the article would appear in the main section of the site alongside the articles posted by the official editors. Users who frequently post articles that get "promoted" would become semi-official editors, their entries would always be sent to the editors for possible promotion. Using the Digg API would allow the posts to also be posted on Digg and allow us to track the popularity of articles outside of the website's personal community. Thus an article that has not gone over terribly well on the site, but has been huge one Digg can be promoted to the front page.

The key goal of the site would be to have a community where content is created in a truly collaborative fashion.

Tech Stuff:

I'd really like to develop the site on a completely open source server. I'll probably write it using PHP, AJAX, and MySQL.

Plan:

At the moment I will likely begin it on my personal machine at home as I do not have a hosting solution. Once the software is in a beta state I would open it up to a public beta of 100-200 users for testing. Eventually, if the beta proves popular, I would like to find a hosting solution and make the thing open to everybody.

Tonight is the last straw for me. Kotaku is a great gaming news website with a lot of good insight. However, if you've ever been a commenter on their you know that it can be run like a totalitarian state. I'd ignored what seemed to be censorship for a long time and it finally bit me on the ass. The following is an open letter to Kotaku explaining my anger and my situation. Figured I'd post it here with hopes of others reading this an possibly sending them a message. I will also follow the letter with referenced conversations.

The Letter:

"To Kotaku:

I am writing you now to voice an opinion that I had been trying to suppress within myself in hopes that the matter would clear itself up. It has occurred to me that the current actions taken by the Kotaku staff as it pertains to banning abusive posters have recently begun to border on outright censorship. I am an opinionated being who found Kotaku to be a great place to discuss and comment on the goings on in the world of gaming. I partook in a large number of lively debates on topics important to me, especially those pertaining to video game censorship and legislation. On July 31, 2007 I noticed that my account (soulscreme) was no longer active. I wrote Brian Ashcraft to discern why I had been banned, as I was not aware of any actions that would be worthy of such action. Mr. Ashcraft later replied that my account had been "eaten", that he was sorry for the inconvenience, and that I should create a new account. I soon created my second account (soulscremereturns). This evening I posted on a topic about Filipino piracy which was essentially a collection of photos of pirated goods from the Philippines. Upon questioning the newsworthiness/importance of the article I was banned. Not only was I banned, but I was handled in an utterly unprofessional manner by Mr. Plunkett who said "@ soulscremereturns: Who the fuck are you? Why are you posting comments? Nobody finds you interesting."

I am writing to tell you who "the fuck" I am. I am a reader. I believe that as a reader, and therefore a source of income to your organization, it should not be a bannable offense to question an articles legitimacy. I believe that if Mr. Plunkett cannot take a small piece of editorial criticism then he should not be working in the business. I have read the Gawker Media terms of use and cannot find one rule there that I have broken.

I find it hypocritical that while even Mr. Plunkett speaks out against censorship in articles such as this, it is acceptable within your organization to take similar actions. While I do not expect an apology, I wanted to voice my displeasure with a site that seems to be becoming too full of itself. I have been a fan of Kotaku for a long time and am saddened by this. I had started to notice the trend unfolding around me and kept my mouth shut. Now it seems I was bitten by the bug that I ignored.

-LJ Katz"

The straw:

My original comment was simply: " Yes, there are many thieves in third world countries. How is this still news? Or even interesting?"

The following is the thread containing my comment and Mr. Plunkett's overreaction: http://kotaku.com/gaming/gallery/filipino-markets-awash-with-wii-fantasies-286626.php#viewcomments

The Camel's Back:

The following are e-mails between myself and Brian Ashcraft of Kotaku regarding my first deactivation.

Me: "Hey, was just wondering why I was banned from commenting on Kotaku. Not writing to complain, just wondering what the reason was."

Brian: "Yo!

Sorry about that holdup. Im setting up a trip to Tokyo. It turns out the account was eaten. It's happened to a few in the last few days, but apparently the bug has been fixed. But once an account is gone, it's gone.

Terribly sorry about that! If you are still interested in comment, do please sign up again.

Once again, terribly sorry about this. "

The Response:

So, I have started to hear back from Kotaku.

Ashcraft: "Yah, dude. That's an instant ban. No ifs ands or buts about it. The last thing an editor wants to hear is why something has been posted. That's why he went off on you."

Crecente: "It has nothing to do with questioning our authority, it has to do with a pin head saying “how is this news”. How is that a comment? How does that bring anything relevant to the topic at hand? How is that anything but some dipshit spouting off because he thinks he has a soapbox to stand on?

Yours in christ"

I am finally fed up with Kotaku and will likely go to Joystiq or some other gaming blog. I am posting this in hopes to help people realize the disrespectful and unprofessional people that run the site. So far I have used nary a foul term towards them and have been referred to as a "pin-head" and a "dipshit" and asked "Who the fuck" I am. I am sick of their bullshit and elitism and hope that this blog post can stand as a warning to others who might venture over toward Kotaku. I will post updates if anymore word comes from them. My last reply as of the moment is this:

Me: "I'd appreciate it if you didn't simply refer to me as a "dipshit." Do you actually consider yourself a professional or do you just kind of wing it? The comment was made to point out that articles like this crop up frequently, are always the same, and are no longer news. I was simply trying to point out that maybe there didn't need to be another post like that. I was attempting to voice my opinion as a patron. And I could care less if I have a soap box to stand you. I am appalled that you apparently treat your consumers like a mass of drooling "dipshits" who should be honored to have the opportunity speak in your presence. It has to do with you allowing those you manage to act without any professional courtesy whatsoever and publicly attack a person who can no longer respond in that forum."