kombo vs. ign

[virion]

does kombo stack up with the insiders?

[MR EPIC]

The only advantage IMO that IGN has over KOMBO is that they have closer connections with game developers and publishers and therefore receive big news faster and get more exclusives. That is a huge plus for them yes, but otherwise I think KOMBO has a better overall staff who are less biased than fanboys like Matt C. and Mark Bozon. Plus KOMBO has incredible podcasts like Maximum Kombo (we mentioned your recipe in the latest podcast Virion).

[PF the Kitsune]

Eh, IGN just doesn't do it for me anymore. They've got some decent content, but there isn't much else that helps them to stand out. Too generic, if you ask me.

Then again, maybe I'm also biased towards Kombo seeing how I, you know, work here. But oh well.

...Lord knows I still get a little jumpy whenever I see Cass-man or The Boze in person, though.

And yes, I'm copyrighting those nicknames.

[HGW XX/7]

I remember when I used to like IGN about 10 years ago.

[Coral]

IGN .... sry :/

[ReaganYouth]

The only advantage IMO that IGN has over KOMBO is that they have closer connections with game developers and publishers and therefore receive big news faster and get more exclusives. That is a huge plus for them yes, but otherwise I think KOMBO has a better overall staff who are less biased than fanboys like Matt C. and Mark Bozon. Plus KOMBO has incredible podcasts like Maximum Kombo (we mentioned your recipe in the latest podcast Virion).

That's why they split it up into sections. Of course IGN Wii and DS will have Nintendo fanboys writing for it. It would no god damn sense to put a Sony fanboy on IGN Wii staff. See what I'm getting at?

That said, I don't like Matt and Bozon's attitudes lately. They're really getting to be full of themselves, and that doesn't exactly endear them to a lot of people I talk to.

[HGW XX/7]

That's the thing though. I don't want to read any reviews by any fanboys.

[Smokey]

I don't particularly care for IGN, either, and since I don't frequent many more gaming sites, Kombo is it.

[Darc Requiem]

To be honest. I use forums to find most of my game news. I go to IGN now more for their TV and Movie based sites than gaming. I still hit up their games sites but after I hit up my usual forum hangs out first.

[Rensa]

The only advantage IMO that IGN has over KOMBO is that they have closer connections with game developers and publishers and therefore receive big news faster and get more exclusives. That is a huge plus for them yes, but otherwise I think KOMBO has a better overall staff who are less biased than fanboys like Matt C. and Mark Bozon. Plus KOMBO has incredible podcasts like Maximum Kombo (we mentioned your recipe in the latest podcast Virion).
I dunno... I think the senior Kombo staff are very, very connected - it's just that those connections perhaps don't shine through to the everyday news because those guys typically don't handle news on a day-to-day basis (plus, so much news comes through aggregated press services like GamesPress (www.gamespress.com) these days anyway). I think it's probably more obvious during major cons like E3 and GDC, when guys like Ken, Sean and Phil are channelling all their charming and schmoozing powers into getting exclusive content for Kombo.

[MR EPIC]

I love Kombo and all, but I would totally disagree with that. I've yet to see Kombo get even one exclusive story.

[virion]

The only advantage IMO that IGN has over KOMBO is that they have closer connections with game developers and publishers and therefore receive big news faster and get more exclusives. That is a huge plus for them yes, but otherwise I think KOMBO has a better overall staff who are less biased than fanboys like Matt C. and Mark Bozon. Plus KOMBO has incredible podcasts like Maximum Kombo (we mentioned your recipe in the latest podcast Virion).

that got my vote for kombo.

nah i like kombo's layout better anyways.

[Lizzaroni]

IGN is a giant advertisement. I can't read something on there without a hoverlink over everyword or a "skip this ad!" page prior to everything I try to read.

[Tanooki]

Huh I'm with coral and max it seems on this, but I picked IGN. While I've not been a fan of some of their tainted practices with some reviews in the past (only from particular indivduals) they're overall much more useful, better format, more early/inside info, better interviews, and just other generalities including stuff like that faq/walkthrough database including their huge guides. IGN may have IGNorant at times, but overall they have a large quality resource with just better materials, more information, friendlier format and search, and some nice unique stuff too. Even when I worked on this site the only place I felt this place excelled at was honest reviews on the whole from the staff and the more smaller community type boards. As is I rarely if ever look at any of the gaming news/info pages here at all then or now as I've already got it elsewhere with more in the same spot. Sorry.

[Smokey]

IGN is a giant advertisement. I can't read something on there without a hoverlink over everyword or a "skip this ad!" page prior to everything I try to read.

I hate that. I understand that they're trying to make money, but damn it's annoying.

[Lizzaroni]

Yeah, and I'm surprised because there's a good and a bad way to advertise. When the advertising becomes so intrusive that people avoid the site altogether, you're doing it wrong. It's not as if there is a shortage of alternative video game source sites (ex. Kombo), you know?

[Darc Requiem]

Yeah Liz, Smokey that ad issues really gets on my nerves. Especially if I'm reading something of interest and it gets broken up by some ad.

As for news, I usually find something posted on the VGChartz forums before anywhere else. There are people on that forum from North America, Europe, Australia, and Japan. If its been posted on the web, someone on that forum is up and they'll post a link to it.

[Tanooki]

Yes VGchartz actually is quite fantastic at scooping things and it doesn't have the douchebaggery that's associated with the losers at neogaf and their attitude problems (also not as chaotic either.) IGNs ads piss me off greatly which stopped me going for a time some years back, but when Firefox dropped and pop-up blocker was added and then AdBlock came out I returned as all that bs went away. :D

[virion]

i think we can all agree that gamespot sucks balls.

[Tanooki]

That and they're confirmed sellouts who take bribes for review scores. It basically means their reviews are about as valuable as their previews. No score of value, just read the content and draw guesses on the final outcome.

[MAX]

The reason I prefer them is because it's easy for me to find release dates. That way i can print them out and highlight the games I'll get.

[thegamecubist]

To be honest, I use Kombo alot more for the forums and podcasts. I still browse the site maybe 2, 3 times a day, but I'm on Kotaku/Joystiq waaaay more. IGN used to be my go to source, but nowadays I just go there to get more opinions on reviews of a game I might buy or view the retro section, which is like fifty types of awesome.

I haven't gone to GameSpot in ages.

I also visit GamesRadar once in a while for the editorial content, and 1up for special/editorial content and reviews.

[MR EPIC]

To be honest, I use Kombo alot more for the forums and podcasts. I still browse the site maybe 2, 3 times a day, but I'm on Kotaku/Joystiq waaaay more. IGN used to be my go to source, but nowadays I just go there to get more opinions on reviews of a game I might buy or view the retro section, which is like fifty types of awesome.

I haven't gone to GameSpot in ages.

This mimics my game website browsing habits almost 100%.

[MAX]

I LOOOVE Kotaku!

[MR EPIC]

Kotaku is the only gaming website that I've noticed who has profanity in like 30% of their article titles. At first I felt it was unprofessional, but after reading the style of writing that goes along with those articles it just makes sense now. I like that they're not afraid to say things like "EA ****s Over it's Employees Once Again".

[MAX]

Kotaku has some great writing, imo. They certainly don't cater to the 12 and under crowd with their writing or forum (I'm looking at you Kombo).

=) luff u kombo

[thegamecubist]

Yeah, I agree with Epic. I just like the way Kotaku reads. Joystiq seems slightly more professional where as Destructoid squarely aims for profanity, sex jokes and the like. I don't mind it (I go on D-Toid alot more than IGN, that's for sure), but I think Kotaku strikes a good balance.

I love reading their features. Very well written!

[Tanooki]

My habits consist of using kombo only for the board and perhaps a news piece I see in that ticker on the left. I have a dual set of bookmarks I have for gaming in folders that I right click and 'open all' with in firefox. The first set has IGN(DS) in it, but also has DS Fanboy, NWR, Gaming Age, The Magic Box, DS.qj.net, and then VC reviews and WiiWare reviews(same site on the last two.) Then my other one is for the PSP which has PSP fanboy, PSP IGN, PSP.qj.net, and another small private site. All these have excellent coverage and post stuff fast, most are in the quick scripting/blog type format. In both cases I just use IGN for specific media they'll get first or some of their unique operations they have.

[MikeWolfskin]

IGN has changed there format again sense my last visit a few years ago and I'll just say I tried to post yesterday for the first time ever in a long time, guess what happened? First it did not let me log in. Then I resent my password and it still did not work. Finlay I signed up under a new name lodged in and tried to post, guess what it tells me? Pay for a subscription to post! Well you now what IGN screw you! Forums should be free and remain free! Of coarse Kombo is much better!

[SpaceOddity]

kombo for forums
gonintendo for everything nintendo
kotaku for everything else
ign for bigger mainstream stories/direct feed footage

[Tanooki]

IGN last I heard had only a handful of 'free' forums but most are in the pay areas which is lame, but at least there's something unless they now have revoked them all.

[MR EPIC]

Another thing that stopped me from consistently going to IGN. for news was the fact that they never update their goddamn site! I know it's not as easy to do as with a smaller fan site, so then just higher more people and do what you gotta do. It kills me to see them never update on a weekend, and even that normally gets extended for one or two more days. I'd rather visit a fan site which gives you current updates 24/7.

[Tanooki]

I'll give you that. They only seem to update unless it's a super event towards mid-day->early evening PST zone, and if a holiday weekend ever comes up they'll have no updates for like 3-4 days straight. In the case of days like Thanksgiving, most don't do crap the entire week, same can be said between Christmas and New Years which I think is just dumb. They should at least keep a skeleton news crew to drop small updates on news matters only during those periods and weekends.