IrishGamer.ie - A Great Bunch of Lads

zAbbo

Anyone who reads this forum has seen that irishgaming.ie are getting pimped a fair bit by a few of the posters here.

I was reading there review of Metroid Prime: Hunters on the DS on their wesbite, and it seemed very familiar.

Then I remembered where I'd seen it before, In May 2006's Games(TM) magazine.

For those of you who don't read it here's a quote from the magazine on http://www.metacritic.com/games/platforms/ds/metroidprimehunters

"games(TM)
Broken arms aside, Metroid on the DS is a smooth, attractive and compelling FPS that shows what the machine is capable of, cramming in a fulfilling multi-player mode to boot. [May 2006, p.106]"

And on IG website -

http://www.irishgamer.ie/reviews.php?id=37&page=2

"Metroid on the DS is a smooth, attractive and compelling FPS that shows what the machine is capable of, cramming in a fulfilling multiplayer mode to boot."

Now, normally I wouldn't care, the site is made by a couple of kids anyway, but I used to get free Games(TM) mags cause my brother knew one of the guys working there

Anyway, what do you think?

Is it possible IrishGamers are the ones being plagiarised by Games(TM) ?

Or is it more likely that one of the Games(TM) reviewers wrote the review on March 23rd 2006 about a month before it's release, and the cheeky chappys robbed it(and most of the other reviews) and passed it off as their own.

Irelands Best Gaming Centre, me hole

Dont be at yourself

Does the GamesTM review have a by-line? Is it possible that both reviews were written by the same person?

If not, shame on you.

zAbbo

Different names on the reviews.

Might drop a mail to Paul Morgan(editor) and find out

Matt Simis

I never got why people copy verbatim. If you want to copy something, just like when in school, read, reword and rewrite. Unless you have no ability of your own or just plain dont care..

Havent read any of the reviews, is it really more than just that one line copied?



Matt

zAbbo

Paul Morgan(Editor) wrote:

It was written on team by one of my guys on the 23rd March, and given that the game wasn't released until the 5 May I took a look at the review online. I checked it with ours and this Noel Brady has copied a lot more than just that sentence. Thanks for the tip - I'll be having a word.

Kind regards,

Not sure how much was lifted direct from that magazine, who knows, maybe a little bit from a collection of reviews.

IG is being pimped big on this site, check out the IrishGamer.ie PES5 tournie, and a Irishgamer.ie Fantasy Football League.

EWheelChair

After doing abit of investigating, these guys also own www.copyandpaste.ie

How embarrassing!

Lemlin

zabbo wrote:

Not sure how much was lifted direct from that magazine, who knows, maybe a little bit from a collection of reviews.

IG is being pimped big on this site, check out the IrishGamer.ie PES5 tournie, and a Irishgamer.ie Fantasy Football League.

Reviews are not copied I assure you of that zabbo, and the fact that you are making that assertion from one review maddens me TBH.

The line could of came from anywhere. It could have been from a press release or anything. I don't read GamesTm so I don't know.

If you would like more on this, please pm me and I will talk to you about it. Other than that, I'd appreciate if you didn't excuse us of copying the 50+ reviews we have on the site over 1 line.

Lemlin

By the way, we are not being pimped on Boards. We are offering prizes for their competitions. That is all.

zAbbo

I suggest you take it up with the editor of GamesTM.

See his quote above.

Do you mean reviewers just churn out press release's instead of writing review copy?

Lemlin

zabbo wrote:

I suggest you take it up with the editor of GamesTM.

See his quote above.

Do you mean reviewers just churn out press release's instead of writing review copy?

Sometimes they might take a sentence or two from one if it decscribes the game aptly. And yes, I will take it up with Paul Morgan if he is the editor.

If you would like, I can have the review pulled for now while I investigate this.

zAbbo

Do whatever you like.

Why pull the review? you wrote it, you should be asking GamesTM to reimburse you for robbing your review.

Which one of you's is lying ?

Strange how only you and GamesTM decided to use that line, which you're claiming was part of a Press Release

In fact, show us the Press Release

Lemlin

zabbo wrote:

Do whatever you like.

Why pull the review? you wrote it, you should be asking GamesTM to reimburse you for robbing your review.

Which one of you's is lying ?

Strange how only you and GamesTM decided to use that line, which you're claiming was part of a Press Release

In fact, show us the Press Release

Give me your address and I'l post you a copy. Other sites could have used it, have you checked?

I don't have an e-mail copy (too many too keep so I delete them) but, if you'd like, pm me your address and I keep a printed copy of press releases by month.

I would pull the review until I investigate this. Now, I'd appreciate if if you could pm me rather than try to drag the site's name through the mud. If you don;t like it, you don't have to read it.

We are trying to provide a service and, so far, alot of people say we do. Alot of people are fans of our weekly price check and read our DS Lite feature but, if you're not a fan, there's no need to read the site.

I suppose we copy all the Irish features we do too, which have Irish prices etc.? Or we copied our exclusive Gears Of War interview?

Ciaran500

FFS he didn't claim you plagerised anything else and he has every right to make a thread about this.

zAbbo

Editor of Games(TM) says you've taken more than that sentence.

Is it possible both are lazy reviewers who lumped in part of a press release.

Lemlin

zabbo wrote:

Editor of Games(TM) says you've taken more than that sentence.

Is it possible both are lazy reviewers who lumped in part of a press release.

He has just e-mailed me so I will sort it out with him. I didn't say he was doing anything wrong Ciaran, I just pointed out that we would appreciate if we were not accused straight off over one sentence.

zAbbo

Well, what did he say ?

Lemlin

He has asked me to pull the review which I have done. The review was written by Dave White, one of our writers. My name appeared on it incorrectly because of mistakes with uploading reviews quickly by our updaters.

I have pulled the review, told him I see the similarities between the two (he sent me a pdf copy), that Dave will not be writing for IG again and that a public apology will be issued on site.

An apology to you I also issue.

zAbbo

Do you still want my address ?

Zapp Brannigan

Lemlin wrote:

He has asked me to pull the review which I have done. The review was written by Dave White, one of our writers. My name appeared on it incorrectly because of mistakes with uploading reviews quickly by our updaters.

I have pulled the review, told him I see the similarities between the two (he sent me a pdf copy), that Dave will not be writing for IG again and that a public apology will be issued on site.

An apology to you I also issue.

Err...seeing as how you've just lost a writer, could I offer my services? PM me if your interested as I have exoerience writing for online sites.

flogen

As a matter of interest, is the website investigating other work by Dave White?

Lemlin

zabbo wrote:

Do you still want my address ?

Nope, I see the similarities. Any of Dave's content has been taken off the site and we'll be screening any writers a damn signt more in the future.

I actually probably owe you one for highlighting this so, if you'd like, send me your address and I will sort you out with a game.

Kimbot

I must say all respect to you Lemlin for taking responsibilty and acting on the matter!! And for offering zabbo a game for pointing it out!!

zAbbo

In Fairness you've taken it well, I could post something smug and I told you so etc., but it probably wasn't your fault, and you've done the right thing with the reviewer as well.

In light of your gratis game offer, I will gladly accept (pm me some details, I like DS games)

No hard feelings

TheAlmightyArse

Hooray! Responsible and gentlemanly actions all round on a games forum. Is this the next stage in human evolution?

Earthhorse

Just seconding the props given to Lemlin for the way he's handling this. I have to say at first I thought he was going about it the wrong way but he's proven me wrong.

Hat's off to you.

Lemlin

zabbo wrote:

In Fairness you've taken it well, I could post something smug and I told you so etc., but it probably wasn't your fault, and you've done the right thing with the reviewer as well.

In light of your gratis game offer, I will gladly accept (pm me some details, I like DS games)

No hard feelings

None at all. I just hope this won't stop anyone reading the site. I feel we have alot to offer and, even if you may not like the site zabbo, alot of people say that we fill a gap in the market with news on irish prices etc.

I'll be back in Dublin this evening so I'll pm you a list of games then and you can choose one which I will send as goodwill.

RuggieBear

Good on you Lemlin (and IrishGamers.ie) and well spotted zabbo.

Perhaps the thread title should be amended

Lemlin

I'd appreciate if anyway... how about "Irishgamer - they are great"

Big up to Paul Morgan from Games too, just said he fully understood, didn't want an apology and to just take the article down.

I'm taking all of the reviewer's articles down just in case though.

RuggieBear

plus i've decided to sign up to the newsletter

flogen

RuggieBear wrote:

plus i've decided to sign up to the newsletter

Is it for the news or the posibility of a free DS lite?

I've signed up too but didn't get any confirmation email... am I supposed to?

Lemlin

flogen wrote:

Is it for the news or the posibility of a free DS lite?

I've signed up too but didn't get any confirmation email... am I supposed to?

Nope, we haven't been able to setup confirmation yet but you will be signed up if you enter your details.

It looks like I owe zabbo a few games, this has got us loads of publicity!

Incidentally, what do people think of the site? We've still a few things to iron out, like screens for the previews etc. but we feel its going well so far (today's little panto aside).

RuggieBear

Lemlin wrote:

Incidentally, what do people think of the site? We've still a few things to iron out, like screens for the previews etc. but we feel its going well so far (today's little panto aside).

Well i have to say i really like the look of it. Clean and not too much flashing and distracting visual diarrhea to annoy the senses.

I really like the idea of the price check...altho along with the text i'd include a table with the prices of each game from each store....perhaps highlighting the store and game which has the cheapest prices and maybe introduce a weekly "champion store"

flogen

Lemlin wrote:

Nope, we haven't been able to setup confirmation yet but you will be signed up if you enter your details.

It looks like I owe zabbo a few games, this has got us loads of publicity!

Incidentally, what do people think of the site? We've still a few things to iron out, like screens for the previews etc. but we feel its going well so far (today's little panto aside).

Cool beans... I'll keep my fingers crossed so!

If anything about the site I'd say it's worth adding some character to the News page; it's very dull tbh.

TheAlmightyArse

I like it, and I think overall you've done a great job. A couple of little quibbles with your reviews though.

First of all, is it necessary to spread them out to two pages? It's a little annoyance, and inconvenient if I want to keep several different reviews open in tabs to read later. The length of the reviews is just right, it would just be nicer to have each one confined to one web page.

Secondly, press release "screenshots" look lazy and, more importantly, aren't usually indicative of how a game actually looks in play. Of course, I know it's an independent site, so I don't know if capturing your own shots is actually viable.

Apart from that, great job, as I've said. Little details, like being the only site I can think of that lets readers know what games are actually released this week, go a long way.

randomname

Content on website is good as you know, i'm floating about the forums.

Yeah layout of reviews and some pages just look really plain. If you click on forum on the left hand side the page is all vibrant but when you click any other link the pages are a bit dull / drab. But liking the site overall.

Vokes

Looks good.

Minor quibble - maybe stick the review date at the top of each review.

Lemlin

RuggieBear wrote:

Well i have to say i really like the look of it. Clean and not too much flashing and distracting visual diarrhea to annoy the senses.

I really like the idea of the price check...altho along with the text i'd include a table with the prices of each game from each store....perhaps highlighting the store and game which has the cheapest prices and maybe introduce a weekly "champion store"

We felt the tables we include at the minute were the best way of doing things at the moment. They allow people to scan down through the list for a game and find the cheapest price. We plan to introduce a best store weekly after a while. At the moment though, it'd definitely be Smyths or Gamestop. We plan to have a worst store too (cough* HMV at the moment).

Cool beans... I'll keep my fingers crossed so!

If anything about the site I'd say it's worth adding some character to the News page; it's very dull tbh.

We have just got the PHP scripts running for the newspage so we plan to get images on news sorted soon.

I like it, and I think overall you've done a great job. A couple of little quibbles with your reviews though.

First of all, is it necessary to spread them out to two pages? It's a little annoyance, and inconvenient if I want to keep several different reviews open in tabs to read later. The length of the reviews is just right, it would just be nicer to have each one confined to one web page.

Secondly, press release "screenshots" look lazy and, more importantly, aren't usually indicative of how a game actually looks in play. Of course, I know it's an independent site, so I don't know if capturing your own shots is actually viable.

Apart from that, great job, as I've said. Little details, like being the only site I can think of that lets readers know what games are actually released this week, go a long way.

Thanks, that is something which used to annoy me too. Not being able to find a simple thing like what games were being released each Friday.

Press screenshots are all we have access to at the minute, sadly.

We keep the reviews between 500 and 1000 words. That way we think they are not too short or too long. Sadly, having them on two pages is all our layout will allow at the minute. A number of people have said they don't like this but is it really that much bother to click "next page"?

Yeah layout of reviews and some pages just look really plain. If you click on forum on the left hand side the page is all vibrant but when you click any other link the pages are a bit dull / drab. But liking the site overall.

We are trying to keep the site quick to upload at the minute. Alot of people in Ireland still haven't broadband after all and we are for Irish people. Some people, like myself when I'm in Cavvan, can't even get it yet even though we want it.

We are working on making the other pages more vibrant with screens and images etc.



Basically lads, we've started work on the site and we're hoping it'll grow into a community for Irish gamers. We're happy enough to get a few review copies and stuff out of it and also like the chance to have competitions etc. for our readers.

Me, Andy and Eoin (we're the founders) started the site because this info wasn't available for Irish people and we think it should be. We're also the first Irish site that will update daily, Monday to Friday.

zAbbo

Index everything with a date, and maybe throw up a RSS feed as well, people like to know whats changed each time they return to a site.

I've changed the thread title as well

Lemlin

zabbo wrote:

Index everything with a date, and maybe throw up a RSS feed as well, people like to know whats changed each time they return to a site.

I've changed the thread title as well

Grand, we can start dating stuff from now on. Cheers for changing the title and glad this has all been sorted out.

Fibbers Games

Yeah its a real nice site............


.. but..

it ... reminds..

me of.. something..

it looks ..very like..




JUST KIDDIN! Its savage. Signed up today finally.. Im a lazy bastard. I must stick a link to it on my Myspacey page.

Lemlin

Fibbers Games wrote:

Yeah its a real nice site............


.. but..

it ... reminds..

me of.. something..

it looks ..very like..




JUST KIDDIN! Its savage. Signed up today finally.. Im a lazy bastard. I must stick a link to it on my Myspacey page.

Good stuff. We'll be doing a newspiece on the next few comps you're having. Please reply to my pm.

BFassassin

when does your previous competitions end the xbox360 mega deal etc.
btw the whole situation was very well handled i thought well done

Dont be at yourself

Yeah, kudos to Lemlin. Glad to see that real care is being taken and that the site is going to be run professionally!

Lemlin

BFassassin wrote:

when does your previous competitions end the xbox360 mega deal etc.
btw the whole situation was very well handled i thought well done

It ended last week.

Cheers lads, in the end I think our articles are pretty good and they allow us to inform Irish people of Irish news. We also offer something few European countries have - a site willing to name and shame good and bad shops. Many websites are too busy trying to secure sponsorship to run features like our price check.

Have to say I'm pleased about all the positive praise and feedback we're getting now.

Dont be at yourself

Where does your pricing information come from? Is it a matter of walking into the stores on release day? Because I'm sure the likes of Smyths and GameStop would probably be happy to provide this kind of information to you, it's basically free advertising after all!

Jammer

NekkidBibleMan wrote:

Where does your pricing information come from? Is it a matter of walking into the stores on release day? Because I'm sure the likes of Smyths and GameStop would probably be happy to provide this kind of information to you, it's basically free advertising after all!

from what i can gather Lemlin gets the info off a couple of places by e-mail, and checks himself by going into the shop/ringing up!

Fibbers Games

That Price Check system is great.

Lemlin

NekkidBibleMan wrote:

Where does your pricing information come from? Is it a matter of walking into the stores on release day? Because I'm sure the likes of Smyths and GameStop would probably be happy to provide this kind of information to you, it's basically free advertising after all!

Gamestop, GAME and now Smyths send me the info. HMV and Virgin have no Irish office so I have to either phone them or e-mail them. The same goes for Dixons, Argos and Harvey Norman but they generally aren't stocking games near release nowadays, apart from one or two of the bigger games.

monument

Noel, good on your quick and correct handling of this - this kind of thing is an editor's nightmare.

Lemlin

No bother, I'd rather just get on with the site now though. We'll be dating stuff from tonight. A review of Hitman: Blood Money and another review due later tonight.

By the way, our forum competition started tonight. Read about it at http://www.irishgamer.ie/comps.php?id=1&page=1 if you haven't already.

im...LOST

What forum will they be posted in and will the prizes be won in order?

2 copies of Blazing Angels for Xbox 360
> 2 copies of Over G for Xbox 360
> 2 copies of Astonishia Story for PSP
> 2 copies of Untold Legends for PSP