RPS are recruiting!

sinister agent · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 7046

Famed PC games site Rock Paper Shotgun is looking for a new one-who-draws-sounds. Observe:

Quote:

RPS is expanding! For (sort of) the first time ever, we’re looking to bring another regular writer, or perhaps even writers, into the warm, loving but formerly closed fold that is Rock, Paper, Shotgun.

Trouble is… well, we’re not entirely sure what kind of recruit(s) we want. Do we want someone full-time, part-time or sporadic? Do we want an experienced magazine section editor? Do we want a crazy young buck who’s never been published outside of their own blog? Do we want a super-smart game dev who fancies a change? Do we want a fervent newshound, an indie and mods fanatic, a simulation obsessive, an essayist, a reviewer, an interviewer, a lover, a fighter?

All of the above. Some of the above. None of the above. The important thing is we want someone who’s going to make the site a better place. We’ll know what we’re looking for, and we’ll recognise it (or you) when we see it.

http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2011/06 ... ecruiting/

Go go beteo writing minds!

NervousPete · **Posted:** Wed Jun 29, 2011 17:15

Oooh! ME! ME! ME!

I'll check this out when I get home! Ta, Sinister!

LewieP · **Joined:** 29th Apr, 2008 **Posts:** 7600

Heh, thought about posting this too.

Good luck anyone applying, and feel free to poke my brain for suggestions of how to go about it.

myp · **Posted:** Wed Jun 29, 2011 17:30

I don't read RPS as I get all my gaming info from snappygamer.com.

NervousPete · **Posted:** Wed Jun 29, 2011 17:37

LewieP wrote:

Heh, thought about posting this too.

Good luck anyone applying, and feel free to poke my brain for suggestions of how to go about it.

Ta Lewie.

Eek! Just had a glance at the link. Jet-setting, eh? Not sure how to wrap that around a full time library schedule. But just maybe... (etc.)

Pundabaya · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 5016

They only want emotionally-stunted PC-spods, though.

sinister agent · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 7046

No, they want people to write about PC games, is all. Doesn't mean you can't play or like consoles just as much, or more. This is one reason why they're excellent and not just braying nerds like far too many PC advocates.

I suspect that knowing what's going on with consoles would be a distinct advantage if it were to come down to a tiebreaker against someone who never does anything that isn't on a PC.

LewieP · **Joined:** 29th Apr, 2008 **Posts:** 7600

Every single person that writes for RPS also enjoys console games, and writes/has written about them elsewhere.

MrPSB · **Posted:** Wed Jun 29, 2011 20:07

myoptikakaka wrote:

I don't read RPS as I get all my gaming info from snappygamer.com.

Worst application ever

WTB · **Joined:** 27th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 14497

I guarantee they'll employ a Yank.

They're entirely UK-based, but a huge chunk of their readers are US-based. Employing a Yank would allow round-the-clock updates and a presence at all of the US-based gaming events, of which there are loads.

Also... If only this opportunity existed four years ago.

I love the site. It's PC-only, but I love the way they do it - each contributor has individual personality - it reminds me of the excellent PC ZONE in its prime. Plus, Gillen has fucked off so it's all gravy.

sinister agent · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 7046

Interesting point. They have hinted that there may be more than one, though, so they might be able to have a US rep doing occasional stuff as well as someone else.

Pod · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 2568

WTB wrote:

I guarantee they'll employ a Yank.

They're entirely UK-based, but a huge chunk of their readers are US-based. Employing a Yank would allow round-the-clock updates and a presence at all of the US-based gaming events, of which there are loads.

Also... If only this opportunity existed four years ago.

I love the site. It's PC-only, but I love the way they do it - each contributor has individual personality - it reminds me of the excellent PC ZONE in its prime. Plus, Gillen has fucked off so it's all gravy.

What's wrong with Gillen? Don't you like his wobbly bobbly head?

LewieP · **Joined:** 29th Apr, 2008 **Posts:** 7600

She's pretty good in Doctor Who.

WTB · **Joined:** 27th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 14497

I just think he's a bellend.

He never really had any interest in being a games journalist, and used it primarily as a means to forward his career as a "writer" spouting pretentious shite along the way. I'm glad he's gone, because he was sitting in the seat of all of the people who actually wanted to sit there.

LewieP · **Joined:** 29th Apr, 2008 **Posts:** 7600

That's not really accurate at all.

WTB · **Joined:** 27th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 14497

LewieP · **Joined:** 29th Apr, 2008 **Posts:** 7600

You don't do something as a stepping stone for 15 years. He could have got out a lot earlier if he wanted to.

WTB · **Joined:** 27th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 14497

Yeah, but he hung on, sitting in someone else's seat, disinterested. A classic example of someone with an English degree, dreams of becoming a writer and no interest in journalism, getting in the way of people who are happy to be 'just' a journalist - a trade that is quickly becoming a joke.

But hey, that's just my opinion, man.

WTB · **Joined:** 27th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 14497

Not that I'm bitter.

Curiosity · **Posted:** Thu Jun 30, 2011 12:05

WTB wrote:

Not that I'm bitter.

You should start your own website. You could have game reviews that are short but well thought out and entertaining.

Gamersnappy or something.

LewieP · **Joined:** 29th Apr, 2008 **Posts:** 7600

WTB wrote:

Not that I'm bitter.

are you applying? Writing for somewhere like RPS would probably unbitter you somewhat.

Zardoz · **Posted:** Thu Jun 30, 2011 12:15

Curiosity wrote:

Gamersnappy or something.

GammyBelmer.

Pod · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 2568

Journalists no longer exist anymore. Everyone is really just a blogger.

sinister agent · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 7046

LewieP wrote:

Heh, thought about posting this too.

Good luck anyone applying, and feel free to poke my brain for suggestions of how to go about it.

Poking starts now!

I'm definitely applying for this, though I think it'd be a long shot with my lack of games writing being online. Thinking of doing a bit on Dwarf Fortress'eses adventurer mode, just a simple game diary / review really, don't want to try to show off and over do it. What d'you reckon?

LewieP · **Joined:** 29th Apr, 2008 **Posts:** 7600

I'd advise you to to try and show a bit of flair, but yeah, something that you could imagine reading on RPS.

Although wasn't there already a dwarf fortress diary? Maybe something that hasn't been covered on RPS yet would be a good idea.

sinister agent · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 7046

Argh, that was meant to be a PM. Stupid tabbed browsing.

Yeah, it's basically because I've been playing it lately. You know how you could name a billion x, but when someone asks you to name an x, your brain fries itself and you forget everything you ever knew about x? I did that last night. Kind of defaulted to what I've been playing lately. There was a DF diary a year or two back; the game has had some fairly major updates since then, and has recently added an entirely new roguelike game mode where you take one person and stomp around the map stabbing things and being strangled with your own intestines. Oh yeah, there was a thing last year that didn't quite finish. Something else then, I guess.

I meant 'simple' as in just sticking to one game rather than waxing philosophical about some general principle or trend in gaming in a bid to show off.

I'll have a quick poke through their archives, see if there's anything I've got that they haven't done yet. Cheers!

Cras · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 49252

You should totally submit your MGS4 review.

sinister agent · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 7046

I might link to it, but probably not. It was very much off the cuff and needs some serious editing.

Mr Russell · **Joined:** 6th Apr, 2008 **Posts:** 12347

sinister agent wrote:

I might link to it, but probably not. It was very much off the cuff and needs some serious editing.

What about your Sim City alike review?

sinister agent · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 7046

I'll be linking to that, yeah. I'll mention that it had to stop because of a pissy technical thing, but I'm much happier with that one. Linking to the Hidden Agenda thing as well, but that's about all I've got. Might write a couple of new things and send them by way of recompense.

LewieP · **Joined:** 29th Apr, 2008 **Posts:** 7600

Quinns is leaving RPS.

Pod · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 2568

Why would he want to freelance?

Pundabaya · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 5016

You know, Quinns and Rab are the only RPS writers I like. Rab is too busy doing telly, Quinns is leaving for reasons unknown. Possibly the virulence of the RPS community? Having those cockmonkeys commenting on my work for a year would drive me nuts.

Pundabaya · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 5016

Whoops, nothing to see here.

Heh heh heh.. 'cockmonkeys'

sinister agent · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 7046

I certainly hope the whingers aren't a factor in Quinnseseses' leaving - I couldn't believe there were people elsewhere still whining on about a review they disagreed with a year ago or whatever the hell that was. I really like his writing, he's funny and engaging, and it's a bit pathetic to never let a writer slip up.

I'd like to think he's thicker skinned than that, though - you can't really do anything online without getting some braying tossers in a comment section.

Also, who is Rab?

LewieP · **Joined:** 29th Apr, 2008 **Posts:** 7600

Rab from consolevania, he did the weekly board games column a while back, and is starting up again this weekend.

I did 4 posts today, and will be doing more tomorrow too.

MaliA · **Posted:** Tue Jul 05, 2011 20:41

Hang on, we've been down this road before. Many times. "Journo X speaks it like it is, yadda, yadda, yadda" and then "Journo X has left Publication Y for some reason". It's like a merry go round soap opera for game fans.

WTB · **Joined:** 27th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 14497

Looking forward to Rab putting his money where his mouth is. As opposed to whinging about the industry he chose to leave on Twitter. Literally 24 hours a day. Busy with TV work? Busy tweeting.

sinister agent · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 7046

MaliA wrote:

Hang on, we've been down this road before. Many times. "Journo X speaks it like it is, yadda, yadda, yadda" and then "Journo X has left Publication Y for some reason". It's like a merry go round soap opera for game fans.

Don't see where you get that, to be honest. Quinns was never particularly outspoken or mouthy - he just wrote well, is all.

NervousPete · **Posted:** Tue Jul 05, 2011 23:51

I agree that Quinns was one of the best, if not the best, on the site. No wait, there's only about three of them isn't there? The best, then. Boo-urns.

Pod · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 2568

WTB wrote:

Looking forward to Rab putting his money where his mouth is. As opposed to whinging about the industry he chose to leave on Twitter. Literally 24 hours a day. Busy with TV work? Busy tweeting.

Yeah. No Downtime town because he's busy tweeting

Dr Lave · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 5979

Rab's Downtime Town is the reason I play board games more than console games now. I'm really glad he's coming back to do more boardgame stuff (but Quinns boardgame stuff was ace too).

What happened to the idea of a boardgame beex meet? We should do that. As long as I don't have to sort it out of course...

LewieP · **Joined:** 29th Apr, 2008 **Posts:** 7600

Regarding accusations that Rab is spending too much time tweeting and not enough time doing games stuff.

From his, now returned, cardboard children column, he's been "setting up a production company."

So I think you should probably let him off.

LewieP · **Joined:** 29th Apr, 2008 **Posts:** 7600

Quinns new board games web site/video series:
http://shutupshow.tumblr.com/

sinister agent · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 7046

Good lord. That Paul guy appears to be... well, me.

Pod · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 2568

sinister agent wrote:

Good lord. That Paul guy appears to be... well, me.

Is it actually you?
If so, tell Quinns that he's always come across as overbearingly middle-class and privileged in his writing. (edit: He sounds likea young Hugh Laurie -- I didn't expect that)

Also, the music is far too loud on that video.

Which game store is that?

romanista · **Posted:** Fri Jul 15, 2011 10:46

WTB wrote:

Yeah, but he hung on, sitting in someone else's seat, disinterested. A classic example of someone with an English degree, dreams of becoming a writer and no interest in journalism, getting in the way of people who are happy to be 'just' a journalist - a trade that is quickly becoming a joke.

But hey, that's just my opinion, man.

well, his early applications as c.monster in AP suggest otherwise, but i do think there is a moment when he started to think of himself als more as a writer/cartoon/arty person than as games writer, but i guess that's more personal development than a stepping stone...

Be Excellent To Each Other

RPS are recruiting!
Writer types: ASSEMBLE

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Be Excellent To Each Other

RPS are recruiting! Writer types: ASSEMBLE

Who is online

RPS are recruiting!
Writer types: ASSEMBLE