#GamerGate has nothing to do with corruption in video games journalism. That much is evident from its targets: liberal-leaning websites and magazines, indie developers, and overwhelmingly either women or women-friendly publications and people. Why is that obvious? Because many of the places it has accused of being corrupt have some pretty stringent rules in place to make sure they don't break journalistic ethics. Like, say, the Society Of Professional Journalists' Code of Ethics which sites like Polygon follow, or the rigorous manifesto drawn up at the advent of PC gaming site Rock, Paper Shotgun. Plus the Kotaku stuff that has been pointed out as totally false. What's interesting is that, when actual examples of corruption have cropped up during #GamerGate, there's been nary an outcry. Whilst the movement was busy forcing Intel to remove its advertising from Gamasutra, an industry website which had come out against the misogynistic side of #GamerGate, Jim Sterling of The Escapist (a website that had given a worrying amount of space to pro-GG people who were of the, erm, less-than-sympathetic end) uncovered an actual conspiracy regarding how Shadow Of Mordor made sure to get the "right" coverage on YouTube reviews. #GamerGate has failed. It has shown that it doesn't care a jot about actual corruption. It has shown that much of it is rooted in prejudice and oppression. It will fail to change anything because the mainstream press has branded them a hate group. The Dark Knight is on their case. If you're a pro-GG who actually wants to do something about corruption? It's beyond time to jump ship, and let all the awfulness sink below the surface forevermore.
Tom Baker is the Comics Editor at WhatCulture! He's heard all the Doctor Who jokes, but not many about Randall and Hopkirk. He also blogs at http://communibearsilostate.wordpress.com/
