Rock Paper Shotgun[a] is a British video game journalism website. It was launched in July 2007 to focus on PC games and was acquired by Gamer Network, a network of sites led by Eurogamer, in May 2017.
 | |
| Type of business | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
Type of site | Video game journalism |
| Headquarters | London, England |
| Owner | Gamer Network |
| Founder(s) |
|
| Editor | Graham Smith |
| Industry | Video game industry |
| URL | rockpapershotgun |
| Registration | Optional |
| Launched | August 2007 |
| Current status | Active |
History
editRock Paper Shotgun was founded by Kieron Gillen, Jim Rossignol, Alec Meer and John Walker in August 2007.[1][non-primary source needed] Gillen announced that he would no longer be involved in posting the day-to-day content of Rock Paper Shotgun in 2010, focusing more on his work with Marvel Comics.[2] Rossignol founded his own game studio, Big Robot, in 2010.[3] Meer and Walker left in 2019.[4][5]
In June 2010, Rock Paper Shotgun began an advertising partnership with the Eurogamer Network.[6] Also in the year, Rock Paper Shotgun partnered with Eurogamer to create Rezzed, a PC and indie games show spun off from the Eurogamer Expo.[7][8] In May 2017, Gamer Network acquired the site outright.[9][non-primary source needed] A year later, website has partnered again with EGX to launch a new game jam, designed to showcase and promote a standout indie game developer or team.[10]
The Gamer Network was acquired by ReedPOP in 2018, making the site a subsidiary of RELX Group.[11] In May 2024, IGN Entertainment acquired the Gamer Network, making Rock Paper Shotgun a subsidiary of Ziff Davis.[12][13]
Controversies and reception
editOn 5 January 2011, Game Informer editor-in-chief Andrew Reiner issued legal threats against Rock Paper Shotgun and its readers for posting exclusive Game Informer images from the Tomb Raider reboot. Rock Paper Shotgun later deleted the images the same day.[14][non-primary source needed] One month later, the game Bulletstorm came under scrutiny by Fox News. These claims were largely ridiculed among gaming websites, including Rock Paper Shotgun, who ran a series of articles discrediting the reports by Fox News.[15][16] The articles analysed Carole Lieberman's claims and found only one of eight sources she provided had anything to do with the subject at hand.[17] Fox News acknowledged that they had been contacted by Rock Paper Shotgun and responded to their claims on 20 February 2011 through another article, stating that the game still remained a threat to children.[18]
It won the best Games blog accolade at the 2011 Games Media Awards.[19]
Notes
edit- ^ Also rendered as Rock, Paper, Shotgun
References
edit- ^ "Rock Paper Shotgun". Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on 29 December 2024. Retrieved 29 December 2024.
- ^ MCV Staff (30 September 2010). "Gillen leaves the games industry". MCV/Develop. ISSN 1469-4832. Archived from the original on 17 January 2025. Retrieved 17 January 2025.
- ^ Rossignol, Jim (27 September 2010). "Big Robot Lives Again". Big Robot. Archived from the original on 30 March 2019. Retrieved 21 April 2012.
my new company, Big Robot
- ^ Smith, Graham (9 April 2019). "Thank you and goodbye, Alec Meer". Rock, Paper, Shotgun. Archived from the original on 13 August 2020. Retrieved 21 September 2020.
- ^ Walker, John (18 April 2019). "Bye-bye RPS, thanks for having me". Rock, Paper, Shotgun. Archived from the original on 23 October 2020. Retrieved 21 September 2020.
- ^ Martin, Matt (1 June 2010). "Eurogamer strikes Rock, Paper, Shotgun partnership". GamesIndustry.biz. Archived from the original on 17 January 2025. Retrieved 17 January 2025.
- ^ Bramwell, Tom (2 July 2012). "Rock, Paper, Shotgun doing "panel game quiz show thing" at Rezzed". Eurogamer. Archived from the original on 17 January 2025. Retrieved 17 January 2025.
- ^ Phillips, Tom (12 June 2012). "Eurogamer announces Rezzed: The PC and Indie Games Show". Eurogamer. Archived from the original on 17 January 2025. Retrieved 17 January 2025.
- ^ Pearson, Dan (3 May 2017). "Gamer Network acquires Rock, Paper, Shotgun". GamesIndustry.biz. Archived from the original on 17 January 2025. Retrieved 17 January 2025.
- ^ Watson, Paul (7 August 2018). "EGX and Rock Paper Shotgun host game jam". Eurogamer. Archived from the original on 28 May 2024. Retrieved 28 May 2024.
- ^ Frank, Allegra (26 February 2018). "PAX organizer acquires USgamer, Eurogamer and more". Polygon. Archived from the original on 17 January 2025. Retrieved 17 January 2025.
- ^ Webster, Andrew (21 May 2024). "IGN scoops up Eurogamer, Rock Paper Shotgun, and more". The Verge. Archived from the original on 17 January 2025. Retrieved 17 January 2025.
- ^ IGN Staff (21 May 2024). "IGN Entertainment Acquires Eurogamer, GI, VG247, Rock Paper Shotgun, and More". IGN. Archived from the original on 17 January 2025. Retrieved 17 January 2025.
- ^ Garratt, Patrick (5 January 2011). "Game Informer threatens RPS with legal action over Tomb Raider images". VG247. Archived from the original on 17 January 2025. Retrieved 17 January 2025.
- ^ Stuart, Keith (16 February 2011). "Bulletstorm, Fox News and the controversy that shouldn't have been". The Guardian. ISSN 1756-3224. Archived from the original on 17 January 2025. Retrieved 17 January 2025.
- ^ bitmob (17 February 2011). "Kill the messenger: Why Fox News is the enemy, not its sources". VentureBeat. Archived from the original on 17 January 2025. Retrieved 17 January 2025.
- ^ Plunkett, Luke (10 February 2011). "How FOX News Gets Video Games So Wrong". Kotaku. Archived from the original on 17 January 2025. Retrieved 17 January 2025.
- ^ Brandon, John (20 February 2011). "Bulletstorm: Censored in Germany, Coming to America". Fox News. Fox News Network. Archived from the original on 17 January 2025. Retrieved 17 January 2025.
- ^ MCV Staff (27 October 2011). "GMA 2011: Rock, Paper, Shotgun wins best blog prize". MCV/Develop. ISSN 1469-4832. Archived from the original on 17 January 2025. Retrieved 17 January 2025.
External links
edit- Official website
- Rock Paper Shotgun (Germany) (archived)