 <unk> magazine credited Smith with inspiring gamers to learn more about the game industry and not accept company promotion , as well as turning 1UP from " the bastard child of EGM " to an important part of the Ziff Davis Internet company 's gaming network . His style has been described as a " robust , direct approach " to journalism and is known for his scathing attacks on the industry . Smith , however , felt disheartened by the state of game journalism . " Video game journalism is just weird . You have guys married to women in marketing for the games they cover . Video game journalism is still very young , very early , still trying to find out what it is , " he said . In an interview with Michael Zenke of The Escapist , Smith said he felt game journalists were treated by developers as another part of the PR plan , with developers sending out information and the journalists " regurgitating " it . Worse , Smith felt that gamers had become used to this sort of information ; " We have to be responsible for our actions and held accountable when we manipulate the expectations of gamers , " he told Zenke . 
