The internet is a damn big place. There are millions and millions of websites on just about anything you can imagine. If you can't find a site that suits your style, then there's probably something wrong with your connection.

Since much of the videogames community spends an above average amount of time on the web (to say the least), the internet is populated largely by gamers. I wouldn't be surprised if someone told me that there were more gaming sites than any other kind on the web (excluding porn, of course). This is because these days, any average Joe can publish his own blog for free.

Ever since the first forms of gaming publications, magazines, were first brought into the world, thousands of men (and one Jessica Chobot) have reviewed, previewed, reported, and analyzed videogames for the masses. It became a dream job for many, including me. Just the thought of getting paid to play and critique videogames put a smile on my face.

These days, gaming journalism has found its home on the world wide web. Sites like IGN, 1UP, and Gamespot do exactly what magazines do, but in a much more accessible, not to mention free, format. In fact, 1UP is owned by the same people as Electronic Gaming Monthly, and gives the exact same stories in a different layout. These three sites are the larger groups, with frequent exclusive reveals, hands-on previews, and interviews.



On the other side of the camp, you have the small, independent blogs. These blogs could be some side project to do in a writer's spare time (like c-blogs), a that has writers that make a living out of game journalism (like Destructoid), or something in between. The legitimate blogs make profit off of advertisements, usually for videogames (duh).

With so many different sites out there, it’s hard to stand out from the crowd, and establish yourself as a well-published blog. Three example of blogs that really achieve this of blogs that really stand out are GoNintendo, Kotaku, and, of course, Destructoid. GoNintendo’s Kevin Cassidy made a name for himself on the web by devoting every minute of spare time he had to his site, and for a few years now has been running the site on his own, with occasional help from others on the off-chance he isn’t around. Kotaku is a site that has detailed coverage on every console out there, and everything gaming-related. They might not post the boxart for the new Digimon World game, but they keep readers well-informed on the more significant stories.



If you’re reading, this, I don’t have to tell you about Destructoid. I will, however, tell you that they stand out by creating a community that expands far wider than the news archives. They are one of the largest gaming communities around, allowing any user to create a blog that people might actually read. Good Job, Destructoid.

So, why the blogs? If it’s all free, why don’t we as gamers flock to the larger sites? Well, the blogs offer a more personal style of coverage, with editorials, rumors, and leaks, features that the big sites usually lack. Plus, they can give a game whatever score they want, no matter who is sponsoring them. I’m looking at you, Gamespot. And anyways, GoNintendo sorts out all of IGN’s stories for me. In fact, I’ve checked that site three times since I started writing this.