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The Gamer Studio: A peek into how Destructoid came to be photo

Destructoid turns four next year. That's ridiculous. Surely we should be either bankrupt or lecherous sellouts by now, right? Somehow we're still here by no small contribution of Dtoid's plucky editors and more importantly our community. We're here because Google says 1.4 million people read us each month for some reason. 

What the hell is wrong with you people? 

So how did we get here, you ask? Well, there's about 16 editors across various cities so when we alternate robbing convenience stores its much harder to track. There's also the fact that there's nothing else in the world I'd rather be doing right now than listening to the F-Zero soundtrack while drinking the uncarbonated remains of last night's midnight Taco Bell soda. If you're curious about what motivated me to start the site I did an unflattering interview with the folks at The Gamer Studio about the site's early influences and how you too can  become an abusive husband at your trade. The article exposes me for the hack publisher/web designer/writer/human being that I am, which is important for you to know if we're going to continue being Internet friends. 

Some critics of Destructoid may not appreciate our granola success and have even come to attack my under qualifications, and that's OK.  For them I offer them this answer: I'm having a lot of fun learning what to do along the way, but my immediate Saturday plan to beef up my journalistic acumen is to watch Muppets in Space. That's the one where Moses tells Gonzo that he's doomed and kicks him off the arc, I think.


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63 comments | showing # 1 to 50
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Nic128's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/29/2009 10:37
Nic128
You're awesome. <3
Kraid's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/29/2009 10:42
Kraid
We love you because of your omnipotent JOURNALISM!

also cocks. <3<3<3<3
MasterBalls's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/29/2009 10:44
MasterBalls
I for one appreciate your writing teams tendency to actually say what they think about the game they're previewing or reviewing, unlike certain gaming sites *IGNcoughcough*
Justice's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/29/2009 10:45
Justice
Underqualified my ass! You're like, the opposite of that... I think it's called oversomething.

Really though, we all love you Niero, *virtual manhug*.
DaedHead8's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/29/2009 10:46
DaedHead8
I love ya Niero, always have. I've especially appreciate how you and the team moderate the site. You're not "Nazis" banning members for any little indiscretion, yet you still know when it's appropriate to make sure a troll never ever comes back here. That has to be my favorite part of this site.
Kim Fidler's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/29/2009 10:52
Kim Fidler
Great interview. What exactly happened at the first e3 that Destructoid attended?
TheTaj's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/29/2009 10:58
TheTaj
I've been reading Destructoid ever since the Jack Thompson court hearing that was filmed by a staff member (it was Niero I'm pretty sure). Good times ever since. Great interview!
Tony Ponce's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/29/2009 11:09
Tony Ponce
You untalented hack! GTFO my intar-tubes!
TheWeaponeer's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/29/2009 11:12
TheWeaponeer


A hack job picture for a story about a hack publisher.
The Will Effect's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/29/2009 11:17
The Will Effect
You are the man Niero. Right behind me of course. ;) Then again no one knows who the hell I am. Big ups to the entire Dtoid staff, though.
Topher Cantler's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/29/2009 11:21
Topher Cantler
One must question just how "qualified" a person actually needs to be in order to be allowed to love videogames and share that love with others. I questioned it just now and my answer was this post.
Geraldo Beedog's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/29/2009 11:24
Geraldo Beedog
Gracias por granola delicioso Senor Gonzalez.
Kryptinite's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/29/2009 11:24
Kryptinite
Great interview! Let the world domination begin.
RoninZero's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/29/2009 11:27
RoninZero
Awesome Niero. World Domination...Commence. *brofist for everyone on Destructoid*
eternalplayer2345's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/29/2009 11:30
eternalplayer2345
I always love hearing dtoid's story so inspiring in this world of cut and dry corporations and news sites
MCChampaignMillionaire's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/29/2009 11:34
MCChampaignMillionaire
Cool, by the way: The Level R commercial is very annoying. Why the sound?
AliasWyvernspur's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/29/2009 11:34
AliasWyvernspur
Under qualifications, lol. Isn't that what the internet is all about? Just look at all the twats on Twitter.

Just keep doing that thing you do. You know, kicking ass and chewing gum.

Speaking of, I need to find They Live on DVD somewhere.
xenon's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/29/2009 11:39
xenon
You did sell out a bit, but I still like Destructoid.
Technophile's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/29/2009 11:47
Technophile
I've been "underqualified" my whole life. Doesn't stop me from doing awesome things. Like being hungover as hell and melting in the heat as I'm doing now.
GoldenGamerXero's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/29/2009 11:49
GoldenGamerXero
Destructoid's awesome for the reasons stated above. You guys are probably the most honest review site I've seen and you let people express their opinions even if their not the most popular ones out there. Any other site would have alreadly fired Antony, Holmes, Jim and now I think of it probably all of the editors for putting so much personality into all of the articles instead of talking like advertising drones.

(Thankfully I missed the "Summa" days of Destructoid so I hate to think of what he must have done to actually leave this site.)
Discarded Couch Sandwich's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/29/2009 11:50
Discarded Couch Sandwich
To the critics of your "qualifications" (whatever that means) there's really only one thing to say: so what? You made it, man. You did the best thing in the world.
falinter's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/29/2009 12:04
falinter
A tale as old as time.

<3
draycott's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/29/2009 12:08
draycott
Hah! Awesome links. Its always nice to see the upbringing.
parsleyboots's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/29/2009 12:10
parsleyboots
After I read this and the interview, I wanted to read the GamePolitics article here and Dtoid's side of the story here. And maybe you do, too. So click 'em.
AkumaX88's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/29/2009 12:22
AkumaX88
Great Interview, Great Site, Mr. D-Toid is GOD!!
kalidanthepalidan's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/29/2009 12:36
kalidanthepalidan
Three cheers for being underqualified!
Los255's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/29/2009 12:40
Los255
"What the hell is wrong with you people"

WE FUCKING LOVE YOU, THAT'S WHAT.

I think the fact that you give half the spotlight to the community and like GoldenGamer said, anywhere else and they woulda been fired. But
because you guys don't give a shit and are still honest, that's they key.

Cocks, also.
Tubatic's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/29/2009 12:48
Tubatic
That GamePolitics article is great, parsleyboots! I love the end:

"Good luck getting those media credentials next year, fellas."

Doubly great, because months later, gamepolitics ran an article about Mr. Destructoid, sans helmet, covering Jack Thompson's Bully court kerfuffle, which was the first link to bring me to this fine establishment!
atastysammich's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/29/2009 12:56
atastysammich
I appreciate your granola success! This is due almost entirely to the fact that that so-and-so Summa doesn't show his hide around these parts anymore.
Tubatic's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/29/2009 12:56
Tubatic
Also, this needs to be on T-Shirts or at the base of some Destructoid statue:


"Niero: World domination. I may settle for less, but you've gotta have goals."
MellowBunny's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/29/2009 13:01
MellowBunny
I love you guys~!

I love how everyone is very funny and friendly here. Unlike gametrailers.
mix's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/29/2009 13:06
mix
When I'm at work I always have Dtoid open! I LOVE this place!

4 Years is nuts, congrats!
Jetrockite's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/29/2009 13:06
Jetrockite
I think there's many reasons why Destructoid is what it is today; amazing.

A great set of editors giving us news, previews, reviews (with honest scores) and unique features - every twenty minutes! - not many sites bother doing that. It's written well and not given a trim, you tell us straight what's happening, and make us laugh through your writing. I'll tell you now that humour through journalism is a art slowly fading away. Everyone's too serious nowadays. One member of staff I'd like to point out is Jim, his articles really make me laugh.

You give the community part of the spotlight (I think it's been said before) Most sites would have this strict lining of staff and users. With Destructoid, this line is more blurred and I think that's what makes it work. You don't treat us like some cannon fodder which is easily replaceable, you treat us just like a human being should be. Also, user posts on a front page of any gaming site is rarely seen, in fact, I think Destructoid is the only one to do things like that.

Although I've already mentioned features, they play a very big part on the site. Things like RetroForceGO, Friday Night Fights, NARP's, Rev Rants, HAWP, Podcastle, and lots more. You keep the community... united (yes, I know that sounds really corny)

There's probably lots of stuff I've missed out what is good with the site, but I think I speak for everyone when I say thank you to yourself (Niero), Nick Chester, Dale North, Anthony Burch, Jim Sterling, Hamza, Rey Gutierrez, Ashley Davis, Brad Nicholson, Brad Rice, Chad Concelmo, Colette Bennett, Conrad Zimmerman, Dyson, Jonathan Holmes, Jonathan Ross, Jordan Devore, Matthew Razak, Tom Fronczak, Topher Cantler and pretty much everyone in the community for making a brilliant site and being around for four years and live to tell the tale. I wish you good luck with the future of Destructoid and I hope it expands even further.

I think that's everyone anyway. Haha.
Velt's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/29/2009 13:15
Velt
we need to have our own country... or a very big island.
Neonie's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/29/2009 13:25
Neonie
"World Domination". This is why I love you.
Elsa's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/29/2009 13:30
Elsa
Doing something for the love of it shows. Some seem to seek a very personalized fame (I won't name names, but some sites really only feature the writings of the founders rather than contributions from a variety of sources), but this site seems to allow for many voices. You seem to lead by a love of gaming and allowing many to have a voice - which creates a true feeling of community here.
You've managed to create something very unique that fosters a sense of loyalty and enthusiasm from those that participate - rare in today's internet world with so many choices out there.
Anus Mcphanus's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/29/2009 13:54
Anus Mcphanus
Enthusiasm and genuine love for what you do > "qualifications"

Well done Niero, even that Mexican love child born from a night of tequila can compare to Destructiod.

<3 You

Also, uncarbonated soft drinks are so much better than the regular carbonated form.
Everyday Legend's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/29/2009 14:03
Everyday Legend
Your choices are as follows:

1.) Follow a site based on elitist prickhood and the mouthbreathing sycophants that support every statement that falls out of a hairpiece that used to belong to John Stamos.

2.) Follow an incredibly inane, squeaky-clean wannabe for option #1 where humor falls as flat as the aformentioned soda in Niero's initial post.

3.) A place run by real gamers of every type solely for the purpose OF gamers of every type, where almost unlimited freedom of speech is the law of the land, from the editors and staff writers down to the reader membership itself.

If you chose option #1,ZOMGSTFUGTFOBBQASAP.

If you chose option #2, it's past your bedtime and your mother will be notified that you're on her internet-box this late in the evening.

If you chose #3, welcome home, and I probably owe you a beer for some reason or another. Also, cocks.
Niero's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/29/2009 14:06
Niero
^.^ ah, thanks all

The really juicy GamePolitics stuff got deleted. It might be on Archive.org. It was some 10 pages of LiveJournal flamewars that eventually turned in our favor, to my surprise. That seems like ten years ago. That whole crazy shit reminds me of this quote:

"First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win." -Mahatma Gandhi
Monodi's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/29/2009 14:24
Monodi
Niero. Motherfucker.
pedrovay2003's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/29/2009 15:01
pedrovay2003
Yay Destructoid!

I've been here almost from the beginning, I believe. It gets better and better every day. :D
peachboy's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/29/2009 15:42
peachboy
you are the donkey to my kong dtoid. <3
Solgrim's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/29/2009 17:04
Solgrim
Great interview. Great site. Great robot.
Smashycomman's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/29/2009 17:13
Smashycomman
Hey I had Taco Bell last night too. But... I tasted all my soda. Poo...
IceMax's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/29/2009 17:37
IceMax
Wow, you still do HTML in notepad? You must be some kind of masochist. At least get dreamweaver, or something else that makes it easier to write code :)
Grasshopper7's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/29/2009 18:47
Grasshopper7
Under qualifications my junk! That's part of the reason we love you Niero, you're one of us! And for what it's worth I think you do a fucking great job. DToid = Best place on the net. Fact.
Detry's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/29/2009 18:56
Detry
<3
n0brein's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/29/2009 19:21
n0brein
Te amo Niero <3
Thanks for building this great site
NihonTiger90's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/29/2009 20:26
NihonTiger90
This man is my boss and I would have it no other way.
donkeykong's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/29/2009 20:33
donkeykong
@peachboy
"you are the donkey to my kong dtoid. <3"

I couldn't agree more.

I've been reading the site since about 2 weeks after it went up. I remember the first article I read was something about the way Japanese people dress in real life influencing the characters we see in RPGs. It's probably in the archives somewhere.

It's the only gaming site I read and it's easy for me to understand why but hard to express in words. I just feel like when something games related happens, some editor here will write an article called "this happened" with a few paragraphs about what's happened. It seems so simple but I never feel like that's what I'm getting anywhere else.

Add to that the humour and the terrific sense of community, it's easy to see why you guys have more readers than other sites which have fewer, which I'm not sure about numbers so this paragraph is either insulting or complimentary, that's not for me to decide. I better stop talking now
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