Someone’s Been Reading the Herald
by Alphaville Herald on 01/06/05 at 12:36 pm
Now you too can rake the muck! ValuSoft, publishers of such classic games as Tempest Tetris, Fire Tetris, and Stratosphere Tetris (and you thought Tringo was fun), is bringing out the first title from Black Lantern Studios, a game called Tabloid Tycoon, that lets you “report rumors . . . or create them!” as the company’s press release puts it.
According to ValuSoft veep Scott Zerby, “The popularity of tabloid magazines has become a part of our culture. Readers thrive on the gossip, rumors and unusual tales told by the tabloids.” (Is he talking about the Herald here?)
Players are put in charge of building a media empire and creating a tabloid filled with content ranging from believable to bizarre. Using both business smarts and creative skills while building the business, gamers create stories based on truth or fiction, and they can even import photos of family and friends directly into the tabloid. Players can share the fun by printing their newspapers, posting the publication online, or emailing their edition to friends.
(Or you could just write for us.)
And did we mention that the word on the rumor mill is that Electronic Arts was originally slated to bring out the game, but got cold feet after contemplating what kinds of stories might run in user-generated newspapers? Or is that something we’re making up?
Urizenus
Jun 2nd, 2005
Seriously, why pay to play that game when can can write for the Herald and get Real Lindens ™!!!
budka groshomme
Jun 2nd, 2005
I am shocked – SHOCKED – at such outrage. This is an affront to every journalistic standard the Herald holds dear. To think that someone would actually sink to such low moral level that they would deliberately and with clear concience allow the reading public to view a single unsubstantiated fact is appalling. I, and I speak both for myself the the Science Fiction Desk, as well as the remainder of the Herald staff, think that we should rise in protest, that is, after I get the skinny on the latest Elvis sighting and a reported miracle in SL.
Also, what are “Real” Lindens. Are they the same as the pittance the Herald pays?
Urizenus
Jun 2nd, 2005
well Bud, the ones you get are gen-u-ine Lindens. We deal in quality, not quantity here.
simon
Jun 7th, 2005
Why didint they call it “Herald Tycoon”? lol. I saved myself however much the game costs by opening up my times.
EA was worried? LOL! They are always worried and paranoid at anything that uses words in it. I’m sure there was arguments before they decided not to put a clause in the TOS for TSO that says “Thou shall not say anything bad about The Sims Online on or off the game. That includes real life, another game, on the phone, Ect. “