One of the most respected and gifted games journalists in the business is leaving us, and we will miss him.
Kieron Gillen, an overlord of beloved gaming site Rock, Paper, Shotgun and the founder of the New Games Journalism movement, has moved full-time into comics writing for Marvel and decided that in order to pay fair attention to the new career, he has to leave the old one behind. Though he promises to reappear when he has “something worthwhile to say” (which is always), he’ll no longer be on the daily beat. He will, however, remain a Director of RPS and – as he puts it – remains “a gamer whose main response to the medium is going on big rants.”
Kieron is awesome. When MrLipid and I really got started rolling out Tap, RPS was our sole role model (and continues to be). In his farewell, his excitement and enthusiasm for what he does, and what he’s going to be doing, is as evident as the bittersweet feeling of departure.
So we’re not losing him, just not getting him every day like we want to. Good luck, Kieron!
Email the author of this post at steerpike@tap-repeatedly.com.
Yeah, pretty horrible news. I mean, I love his comics and was wondering when he will ditch gaming journalism to go full time… Seeing how his Marvel duties were increasing, I knew the day was close. Still, I’m gutted. Kieron is not only funny, smart and a born writer, he practically singlehandidly created New Games Journalism, which somehow makes him a traitor now!!!!!! Great guy whose comics I will continue to read and buy but his writing on games will be sorely missed.
In case anyone’s not sure what we’re losing, he’s just put up a ‘greatest hits’ post:
http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2010/10/03/the-sunday-papers-gillen-y-supplement/
I think I had a few issues of Amiga Power and PC Gamer when I was younger but being more of a PC Zone reader I’m not too familiar with his printed work. Rock, Paper, Shotgun has been brilliant though and Kieron will be sorely missed. He’s written some fantastic stuff.
I’m in the process of writing a review of Penumbra: Black Plague and I’ve been mulling over the issue of spoilers since starting it. The other day Kieron wrote an article on reviewing and spoilers, and more specifically mechanical spoilers, and while it offered no particular answers it’s comforting to know I’m not the only one deliberating over this sticky issue.
That being said, Quintin Smith looks to be a very worthy successor. He wrote some great articles on Starcraft II recently and his diaries are always great fun. You should read his Wurm Online ‘dark age Deliverance’ diary — it’s hilarious.
I agree with Gregg, Quintin is very good. I enjoy reading his stuff.
As for Kieron, he has signed a contract with Marvel right? To produce more original works. I’ve no doubt he’ll be very succesful. I wish him all the best!