A Sad Day – Board Game News is No More

Earlier today I read on BoardGameGeek that W. Eric Martin is going to take his resources from Board Game News and fold them into BGG. As everyone else I like BGG enough but it’s a sad day to see one of the premiere gaming websites disappear. I find it funny when I see BGG members write asking why anyone would even consider producing their own gaming websites when you have the Geek? I suppose these are the same people who think that having one national newspaper, or television news outlet, or maybe even one game company control all the output of information would be a good thing? Of course that would be crazy! Just as the hobby needs sites like the Geek, we also need independent sites as well.

I don’t believe we’ll be seeing any sort of special BGN section of BGG. Eric and his contributors will simply be adding their resources into the mix even as a news editor. BGG has plenty of great information but it isn’t the easiest website to navigate or to track down accessible info. Also, there is practically no editorial control at BGG and I think the site is pretty ugly (not that ours is some great beauty) as are some of the people there who seem to take pleasure in nothing more than responding in critical or negative ways to nearly every person or post that finds its way into their path. The vast majority of folks over on the Geek are great people but there are also plenty of others who present themselves as nothing more than trolls in order to ruin the BGG experience for other visitors.

Board Game News was a stellar site for all things gaming, especially for those wanting to stay abreast of releases on the European front. Their presence was the main reason that we don’t cover anything not making its way to the U.S. shores; why would we tackle something that is being done so much better by someone else. I never thought of BGN as a competitor or a website to be gunning for but as another awesome group of people adding to the community in a very meaningful way.

I’d like to wish Eric and his gang all the best and hope that his site being absorbed by BGG will be a wonderful success!

All in all though, today, I still see the dissolution of Board Game News as a very sad thing.

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