Raise your hands class, how many of you have heard of Twitter? Now how many of you actually have a Twitter account? Less hands I see, well shame on you. Twitter, in a nutshell, is a social networking site of sorts but without all the profile jazz. It allows users quick updates under 140 characters per post, replies to other users, and direct private messages. You can use Twitter any way you see fit but let’s be honest, we enjoy games here so what other way to use and abuse Twitter than video games. I’m going to let you in on some Twitter secrets.
One of the best features about video games and Twitter is that you can get game news faster than other people. If you “follow” the right people and companies, you can see news before most major game sites even post about it. Quick example, Bethesda announced the Fallout Vegas game. I read about on Twitter a few hours before any game site had it published. You can really be on the up and up with news, plus most updates give a link to their site with more information.
Not only can you get fast game news, you can also track how game development is progressing. This is not always the case as you cannot control what the developers “tweet”, if they do at all. Two examples: first comes from following IsaacClarke who constantly updates how the progress of Dead Space: Extraction is coming along. Second is by following DylanCuthbert from Q Games, you can hear how the new PixelJunk 1-4 game is progressing.
I saved this reason for last. The best secret about Twitter and video games? The swag! People give away so much stuff on Twitter, it’s disgusting. Every Friday, SEGA gives away merchandise to it’s followers from comics to T-shirts, games and action figures. Usually once or twice a day, MajorNelson from Xbox tosses out some free codes to download games. Personally, I have won two different forms of DLC for games and a free year to Club Pogo (it’s free right!) and I plan to win more.
Twitter is really a hidden gem, a diamond in the rough if you will. Yes, I’m sure it was made as a social network site but it can really be a powerful tool if used correctly. I have talked to some “in the business” people that normally I’d have no way of contacting outside of Twitter. You owe it to yourself as a gamer to sign up and start following, you will pulled into this Twitterverse.
#1 by Carlos Macias on May 18th, 2009
They DO give a crapload of stuff on there…also,
that’s how I found out about the “Drag Me To
Hell” premiere in Hollywood. Movie wasn’t so
great, but it was still a cool, red carpet expe-
rience.
#2 by Will Snizek on May 18th, 2009
the thing about getting news before most major sites is that most major sites ripoff news from the small guys. I’m not dropping names here, but a majority of articles found on the biggest video game sites are basic re-writes (and sometimes just cut and pastes) of stuff a smaller blog wrote up. Sucks. I’d definitely encourage people to do the Twitter thing though. It’s faster than waiting for Kotaku to post something about it
#3 by Aaron Mazza on May 18th, 2009
Not only that, it’s more legit to hear it from the company who’s posting it, not regurgitated from randoms sites.
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