Stephen Totilo leaves MTV News for cross-net rivals, Kotaku
by Christopher Grant 
{ Apr 20th 2009 at 5:07PM } 
Stephen Totilo – MTV News' stalwart gaming reporter – has announced via the MTV Multiplayer blog that he is "leaving MTV News this Friday after a wonderful four-year run." His next stop? "It's not game development. It is games journalism," Totilo writes. And that outlet: none other than cross-net rivals, Kotaku. Now, before you hiss and throw your MTV t-shirt to the ground in disgust (put your shirt back on!), we want to be the first to congratulate Stephen on the move. While gaming blogs, like Joystiq and Kotaku, have long fought against the bias of major publishers to be accepted as legitimate outlets, Stephen's presence at Kotaku not only gives the staff some much-needed good looks but lends legitimacy to the format. A rising tide lifts all boats, blue and purple alike. So, on that note: congrats, Stephen.
His title will be Deputy Managing Editor for Cake-Related Posts.
Source – The End Of My Run, MTV Multiplayer's Next Step
Source – Games Journalist Quits Job For More Games Journalism
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
sony boy @ Apr 20th 2009 5:10PM
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!
Jonathan @ Apr 20th 2009 5:11PM
I check both Joystiq and Kotaku daily. I don't see why one has to read this site over that one or vice versa.
I Al2x I @ Apr 20th 2009 5:14PM
Agreed, hating on Kotaku and loving Joystiq exclusively is just as bad as being a fanboy.
Xav de Matos @ Apr 20th 2009 5:15PM
What's next? We can play games on all consoles! GET REAL HIPPIE!
Markez @ Apr 20th 2009 5:17PM
Personal preference, as I'm not interested in seeing any posts about the newest fetishized anime toy figures or Japanese pop stars. They seem to have a good deal more inane material than Joystiq does.
samfish @ Apr 20th 2009 5:36PM
I think I might be the only Joystiq regular who hasn't been banned from Kotaku.
Lonecow @ Apr 20th 2009 5:38PM
My daily routine is checking Joystiq, then checking Kotaku or vise versa.
The main point being I NEVER check IGN or 1UP anymore. Nothing against them personally, it's just that their news is always a day late, so I don't see the point of going there anymore, but I do like their podcasts a whole lot better than Joystiqs (does Kotaku even have a podcast).
Both should count as something, but the Uncle Scrooges pulling the funding, still don't see podcasts as a legitimate way of counting readers/viewers/whatever.
rTwelve @ Apr 20th 2009 5:42PM
@Markez That sounds like a feature, not a defect.
MowDownJoe @ Apr 20th 2009 5:43PM
I used to check both Joystiq and Kotatu, but then Kotaku's post just started seeming bland. Of course, I now check both Joystiq and Destructoid. And I will admit that one of their editors banks at my bank (as apparently evidenced by his business card in the corkboard). D-toid also has some okay Podcasts... mostly their retro-gaming podcasts. Never heard that much unrelenting optimism from a video game podcast... and it all comes from one of the hosts!
Markez @ Apr 20th 2009 5:44PM
Sounds like a feature, not a defect? What?
MariusElijah (Only on PlayStation 3) @ Apr 20th 2009 6:38PM
I dont even know how to comment on Kotaku, that why I stay here even though Joystiq sometimes gets the news late
¬_¬
Mr Khan @ Apr 20th 2009 7:33PM
Kotaku's more obnoxious, i think. Especially from the perspective of their commenters.
XGM @ Apr 20th 2009 8:02PM
Because I don't see Kotaku having a podcast with the epicness that the Joystiq podcast has.
Manly Mcbeefigan (Mr. ESC) @ Apr 20th 2009 9:35PM
The only real advantage Kotaku has over Joystiq is that Kotaku covers NSFW stuff of course that could be also used against Kotaku (Damn you Ashcraft and your Furry Porn!!!)
Then again Joystiq comment section its better than Kotaku's(Mostly for me....okay Ittybittygirl,Darkwayne,Jakka,Saria,Markez and the rest of the gang and for some reason I'll include anticrawl and Matty).
Courtney @ Apr 20th 2009 10:26PM
I stick with Joystiq because I like the majority of the writers better and I sure as hell like the commenters more (even the trolls).
time @ Apr 20th 2009 10:49PM
gaming journalism sucks as a whole, but Joystiq and Kotaku are alright. I comment occasionally on both.
BPMOmega [gamertag] @ Apr 21st 2009 2:21AM
@Samfish:
I haven't been banned, either. :D
I like both Kotaku and Joystiq (in before "no you don't, you idort"). I don't see what's with all the hate.
iluvmyzune @ Apr 20th 2009 5:11PM
dammit chris!!!!! its your job to fire justin Mcleroy for better talent!!!
Ezio Auditore de Firenze (PSN slycooper_rocker) @ Apr 20th 2009 5:51PM
McLeeeeeeeroooooooooy Jeeeeennnnnnkkkkkiiiiiinnnnnsssss
Levi (God Hand Defense Force) @ Apr 20th 2009 5:12PM
You should have offered more cash Joystiq!
Chris D.(PSN: Aggie_CEO | XBL:The Aggie CEO | Steam: Aggie_CEO @ Apr 20th 2009 5:13PM
well congrats to him!!
Clinton @ Apr 20th 2009 5:13PM
will this really make a difference
Chase @ Apr 20th 2009 5:14PM
Wow, Chris Grant actually posted an article. This must be 'big' news.
Andrew Yoon @ Apr 20th 2009 5:16PM
LOL
joeythehobo @ Apr 20th 2009 5:33PM
True. Justin said he doesn't even write for Joystiq anymore =[
Kyle @ Apr 20th 2009 6:02PM
Oh snap!
THE WICKER MAN (BWF) (GT: Dalek Prime) @ Apr 20th 2009 10:06PM
Stephen is Chris' man crush friend. I saw the headline and new instantly who wrote it. HI STEVE!!! (haven't heard that in a podcast in awhile :( )
On topic, congrats to Stephen I just wished he could have come over to the 'stiq.
Courtney @ Apr 20th 2009 10:28PM
Holy crap, it had been 18 days since Chris had posted last ( easy to figure out thanks to that handy contextual date thing that a podcast listener was complaining about).
343 Guilty Fart @ Apr 20th 2009 5:16PM
Best of luck to him. Whie it's too bad he didn't join the 'stiq instead, I still look forward to his contributions as well as the next Bonus Round.
Jose @ Apr 20th 2009 5:18PM
Bring on the Fat Princes/Portal posts Stephen!
Wubbytoes @ Apr 20th 2009 5:20PM
Hey Chris, are you still going to have the weekly Totilo name drop on the podcast?
Donald @ Apr 20th 2009 6:58PM
http://twitter.com/justinmcelroy/status/1569436685
"And no, for everyone asking, we'll never mention Totilo on the podcast again. He's officially our Voldemort."
Jacksons @ Apr 20th 2009 5:22PM
I hope he writes some "feature" articles over there. Those have all been great reads.
joeythehobo @ Apr 20th 2009 5:26PM
You had to bring up the cakes ><
At least you've moved on from Crecente's kids, lol.
J @ Apr 20th 2009 5:29PM
Chris, was Joystiq in the running for his services at all?
Christopher Grant @ Apr 20th 2009 5:44PM
Nope. We never made an offer.
Ficken @ Apr 20th 2009 5:30PM
Hi Stephen.
samfish @ Apr 20th 2009 5:33PM
I'm conflicted over whether this is awesome.
Obviously Tortilla thinks it's awesome or he wouldn't have take the job, I'd like think to think.
But it seems to me like he'll be kind of competing with Crecente and even Bashcraft now, rather than have the limelight to himself.
Of course, the fact that I think that probably says more about me than anything else...
PojoMofo @ Apr 20th 2009 5:34PM
"Stephen's presence at Kotaku not only gives the staff some much-needed good looks"
BRAIN GET A HAIRCUT!!!!!!
LOL j/k
The Dark Wayne @ Apr 20th 2009 5:35PM
After all the name dropping and encouragement he goes to the other site. WHAT'S THE MATTER STEPHEN?! DONT YOU LOVE US BACK?!
Stephen Totilo @ Apr 20th 2009 5:39PM
Honestly, if there was one thing I felt bad about my move was the idea that my good friends here would be hurt by it. I love Joystiq and almost everyone on the podcast.
Christopher Grant @ Apr 20th 2009 5:45PM
Almost? :-P
MowDownJoe @ Apr 20th 2009 5:45PM
...ALMOST? Are you saying "Fire Justin McElroy"?
dubbfoolio @ Apr 20th 2009 6:02PM
Is it Justin? Sorry we've been trying to get that guy fired for years.
Ezio Auditore de Firenze (PSN slycooper_rocker) @ Apr 20th 2009 6:03PM
no, by almost, he means... he means... yours truly, Ezio!
Dirty @ Apr 20th 2009 5:36PM
You guys should hire on Soulja boy.
FNG @ Apr 20th 2009 5:57PM
Dirty, I liked you until that. If if was net sarcasm and I didn't pick up what you were laying down, well, I love you man.
Burritoclock @ Apr 20th 2009 6:04PM
Really? You follow someones comments enough to know who they are and yet can't tell when they make an obvious joke?
Just saying...
Markez @ Apr 20th 2009 6:06PM
I hear your cluckin', big chicken.
Dirty @ Apr 20th 2009 6:18PM
I think soulja boy will be able to bring a real gamers perspective to the site.