Destructoid - Notoriety

Notoriety

The site quickly gained mixed notoriety on NeoGAF and GamePolitics after E3 when Yanier appeared at the press conference dressed as Mr. Destructoid (Destructoid's robot mascot, shown on logos and promotional material) to hand out promotional flyers, calling to question whether games journalism was taking itself too seriously or not seriously enough.

The stunt helped Destructoid become recognized as a top player in the emerging "enthusiast gaming press" movement of the early 2000s. Despite criticisms, the site continued to gain popularity by posting next-gen console rumors and leaks following E3. Some months later, Yanier was the first to break the news of Jack Thompson's disbarment, a lawyer who had notoriously fought the gaming industry for years. This story, which was widely syndicated, cemented Destructoid as a serious news source.

Destructoid competes with mainstream gaming news outlets, posting an average of 50 stories a day. It was among the first to break stories like the Wii controller's final design, the PlayStation 3's launch pricepoint, Halo 3's release date, and others. Its original editorial work gained mainstream syndication including the popular web show "Hey Ash Whatcha Playin'?", now syndicated on GameTrailers. Other popular works can be found on social bookmarking sites like the satirical Ten Golden Rules of Online Gaming, its Guides on Recognizing Gamers, and its ironic praise for the critically shunned Super Mario Brothers film.

The Mr. Destructoid costume was redesigned in 2012 by Volpin Props, featuring animated LED circuitry, and is still active as their notorious mascot at press events. Company employees and members of the community dress in formal wear and take turns wearing it at the Penny Arcade Expo annually.