Gaming Influencers & Integrity: My Take on the Current Landscape
Welcome Back to My Blog
Hello once again, and welcome to my blog. If you’re a returning visitor, it’s great to have you back. If you’re new here, I sincerely appreciate you stopping by!
During my time away from publishing new content, I’ve done my best to stay on top of reader questions. I believe in responding to every email as thoroughly as I can. If I don’t have the expertise to answer a particular question—especially when it comes to newer topics like MSFS 2024—I’ll be upfront about it. My goal for this blog has always been to share my experiences with simulation-based games and offer guidance wherever possible.
A Video Worth Discussing
This morning, I checked my email and found a message from Jason, a longtime internet friend with similar interests. He had watched a video he thought I would appreciate, and knowing our past discussions, he was right—I have a few thoughts on it!
The Issue with Social Media Influencers
The term “Social Media Influencer” is one I’ve never been fond of, particularly in the realm of PC gaming. As a nearly 59-year-old retired gamer who has spent over four decades flying computer-based sims, I’ve seen this space become overly saturated with content creators and streamers. Too many have lost sight of why they started—or perhaps never had a real purpose to begin with.
That said, I don’t mean to lump everyone together. There are content creators who genuinely love this hobby and work hard to produce valuable flight simulation content. These individuals stay true to their original mission, helping others without compromise.
The Evolution of Content Creation
Many popular creators initially set out to share their passion for gaming, offering insights to help others. That’s an admirable approach—it’s the same reason I’ve blogged about simulation gaming for nearly 15 years. However, over time, some have become obsessed with subscriber counts, sponsorships, and developer relationships, often at the expense of honesty and quality.
Transparency Matters
As discussed in the video Jason shared, few of today’s top content creators and streamers prioritize transparency. This issue extends beyond flight simulation—it’s prevalent in Farming Simulator and Truck Simulator content as well. Some influencers either fear losing sponsorships or fail to recognize the harm they’re causing within the community.
My Commitment to Honesty
I’ve received add-ons from developers for review, but I’ve always made it clear that I won’t sugarcoat issues or overlook problems. Perhaps this is why I don’t receive many review offers anymore—developers have plenty of creators who will stick to their narrative without critique.
Jealousy? Not a Chance.
Some might argue that criticism of influencers stems from jealousy—jealousy over their following, sponsorships, or ability to play games for a living. Speaking for myself, I can confidently say jealousy has never been a factor. My blog enjoys solid readership numbers, and when I’m more active, my posts reach thousands of readers. The modest revenue generated is enough to keep the site running, and that’s all I need.
As I’ve grown older and gained more experience in simulation gaming, my priorities have shifted. I have zero desire to be a beta tester for every new add-on that hits the market. Instead, I wait, giving developers time to iron out issues. I’ve learned the hard way that early reviews on YouTube or Twitch don’t always reflect reality.
Final Thoughts
I still have a select group of content creators I trust when it comes to previews, but the list is short—very short. My promise to you, my loyal readers, is that I will always tell it like it is, no matter how controversial or inconvenient that may be. I’m here to be honest, not to play favorites.
Until next time…
✈ Happy Simming! ✈
— Jerry
